Spearhead Cam McCarthy snared a Fremantle-best four goals as Fremantle notched a morale-boosting 23-point victory over Gold Coast on Saturday night.

There were encouraging signs for Freo 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 rare victory in Perth.  

Gold Coast had patches of decent football but not enough to challenge Fremantle, who snapped a four-game losing streak at home and registered just their second victory in 10 matches.

The Suns slumped to their seventh loss from eight matches – and their ninth from 10 games in Perth - and are staring at another bottom-four finish.

Fremantle found a groove early 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 Freo 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. 

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.

The win came at a cost for Freo, with tenacious small forward Brady Grey suffering a hamstring injury. 

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