Fremantle's push to silence the critics with just the second finals appearance in club history was given a huge boost with an impressive 29-point win over an out-of-sorts Melbourne.

The Dockers' third win in the row, 15.6 (96) to 9.13 (67), re-established them in the top eight at the expense of Geelong, while also handing local rivals West Coast a boost by preventing the Demons taking second spot.

And as well as Freo's growing belief its potential is about to bear fruit, an increasingly uncompromising attitude was again on display, with Des Headland, and brothers Matthew and Josh Carr brothers facing dates with the tribunal after a heated encounter.

Coming to Subiaco on a six game winning streak, and with one loss in three months, it seemed the Demons arrived in Perth with all the momentum.

But on the back of a dominant ruck performance from Freo's Aaron Sandilands - made all the more impressive given his lack of experienced back-up - it was the Dockers who shone.

Three goals from the always excellent Matthew Pavlich was the spearhead, but Sandiland's constant ball supply and solid defense marshalled by Luke McPharlin were also keys.

Dockers coach Chris Connolly said failures in the past two seasons were driving the club towards its finals goal this year.

"When we started training November 1, we had a really angry group because we had just missed the finals two years in a row, and that has driven a lot of energy through the club," Connolly said.

"I think going through that experience is really going to steel the club, the players up and give us some resolve going forward.

"But some of the contests are going to be full on."

Starved out of the centre, the Demons frustration at times boiled over, with Brad Green facing his own tribunal date after being reported for a headbutt on Ryan Crowley.

And on a weekend celebrating 80's football, an old fashioned stoush as the players' exited at half time led to reports for the Carr's, and Adam Yze, while Headland was in the book before the first bounce for striking Simon Godfrey.

Connolly was making no excuses for his side's tactics.

"There is lot at stake, and we are very serious about doing our business the right way ... it will be the same next week," he said.

Melbourne coach Neil Daniher said he did not see the Green incident, but admitted the goal which followed was one of many mistakes.

"We probably made as many errors and stuff-ups as we have for a long, long time but that is probably due to Freo's pressure," Daniher said.

"I had my head down talking about something else (for the Green incident) ... but they are big swings aren't they. Crowley kicks that one and then Sandilands gets one pretty quick (after half time), they are big swings.

"I thought they had the momentum swings today, where we weren't able to take our chances."

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