Travis Cloke booted five goals as Collingwood continued their premiership charge with a convincing 36-point AFL victory over fellow high flyers Fremantle at Subiaco Oval on Friday night.

The Magpies led by 31 points late in the first quarter but looked vulnerable when the Dockers stormed back to close the gap to six points midway through the second term.

But it was as close as the home side could get, with Cloke's dominance up forward and classy midfield drive from Dane Swan, Ben Johnson, Luke Ball and Dale Thomas powering the Pies to the 20.13 (133) to 15.7 (97) victory.

Collingwood's seventh win of the season put them a game clear of second-placed Fremantle, while Geelong, Sydney, St Kilda and Port Adelaide can join the Dockers on six wins if they win this weekend.

In an intriguing match featuring two vastly different game styles, the Magpies' exquisite rebound from the backline and clean hands in close proved the difference.

Fremantle's defence seemed almost non-existent once Collingwood made it through their stifling zone, with the Pies registering 33 scoring chances from 54 inside 50s for the match, including 19 from 23 in the first half.

Collingwood finished with 13 separate goal kickers but Cloke, matched up against in-form Dockers defender Chris Tarrant for much of the night, was the standout, with Alan Didak chipping in with three majors.

Cloke snared seven marks in an important lead-up role as the Dockers struggled to plug the gaps without defender Luke McPharlin, who failed to reappear after injuring his knee in the first quarter.

Aaron Sandilands (43 hit-outs, two goals) was a tower of strength in the ruck but Fremantle failed to capitalise as Collingwood took control at ground level, with quick and clean handball allowing them to win the clearances.

Dockers midfielder Michael Barlow finished with 34 possessions and 14 tackles in a gutsy effort, while Matthew Pavlich (two goals), Stephen Hill, Ryan Crowley and Hayden Ballantyne battled valiantly in a losing cause.

Fremantle trailed by just 10 points at half-time but leaked seven goals in the third quarter as Collingwood tore the contest apart.

Cloke booted two goals for the quarter as Fremantle's zone defence crumbled.

Time and again the Pies found open men in their forward 50m as the Dockers struggled to contain Collingwood's forward thrusts.

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