Fremantle has leapfrogged Sydney into third spot on the table following their 74-point win over Port Adelaide at Patersons on Saturday night.

Goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne and skipper Matthew Pavlich booted four goals apiece as Freo cruised to a 21.8 (134) to 9.6 (60) victory.

But Freo would need the Brisbane Lions to upset Geelong at Simonds Stadium next week if they are to nab second spot.

"Geelong are in red hot form and I think we acknowledge that," Ross Lyon said.

"The odds are in their favour at home. It would take a really big turn-up with respect to Brisbane."

Defender Nick Suban is in danger of missing the start of the finals after injuring his right hamstring in the opening term.

"He's got a tight hamstring, needs to be assessed," Lyon said.

Ballantyne entered the match under his own injury cloud after damaging his right shoulder against Melbourne the week before.

The 26-year-old didn't appear bothered in the opening half, booting three goals and causing all sorts of problems at ground level as the Dockers opened up a match-winning 55-point lead.

But it wasn't all smooth sailing for the little maestro, who sent a scare through the Dockers' camp in the third quarter when he grabbed his shoulder in pain after being tackled hard to the ground.

Ballantyne immediately went off for treatment, but he was given the green light to resume and kicked his fourth goal shortly after.

Michael Walters and Ballantyne combined for the first four goals of the match as the Dockers' frenzied pressure took its toll on the Power.

Ballantyne's pressure at ground level was simply brilliant, with Power defenders often forced to rush their disposal as the Dockers goalsneak closed them down.

Fremantle slammed through five unanswered goals during the second term, but Ballantyne's third major was a highly controversial one.

Ballantyne should have had little trouble as he ran onto a loose ball in the goal square after Walters punched it into his path.

But a wicked bounce saw the ball appear to evade Ballantyne's swinging boot, with the Docker hanging his head in apparent disappointment as the ball dribbled over the goal line.

However, the goal umpire awarded the goal without going to a review after deeming Ballantyne had made contact.

Fremantle: Ballantyne 4, Pavlich 4, Walters 3, Clarke 2, Sheridan 2, Crowley, Barlow, Hannath, Neale, Johnson, Sutcliffe

Port Adelaide: Neade, Wingard, Ebert, Schulz, Monfries, Mitchell, Young, Gray, Moore

 

Fremantle: Neale, Fyfe, Ballantyne, Mayne, Johnson, Mundy, Barlow, Walters

Port Adelaide: Gray, Cornes, Westhoff, Mitchell, Moore

 

Fremantle: Suban (hamstring)

Port Adelaide: Wingard (groin soreness)

 

Fremantle: Tom Sheridan replaced Nick Suban (hamstring) at quarter-time

Port Adelaide: Aaron Young replaced Chad Wingard the third quarter

 

Reports: Nil

 

Umpires: Margetts, Dalgliesh, McInerney

 

Official crowd: 35,565 at Patersons Stadium