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North Melbourne is on top of the ladder for the first time in more than 17 years after over-running a winless Fremantle at Etihad Stadium to win by 31 points.
In a match that looked like going either way after three quarters, the Kangaroos kicked eight of the last 10 goals to win 20.12 (132) to 14.17 (101) and make their best start to a season in more than a decade.
In going 4-0 for the first time since 2005, the Kangaroos all but ended the Dockers' season.
Fremantle couldn't eradicate the turnovers that have haunted it in the opening rounds, with North Melbourne pouncing to stake its premiership claims in an open season.
The game turned late in the third quarter with rejuvenated forward Jarrad Waite kicking back-to-back goals to open up a seven-point lead at the last change.
The second of those came with just 17 seconds left in the quarter, after Fremantle midfielder Stephen Hill handballed out of a contest and straight into Waite's arms.
It was another goal from a turnover, and the Kangaroos made sure the Dockers paid, kicking five straight goals to open the final term.
Midfielder Jack Ziebell (26 disposals) was the star, controlling the stoppages with eight clearances and pushing forward to kick three goals, including two set shots from beyond 50m in the second quarter.
Waite continued his fine form, moving to equal second in the Coleman Medal race with another four goals, while Jamie Macmillan (26 and five inside 50s) and Sam Gibson (26 and three goals) were valuable line breakers.
"I think it was another mature win," coach Brad Scott said.
"It was not our best performance or at the optimum that we're capable of, but I think the players had a real sense of calmness out there even when they were under pressure or when Fremantle came at us.
"We've worked really hard on that and I think all 22 at various stages tonight showed great maturity."
It was a better contest than the teams' respective records of 0-3 and 3-0 would have suggested, and it was played with finals-like intensity as the Dockers looked to keep their finals dreams alive.
Having fallen 25 points behind just 10 minutes into the match, they needed to fight their way back into the match, and they did so through former skipper Matthew Pavlich and star midfielder Nat Fyfe.
Both kicked two goals in the first half, and Pavlich, who finished with 18 possessions and 2.3, rotated through centre bounces at important times when the Dockers needed to wrest back control.
"We thought we made some inroads tonight … we had some real moments," Lyon said.
"Our centre-square bounce work in [the] first 10 minutes was deplorable for whatever reason and then I thought the leadership of Pavlich and Fyfe and Johnson, our senior players really dug in.
"I think we gave pretty good effort tonight, not perfect, but that gives us a good foundation to improve."
Fyfe could not have done more under heavy attention from Ben Jacobs, kicking four goals, winning 27 possessions and seven clearances and laying seven tackles.
The Dockers were also well served by Lachie Neale (35 possessions and six tackles), while Hill (24 and six inside 50s) generated a lot of Fremantle's attacks.
Still, after making a 4-0 start to last season, the Dockers are in a perilous position 12 months on.
They will be left to face the reality that history says they won't make the finals, and that their highest score of the season was not enough for a breakthrough win.
MEDICAL ROOM
Fremantle star Nat Fyfe had his right hamstring worked on by the Dockers' trainers but ran the match out without incident. Already hurt by injuries to ruckman Aaron Sandilands, recruit Harley Bennell and captain David Mundy, the Dockers escaped unscathed. North Melbourne defender Robbie Tarrant needed attention from medical staff early for a left leg problem, but he was also cleared to play on, with the Kangaroos also injury free.
NEXT UP
Fremantle returns home to host Carlton on Sunday before a challenging stretch against Adelaide, Greater Western Sydney and Hawthorn. The Kangaroos travel to Metricon Stadium to face Gold Coast next Saturday.
NORTH MELBOURNE 5.4 10.6 14.9 20.12 (132)
FREMANTLE 2.7 7.12 12.14 14.17 (101)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Waite 4, Ziebell 3, Gibson 3, Brown 3, Higgins 2, Thomas, Cunnington, Macmillan, Harvey, Wood
Fremantle: Fyfe 4, Pavlich 2, Ballantyne 2, Walters 2, Barlow, Neale, Hill, Mayne
BEST
North Melbourne: Ziebell, Macmillan, Waite, Gibson, Brown, Dal Santo
Fremantle: Fyfe, Pavlich, Neale, Johnson, Hill, Walters
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Tarrant (rolled ankle)
Fremantle: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Bannister, Dalgleish, Schmitt
Official crowd: 23,393 at Etihad Stadium
