Fremantle ended a tumultuous week by overrunning Carlton by 29 points at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
But the Dockers' victory was dampened by a likely season-ending left hamstring strain suffered by star Michael Walters late in the 15.11 (101) to 10.12 (72) triumph – which saw Ross Lyon's outfit equal last year's eight wins.
Questions hung over the Dockers' ability to refocus in the wake of young gun Andrew Brayshaw's horrific injuries in the Western Derby, while the Blues simply had to rebound after losing to GWS by 105 points last round.
In the end, both teams could take something away from Optus Stadium.
After a slow start, the Dockers would've been pleased they fought back after trailing the plucky Blues by 19 points in the second term, and topped 100 points for the fourth time this season.
Gun midfielder Lachie Neale (34, 10 clearances) continued his stellar campaign to guide Freo home, with typically-reliable support from evergreen veteran David Mundy (28, one goal) and hard-running wingman Ed Langdon (31, one goal).
Having spent time in the WAFL this year, Cam McCarthy was lively with three majors in his best display for 2018, and Brennan Cox also slotted a pair of goals, despite some wobbles in front of the big sticks.
Veteran Hayden Ballantyne (two goals) buzzed around and Freo's eighth debutant for the year, pressure forward Sam Switkowski, showed he wasn't out of his depth with 13 touches.
Hosting the bottom-placed Blues was a game the Dockers simply had to win after a disappointing derby loss, and Lyon's men will feel good about themselves after putting the visitors to the sword with their best quarter of the year – a 7.3 to 0.2 third-term rout – to clinch the points.
"As the game went on, I thought there was better use of the ball and making the opposition defend," Dockers coach Ross Lyon said post-match.
"When we did go forward it gave our forwards a chance to be more dangerous against equal numbers and give them better opportunities.
"It also allows you to put better pressure in your forward 50 and I thought we did that particularly after half-time."
But Carlton was far from disgraced and threatened a boilover after bursting out of the blocks.
Despite again losing star ruckman Matthew Kreuzer to an elevated heart rate concern before the bounce, Carlton came out on a mission, catching Freo off-guard with their intensity around the contest.
The Blues held their ground as Fremantle turned the contest into an arm wrestle in the second term, heading to the long break with a 13-point buffer.
Veteran Dale Thomas (30 disposals) showed some signs of his old self with a brilliant left-footed major from 40m to help keep Carlton ahead, but the visitors couldn't withstand Freo's run in the game-changing third quarter.
It was the Dockers' sixth victory from the past seven clashes between the sides.
MEDICAL ROOM
Fremantle: Luke Ryan came from the field in the opening term and completed some run-throughs on the boundary line with an apparent left hamstring injury but returned before quarter-time. Michael Walters came off in the last quarter with a left hamstring after pulling up short and his season is in doubt.
Carlton: The Blues appeared to get through unscathed.
NEXT UP
The Dockers have a long trip to face a fired-up Geelong, which must win to play finals, at GMHBA Stadium, while the Blues return to Etihad Stadium for a date with an in-form Western Bulldogs outfit looking for three wins on the bounce.
FREMANTLE 1.4 5.7 12.10 15.11 (101)
CARLTON 3.6 7.8 7.10 10.12 (72)
GOALS
Fremantle: McCarthy 3, Ballantyne 2, Cox 2, Giro, Grey, Taberner, Sheridan, Neale, Mundy, Langdon, Kersten
Carlton: Wright 2, McKay 2, C.Curnow 2, Murphy, Thomas, Lobbe, Lang
BEST
Fremantle: Neale, Mundy, Langdon, McCarthy, Wilson, Cox
Carlton: Cripps, Thomas, Lobbe, C.Curnow, Petrevski-Seton
INJURIES
Fremantle: Walters (left hamstring)
Carlton: Matthew Kreuzer (elevated heart rate) replaced in selected side by Nick Graham
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Haussen, Margetts, Whetton
Official crowd: 40,028 at Optus Stadium
