A spectacular performance from Fremantle debutant Michael Barlow has helped the Dockers claim their first Round 1 win since 2005 in a 56-point battering of Adelaide at Subiaco on Sunday night.
Elevated off the rookie list less than two weeks ago, Barlow took his impressive summer form into the season proper, earning 33 possessions and two goals on debut, his 13 touches during the second term helping Freo to a seven goals to two quarter.
Having established a 42-point lead, the Dockers were challenged by Adelaide during the third term.
But a stunning long-range goal by another first gamer in Anthony Morabito helped Fremantle steady the ship as Mark Harvey's men kicked seven of the last eight goals to run out 17.16 (118) to 9.8 (62) winners.
Skipper Matthew Pavlich and Des Headland both kicked three goals apiece in a forward line that shared the goals around, but neither of these two veterans could outshine 22-year-old Barlow, the former VFL ball magnet claimed by Fremantle in last year's Rookie draft.
Barlow was far from alone, though, in terms of good Dockers' performances on debut as Alex Silvagni looked a composed old head in defence and Morabito produced some telling touches to go with his momentum-swinging goal.
For long periods Adelaide, seemed at a loss to counter the intense Dockers' pressure in both the midfield and forward line, Fremantle's defence generally mopping up some haphazard entries into the Crows' 50.
Taylor Walker scored four goals from limited opportunities, presenting a good target as the highly-fancied Kurt Tippett failed to fire, kicking 1.4.
It was a willing but far from classy start, though, by both teams to this Round 1 encounter, neither side scoring until the 21st minute when Chris Mayne slotted the opener for Freo.
But having taken a two-point advantage into quarter-time, the Dockers stunned the Crows in the second term as they dominated the centre clearances and piled on seven goals.
Fuelled by Barlow's 13 possessions for the quarter, the Dockers ran riot at the bounces, claiming seven centre clearances to one as they repeatedly took the ball into a hungry forward line.
Even when the forward kicks went astray, the Dockers pressure in the front third saw the hosts retain possession and force the Crows into numerous uncharacteristic mistakes, the worst of those being a kick across the face by Tyson Edwards that Garrick Ibbotson cut off and slipped home off the ground.
Adelaide pulled two goals back late in the term but Fremantle still took a 36-point lead into the main break as Freo's rookies shone, Barlow adding a goal to his match stats while Silvagni drilled a classy running goal.
Given a rocket by coach Neil Craig at half-time, Adelaide upped its intensity in the third quarter, opening the scoring through Tippett's first for the night 90 seconds in.
The Crows went on to kick four of the first five goals as they gave Fremantle a taste of their own medicine through some quick centre clearances, with Scott Thompson nailing two in two minutes, although the last one was a gift free from the umpires.
Having shrunk a 42-point deficit to just 17, Fremantle first gamer Morabito helped wrest the momentum back with a booming 60 metre goal that was followed by another major from Michael Johnson.
The impressive Walker reduced the gap to just 25 points at the final break through his fourth goal of the night seconds before three-quarter-time.
But his efforts failed to inspire the Crows as Barlow capped off his evening by kicking truly after nailing Thompson in a quality tackle, the Dockers running out the game effectively as Headland knocked in two late goals.
FREMANTLE: 2.5, 9.9, 21.11, 17.16 (118)
ADELAIDE: 2.3, 4.3, 9.4, 9.8 (62)
GOALS: Fremantle: Headland 3, Pavlich 3, Mayne 2, Barlow 2, Ballantyne, Ibbotson, Silvagni, Morabito, Johnson, Crowley, Mundy
Adelaide: Walker 4, Thompson 2, Dangerfield, Bock, Tippett,
BEST: Fremantle: Barlow, Duffield, Broughton, Hill, Ballantyne, Sandilands
Adelaide: Edwards, Walker, Dangerfield, McLeod
INJURIES: Fremantle: Crowley (wrist)
Adelaide: Sloan (ankle), Walker (concussion)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Kennedy, Nicholls, Keating
CROWD: 30,976 at Subiaco