NORTH Melbourne has overcome some woeful early inaccuracy to storm Fremantle's fortress and inflict the Dockers' first loss to a travelling side at Optus Stadium.

The in-form Roos loomed as the Dockers' biggest test at home, discounting the Western Derby, and Brad Scott's men were too good in wintry conditions, running out 12.14 (86) to 8.10 (58) winners.

NORTH UP TO FIFTH Full match coverage and stats

Freo's loss could be soured by concussion suffered by veteran ruckman Aaron Sandilands, who clashed heads with Sam Durdin attempting to lay a shepherd in the last term and will be monitored ahead of a trip to face Collingwood.

Coleman Medal leader Ben Brown was well held by Joel Hamling but still booted two important second-half goals, however veteran Jarrad Waite (three) was the difference.

The 35-year-old slotted two crucial majors during a wet third term, guiding the Roos to a handy 11-point advantage at the final change.

SHOWREEL Tall forwards dominate

Waite's third from the goalsquare to open the fourth quarter gave North just enough breathing space to survive a gallant Freo fightback.

The Dockers were struggling to find an avenue to goal but when defender Michael Johnson stepped up from long-range and Michael Walters soccered his second the home side closed to within three points with plenty of time remaining.

However, Fremantle's charge was snuffed out in controversial circumstances.

A non-decision when tagger Ben Jacobs wrenched Hamling away from a contest allowed Shaun Atley to burst through to goal, incensing the majority of the 37,575 fans.

The incident took the wind out of Freo's sails and late goals to Mason Wood and 200-gamer Todd Goldstein secured North's sixth victory, and ensured Brad Scott's men will finish round 10 in fifth spot on the ladder.   

Tagger Ben Jacobs was outstanding for the Roos, bouncing back after Dockers superstar Nat Fyfe (31, eight clearances) took him to the cleaners in the opening quarter.

FYFE v JACOBS Five talking points

Fyfe racked up 13 disposals, four clearances and booted a goal before quarter-time but Jacobs limited the Brownlow Medal favourite's influence from then onwards, and hurt the Freo skipper the other way, finishing with 29 disposals, nine tackles and a goal.

Ben Cunnington (20 disposals) continued his strong form, with support from Shaun Higgins (24), who fought through a tag from Bailey Banfield in a spicy battle, while backman Robbie Tarrant had Cam McCarthy's measure. 

Walters was the Dockers' best, and tried to lift Ross Lyon's outfit with 27 disposals and two majors, while workhorse David Mundy (24, one goal) was tireless and Luke Ryan's (28) rebound was valuable.

With their sixth loss, the Dockers slumped to 13th spot on the ladder and, with Collingwood and Adelaide to come, face a huge challenge to stay in the finals hunt. 

For all their territory dominance (31-19 inside 50s), the wasteful Roos only took a one-point lead into half-time, leading 4.12 to 5.5.

North had six behinds on the board before Walters opened Freo's account and about the only thing the Roos could've kicked was themselves.

"It's always a concern when the opposition kicks the first goal of the game to level the scores, but generating the shots is the hard thing," coach Brad Scott said post-match.

"They were relatively unpressured shots too. They weren't sodas, they weren't from directly in front but we'd expect to kick them."

"A more immature side that lacks that level of character would think that they've blown an opportunity to be well in front."

Fyfe's dominant opening term gave Freo an eight-point early edge, and it was looking ominous for the visitors when Brennan Cox made amends for a horror miss with his first goal to start the second stanza.

But the Roos rallied and, struggling to find the major opening, they had a simple answer – just get closer. 

Jy Simpkin, Ben Jacobs and Kayne Turner kicked truly from point-blank range, as North worked back into the contest and weight of contested possession (161-146) and inside 50s (60-46) numbers eventually told the story.

"Aaron going down changed the mix around stoppages a little bit and they got some territory in territory conditions," Dockers coach Ross Lyon said.

"I thought they just had a bit of an edge on us in different parts of the game with speed, a bit of polish and consistency in things we're trying to do, probably some decision-making.

"When the game was tight there was a couple of things, obviously our discipline was disappointing and not at the level required.

"But I thought as the game was really tight their key forwards took some clunks and kicked the goals."

MEDICAL ROOM
Fremantle: Alex Pearce was dazed in a collision with Jarrad Waite in the opening quarter but played out the match. Michael Walters was limping after a third-quarter incident, however he ran it out and stayed on the field. Big man Aaron Sandilands was wobbly coming from the ground in the final term after trying to shepherd Sam Durdin and clashing heads. The giant ruckman will be monitored this week and is under a cloud for the trip to face Collingwood.

North Melbourne: Kayne Turner clashed heads with Alex Pearce during the third term and was tested for concussion before coming back on. Sam Durdin came off in the final term after a heavy clash with Sandilands. Brad Scott said he looked fine in the rooms post-game but he will be monitored.

NEXT UP
The Dockers head back to the MCG – where they were thumped by Richmond by 77 points in round seven – for a tough assignment against Collingwood, while the Roos will start strong favourites against Brisbane at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

FREMANTLE                       3.4      5.5      6.8      8.10 (58)                  
NORTH MELBOURNE        1.8      4.12    7.13    12.14 (86)            

GOALS

Fremantle: Walters 2, Brayshaw, Fyfe, Cox, Mundy, McCarthy, Johnson
North Melbourne: Waite 3, Wood 2, Brown 2, Simpkin, Jacobs, Turner, Atley, Goldstein

BEST 
Fremantle: Walters, Fyfe, Hamling, Matera, Langdon
North Melbourne: Jacobs, Waite, Cunnington, Tarrant, Turner, Macmillan 

INJURIES 

Fremantle: Sandilands (concussion)
North Melbourne: Durdin (concussion)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Williamson, Fleer, Hay

Official crowd: 37,575