North Melbourne has underlined Tasmania as an AFLW fortress by inflicting Fremantle's first defeat of the season at North Hobart Oval.
In other results on Sunday, Adelaide maintained its undefeated record with a 39-point win over Carlton, and the Western Bulldogs recorded their first victory of the season after beating Richmond by 17 points.
In Hobart, the Kangaroos (4-1 win-loss record) were never headed in the tight contest and won by 10 points, 3.8 (26) to 2.4 (16), with the result in the balance until the final minutes.
The travel-weary Dockers (5-1) were brave without gun playmaker Kiara Bowers, who is serving a two-match suspension, but it was around the centre bounces and stoppages that the Kangaroos excelled in her absence.
Onballers Jasmine Garner (28 disposals) and Ash Riddell (24) allowed the Kangaroos to extend their winning run at the club's second home to seven-straight victories.
The Kangaroos dominated the second and third quarters, but left themselves exposed on the scoreboard with a run of eight-straight behinds before defender Isabella Eddey pounced on an errant clearing kick to goal on the run.
Fremantle, playing their fourth game in 16 days before heading home to Western Australia, mounted a spirited last-quarter challenge, but the hosts found a crucial goal from Tahlia Randall with only three minutes left to provide the vital scoreboard buffer.
North Melbourne blew the chance to head into the second half with a lead far more significant than just three points, paying a high price for inaccuracy within scoring range.
After an even opening quarter, the Kangaroos dominated the second term with their run and carry style compared to the Dockers' long kicks to a target or space.
Fremantle's unbeaten run was certainly vulnerable on the trip across Bass Strait.
Not only did the Dockers lose the invaluable Bowers, but injury also ruled out their number-one draft pick Amy Franklin and experienced Matilda Sergeant.
And among the four inclusions were three players in their debut seasons, Ireland's Aine Tighe, Dana East and Makaela Tuhakaraina.
Crows down Blues to remain unbeaten
The unbeaten Crows wrested control of the contest against the Blues during the second quarter but could not make their dominance count fully on the scoreboard, posting 2.7 in the first half.
It made for some nervous moments as the Blues fought back into the contest during the third term.
But outstanding performances from Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard, plus a four-goal final quarter, steered the Crows home in a 7.9 (51) to 1.6 (12) win at Princes Park.
Erin Phillips was the most inaccurate Adelaide forward, kicking her full score of 0.4 from 13 disposals in the first half.
She finished the match with 19 disposals.
Ailish Considine, Caitlin Gould and Hatchard all kicked goals to give the Crows an 18-point lead by three-quarter time.
The margin blew out in the final term, with further goals to Danielle Ponter, Lisa Whiteley, Eloise Jones and Considine putting the result beyond doubt.
Georgia Gee was Carlton's only goal kicker, while Madison Prespakis had 23 disposals.
Bulldogs beat injury-hit Tigers
Richmond is counting the cost of a mounting injury toll after its defeat to the previously winless Western Bulldogs.
Already struggling to cope with significant personnel issues, the Tigers lost Laura McClelland (ankle), Hannah Burchell (knee) and Kate Dempsey (leg) during Sunday's contest at Whitten Oval.
McClelland limped off with an ankle injury caused when her right leg twisted awkwardly in a tackle before half-time, while Dempsey was helped off by trainers midway through the final term.
There were grave concerns for Burchell, who hurt her left knee during the third quarter and was taken from the field on a stretcher.
All three players will be assessed in the coming days.
The fresh setbacks came with key players Harriet Cordner (knee) and Courtney Wakefield (shoulder) already sidelined.
The 4.6 (30) to 1.7 (13) defeat was the Tigers' third in succession and another significant blow to their hopes of playing finals for the first time.
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, were able to celebrate their first win of the season following a tough start.
Playing their third game in the space of 10 days due to a schedule heavily affected by COVID-19, the home side were full of running.
Kirsty Lamb (27 disposals) and captain Ellie Blackburn (19) led from the front, with Isabella Grant and Bonnie Toogood also influential.
Bulldogs duo Nell Morris-Dalton and Toogood kicked the opening two goals of a tight first half, before former Bulldogs star Katie Brennan pulled one back for Richmond.
Brennan's well-executed snap shot after a mark deep in the forward pocket cut the margin to five points at the main break.
But the Bulldogs used the wind to their advantage in the third term as Blackburn and Celine Moody kicked goals to keep their side in control.
A goalless final term confirmed the Bulldogs' victory on coach Nathan Burke's 52nd birthday.
Richmond star Monique Conti continued her stellar season with 23 disposals and five tackles in the midfield, while teammates Jess Hosking and Maddie Shevlin worked hard all day.
The Bulldogs' win left West Coast (0-4) and St Kilda (0-3) as the only sides yet to taste victory this season.
AAP/ABC
