Collingwood has dented Fremantle's AFL finals aspirations and continued the Dockers' horror home slump with an upset 33-point victory at Subiaco Oval.

The Magpies led at every change to triumph 14.22 (106) to 11.7 (73) against a surprisingly poor Fremantle side that has now dropped four of its past five home games after losing just once in Perth over last year's home and away season - to fellow Subiaco tenant West Coast.

Fremantle did kick six goals to one over the third and fourth quarters to pull within 14 points, but couldn't get any closer in front of a 40,901-strong crowd to continue a worrying trend of going missing in big games in 2004.

The Dockers have failed major AFL tests against St Kilda, Essendon, Port Adelaide, the Kangaroos and now a Collingwood side missing the likes of Anthony Rocca, Shane Wakelin and Simon Prestigiacomo this season.

Victory would have all but assured Fremantle a second consecutive finals appearance, but the loss has left them with an 11-8 record with three difficult games to round out the regular season.

Fremantle face Geelong at Skilled Stadium, the resurgent Eagles in Perth and St Kilda at Telstra Dome over the next three weeks.

Leon Davis played one of his best-ever games for the Magpies, kicking three goals, and rookie David King shone with three of his own, while Jeff Farmer managed two majors for the home side.

Collingwood had endured a miserable, injury-plagued season entering the match with just seven wins from its 18 games in 2004.

The Magpies were ruled out of finals contention some weeks ago, a far cry from the club's efforts of the last two years when it lost consecutive grand finals to Brisbane.

It did receive a boost during the week with the return of damaging forward Chris Tarrant after he spent the past three weeks on the sideline with a hamstring injury and it was Collingwood that made the better start.

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