Pavlich kicked three goals as the home side never looked like surrendering the lead after booting the opening five goals of the game, going on to win 13.18 (96) to 9.10 (64).
It took just 26 seconds for the purple haze to get what they wanted, a Pavlich mark. And within the opening minute the Freo chant had already started after the skipper slotted the resultant set shot from deep in the forward pocket at the city end.
It was clear the Dockers were on, back to their frenzied, swarming best from last September. They kept the Cats goalless in the first term and led by 30 points at the first change. It proved to be a decisive break.
Geelong wasn't that bad in the opening stanza. Jimmy Bartel missed two 'sodas' and two of the Dockers goals came from questionable free kicks in front of the baying home crowd.
But the numbers didn't lie, Freo smashed the Cats in clearances (13-5), contested possessions (43-27) and overall possessions (110–84). Fremantle's ball use was also far superior.
The Cats gathered their breath at quarter-time and came out with a bit more composure. They booted the first two goals of the second but it was to prove a false dawn.
After a 10-minute arm wrestle, Hayden Ballantyne added to his highlights reel with a darting, teasing run around Jared Rivers that left the Cats defender embarrassed and the Dockers with another goal on the board.
By half-time and after all that effort, Geelong was still five goals down, having thrown their best counterpunch. Some of the Cats' turnovers in the shadows of the long break smacked of a side on the ropes.
However, the proud Cats found something, at least at the start of the third term, holding possession better and slotting the opening two goals of the half.
It took an umpiring stinker and another Ballantyne special to break the Cats for good. Paul Duffield waltzed into an open goal after Rivers was accosted front-on by Zac Clarke as he waited under a mark at centre-half back, then the Freo goalsneak slotted his second fine running goal from the boundary to burst Geelong's hopes.
When Ballantyne added his third, after literally pulling down James Kelly's pants after he was hastily called to play-on, it ensured the margin remained beyond five goals at the last change – a very big ask against Freo in Perth.
The Dockers' engine room was again at the front of the effort, David Mundy and Michael Barlow providing the grunt work to release the dynamic Stephen Hill.
Geelong skipper Joel Selwood was probably the outstanding payer on the ground, while George Horlin-Smith took another step forward and Kelly fought hard against adversity all night.
FREMANTLE 5.3 7.11 10.15 13.18 (96)
GEELONG 0.3 3.5 6.7 9.10 (64)
GOALS
Fremantle: Pavlich 3, Ballantyne 3, Mzungu 2, Fyfe, Duffield, Barlow, Sheridan, Pearce
Geelong: Hawkins 3, Varcoe 2, Horlin-Smith, Bartel, Murdoch, Motlop
BEST
Fremantle: Mundy, Hill, Barlow, Mzungu, Crowley, Fyfe
Geelong: Selwood, Horlin-Smith, Kelly, Guthrie, Mackie, Enright
INJURIES
Fremantle: TBA
Geelong: TBA
SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Matt de Boer replaced Alex Silvagni during the third quarter
Geelong: Jackson Sheringham replaced Dawson Simpson during the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Dalgleish, Chamberlain
Official crowd: 38,565 at the Patersons Stadium
