FREMANTLE has risen to its first win of the season, with a 21-point triumph over the Sydney Swans at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night. 

After a tough week, the club made a statement on Anzac Day with a physical and direct style of play that saw them dominate the round five clash from start to finish, eventually running out 18.13 (121) to 16.4 (100) winners. 

The Len Hall Game, named in honour of Western Australia's last Gallipoli veteran, was a fitting fixture for Fremantle's drought-breaking win and David Mundy was the side's hero with 20 possession (14 contested), seven tackles and three goals.

Captain Matthew Pavlich (27 possessions, seven clearances and three goals) was superb, while credit for many of the winning match-ups and the hard-nosed approach must go to coach Mark Harvey.

Brett Kirk (27 touches) and Jude Bolton (28) combined for 25 tackles and tried their hearts out for the Swans, but alone couldn't avert the side's third loss for the season.

Adam Goodes finished with three goals, but the Swans struggled for a focal point up forward without the injured Michael O’Loughlin or Barry Hall.

After opening up a 32-point lead early in the second term, Fremantle was constantly challenged by the honest Swans. But the home side answered them every time and will be buoyed ahead of next week's Western Derby.

However, Rhys Palmer gave the home fans a scare early in the fourth term when he went down grimacing and clutching his right knee.

He was helped from the ground by two trainers, but re-emerged from the rooms, and walked the boundary line five minutes later.

Fremantle's stripped down, direct approach was evident from the first bounce, with swift ball movement resulting in a Michael Johnson goal within a minute.

The home side went on to produce comfortably its best quarter of football for the season, with goals from Pavlich, Byron Schammer, Brett Peake and Luke McPharlin, who finished with three. 

Goodes and ruckman Darren Jolly combined for a textbook stoppage goal in creating the Swans' first, but the visitors were struggling to get the ball forward.

Stephen Hill, on the other hand, was pushing forward and taking the game on for Fremantle, while Pavlich dominated Luke Ablett both in the midfield and when he went forward. 

The skipper's second goal late in the term gave Fremantle a 25-point lead and the home team continued to work harder than the rattled Swans in the second term. They again bothered the scoreboard attendant within a minute, this time through Mundy.

Kieran Jack snagged his first against the run of play, but the home side refused to let the Swans gain any momentum, answering each of their three goals for the term immediately.

Ryan Crowley and Mundy then added another two late in the term to set up a 42-point lead at the main break.

The Swans came out in the third quarter displaying stronger resolve and Paul Roos’ tactic of throwing Rhyce Shaw up forward paid immediate dividends when the former Magpie slotted his first goal in red and white.

Nick Malceski followed up with his first of the night, but Shaw turned villain when he gave away a 50m penalty which brought Aaron Sandilands within range.

Kirk lifted notably for the visitors with ten touches for the term. But in a free-scoring quarter, Fremantle again went on to answer every goal the Swans could muster.

Amon Buchanan and Jarrad McVeigh were looking dangerous, but after the latter gave the Swans a sniff in time on, Mundy arrived to all but seal the deal with a superb running goal from outside 50.

Adam Goodes was handed a 50m penalty and a certain goal after demonstrative umpire abuse from Pavlich, but Fremantle entered the last break 37 points clear.

Goodes and Heath Grundy kicked early goals in the final term to give the Swans some hope, but McPharlin bounced his way from the wing inside 50m to settle Fremantle before Hayden iced the win with a well-deserved goal.

FREMANTLE  6.4  11.9  16.10  18.13 (121)
SYDNEY SWANS  2.2  5.3  11.3  16.4 (100)

Goals
Fremantle: David Mundy 3, Matthew Pavlich 3, Luke McPharlin 3, Brett Peake 2, Byron Schammer, Ryan Murphy, Michael Johnson, Scott Thornton, Ryan Crowley, Aaron Sandilands, Roger Hayden
Sydney Swans: Adam Goodes 3, Jarrad McVeigh 2, Darren Jolly, Martin Mattner, Kieran Jack, Rhyce Shaw, Nick Malceski, Kristin Thornton, Amon Buchanan, Heath Grundy, Ed Barlow, Brett Meredith, Ryan O’Keefe

Best
Fremantle: David Mundy, Matthew Pavlich, Roger Hayden, Luke McPharlin, Aaron Sandilands, Dean Solomon, Steven Dodd
Sydney Swans: Brett Kirk, Jude Bolton, Adam Goodes, Amon Buchanan, Jarrad McVeigh

Injuries
Fremantle: Palmer (knee)
Sydney Swans: Bird (shoulder)

Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Dalgleish, Chamberlain
Official crowd: 32,884 at Subiaco Oval

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.