FREMANTLE returned to the top four on the ladder on Sunday with a comfortable 58-point victory over the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.
The Dockers dominated the first quarter, aided by the hosts freely giving away the ball in their defensive 50, and their lead never looked in jeopardy in a 15.16 (106) to 6.12 (48) victory in front of a crowd of 17,473.
That the Dockers won so comfortably after the longest trip in the AFL without three of their most important players - Nat Fyfe (suspended), Michael Barlow (broken thumb) and skipper Matthew Pavlich (a late withdrawal with a quad injury) - illustrated the difference between a top-four side and the 15th-placed Lions.
Fremantle now needs to avoid defeat to Port Adelaide at Patersons Stadium next Saturday to cement the double chance.
"The reality is it's sudden death for top-four next week," Dockers coach Ross Lyon said.
"We're really thrilled by that. We're excited by the challenge, we accept the challenge, as Port do.
"They're going to ask some question of us and we're going to ask some serious questions of them, so it's really game on from here."
Without their spearhead in attack Pavlich, small forwards Hayden Ballantyne and Michael Walters each kicked three goals for the Dockers, but could have had a couple more each, with kicking accuracy for goal the only negative aspect of their performance.
This profligacy may cost Fremantle if they lose to Port Adelaide next week as the Power boast a slightly higher percentage.
Lions coach Justin Leppitsch said the rise in class to play a top-four contender was just too much for his team.
"They're very alert defensively and they make you be clean with the ball - and if you're not they'll get you," he said.
"We're just that bit off at that level, I think. We're not bad defensively, we've been pretty good, but it stepped it up to the top-four pace today and we couldn't handle it."
The Lions posed very little scoring threat, with specialist tagger Ryan Crowley stopping Irishman Pearce Hanley from having any meaningful impact on the game.
All Australian contender Tom Rockliff was once again a ball magnet for the Lions, amassing 45 disposals, but had little effect on the game, as his two inside-50s attest.
After a mostly forgettable game, Ash McGrath, the Lions' last remaining premiership player, gave the home fans reason to cheer by kicking a final-term goal in his 214th and final AFL match.
Michael Walters breaks away from Lions veteran Daniel Merrett. Picture: AFL Media
BRISBANE LIONS 0.4 2.5 4.8 6.12 (48)
FREMANTLE 4.8 9.10 10.13 15.16 (106)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Freeman 2, Green, McGrath, Adcock, Crisp
Fremantle: Walters 3, Ballantyne 3, Mundy 2, de Boer, Mayne, Taberner, Pearce, Hill, Crozier, Clarke
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Rockliff, Taylor, Martin, Bewick, Zorko, Aish
Fremantle: Mundy, Neale, Crowley, Ballantyne, Taberner, Mzungu, Walters
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Nil
Fremantle: Matthew Pavlich (quad) replaced in selected side by Matt de Boer
SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane Lions: Sam Mayes replaced Michael Close at half-time
Fremantle: Garrick Ibbotson replaced Lee Spurr in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stephens, Hay, Wenn
Official crowd: 17,473 at the Gabba
