Fremantle have celebrated their long-awaited AFLW homecoming with a thumping win against Carlton at Fremantle Oval.
The Dockers quickly overcame a sluggish start with four goals in the third quarter to set up a 42-point victory, 7.9 (51) to 1.3 (9).
Carlton were dogged in defeat, but the workrate that was so impressive in the first half fell away when the home team blew open the contest after halftime.
Tall forward Mikayla Morrison took full advantage of the Dockers' ability to regain the midfield control in the second half to kick three goals in the impressive performance that underlined Fremantle's premiership credentials.
Not only was it the Dockers' first game at home after four matches in 16 days on Australia's eastern seaboard, they now also welcome back key playmaker Kiara Bowers who has completed a two-games suspension.
Fremantle skipper Hayley Miller, who led by example, with 24 possessions, six tackles and eight clearances, explained that it wasn't an easy week simply being back in Western Australia.
"We've had a pretty rough four weeks and this week wasn't much different," she said.
"Most of us aren't actually home yet, we're in quarantine in Airbnbs all across the state.
"So for the girls to come out and perform the way they did, it was pretty impressive.
"We had exemptions to train, I guess, but that was the only time we had outside.
"We have a bye next week which will be great to freshen up and then we have a couple of tough games to end the season.
"But we're in a good spot. I'm so proud of these girls."
Carlton paid a heavy price for its reliance on Darcy Vescio, the 2021 AFLW leading goalkicker, while Fremantle had several options to Morrison when it opened up the game with run and spread in the second half.
The Blues had superb contributors including teenager Mimi Hill and the relentless Maddy Prespakis who had 25 and 19 possessions respectively.
But they simply didn't have enough teammates to climb on board to help with the hard work against a classy opposition.
Carlton certainly wasn't deterred by the tough COVID-19 fly-in and isolate conditions and the Blues took the game right up to the home team from the opening bounce.
With first use of the breeze and a dominant midfield, the Blues controlled most of the opening quarter.
And they had the perfect start when Vescio ran onto a loose ball and kicked a goal with a brilliant left foot snapshot before the dangerous sharpshooter hit the post with a shot on the run.
Morrison finally got Fremantle on the board late in the first term when she seized a loose ball as two Carlton defenders waited for it to dribble over the boundary line deep in the forward pocket.
The quick-thinking Docker grabbed it and ran almost to the goalline for the reply.
And when the experienced Kara Antonio kicked truly from a free kick for a high tackle early in the second quarter, Fremantle took a lead that was never threatened during the lopsided second-half contest.
