Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands was temporarily blinded during his AFL club's stirring 25-point away triumph over Adelaide on Saturday.

Sandilands will remain in Adelaide overnight and consult a specialist after suffering a poke in his left eye during the Dockers' 11.13 (79) to 7.12 (54) victory at AAMI Stadium.

The ruck giant was substituted when unable to see from the eye in the third quarter of a victory Fremantle coach Mark Harvey dedicated to his captain Matthew Pavlich.

Pavlich broke Shane Parker's record for the most games for the Dockers and was typically influential in his 239th outing.

"Personally, and from a club point of view, it was important that we won today and recognised Pav for breaking the record at this football club," Harvey said.

"We recognise him as the best player the club has ever had."

The Dockers stunned Adelaide with a five-goal-to-nil opening quarter and then controlled proceedings - the Crows were unable to sneak closer than four goals as Fremantle lodged a win Harvey described as significant for a variety of reasons.

"A milestone, and making sure that you stamp your authority so early in a season," he said.

"Every game is significant so early in the season, the more you win earlier in the year the less you have to fight your way through the season ... it means a lot."

Sandilands dominated until his injury, providing gold-plated service to a hungry bunch of midfielders led by Nathan Fyfe (27 disposals), David Mundy (30 touches), Stephen Hill (28 possessions) and Pavlich (25 disposals).

Fremantle's defence suffocated Adelaide, who could muster just 2.5 in the opening half, and their attack was productive with Adam McPhee and Chris Mayne each kicking two goals.

In contrast, an error-prone Adelaide had few winners - midfielder Scott Thompson gathered 40 possessions but many had scant impact, while Patrick Dangerfield (25 touches, seven inside 50s) underlined his growing status with an outlandish third-quarter goal.

Dangerfield won a free kick at half back and tore through the middle of the ground, taking three bounces and burning off renowned Freo speedster Stephen Hill before kicking truly from 50 metres.

The feat was a rare highlight in a performance met with ire by Crows coach Neil Craig, who blasted his team as uncompetitive.

"We just have to get harder as a group in everything we do," Craig said.

"We are not a hardened professional side yet ... your hardened professionals in any elite sport are able to come up week in, week out, with fierce determination.

"We are still learning that as a squad."

Adelaide defender Phil Davis suffered a shoulder sprain and is in doubt for their clash with home town rivals Port Adelaide next Saturday night, while the Dockers return home sans Sandilands to prepare to host North Melbourne next Sunday.

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