FREMANTLE has snapped a two-game losing streak and consigned a hapless Port Adelaide to its fifth straight loss, running out easy 52-point winners at AAMI Stadium on Saturday afternoon.   

Fremantle took full advantage of a strong breeze and Port Adelaide's dismal work rate in the first half, piling on eight unanswered goals either side of the quarter-time break to set up the 21.16 (142) to 14.6 (90) win.

The visitors substituted goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne, who missed the loss to West Coast last week with a hamstring complaint, from the game in the third quarter as a precaution.

All-Australian ruckman Aaron Sandilands also finished the game on the interchange bench after complaining of foot soreness in the final quarter.

Fremantle was accused of relying on too few players in its losses to the Eagles and Richmond, but the club enjoyed a more even contribution in its second trip to AAMI Stadium this season.

Freo had 13 individual goalkickers in the comfortable win.

In-form utility Kepler Bradley kicked three goals to increase his season tally to 19, and move into equal-fourth spot in the race for the Coleman medal.

Robbie Gray and Jay Schulz both finished with three goals for the Power.

Fremantle, missing six first-choice players, appeared vulnerable but any hope Port Adelaide had of recording a long-awaited second win was snuffed out in the first quarter.

Matthew Pavlich and Chris Mayne combined for four goals in the opening term, as Fremantle kicked seven goals to Port Adelaide's two to lead by 31 points at the first break.

The flat-footed Power struggled to win the ball or move it forward with any purpose when they had possession, allowing the Fremantle defenders to intercept the ball and create play.

Freo continued their dominance in the second quarter, adding another six goals to extend the lead to 53 points at half time.

Gray tried to lift Port Adelaide, kicking three goals in a brilliant individual effort in the third quarter.

The home side was inspired briefly, lifting its intensity to an acceptable level but two quick goals to Rhys Palmer put an end to the Power's run.

Influential players
Gray was the Power’s most dangerous forward. Young players Ben Jacobs (22 touches, four clearances and a goal), Jasper Pittard (17 disposals and a goal) and Simon Phillips (16 disposals and a goal) were also among the home team's better players.

Key match-ups
Kane Cornes was restored to his preferred tagging role for one of the few times this season, and predictably performed it well. Cornes held an out-of-sorts Stephen Hill to a season-low 10 touches and a goal.

What it means
Port Adelaide is looking better for the wooden spoon each week. The club is committed to blooding young players, and appears set for some short-term pain.

Toyota AFL Dream Team highlight
Port Adelaide: Keep an eye on Power youngster Ben Jacobs as a potential trade-down option in the coming weeks. The 19-year-old scored 53 DT points on debut against the Swans last week, and with another 91 points against Fremantle, Jacobs could be a welcome addition for cash-strapped DT coaches.

The next four: the future ahead
Port Adelaide: Richmond (TIO Stadium), Carlton (AAMI Stadium), Bye, West Coast (Patersons Stadium)

What the coaches said
Matthew Primus (Port Adelaide): "It was another disappointing performance. Today, I thought our younger players were outstanding. We got to see our future with Ben Jacobs, Cam O’Shea, Andrew Moore, Simon Phillips and Jasper Pittard. They really responded in the second half.

"We just got beaten on the outside, which has been an issue all year, with our uncontested stuff. Fremantle came with that tactic straight away and we were let down by everyone on the field in that first quarter-and-a-half."

Port Adelaide         2.2    5.3    11.4     14.6  (90)
Fremantle               7.3   13.8  19.11   21.16  (142)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Gray 3, Schulz 3, Phillips, K. Cornes, Hartlett, Westhoff, Pittard, Moore, Jacobs, Boak
Fremantle: Bradley 3, Mayne 2, Palmer 2, C. Pearce 2, Pavlich 2, Fyfe 2, Roberton 2, Lower, Ballantyne, Hill, Crowley, Broughton, Sandilands

BEST
Port Adelaide: Broadbent, Gray, Boak, Jacobs, Pittard
Fremantle: Fyfe, Lower, Pavlich, Bradley, Crowley, Mundy, Broughton

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Brett Ebert (omitted) replaced in selected side by Cameron O'Shea
Fremantle: Sandilands (ankle)

SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Danyle Pearce replaced by Steven Salopek during the third quarter
Fremantle: Hayden Ballantyne replaced by Tendai Mzungu at three-quarter time

Reports: Nil

Umpires: McBurney, Leppard, Wenn

Official crowd: 16,274 at AAMI Stadium

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL