Fremantle's surge towards September continued in impressive style, the Dockers beating St Kilda 17.12 (114) to 7.14 (56) to burst into the AFL's top four and genuine premiership contention.

A four-goal, first-quarter burst by Jeff Farmer set Fremantle on its way and, despite slippery conditions at Subiaco, Chris Connolly's emerging side simply ran the Saints off their feet.

The club record winning streak of seven has the Dockers sitting third on the ladder with plans to go deep into the finals.

Although Farmer caught most eyes until he was withdrawn with a worrying hamstring injury, the Dockers outpointed Grant Thomas's men wherever it mattered.

Shaun McManus (28 possessions) and skipper Peter Bell (23 possessions) bossed midfield, while Luke McPharlin (28 possessions, 20 marks) continued his renaissance as a top class defender.

For the Saints, only Robert Harvey and Sam Fisher stood out while Fraser Gehrig had yet another Perth run he would rather forget, finishing with just two goals from free kicks.

The build up to the match had been dominated by clashes which had gone before, the last three meetings being decided by less than a kick.

That included an after-the-siren win for the Dockers in the corresponding match last year, followed by the siren fiasco in Launceston this year.

In the first five minutes, St Kilda looked more attuned to the slippery conditions, kicking the opening two majors through Justin Koschitzke and Nick Riewoldt.

But after an inspirational piece of play from Matthew Pavlich led to Freo's first goal - palming a ball to Justin Longmuir under massive pressure from two opponents - the Dockers never looked back.

Farmer, in particular, continued his recent unstoppable form, the last of his goal quartet followed by a verbal spray towards Koschitzke to let him know the score.

With the Saints bereft of any run, Bell and McManus assumed control with the help of Aaron Sandilands, who towered over the Saints, physically and figuratively.

Nine goals without reply to half time was only what Freo deserved for their efforts, with Pavlich's first taking the half time lead out to 43 points.

After St Kilda's goal drought was broken by Harvey, Pavlich gradually began to dominate while St Kilda continued to struggle to keep the ball, or use it effectively when it did.

Five goals to three in the third term had the lead out to 56 points at the last change with Freo's inferior percentage receiving a timely boost.

And, after McManus kicked his third, the Freo crowd began dreaming of September and next week's mouthwatering derby with West Coast - already being called the biggest game ever staged in Western Australia.

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