The visitors from the West won 15.23 (113) to 15.10 (100) but not before the Lions reduced a 26-point lead to just six points in an exhilarating final quarter.
Not only did the Lions lose the match, but they also lost stars Jared Brennan (ankle) and Josh Drummond (knee) to what looked like serious injuries.
Both hobbled off during the third quarter and did not return.
The Lions lost defender Joel Patfull just before the match and were also without other key defenders Matt Maguire (suspended) and Daniel Merrett (hamstring) as well as Mitch Clark (injured).
Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich was a star for the winners. Stephen Hill was all class in the middle, while Chris Tarrant and Luke McPharlin wore respective opponents Jonathan Brown (one goal) and Brendan Fevola (three) like gloves.
Freo led at every change and their slick ball movement was a feature in the first three terms before the Lions made a trademark final-term surge.
Simon Black with 36 disposals and two goals was close to the best on ground in a losing team, while Michael Rischitelli also tried hard.
The 27,739-strong crowd was brought to life in the final term when Cheynee Stiller, Fevola, Todd Banfield and Ash McGrath kicked consecutive goals to give the Lions a fighting chance - but the Dockers maintained their nerve and the lead until the final siren.
Freo’s win (6-1) keeps its top four hopes well and truly alive ahead of coming matches against the in-form Collingwood and Swans, while the Lions (4-3) have now lost three on the trot and face juggernauts Geelong next Saturday night back at the Gabba to get their season back on track.
Lions coach Michael Voss would not have been happy with his side's discipline in the first quarter with Freo’s first two goals coming courtesy of 50m penalties.
Tom Rockliff and Luke Power were the culprits, while a trainer running across the mark also conceded a 50m penalty and a goal later in the match.
Brisbane Lions 5.2 6.4 10.7 15.10 (100)
Fremantle 5.5 9.9 12.15 15.23 (113)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Fevola 3, Banfield 2, Black 2, Brown, Drummond, McGrath, Rich, Rischitelli, Rockliff, Sherman, Stiller.
Fremantle: Pavlich 3, Johnson 2, Haselby 2, Ballantyne 2, Barlow, Fyfe, Mayne, Morabito, Palmer, Sandilands.
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Black, Rischitelli, McGrath, Staker, Power, Sherman
Fremantle: Hill, Mundy, Tarrant, McPharlin, Barlow, Pavlich, Ballantyne
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Patfull, Drummond (knee), Brennan (ankle)
Fremantle: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, McInerney, Mollison
Official crowd: 27,739 at the Gabba
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
