Fremantle broke its 2009 duck and eased the pressure on coach Mark Harvey with a convincing 21-point AFL victory over Sydney at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

The Dockers, embarrassed by St Kilda last week, made a barnstorming start to the match and never looked back, cruising to the 18.13 (121) to 16.4 (100) win after opening a 42-point half-time lead.

Gun onballer Rhys Palmer sent a scare through the Dockers' camp early in the final quarter when he collapsed to the turf in pain clutching his right knee and was carried off the ground by two trainers.

But Fremantle's worst fears were allayed when the youngster shook off the injury to walk unaided around the sidelines.

Sydney will monitor Craig Bird after he injured his shoulder in the third quarter.

Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich, heavily criticised during the week after an indifferent start to the season, led the way for the Dockers, amassing 27 possessions and booting three goals in a superb performance.

Midfielder David Mundy (20 possessions, three goals) battled Pavlich for best afield honours, while Michael Johnson, Luke McPharlin (three goals), Steven Dodd and Roger Hayden also played crucial roles in the win.

And first-year players Stephen Hill and Nic Suban also impressed in a promising sign for Fremantle's future.

The Swans struggled on the wide expanses in Perth, although Brett Kirk was inspirational during the third term in his 200th game, Jude Bolton tried his heart out, Rhys Shaw provided excellent run from defence and Adam Goodes chipped in with three goals.

Sydney, who have built a reputation as being the stoppage kings, lost the clearances 58-47 as Fremantle's new-look midfield clicked for the first time this season.

The Dockers asserted their dominance from the outset, booting six goals to two in the opening term to take a handy 26-point lead into the first break.

With no Barry Hall or Michael O'Loughlin to kick to, Sydney struggled to find an avenue towards goal and were left to hang on for dear life in the second quarter as the Dockers threatened to land the killer blow.

But a string of missed shots let Sydney off the hook, although the 42-point deficit at half-time was a daunting one.

The Swans finally hit their straps in the third term but despite controlling much of the quarter could only close the gap to 37 points at the final change as the Dockers made the most of their opportunities when they went forward.

Goals to Goodes and Heath Grundy to start the last quarter closed the margin to 25 points and put the 32,884 fans on the edge of their seats.

But a running goal from McPharlin, who took three bounces before kicking truly from 40m, settled the Dockers' nerves.

"We just couldn't win the ball, we got smashed at the stoppages early," Sydney coach Paul Roos said.

"Probably the senior players early in the game didn't respond as well as the Freo boys did.

"I thought we were on top in the third quarter and we should have come in at three quarter time maybe three (goals) down, but once we gave them those easy goals ... it just meant it was difficult for us to get back into the game."

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey praised the fighting spirit of his group.

"What we managed to do is to get off to a good start and hence they had to fight back into the game," Harvey said.

"When you have stoppage after stoppage sometimes that can be a little bit frustrating for a team if they're behind and they have to get back into the game.

"So it was one of those extraordinary nights when you play Sydney that you finish up having 100-plus stoppages and really the playing group has felt the brunt of all that which is good from a mental toughness point of view."

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