North Melbourne was comprehensively outplayed by Fremantle on Saturday night, going down by 73 points.
The Dockers were dominant from the outset, booting the first three majors of the game, before Jamie Macmillan opened the scoring for the Roos with an intercept mark and goal.
By quarter-time, Fremantle held a 26-point lead, before a more spirited second quarter performance from North. Goals to Lindsay Thomas, Shaun Higgins and Drew Petrie kept their side in the game, but two red time goals proved decisive.
After the main break it was all the Dockers. An eight goal to one second half saw the margin stretched to 73 at the final siren.
"I thought Fremantle was exceptional tonight," North coach Brad Scott said post-match.
"They are an outstanding side.
"I thought we were monstered in the contest at times, not across the board, but certainly a few of our guys.
"We just got killed in terms of errors.
"I think we conceded 13 goals from turnovers - and really bad ones. Really soft goals, and good sides don't do that."
Ben Cunnington (24 disposals) battled hard through the middle of the ground, as did Brent Harvey (24 touches, one goal), while Scott Thompson was strong in defence. Todd Goldstein was influential in the ruck with 31 hit-outs, while Macmillan had an impact with his 16 disposals.
Nat Fyfe finished with 37 touches for the winners, and Lachie Neale 34, while Michael Walters booted four goals.
FREMANTLE 5.3 9.8 13.11 17.13 (115)
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.1 4.4 5.6 5.12 (42)
GOALS
Fremantle: Walters 4, Taberner 2, Mayne 2, Mundy 2, Barlow 2, Ballantyne, Pavlich, Neale, Sandilands, Sheridan
North Melbourne: Thomas, Macmillan, Ziebell, Higgins, Harvey
BEST
Fremantle: Fyfe, Ballantyne, Mundy, Walters, Hill, Neale, Spurr, Sandilands
North Melbourne: Harvey, Thompson, Goldstein, Cunnington, Firrito
INJURIES
Fremantle: Pavlich (hip)
North Melbourne: TBA
SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Tom Sheridan replaced Matthew Pavlich in the fourth quarter
North Melbourne: Trent Dumont replaced Luke McDonald in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Schmitt, Farmer
Official crowd: 35,836 at Domain Stadium
