Hold onto your individually numbered hats, Fremantle's longest bunny streak of all time is set to continue this week, with the Dockers lining up for their 10th straight victory over the Navy Blues. Carlton haven't beaten Fremantle since the dreaded 2001 season which saw Fremantle lose to everyone in spectacular style. But since Chris Connolly smartened the place and Jeff Farmer started weaving his very special brand of magic, Carlton haven't even come close.

When the Dockers entered the AFL, Carlton were the team feared by everyone in the competition. They were running riot through the record books, beating everyone and everything that put on a pair of boots and a woollen vest. Of course, no one told Fremantle about this and when the Dockers invited Carlton back to Subi Oval in April of 1996, Freo ended a winning streak that stretched back 18 games, including a Grand Final victory.

Carlton spent the next 5 years taking their revenge on the Dockers, winning 7 of the next 8 games - but since 2002 it's been all Fremantle.

Last year, the two sides rendezvoused at Subiaco Oval. After 12 weeks on the sidelines for crimes he may or may not have committed, Jeff Farmer returned and inspired his team to their biggest win of the season. Bar for a few unusually umpired minutes in the first quarter, Fremantle dominated all around the ground, kicking goals at will and generally looking the goods. All Carlton could do was enjoy the show as The Wiz put on 4 goals, Dessy Headland 5 and 11 of their team mates putting through the rest of the score 27.11 (173) to 13.18 (96) for a 77 point win. Recently retired statesman, Matthew Carr topped the possession count for Fremantle with 26 touches but the ball spent most of it's time going through the air on it's way to the goals. The man with the least effort put into his Gladiator nick name topped the possession for Carlton, with Jarrad Waite kicked 5 goals.

A year earlier, Fremantle were given the luxury of playing Carlton twice. In Round 2 they notched up consecutive win number 7, getting off to a flyer at Subi Oval, lead by a fired up Shaun McManus and an angry Josh Carr. The game was all over by half time with the Dockers getting out to a 42 point lead. Unfortunately they loosened their grip in the second half but cruised in for a 15 point win -15.11 (101) to 13.8 (86). Jeff Farmer and Luke McPharlin kicked 3 goals each for Fremantle, Crazy Joe Fevola kicked 6 for Carlton. The top ball getters were Peter Bell (32), Josh Carr (29), Shaun McManus (29), Ryan Crowley (28) and then Ryan Houlian for the Blues with 28 touches. The Clinton Wolf Medal committee liked the game of Shaun McManus and gave him 3 votes, Jeff Farmer picked up the 2 and Josh Carr got the 1. For some reason the only Docker the umpires were interested in was Shaun McManus, with Adam Bentick and Eddie Betts picking up the minor votes.

A few weeks later, in Round 17, Fremantle were starting to get on a bit of a roll. They headed east to play Carlton at the Telstra Dome. The Dockers took a while to adjust to the ice rink like conditions of Telstra Dome but hit their stride after half time, shutting the gate by three quarter time with a 45 point margin then cruising in for an 18 point win with an eye to the finals. Ryan Murphy and Crazy Joe Fevola both kicked 5 straight goals. Jeff Farmer and Matthew Pavlich could have joined the club but kicked 2.3 each. Peter Bell was the top ball getter for Fremantle with 23 possessions with 5 Carlton players surpassing him. Heath Scotland had the most of it with 31. Once again the umpires found room for Carlton in their votes with Ryan Murphy, Andrew Walker and Matthew Pavlich getting the 3-2-1.

I disection of Carlton thrashings wouldn't be complete with a look back to Round 16, 2005 at the MCG. Shane Parker couldn't have asked for a better 200th game. In typical Parker style, it was all flash and lairising from the Freo players with some champagne footy after a long midseason break and a heartbreaking trip to Adelaide. Eight goals in the first quarter, seven in the second, twenty four for the match, nine to Matthew Pavlich, four to Crowley and even one mad dash from Parker out of defence to slot one through himself. It was one big party and everyone was invited. On top of Pavlich's 9 goals, Josh Carr had 32 possessions and Ryan Crowley slotted through 4 goals. The best for the Blues was Kouta with 29 touches with Kade Simpson and Bradley Fisher kicking 3 goals each. The umpires gave Pavlich the top votes but the Clinton Wolf Medal voting committee controversially passed him up for Shane Parker.

This week's thrashing will take place at the Telstra Dome. It will be Fremantle's first trip to the Dome since Round 20 last year where they had an unfortunate incident with St Kilda that made finals very difficult. The Dockers last won their in 2006, against Carlton. Carlton played at the ground as recent as last weekend. They were spanked by Brisbane. Last year they played 8 games there and lost all of them.

So far this season, Carlton are having a bit of a dream run by their standards. They've had 3 wins for the season with victories over the lowly Melbourne, West Coast and Collingwood. Last week they lost to Brisbane by 33 points Crazy Joe Fevola kicked 5 goals and missed 4. Heath Scotland had 39 touches. They are currently 11th on the ladder.

Last week Fremantle were robbed of another win over an undefeated side as the umpires fell back on the script when they got tired. The loss came on the back of equally devastating, narrow losses to the reigning premiers and the much improved Melbourne. They are currently 3 wins out of the top 8.