FREMANTLE has christened new home Optus Stadium with a first-up win and raised some early doubts about Essendon's credibility as a top-four contender with a rousing 16-point victory on Saturday night.
Superstar skipper Nat Fyfe led from the front on a marquee occasion, as the Dockers delivered on their promise to light up WA's world-class football venue with an entertaining brand of football.
Freo topped the ton for the first time since beating the Bombers at Subiaco Oval 17 games ago and ran out 16.10 (106) to 14.6 (90) winners.
The Bombers trailled by 22 points at the final change, close enough if they were good enough given their stunning round-one comeback in the final term against Adelaide.
Five talking points: Fremantle v Essendon
But John Worsfold's men couldn't conjure another stirring comeback.
Ed Langdon's second major to open the fourth quarter made Essendon's already difficult task even tougher and when impressive first-gamer Adam Cerra (nine disposals) slotted his second Freo had the game by the scruff of the neck.
Three late goals limited the scoreboard damage for the Bombers but they will count this as a missed opportunity.
"Overall, I thought we didn’t use the ball very well or play very well in terms of when we won the footy we didn’t make good decisions," Worsfold said post-match.
"We weren’t clean around the ball and we dropped marks we should have been creating off, and (it) put us under pressure."
Speed-hungry Dons didn't give forwards a chance
For Freo, this performance was the perfect response to a turnover-laden 50-point loss to Port Adelaide in the season opener.
WATCH: Langdon slots a long goal
The Dockers' ball movement was slick, especially from half-back through Nathan Wilson (23 disposals), Connor Blakely (30) and Luke Ryan (22), while Fyfe (29, one goal) powered an engine room that held sway for most of the contest.
Confident-looking spearhead Matt Taberner was the major beneficiary of Freo's attacking mindset, slotting four goals, one short of his career-best.
WATCH: Tabs gets Freo fans buzzing
At the other end, Essendon's three-pronged tall forward line was blunted, although unheralded James Stewart (two goals) tried hard.
Young Dockers defender Alex Pearce held Essendon star Joe Daniher goalless for the first time in 40 games, while Joel Hamling was rock-solid on his return.
Key playmaker Stephen Hill (26 disposals, one goal) also got through unscathed in his first match in 2018 after quad and calf trouble.
WATCH: Hill brilliance leaves Dons floundering
Michael Hurley (25 possessions), recruit Devon Smith (20, one goal), Dyson Heppell (24, one) and Darcy Parish (22) fought hard for the Bombers but key off-season acquisition Jake Stringer had only nine touches on a quiet night.
In front of a 49,021-strong crowd – about 4,500 fewer than for West Coast's first home game – Freo started in white-hot touch.
Taberner brought the Purple Army to life with a superb finish from the pocket inside 20 seconds, and Freo's fanbase was in full voice when influential veteran David Mundy (21 disposals, two goals) sharked Michael Hurley's spilled marking attempt.
The Dockers were controlling clearances on the back of Aaron Sandilands' influence but the Bombers soon steadied.
WATCH: Dockers leaders back to their best
Essendon snatched the lead with a quick-fire burst of four majors before Cam McCarthy gave the home side a slender two-point lead at quarter-time.
The sides kept exchanging blows throughout the second stanza, with the Dons refusing to let the home team run away with the contest, only trailing by eight points at the long break.
But the Bombers never hit the front after half-time as they slumped to a seventh-straight loss in Perth, while Freo's four first-year players – Andrew Brayshaw, Bailey Banfield, Mitch Crowden and Cerra – plus recruits Brandon Matera and Wilson toasted their first triumph in purple.
"We learnt some really good lessons (from last week)," Freo coach Ross Lyon said post-match.
"I thought with four players one game or less … bring some real enthusiasm and vibrancy.
"There's going to be some challenges, we understand that, but I thought Cerra was fantastic tonight and Brayshaw, and Mitch Crowden's effort and Bailey Banfield's role on Merrett was a significant role.
"We sent him to tag Merrett and Merrett's their jet, and I thought he really limited him and was crucial in the win, so that was pleasing."
The Dockers youngsters enjoy their first win at Optus Stadium. Picture: AFL Photos
MEDICAL ROOM
Fremantle: Big man Aaron Sandilands came off briefly in the third term with a blood nose but otherwise the Dockers appeared to have a clean bill of health. Bradley Hill looked in all sorts of trouble when he lay prone on the far wing in the final term but managed to jog off under his own steam before going to the rooms with an apparent problem with his already strapped left knee. Hill returned to play out the match.
Essendon: Adam Saad hobbled off the ground late in the third quarter with an apparent left knee injury but returned to play out the final term.
NEXT UP
The Dockers are back at Optus Stadium in seven days for an 'away' game against the in-form Suns, while Essendon has a clash with under pressure Etihad Stadium co-tenant the Western Bulldogs next Sunday afternoon.
WATCH: McKenna magic arrives late for Bombers
FREMANTLE 4.2 8.4 12.8 16.10 (106)
ESSENDON 4.0 7.2 9.4 14.6 (90)
GOALS
Fremantle: Taberner 4, Mundy 2, Cerra 2, Langdon 2, Fyfe, McCarthy, Ballantyne, Walters, Matera, S.Hill
Essendon: Begley 2, Stewart 2, Green 2, Bellchambers 2, Smith, Hooker, Heppell, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Langford, McKenna
BEST
Fremantle: Fyfe, Neale, Wilson, Blakely, Taberner, Ryan, Hamling
Fremantle: Hurley, Smith, Merrett, Parish, Green, Heppell
INJURIES
Fremantle: B.Hill (knee)
Essendon: Saad (leg)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Dean Margetts, Nick Foot, Jeff Dalgleish
Crowd: 49,021 at Optus Stadium
