Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich looks certain to spend time on the sideline after his calf injury added to the insult of the Dockers' 84-point AFL belting by a rampant Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday.

Pavlich was forced off early in the second quarter of Fremantle's 26.13 (169) to 13.7 (85) defeat with a calf strain - the extent of which will be revealed by scans in the next 48 hours.

Dockers coach Mark Harvey said medical staff rated the injury a "minor calf strain".

But he conceded his one genuine superstar looked almost certain to miss a match or two.

"It's what they call a grade one (calf strain). How long, I don't know," Harvey said.

Pavlich's departure helped propel Fremantle towards to their sixth successive defeat, as Collingwood stars Alan Didak and Dane Swan ran riot.

Didak was unstoppable with 39 damaging touches and two goals, while the workaholic Swan finished with 41 possessions.

Collingwood had the smell of blood inside the first 10 minutes as they booted four unanswered goals against the jittery Dockers - Swan and Didak instrumental and setting the tone for what followed.

While Fremantle hovered for two terms, trailing by 21 at the main break and 34 at three quarter time, they never really looked capable of winning.

Collingwood always appeared to have a switch to flick and what followed when they powered up in the final term lit up a darkening MCG.

The Pies poured on 10 goals to two for the quarter - Fremantle's lack of fit players, inexperience and the quality of Collingwood's combination turning a regulation win into a rout.

As well as losing Pavlich, experienced Fremantle defenders Steven Dodd and Antoni Grover both spent significant time off the field.

Dodd was knocked out in a third quarter clash with teammate Dean Solomon, left the ground in a neck brace but was cleared of serious injury and eventually returned late in the match.

Grover was a virtual lame duck throughout - forced to play the second half in the goalsquare, barely able to move with a thigh injury.

While Harvey paid tribute to how well Collingwood played, he didn't believe his developing side had taken a backward step by falling away so badly.

"We worked our backsides off to get back into the match ... (the injuries) were taking a toll on our ability to have an impact on the game. But Collingwood's skills were terrific," he said.

Full forward John Anthony kicked four for the Pies, with Des Headland booting three for Fremantle.

The Magpies posted their fifth successive win to take their win-loss record to 8-5 and remain in the top four.

Collingwood's win sets up an enticing clash with in-form Essendon next weekend after the Bombers annihilated Carlton on Friday night.

The Pies also achieved the win without form midfielder Leon Davis, who was a late withdrawal with influenza.

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