In front of a crowd of 27,715 on a beautiful, sunny Queensland afternoon, the Lions withstood several Dockers surges in the first three quarters to emerge 17.18 (120) to 10.15 (75) winners after leading at every change.
The Lions went into the last change 19 points in front and then switched on the after-burners to put the result beyond doubt by outscoring the tiring and over-possessing Fremantle five goals to one in the final 30 minutes.
Ash McGrath, who must be in close to career-best form in the forward line, kicked two of the fourth term goals to finish with five for the match, while Luke Power was best afield with his tireless run and intelligent disposal.
Jonathan Brown again presented brilliantly from inside the forward 50m and could have kicked a bagful had he been able to fully capitalise on his many chances opposed to Antoni Grover. As it was, he took 11 marks and had 19 possessions in an influential display.
It was well and truly game on for stages of the first three quarters, with the Lions setting up several handy leads only to have their visitors come back at them.
The first three goals of the match belonged to the Lions, via the boots of Joel Patfull, Luke Power and Ash McGrath, before Fremantle clawed its way back into the game on the back of majors from Matthew Pavlich, Troy Cook and first-gamer Robert Warnock.
The Lions eventually led by one straight kick at quarter-time, with Chris Johnson and Justin Sherman adding their names to the scoresheet, but it was the Dockers who had the best of the early second-quarter exchanges.
The Dockers rallied in the second quarter but the Lions persisted and were rewarded with the next four goals.
The Lions exposed Fremantle's defence with goals to Chris Johnson, Power, McGrath and Colm Begley.
By the time the siren rang for the long change, the Lions were back in front by 14 points.
The Dockers again closed within a goal in the third quarter, but, as was the case all day, the Lions had answers. Brown took a superb mark across the front of a goal-square pack to kick his first goal of the afternoon and Sherman took full advantage of an unselfish handball from Chris Johnson.
Nigel Lappin, returning from four weeks out with a corked thigh, saw plenty of the ball, particularly in the first half and will be fitter for the run. Simon Black was influential around the stoppages and played on despite sustaining an arm injury, Jed Adcock provided some timely rebound from half-back and was handy in a stint in the midfield and Begley continues to catch the eye with his accurate kicking and dash.
Ruckmen Beau McDonald and Jamie Charman probably had the better of the taller Sandilands and Warnock, with McDonald taking a high-flying mark in the first quarter and then delighting the crowd in the last quarter with a neat sidestep and short pass to set up a goal for McGrath.
For the Dockers, who failed to hit their targets enough to stay in the game, Pavlich battled hard to kick three goals and Tarrant also booted three.
Veteran Peter Bell worked hard and would have challenged mobile defenders Michael Johnson and David Mundy in the running for best Fremantle player.
The only downside for the Lions was the apparent report of Chris Johnson for making contact with his head to Shane Parker. Fremantle's Grover was reported for an attempted trip on a goal-bound McGrath.
