Melbourne posted a record-low three clearances in the first half on the way to the 17.14 (116) to 10.6 (66) loss on Sunday.
The result lifted Fremantle (11-6-1) into the top four, while Melbourne (10-8) face a major fight to make the finals.
But the win came at a big cost for the Dockers, with Pearce subbed off in the third term after copping a knock to his surgically-repaired left arm.
It was Pearce's first match back since fracturing his left forearm against Gold Coast four weeks ago.
Pearce, who wore an arm cast during the game as added protection, is now set to undergo scans to determine if he has suffered any fresh damage.
Alex Pearce was subbed off after copping a knock to the arm he injured four weeks ago. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)
Fremantle's Luke Jackson also failed to finish the game, with the star big man seen with ice on his right knee during the fourth quarter.
Michael Walters and Jye Amiss kicked four goals apiece for the Dockers, while Josh Treacy was huge with three goals, 12 marks and 464m gained.
Andrew Brayshaw (41 disposals, four clearances, Caleb Serong (36 disposals, six clearances, one goal) and Hayden Young (28 disposals, eight clearances) were dominant in the midfield, with Sean Darcy (34 hitouts, eight clearances) feasting in the ruck as Fremantle won the overall clearance battle 47-15 and the hitouts 47-9.Â
Melbourne's decision not to select a recognised ruckman in the absence of Max Gawn (ankle) backfired on them badly from the outset as Darcy monstered Harrison Petty and Jacob van Rooyen.
Fremantle won the clearance battle an astounding 14-0 in the first term, including 4-0 in the centre clearances.
The Dockers also won the inside 50m battle 21-6, hitouts 10-1, and marks inside 50m 7-1, with the dominance no doubt reviving memories of Melbourne's 92-point loss to Fremantle in Alice Springs seven weeks ago.
It's party time out west as Serong adds a goal to his 34 touches 🌟— AFL (@AFL) #AFLFreoDees pic.twitter.com/21TOILI3ZuJuly 21, 2024
Fremantle's 23-2 lead at quarter time would have been far more damaging if not for the desperate defending of Steven May and the Dockers' inaccuracy.
The clearance count read 15-0 early in the second term before Melbourne finally won one of their own - leading to a soccered goal from Caleb Windsor.
Fremantle quickly reasserted their dominance, and the scoreline was 43-8 and the clearances 20-1 when Walters kicked truly midway through the quarter.
The Dockers were so dominant at that point that they could have easily been up by 10 goals, but their inaccuracy came back to haunt them as the Demons pinched back two quick goals through van Rooyen to close the gap to 24 points.
Brayshaw's goal-saving tackle and a major after the half-time siren to Walters gave Fremantle a 30-point lead at the long break.
Fremantle led the clearance count 24-3 at half-time.
It marked the first time a team had recorded less than five clearances in an opening half since Champion Data started recording the stat in 1999.Â
Melbourne displayed brief periods of resistance in the third quarter, but Fremantle ran riot early in the last to seal the easy win.
8°C