NORTH Melbourne has faded in the second-half to lose to Fremantle by 29 points at Patersons Stadium on Sunday, 18.19 (127) to 14.14 (98).

Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich and dynamic young midfielder Nat Fyfe set up the 18.19 (127) to 14.14 (98) win in a five-goal-to-one third term.

The gulf in class between the sides was decisive, with North Melbourne winning their share of clearances (41-42) and inside 50s (55-57) but using the ball poorly.

The Kangaroos continually manufactured goals in the first half to stay in the contest, with midfielder Daniel Wells converting two brilliant snaps and Jack Ziebell kicking back-to-back goals. Another goal to North skipper Brent Harvey meant the Roos went into the main break just nine points behind.

But that deficit was rapidly turned into a 48-point Fremantle lead late in the fourth quarter on the back of a midfield master-class from Pavlich (34 possessions and 12 clearances). He was assisted by Fyfe (32 possessions), and David Mundy (30 and six inside 50s).

North kicked the last three goals of the game to narrow the final margin.

Andrew Swallow (31 possessions and 12 clearances) fought hard in the midfield, alongside Leigh Adams, Liam Anthony and Wells, while Todd Goldstein battled manfully in the ruck against Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands.

Turning point
Pavlich's third quarter turned the game. He had 12 possessions (eight contested), five clearances and four inside 50s for the term, before North Melbourne's Cameron Richardson tightened up.

Key match-ups
The most talked about match-up leading into this clash was Stephen Hill versus Brady Rawlings, after the senior Roo took the honours in their one-sided battle last season. Hill had just three possessions in the first term, but two of those landed on Kepler Bradley's chest and resulted in goals. Hill was restricted to 14 possessions, but it was an arguable a win for youngster.   

What it means
The Roos are winless after three games and face Richmond and Port Adelaide in the next fortnight. The fight was there from Brad Scott's players, but their skills need to be addressed if they're to notch their first win in the next fortnight and eventually challenge the eight.   

Dream Team highlight
North Melbourne: Swallow worked hard all day and complied a team-high 118 points. He stormed home in the last quarter with 11 possessions and two goals.   

What the coach said
Brad Scott (North Melbourne): "I was pleased with their effort, but I wasn't pleased with how efficient and clean we were with the ball. There was a class difference between the way Fremantle used the ball and the way we used the ball and that was the simple difference at the end of the day."

Next four
North Melbourne: Richmond (Etihad Stadium), Port Adelaide (Etihad Stadium), Geelong (Skilled Stadium), Melbourne (Etihad Stadium)
 
Fremantle   5.6  9.9  14.12  18.19  (127)
North Melbourne  4.3  8.6  9.10  14.14 (98)
 
GOALS
Fremantle: Ballantyne 4; Mayne 3; Bradley, Fyfe, Hill 2; Palmer, McPhee, Crowley, Ibbotson, Mundy
North Melbourne: Edwards, Harvey, Wells, Ziebell, Swallow 2; Petrie, Atley, Wright, Hansen
 
BEST
Fremantle: Pavlich, Fyfe, Ballantyne, Sandilands, Mundy, Broughton
North Melbourne: Swallow, Adams, Anthony, Wells, Harvey
 
INJURIES
Fremantle: Suban (broken leg)
North Melbourne: Nil
 
SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Nick Suban replaced by Garrick Ibbotson in the third quarter
North Melbourne: Robbie Tarrant replaced by Cruize Garlett at three quarter-time
 
Reports: Nil
 
Umpires: Margetts, Stevic, Dalgleish
 
Official crowd: 34,779 at Patersons Stadium

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL