Fremantle has had the near-perfect first half of the home-and-away season. And put an exclamation mark on it with a club-record 124-point victory over North Melbourne.
Apart from a second-half fade-out against Geelong away from home in Round 1, Fremantle hasn't put a foot wrong in 2026, winning a club-record 12 games on the trot.
Now heading into the club's mid-season bye, the Dockers sit two wins clear on top of the ladder, albeit with second-placed Sydney having a game in hand to play on Sunday.
Either way, the Dockers are sitting comfortably on top and 14 points (four wins) clear of third-placed Hawthorn.
That means Fremantle is four wins and percentage clear of losing hosting rights for a qualifying final. That's a massive, rarely seen bumper gap for a side looking to taste September success for the first time and rid themselves of the choker and under-performer label.
During Saturday afternoon's demolition of North Melbourne "away from home" in Bunbury, the Dockers showed their potency in attack and fast and free-flowing ball movement to beat their previous record win of 113 points against GWS in 2013.
Recruit Judd McVee played easily his best game of the season and in his new threads after crossing from Melbourne during last year's trade period.
The 22-year-old provided plenty of dash off half-back, going for multiple long bouncing runs.
What Fremantle has earned through its record-breaking start to the season is the right to rest players when it needs to in the second half of the year.
Football pundit and two-time All-Australian half-back flanker David King has previously suggested giving the likes of star ruck Luke Jackson, gun forward Josh Treacy and mercurial-but-often-injured Hayden Young a chop out at points during the second half of the season.
Being effectively four wins clear of losing a home qualifying final, coach Justin Longmuir and his team have given themselves a luxury that not many title challengers have been afforded in the past.
So how will they capitalise on this lightning-quickeasily start? While also making sure their momentum doesn't slip post bye with tough games against Geelong (home), Gold Coast (home), GWS (away) and Sydney (home).
The good news for Dockers fans, players and coaches is that it is in their control.
