West Coast have broken their run of defeats against Fremantle and extended the Dockers' miserable start to the AFL season with a powerful 14.17 (101) to 11.4 (70) victory at a packed Subiaco Oval.

Leading at every change, West Coast was always the better team without having a huge advantage on the scoreboard, leading by just 13 points at the final change.

But with the game on the line, West Coast delivered with Steven Armstrong capping an impressive game with his third goal and Michael Braun's industry earning him the Ross Glendinning medal for best-on ground.

To make matters worse for the winless Dockers, they will yet again be paying a visit to the tribunal, after a frustrated Des Headland was reported in the third term for a on-the-floor punch up with Adam Selwood.

In a first half of few goals but high intensity, Dockers skipper Matthew Pavlich was forced to work overtime to break the shackles of Darren Glass, with Quinten Lynch having his own battle to outmuscle Luke McPharlin.

Only Armstrong, with the first and last goals of the half, was able to get on the scoresheet more than once - with the match more about individual battles than a goalfest.

Despite the usual pre-match speculation about late changes, both teams sprung the surprise by remaining unchanged - meaning Dean Cox and Ashley Hansen were back for the Eagles.

After the early burst, the game settled into the expected arm wrestle with Adam Hunter and Brent Staker particularly impressive in keeping the Dockers to a single first term goal.

And after Hansen and Daniel Kerr doubled West Coast's tally in time-on, Perth's bigger brother looked to be edging away.

Freo's Josh Carr was having none of it - irritating his way to a goal after Tyson Stenglein could not help but respond to some provocation early in term two.

Although Aaron Sandilands was not having a great game, his massive presence in the goal square brought Fremantle back into the contest, kicking a goal himself and ushering through Troy Cooks' 60m bomb.

If any of the 42,051 spectators thought the intensity would drop after halftime they were proved wrong, when Matt Rosa kicked a miraculous goal within a minute to take the Eagles to their biggest lead.

Matt Carr and Lynch, from a dubious free kick, traded goals but when Andrew Embley soccered off the ground despite a dicky knee, West Coast again looked more likely.

Pavlich's second gave the Dockers something to cling to and when David Mundy capped an impressive third term to kick truly from the goalline, Chris Tarrant stepped up after the siren to set up what promised to be a thrilling finale.

But it never really delivered, with four Eagles goals in row blowing Freo out of the water and condemning them to their worst start under Chris Connolly.

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