Having been warned the next ten weeks would decide his Fremantle future, Jeff Farmer turned in four goals against Carlton, prompting coach Chris Connolly to suggest he could be at the club for years to come.

In his first game of the year following back to back suspensions for on and off field indiscretions, Farmer was at his magical best, sparking Freo's second highest total in history in a 77-point walloping of Carlton.

With Des Headland booting five and Matthew Pavlich and Peter Bell four each, the Dockers' 27.11 (173) to 13.18 (96) win was also their biggest ever over the Blues, and the perfect start to a significant second half of the season

And with a blockbuster against Sydney to come next weekend, Connolly said he had a renewed confidence in his side - and Farmer's potential to remain despite being out of contract at season's end.

"Jeff is such a great player, we have really missed him and hopefully he will be at the club for many, many years and get the team success to top off his career," Connolly said

"He gave everyone a lot of confidence, but I think the team has been building every week.

"Des Headland is probably playing the best football he has played for the club, Jeff's return ... it was very exciting.

"But reality is we are playing a top team next week, well and truly in the (finals) mix with us, and we have got keep improving."

Three of Farmer's four goals could be contenders for best of the week, with his third - involving two escaped tackles, a stumble and a right foot banana shot - a definite shout for goal of the year.

The controversial 30-year-old said after bans for an eye gouge and a fight with a bouncer, to return to football was a relief.

"It is in the past. I am just looking forward to the next nine games, and it is about helping the football team win games and hopefully get back in the eight," Farmer said.

"We have got to try and stay in touch ... win enough games and rely on other teams in the eight to lose."

While Fremantle look up, Carlton coach Denis Pagan was again left looking down the barrel, with combined defeats totalling 177 points in the past two games and few positives.

Brendan Fevola's 50m penalties outnumbered his single goal, stand-in captain Jarrad Waite's five majors masked a one-possession first half and only Andrew Carrazzo's 26 possessions playing on Peter Bell made any statement.

"Whenever we looked threatening early in the game we turned it over with a bodgie kick or an ineffective handball," Pagan said.

"When they got a sniff they started running, we couldn't keep up with them and they just smashed us with a loose player all the time.

"We haven't played well the last two weeks, the previous six weeks have been terrific."

"But (Carrazzo) fought a lone hand today, he is going forward and growing all the time."

Pagan said he will look to inject some speed - and belief - back into his troops ahead of the clash with Melbourne at the MCG next week.

"We know we have got to get run into the side, and we have got to see if there any blokes in our VFL side (Northern Bullants) tomorrow that are prepared to run," Pagan said.

"But we have only got one alternative is to be positive ... it is not going to serve any purpose with our blokes ranting and raving at the moment."

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