The visitors were the better team all night, but had to endure a nerve-racking final quarter where Carlton threw everything at them before holding on to win 13.10 (88) to 11.15 (81).
Fremantle led by 22 points early in the last term, but unanswered goals to a quiet Brendan Fevola and Aaron Joseph closed the difference.
Fremantle coach Mark Harvey would have breathed a sigh of relief as Jordan Russell’s goal-bound kick was touched off the boot. Joseph later missed another tough angled shot in the dying stages.
If Carlton snatched a win, it would have been an injustice as Fremantle showed great run, flair and desperation to improve their record to 3-4.
Early-season fancies Carlton are now also anchored at 3-4.
The Dockers can thank a fearsome one-two centre square punch of Aaron Sandilands and Paul Hasleby for a large part of their success.
Sandilands absolutely dominated the ruck with 42 hit-outs, many to advantage, and was more than handy around the ground with 25 possessions.
Hasleby worked off him beautifully to gather 32 touches, including seven clearances.
David Mundy, Byron Schammer and Ryan Murphy all kicked two goals for the victors.
Carlton were below their best and looked flat for much of the game despite tireless efforts from Heath Scotland (35 disposals), Marc Murphy (31), 50-gamer Bryce Gibbs (31) and Chris Judd (28).
Brendan Fevola went off the ground early with what appeared a lower leg injury but came on shortly after, and had almost no impact all night as Chris Tarrant blanketed him.
Jarrad Waite was thrust forward for the Blues and kicked three second-quarter goals to lead their scoring.
For the winners, Stephen Hill showed touches of class with his silky left boot, while Garrick Ibbotson worked hard on Judd and got 23 touches himself.
Fremantle’s success came as they moved the ball directly and quickly into the forward line and tackled ferociously to limit Carlton’s time with the ball.
It was a topsy-turvy opening quarter that saw Fremantle hold a two-point lead at the first change.
They looked like a team coming off back-to-back wins, and although Eddie Betts opened the scoring for Carlton in the fifth minute with a trademark snap, the visitors were quickly into their stride.
Roger Hayden got on the board from a set shot, and after a Judd special from 55m, Mundy restored parity when he latched on to a perfect Paul Duffield pass and converted from a tight angle.
But Fremantle’s major move came at the start of the second term when they slammed on three quick goals to Brett Peake, Hill and Murphy.
It established a 21-point lead, and they still maintained a 10.5 (65) to 8.4 (52) half-time advantage despite three goals in the quarter to Waite.
Blues coach Brett Ratten put Waite forward as both Fevola and Cameron Cloke struggled, and the unlikely target did not disappoint.
But Fremantle’s run and carry was more than entertaining; it was effective.
They used the corridor and went inside forward 50 with a minimum of fuss, which resulted in two goals to Schammer and a handy half-time break.
Judd and Murphy came into the match more in the third term, but Fremantle answered every challenge.
But the goal of the term went to Carlton, as they swept the ball beautifully from their backline, the ball ending in Cloke’s hands after Matthew Kreuzer’s third touch of the play set him into an open goal.
There wasn’t much movement on the scoreboard in the third term, as Carlton squandered a number of chances in front of goal.
They threw everything into the first 15 minutes, but could muster only five behinds before Dean Solomon broke the goal-drought with a clever snap for Fremantle.
Mundy again made the lead 21 points before debutant Chris Yarran gave the Blues some final-quarter hope with his first goal after swooping on an errant Luke Pratt handpass.
Fremantle 3.4 10.5 12.7 13.10 (88)
Carlton 3.2 8.4 9.10 11.15 (81)
GOALS
Fremantle: Schammer, Mundy, Murphy 2, Solomon, Peake, Thornton, Sandilands, McPharlin, Hayden, Hill
Carlton: Waite 3, Cloke, Betts, Judd, Murphy, Hadley, Yarran, Joseph, Fevola
BEST
Fremantle: Hasleby, Sandilands, Schammer, Mundy, Ibbotson, Thornton
Carlton: Judd, Murphy, Scotland, Kreuzer, Waite, Gibbs
INJURIES
Fremantle: None
Carlton: None
Reports: Byron Schammer (Fremantle) in the fourth quarter for striking Marc Murphy (Carlton) by umpire McBurney.
Umpires: McBurney, Nicholls, Millison
Official crowd: 10,294 at Gold Coast Stadium
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
