Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich has been battered from pillar to post this AFL season - not by opponents but rather by critics.

His highly-publicised misses on goal during the Dockers' eight-game losing streak saw him cop a battering in the press.

But the 26-year-old returned serve to those critics in true champion style on Saturday as he piled on eight goals to help the Dockers sink North Melbourne by 53 points at Subiaco Oval.

Pavlich had seven goals by three-quarter time - and the Dockers had a lead of 61 points - before Roos coach Dean Laidley belatedly relieved Michael Firrito of his duties and switched Josh Gibson to man the power forward.

It was too little, too late as the Dockers celebrated their first win since round three, 18.12 (120) to 9.13 (67).

"He's just a professional player who does all he can to get the best result out of the team dynamics, that's how I see it," Fremantle coach Mark Harvey said.

"And it doesn't surprise me he goes out and kicks eight goals.

"I think he's been regularly playing well but we tend to focus on shots on goal that perhaps override his performance.

"People should be guarded about what they say about great players."

Not only did North Melbourne's top-eight aspirations cop a major blow but ruckman Hamish McIntosh could miss the rest of the season after sustaining a serious knee injury during the opening bounce of the second quarter.

Laidley said the big man had suffered posterior cruciate damage to his right knee and was set to miss 10 weeks of football.

The Roos, who had put up fierce resistance against Geelong last week, were held goalless in the first and third terms against a well-drilled Dockers unit.

Laidley was less than impressed with his team's drop in intensity.

"I'd like to know whether it's a mental or physical thing where you play like you did eight days ago and then you serve up what you serve up today," Laidley said.

It was all roses for Fremantle, whose second win of the season brings an end to their demoralising losing streak.

But Harvey refused to get carried away.

"You haven't got time in this industry (to sit back and enjoy the win)," Harvey said.

"I always got taught to be humble when you win.

"I think they (the players) are (humble) and I know they are and we are looking forward to next week against St Kilda."

Fremantle had winners all over the park as the Roos folded under extreme pressure.

Aaron Sandilands was a tower of strength in the ruck, Jeff Farmer (two goals, 27 possessions), Byron Schammer, Brett Peake and David Mundy dominated at ground level while Antoni Grover and Luke McPharlin were rock solid in defence.

The Roos entered the match without forwards Nathan Thompson, Corey Jones and Shannon Grant, who was a late withdrawal, and their absence was telling in the final result with the Roos restricted to just three goals in the first three quarters.

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