Fremantle coach Mark Harvey has urged his players not to get carried away after the Dockers' surprise 56-point AFL win over Adelaide at Subiaco Oval on Sunday.

The Dockers' ferocious attack on the ball and fierce forward line pressure brought Adelaide undone in the 17.16 (118) to 9.8 (62) result.

But Harvey was quick to put the win into perspective with tough games against Essendon (Etihad Stadium), Geelong (Subiaco Oval) and St Kilda (Etihad Stadium) to come in the next three rounds.

"It's only round one," Harvey said.

"This competition changes on a weekly basis.

"We do have to be careful we don't get carried away because we have to reload quickly against the Bombers next week.

"It's about building for us.

"It's been a lot of blood, sweat and tears over the last three or four months so you let them be measured about how they celebrate.

"I think they took it in their stride."

"But we've got a pretty demanding week ahead of us ... playing against a side that ran it right up to Geelong up until three-quarter time."

Upgraded Dockers rookie Michael Barlow, who was playing in the VFL last season, was the star of the show with 33 possessions, two goals and four score assists.

"He's still learning the game, still got a lot to learn but he's mature and I'm pretty sure he's not one of those kids that gets carried away with their first game," Harvey said.

"It's pleasing you can have a player that's just been playing in the VFL and can get up and do that in a short period of time only three or four months in a professional environment."

And the 22-year-old had plenty of help against the Crows, with Matthew Pavlich (three goals), Paul Duffield, David Mundy, Hayden Ballantyne, Nick Suban, Stephen Hill, Aaron Sandilands (33 hit-outs), Greg Broughton and Luke McPharlin also starring.

Debutant Anthony Morabito also impressed in patches, with his booming 60m goal in the third quarter helping stave off an Adelaide fightback.

Fremantle entered their forward 50m zone 44 times for an amazing 33 scoring shots.

"I was more pleased with how we pressured and harassed Adelaide when they had the ball," Harvey said.

Harvey confirmed midfielder Rhys Palmer would spend at least another week in the WAFL as he recovers from a serious knee injury.

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