The race for eighth spot remains wide open after Port Adelaide's yo-yo AFL season continued with an insipid 42-point loss to Fremantle at Subiaco Oval on Sunday.

The Power, supposedly fighting to secure a September berth, were devoid of run and passion as the Dockers booted 11 goals to four in a blitzing first half to set up the 17.14 (116) to 11.8 (74) triumph.

Port Adelaide's 10th loss of the season leaves them just half a game clear of ninth-placed Essendon, with Hawthorn and Sydney also hovering in the wings.

And the Power, who have strung together consecutive wins just once this season, could be left to rue the size of the loss to Fremantle after their percentage dipped below that of Sydney and Hawthorn's.

The Dockers, whose fifth win of the season rules them ineligible for a priority draft pick, had winners all over the field, with youngsters Greg Broughton (37 possessions, one goal) and Stephen Hill (22 possessions) leading the way.

And they had plenty of help, with Paul Duffield (30 touches) providing excellent run and carry through the midfield and Paul Hasleby, Matthew Pavlich, Byron Schammer, Matt de Boer and David Mundy offering crucial support around the stoppages.

To illustrate the Dockers' complete dominance of the match, they had 48 inside 50s to Port Adelaide's 23 by three-quarter time.

Fremantle forward Chris Mayne, playing just his second match of the season, booted 4.2 while Des Headland, who took a spectacular mark over Jacob Surjan in the second quarter, chipped in with three goals and Antoni Grover two goals.

Shaun Burgoyne (29 disposals, two goals), Travis Boak and Robbie Gray (two goals) battled manfully but Port Adelaide's players were inexcusably out-enthused by a side fighting for merely pride.

Gray kicked off proceedings with a goal in the fourth minute but from there Fremantle took complete control of the contest, slamming through six unanswered goals to set up a 30-point advantage by the first break.

Fremantle's dominance of the centre corridor continued in the second quarter and Mayne reaped the rewards, booting three goals for the term to give the home side a 45-point advantage at the long break.

Port Adelaide couldn't shake their stale and indecisive ball movement as the Dockers opened up a 60-point gap at the final change.

Power coach Mark Williams gave his team a vocal spray ahead of the final term and Port responded to some degree, booting the final three goals of the match to add some respectability to the scoreboard.

However, their laziness was evident until the end, with the Power failing to have a man on the goal-line late in the match when a Warren Tredrea set shot from 45m out fell short.

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