For years travelling to Melbourne was seen as a daunting task for the Dockers but now they revel in it. Particularly in recent times when a trip out of Perth gets you away from the crime syndicate up the road. Unfortunately, a lot of clubs quite like the place too and last year, Fremantle took on the Demons at the MCG last with disastrous results.

After winning 4 of their previous 5 games at the MCG, full of confidence, Fremantle packed their bags and headed back in Round 7, 2006. They'd just won one of the great derbies, a game where the skills of the sides shone through, not the dirty tactics of the Eagles and the completely off the wall umpiring. It had been a big few weeks for Fremantle, with the Sirengate victory and the Derby falling with a few days of each other. Against Melbourne, Fremantle started like millionaires - running hard, kicking long and dobbing the first two goals of the match but the magnificent start to the game quickly turned into an old school Freo in Victoria style game where the opposition seemed to have more players, and better ones at that. The half time break of 37 points was stretched out to 59 by the end of the day, more than double Fremantle's score.

Adam Yze had 28 touches for Melbourne and Travis Johnstone run amok with 27 and 3 Brownlow votes. Byron Schammer was Freo's top ball getter with 26 touches, Paul Hasbely and Matthew Pavlich weren't far behind, with Pav somehow sneaking in for 2 votes from the umpires.

An indicator of the sort of day it was for Fremantle was that Michael "The Hurricane" Johnson was their top goal kicker with 3. Melbourne's goals were spread about with Davey, Green, Johnstone, McLean, Neitz, Robertson and Yze all kicking 2.

Not a team to hold a grudge but sure to learn from their mistakes, Fremantle made sure that when they met Melbourne the next time around they corrected the ledger. It was early days in Fremantle's record breaking winning streak. They'd just returned from the MCG where they knocked of Collingwood and a week earlier they'd started the run with a win over the Bombers. Melbourne were having their own little winning streak at the time and had firmed as favorites for the flag.

The D’s went in as favorites in the game too but came out with their pants around their ankles. A rock solid Fremantle defense made life tough for the Demon's Hollywood forward line, restricting them to just 1 goal for half the game. The Freo forwards had no such problems, dobbing goals from everywhere and putting the game out of Melbourne's reach by three quarter time. All Australian reserve Matthew Pavlich had kicked 3 goals as did Aaron Davey for Melbourne. Heath Black had 31 touches and Travis Johnstone 29. Top votes in the Clinton Wolf Medal votes went to Aaron Sandilands for toweling up both Jeff White and Mark Jamar, Shane Parker picked up the 2 and Brett Peake was handed the 1 amidst controversy.

That wasn't the end of it though. Melbourne came back a few weeks later to try their luck at a little thing Fremantle like to call Finals Footy.

After a disappointing loss to the Crows at Football Park, Fremantle returned to Subiaco Oval and it was business as usual as they returned to their winning best and notched up their first finals win ever. Straight kicking kept the Demons in the game for the first half but Freo kicked it up a gear in the 2nd half to have the game stitched up by 3 quarter time. Heath Black had 28 touches for Fremantle, as did Nathan Brown for the Demons. Melbourne's two currently missing forwards did the damage with 3 goals each. Matthew Carr, Jeff Farmer, Ryan Murphy and Matthew Pavlich all kicked 2 for Fremantle. Heath Black, Matthew Carr and Byron Schammer earned the 3-2-1in the Clinton Wolf Medal (in controversial circumstances).

Fremantle have played Melbourne 20 times, winning 10 and losing 10 since 1995. In more recent times, under Chris Connolly's watch, Fremantle have dominated with 6 wins from 8 matches and 4 of the last 5.

At the MCG, it's been Fremantle and Melbourne 7 times. Fremantle have won 3 and Melbourne have won 4. In the modern era, Fremantle have won 2 and Melbourne 1.

Melbourne have played all their games at the MCG this year and are yet to post a win. Last week they lost to Geelong by 52 points. Brad green still managed 4 goals and Brett Moloney 3. Bruce Cameron had 30 touches. In previous weeks they lost to the Hawks and St Kilda, leaving them in last spot on the ladder.

Fremantle are up the ladder a bit but are yet to pick up a win either. Last week they were umpired out of the game against the Eagles after being umpired out of the game a week earlier against Essendon.