It hasn't all gone the Dockers' way in the opening five rounds; at three wins, two losses, Ross Lyon's team sits in fifth place.
But look at the fixture and some extenuating circumstances and form warrants respect.
Minus their most damaging small-forward Michael Walters and prevalent ball-winner Michael Barlow, the Dockers pushed Sydney all the way to the final siren.
A 17-point loss against a Lance Franklin inspired Swans' at the SCG is no reason for panic, but Lyon isn't content.
Nevertheless, the Dockers' form-line is strong. The loss to Hawthorn in Round 3 was an anomaly; although Fremantle will want to perform better against its Grand Final nemesis next time around. Wins against Collingwood, Gold Coast and Essendon were more than impressive.
Bar the Hawks' game, they've kept every opponent to less than 100 points, suggesting their remarkable defensive aptitude shows no signs of wavering.
Perhaps most scary is the fact there's room for improvement.
Matthew Pavlich is beginning to hit peak form, Nat Fyfe is back from injury and Aaron Sandilands' dominance in the ruck has him on track for the all-time record for hit-outs in a season.
But how Sandilands' presence advantages his team is arguable. A 48 hit-out differential on Saturday provided Fremantle just 11 more clearances.
Over five rounds, it boasts barely one extra clearance a game.
So what does it mean? Opposition clubs are countering Sandilands' ruck dominance by 'sharking' his taps.
If Fremantle's midfielders can gain a better synchronization with their ruckman, they become a frightening proposition.
For North, much of the challenge will be at the selection table. Does the match committee opt for two ruckmen to counter Sandilands' influence in the hit-outs? Or will they look to hurt the Dockers with more artillery around the ball?
Who goes to Pavlich? North has barely had to worry about the superstar forward in recent years; he missed the 2013 and 2012 clashes between the teams and didn't kick a goal in two meetings in 2011.
But not respecting a player of his calibre could have dire consequences. Scott Thompson would normally get first crack at the Fremantle captain, hoping to bounce back from a rare bad day on Travis Cloke, but may be suspended.
At the other end of the field, Luke McPharlin boasts the points in recent battles with Drew Petrie, keeping him goalless in successive games.
A slow start to the season by his standards will be just the motivation Petrie needs to turn the tables.
Then there's Ryan Crowley. The amazing form of Ben Cunnington and the arrival of Nick Dal Santo could provide some thought for the controversial tagger, but his role on Brent Harvey in last year's win will no doubt still weigh on the mind of the Kangaroos' champion.
Given Harvey's strong start to the season, you'd have to think Crowley will try to ruffle his feathers early.
The travel-factor off a six-day break will be another talking point. Can North respond to a disappointing loss with a win against the odds on the road?
The Kangaroos' last win in Subiaco was way back in 2010, in Harvey's 300th game. What better way to break the trend than during prime-time on a Friday night.
