SPEARHEAD Cam McCarthy snared a Fremantle-best four goals as the Dockers notched a morale-boosting 23-point victory over injury-ravaged Gold Coast on Saturday night.
There wasn't much to play for in terms of ladder position for two outfits destined to miss finals, but there were encouraging signs for both teams in the 12.18 (90) to 10.7 (67) triumph.
McCarthy's haul led Fremantle to its highest score since round seven, while at the other end first-year half-back Luke Ryan intercepted everything, Lachie Neale (32 disposals, one goal) strengthened his Doig Medal claims and superstar skipper Nat Fyfe continued his resurgence.
Gold Coast star Gary Ablett returned and racked up 33 disposals, Pearce Hanley (24, one goal) tried his heart out, while twin towers Tom Lynch and Peter Wright both slotted three goals, but it wasn't enough to seriously threaten a victory in Perth.
The Suns came into the clash battered and bruised – and their cause wasn't helped by losing David Swallow (tight groin) pre-game or Aaron Hall (hamstring) in the second term.
Gold Coast had patches of decent football but not enough to challenge the Dockers, who snapped a four-game losing streak at home and registered just their second victory in 10 matches.
Gold Coast made the running early on Saturday night, putting two goals on the board before most of the 27,050 crowd had found their seats.
Wright and Lynch had the Dockers defenders working overtime – with courageous backman Ryan feeling the brunt of a Lynch knee to the ribs in the early going.
However, Fremantle soon found a groove and some bite through spearhead McCarthy, whose second goal hauled the men in purple to within a point at quarter-time.
It was the first of five unanswered majors for the Dockers, who streaked ahead by 25 points on the stroke of half-time and had Gold Coast's measure thereafter.
Freo's sheer dominance in contested ball (146-109) was telling against the young Suns.
The Dockers had their chances to blow the game open but, to their credit, the visitors kept fighting.
They closed to within nine points in the third stanza, but a steadier from Hayden Ballantyne and McCarthy's fourth out of mid-air snuffed out any danger.
McCarthy's haul ended a relative dry spell in front of goals – it was only the second time in 10 games he has kicked multiple majors - and was one shy of his career-best against the Suns when he was playing for GWS in 2015.
Ryan clung onto nine intercept marks in another assured display and tallied 28 touches, while Fyfe's (29 disposals, 10 marks) aerial prowess has returned in a sign he is getting back to his best.
Mitch Hallahan picked up 25 touches in his first game for the Suns this season, while journeymen Daniel Currie (37 hit-outs) and Jon Griffin (34) fought out a draw in the ruck.
The win came at a cost for the Dockers, with tenacious small forward Brady Grey suffering a hamstring injury that could end his season with only three rounds to go.
FREMANTLE 3.5 7.8 11.12 12.18 (90)
GOLD COAST 4.0 5.4 8.7 10.7 (67)
GOALS
Fremantle: McCarthy 4, Kersten 2, Crozier, S.Hill, Mundy, Griffin, Ballantyne, Neale
Gold Coast: Wright 3, Lynch 3, Sexton 2, MacPherson, Hanley
BEST
Fremantle: Neale, Ryan, B.Hill, Fyfe, S.Hill, McCarthy
Gold Coast: Hanley, Lynch, Wright, Ablett, Rosa, Miller
INJURIES
Fremantle: Grey (hamstring)
Gold Coast: David Swallow (groin) replaced in selected side by Jarrad Grant. Hall (hamstring)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Kamolins, Glouftsis
Official crowd: 27,050 at Domain Stadium