At half-time, the Lions led the Dockers 9.10 (64) to 7.8 (50).
As the thermometer nudged 28 degrees, both sides made plenty of changes to cope with the hot conditions.
Billed as the clash between two of the game’s power forwards, Matthew Pavlich and Jonathan Brown, both were in amongst it early with several telling marks.
But while Pavlich converted his opportunities in front of goal, Brown struggled.
Pavlich kicked Fremantle’s first, 20 minutes in to the first quarter and weteran Troy Cook followed soon after.Deubtant Robert Warnock goaled in his first quarter of senior football.
The Dockers led by six points at the first break.
The Dockers opened the second quarter in a flurry when former Lion Des Headland slotted a brilliant goal from the boundary in his first game at the Gabba since leaving the Brisbane Lions at the end of 2002.
His goal was quickly followed by another from rover Peter Bell to give the Dockers the lead, before the Lions fought back to have the lead at the break.
