The Lions were nine points down at the final change but cut the Dockers to shreds in the last term to run out winners 25.21.171 to 19.8.122.
Alistair Lynch finished with five goals, Tim Notting booted four, while Nigel Lappin and Jason Akermanis finished with three each.
Matthew Pavlich kicked four goals for the Dockers at centre half forward.
In the first quarter the Dockers jumped Brisbane, who were without stars Justin Leppitsch, Clark Keating and defender Martin Pike, the latter a late withdrawl from the side with a virus.
In a mistake-riddled quarter which set the standard for the the rest of the game the Dockers through Shaun McManus and Pavlich dominated early to have a 16-point lead.
But through the run of Notting and Akermanis the Lions hit back in the second quarter to lead the Dockers by 11 points at halftime.
Freo came out firing in the third term booting seven goals to three but their lead soon evaporated in the last quarter frenzy.
Scoreboard:
BRISBANE LIONS: 3.4, 9.9, 12.15, 25.21 (171)
FREMANTLE: 6.2, 8.4, 15.6, 19.8 (122)
Goals: Brisbane Lions: A Lynch 5 T Notting 4 N Lappin 3 J Akermanis 3 C Scott 2 L Power 2 C McRae 2 C Johnson M Voss B Scott B Robbins. Fremantle: M Pavlich 4 P Hasleby 3 D Bandy 3 B Dodd 2 J Longmuir 2 D Metropolis S McManus T Cook P Bell B Bootsma
Best: Brisbane Lions: J Akermanis T Notting L Power C Scott M Voss N Lappin. Fremantle: P Bell M Pavlich M Carr D Bandy J Longmuir.
Injuries: Brisbane Lions: Nil. Fremantle: A Jones (shoulder).
Reports: M Kennedy (Brisbane Lions) reported by umpire B Sheehan for kicking P Hasleby (Fremantle).
Umpires: B Sheehan, S McBurney, M James.
Official crowd: 20,059 at the Gabba.
