Pavlich kicked eight goals for Fremantle to win by 53 points in perfect conditions – 18.12 (120) to 9.13 (67).
It was Fremantle's first win since round three, breaking its high-profile drought.
Fremantle kept the Roos goalless in the first and third terms, with the visiting defence often under duress and the home side's backmen in Luke McPharlin, Antoni Grover and Roger Hayden starving a small forward line of opportunities.
However, Fremantle's dominance was most evident at the stoppages; giant ruckman Aaron Sandilands force-fed his midfielders with little trouble after his North counterpart Hamish McIntosh left the game with a knee injury early in the second quarter.
Most effective for Fremantle were Jeff Farmer (27 possessions), Brett Peake (22), Byron Schammer (21), Dean Solomon (22) and Ryan Crowley (19), who had the job of tagging North captain Simpson.
However, Simpson remained one of his club's shining lights on a bleak day, collecting 26 disposals, while Brent Harvey proved he rarely dips below his best with a game-high of 29.
When McIntosh didn't return, the Roos' ambitions of securing their sixth win of the season took a downward spiral.
Twenty-nine points behind at the first change, North coach Dean Laidley's quarter-time message obviously struck a chord, as the Roos – very wasteful to that stage – replied to a Ryley Dunn behind with two excellent pieces of play by small forward Lindsay Thomas.
Daniel Wells (23 disposals), in a fair return from a knee injury, surged forward to set up Thomas' dribble for the side's first goal and, just over two minutes later, Thomas soared one-out with Hayden to mark and convert.
It wasn't all cherries for North as McIntosh was aided from the field in pain and had his right knee put in a brace.
Fremantle then sought ascendancy and a goal from Peter Bell in a congested build-up added to its favour.
However, a goal from lively Matt Campbell – turning on the burners to lose Fremantle veteran Mark Johnson along the boundary before a left-foot snap – was the needed reply.
But Fremantle fans had a good look into the club's future when Robert Warnock tapped perfectly to midfielder Rhys Palmer, who had a quieter day by his standards, to produce the side's seventh goal and keep the buffer.
When Pavlich kicked his third after a clean pass from Chris Mayne, Fremantle clearly had the momentum.
Straighter kicking could have seen a bigger margin, though Pavlich did find time and space for a fourth and Fremantle led by 38 points at half time.
Talented youngster Garrick Ibbotson pounced on a costly North turnover to open the third quarter and draw the curtains for his skipper's show to begin.
Pavlich's fifth came after a free kick from North defender Scott Thompson, his sixth after Palmer hit him nicely on the chest with a low punt and his seventh from a questionable 50m penalty.
The latter was Fremantle's seventh straight, with the Roos' defence collapsing in their endeavours.
North's best opportunity to break the run – and earn its first goal of the term – was snuffed when Daniel Harris overcooked a rare position and was tackled by McPharlin.
But the Roos saved some face in the final term and, after Pavlich's eighth and Chris Tarrant's second, goals from Drew Petrie, Ed Lower, Leigh Brown – a late replacement for veteran Shannon Grant – and Leigh Harding gave the side some run.
But it was all too late and when Mayne ran alone into his forward 50 and Farmer intercepted a wayward kick from Lower to Michael Firrito, the nails were flush.
Fremantle 5.3 9.8 13.11 18.12 (120)
North Melbourne 0.4 3.6 3.10 9.13 (67)
GOALS
Fremantle: Pavlich 8, Tarrant 2, Farmer 2, Bell, Ibbotson, Michael Johnson, Mayne, Mundy, Palmer
North Melbourne: Thomas 2, Brown, Campbell, Harding, Harvey, Lower, Petrie, Power
BEST
Fremantle: Pavlich, Farmer, McPharlin, Solomon, Tarrant, Hayden, Schammer
North Melbourne: Harvey, Simpson, Wells, Petrie, Power
INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
North Melbourne: Hamish McIntosh (knee), Shannon Grant replaced in selected side by Leigh Brown
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Fila, Meredith
Official crowd: 34,105 at Subiaco Oval
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
