Big men Aaron Sandilands and Jonathon Griffin have made their mark in Fremantle's clinical and commanding 37-point victory over St Kilda.
The rucks combined for four goals in the 15.6 (96) to 8.11 (59) win.
It was one-way traffic early in the match, with Ross Lyon's side showing why they find themselves 10 points clear of the pack.
Fremantle inflicted the killer blows swiftly and with precision.
From their first seven marks inside 50, Freo kicked seven unanswered goals from the boots of seven different players.
By half-time the contest was over, with Matthew Pavlich and Hayden Crozier joining the rucks with two goals as the Freo Dockers surged to a 12 goals to two lead.
Alex Pearce's long bomb after the half-time siren joined a rushed effort as the only behinds on Fremantle's impressive scoreboard.
Lachie Neale, Stephen Hill and David Mundy gave Fremantle plenty of run, while Pavlich continued his rich vein of form in attack.
Freo’s ruck duo of Sandilands and Griffin started Fremantle's dominance by winning the hit-outs and finding a pair of goals each when the match was briefly in the balance.
After the first-quarter, the Saints enjoyed spells of dominance but couldn't dent Freo’s scoreboard dominance.
After shipping five last-term goals, Lyon said he was taking the victory and moving on.
Ross Lyon post-match: Round 19
"They kept coming ... they'd be pretty pleased with their finish," he said.
"We were pretty pleased with our dominant start. I thought we were fantastic, it was never in doubt from there."
Richardson said the second-term injuries frustrated him.
"It makes the finish to the game all the more impressive really given the state they were in," he said.
"When the game was up for grabs they were way too good for us."
ST KILDA 2.4 2.8 3.9 8.11 (59)
FREMANTLE 7.1 12.2 14.5 15.6 (96)
GOALS
St Kilda: Steven 2, Bruce,Lonie, McCartin, Montagna, Riewoldt, Sinclair
Fremantle: Crozier 2, Hill 2, Griffin 2, Mayne 2, Pavlich 2, Sandilands 2, Mzungu, Pearce, Suban
BEST
St Kilda: Montagna, Steven, Newnes, Roberton, Dempster
Fremantle: Neale, Hill, Mundy, Ibbotson, Suban, Silvagni
INJURIES
St Kilda: Lonie (left knee), McKenzie (concussion), Sinclair (concussion), Savage (hip)
Fremantle: McPharlin (calf)
SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Nathan Wright replaced Daniel McKenzie (concussion) in the third quarter
Fremantle: Lachie Weller replaced Luke McPharlin (calf) in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: R.O'Gorman, B.Ryan, C.Kamolins
Official crowd: 16,419 at Etihad Stadium
