Fremantle kept its AFL season alive while inflicting Essendon's 13th straight loss, the Dockers overcoming the Bombers' willing youth 19.11 (125) to 12.16 (88) at Subiaco Oval.

Although the Dockers registered their highest goal tally of the year it was still a somewhat patchy performance, with seven majors in the first and third terms sandwiching some all too typical hesitancy before half time.

Despite the efforts of Scott Camporeale (27 possessions) and the impressive Courtney Johns (three goals) threatening to fashion a Bombers upset, the Dockers found a different forward option in two Ryans, Murphy and Crowley, whose four goals apiece proved crucial.

Without the services of Luke McPharlin and Jeff Farmer, Murphy's strong hands and true boot were worthy allies to the usual excellence of Matthew Pavlich, whose four goals took him to 40 for the year.

With Fremantle's history of disappointments in front of Friday night TV audiences, Kevin Sheedy obviously sent out his youngsters with instructions to impose themselves - with Mark McVeigh and Adam McPhee early antagonists.

But with past accusations of softness on the big stage hanging over them, the Dockers' reacted with their best opening quarter of the season.

An early sliding goal to Crowley was followed by a Matt Carr effort before the swinging fist of Nathan Lovett-Murray caught him on the chin.

Lovett-Murray was reported, Carr concussed and the Bombers reacted to the fracas with two goals through Angus Monfries and Johns.

A spectacular mark from David Mundy encouraged his teammates to go on a goal streak, kicking five without reply.

With a 26-point quarter-time lead, any TV jitters seemed to have left the Dockers - but, as is often the case for Freo, what goes up then comes down.

An early second-quarter goal to Jason Johnson was quickly snuffed out by Byron Schammer's effort, which delighted the fans who had bronx cheered him two games ago.

The experience of Essendon's Camporeale began to shine, most of his possessions leading to something positive.

His efforts were not fully rewarded however, with Johns hitting the post twice and Jason Johnson and Ricky Dyson both missing sitters from 20m, meaning a 16-point half-time deficit was not the best it could have been.

With Connolly needing his leaders to lift, Pavlich did just that within a minute and, after Murphy and Crowley combined for another, once again Fremantle looked ready to streak away.

But the Bombers' youthful exuberance refused to be dimmed, Monfries and Johnson bringing the gap back to 16 before the Freo rollercoaster hit another up slope.

A four-goal, six-minute purple patch all but put the game to bed, with Murphy's fourth, Pavlich, Heath Black and then Crowley on the run prompting observers and fans to ask why can't Freo always play like that.

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