FREMANTLE fired up at Subiaco Oval on Sunday to thrash a seemingly finals-bound Port Adelaide by 42 points.

After losses by Hawthorn and Essendon earlier this weekend gave the Power a chance to consolidate their place in the final eight, they came out with little intensity on Sunday, and Fremantle took full advantage to run out emphatic 17.14 (116) to 11.7 (74) winners.

There were terrific signs all over the ground for Fremantle, with veterans leading the way and youngsters taking the next step in their fifth win of the season.

Running defenders Greg Broughton and Paul Duffield were brilliant all day, with Port Adelaide allowing them far too much space. Broughton finished with 37 possessions, while Duffield added 30.

Second-year player Chris Mayne showed his quality with four goals, while Des Headland put in his best effort of the season by kicking three goals.

Matt de Boer played one of his best games with 22 possessions, and last year's No. 3 draft pick Stephen Hill was superb with 22 touches of his own, and was particularly damaging in the first half.

Paul Hasleby was able to shake off a tag from Kane Cornes to have 25 disposals, while Garrick Ibbotson, Kepler Bradley and Byron Schammer also good for the home side.

Port Adelaide got the opening goal of the game through Robbie Gray, but that was the only time Fremantle trailed all day. Hasleby got Fremantle's first five minutes in, and that was quickly followed up by majors to Jay van Berlo, Headland, Clancee Pearce and Nick Suban.

Fremantle's first-quarter domination continued when Antoni Grover dribbled through a beauty from near the boundary, and Bradley matched that effort with a goal from just inside 50 after weaving past a Power defender.

That told the story of the opening term, which it ended with Fremantle 30 points up.

Port Adelaide again got the first goal of the second quarter through Danyle Pearce, but Fremantle responded once again, with Mayne booting three in an 11-minute period that showed just why he had been sorely missed all season.

Headland also booted his second before half time as Fremantle went on its merry way to open a 45-point advantage.

It was more of the same in the third quarter. Shaun Burgoyne gave the Power the opening goal again, but it was all Fremantle thereafter with Broughton, Grover, Headland and Brett Peake all helping the lead out to 10 goals at the last change.

Captain Matthew Pavlich kicked an early one in the last to take the margin out to 66 points before Gray answered with his second for Port Adelaide. After Mayne kicked his fourth midway through the term, the Power finished off with the last three goals to get back within 42 points by the final siren.

Fremantle now takes on Melbourne at the MCG next Sunday before finishing the season at home to Essendon and away to Geelong.

Fremantle         7.2    11.7    15.11   17.14 (116)
Port Adelaide   2.2    4.4      6.5       11.8 (74)

GOALS
Fremantle: Mayne 4, Headland 3, Grover 2, Bradley, Broughton, Hasleby, Pavlich, Peake, Pearce, Suban, van Berlo
Port Adelaide: S Burgoyne, Gray, Tredrea, Cassisi, Hartlett, Lade, Pearce, Salter

BEST
Fremantle: Broughton, Hill, de Boer, Duffield, Mayne, Headland, Hasleby
Port Adelaide: S Burgoyne, Pearce, K Cornes, Gray

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Port Adelaide: Surjan (corked thigh)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Farmer, Grun, Meredith

Official crowd: 30,029 at Subiaco Oval
 
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.