At last, I feel like I am emerging from the nightmarish parallel dimension into which I had apparently fallen for the first 11 rounds of Season 2008.  Of course, we beat The Enemy there too - some things will never change!

I am being careful not to draw too many wild conclusions from yesterday's game.  After all, North Melbourne have been cruelled by injury over recent weeks and were well below strength.  It's not as though we pantsed the reigning premiers (although something tells me we kind of did in that parallel dimension).

But that was the Fremantle I know, that I recognise from the last few seasons, doing it in high style to the roars of an appreciative purple audience.  That said, for all the mighty cheer for TNT, it wasn't quite back to the Connolly Era.  Times have changed, and we are starting to change with them.  The baton is being passed.  Peter Bell and Josh Carr do not look like the formidable foes of old; both still give their all and win more times than not, but their ability is visibly diminshing.  It's alright, though - replacements are coming on stream. 

We have a new master tagger and niggler, Ryan Crowley, who has grown from the pineapple-headed rookie of 2004/05 to become a very important player.  The loss of leg speed after that knee injury in 2006 has transformed Creepy into a more nuggety unit who can nevertheless turn on the flair if required.

And the little master has begat a new little apprentice master.  Not quite as short and with an unmistakeable bouffant blonde mohawk, but sharing a predilection for throwing oneself headlong into a contest and more often than not emerging with the ball to advantage.  If Rhys Palmer didn't have some Freo fans drooling at the draft last year, he sure has us all salivating now.  Same with his frizzy-haired friend up forward - and isn't it telling that Rhys is the one person who consciously tries to hit Chris Mayne if he's free?

Then there's Ryley Dunn.  Remember him?  Most didn't - after all, he's barely been sighted since he arrived with high hopes at the end of 2003.  On the rare occasions when he has pulled on the No. 5, he has quietly impressed me with hard tackling and enthusiasm, even if injury did its best to nobble him.  So I was very pleased to see such a fine performance from him this week, exhibiting all the traits that have endeared him to me previously.  He always did look like a man physically, but I think he is mentally toughened by his experiences and is practically a new recruit.  On this initial form, he deserves selection for many more games - and possibly even longer.

It's not ALL about youth, though.  The old firm of Grover, Hayden & McPharlin were awesome yet again (my heart sinks when I realise the youngest of them will be 27 come next season - can't they stay forever young?).  Their junior associate Dodd will no doubt rejoin them shortly too.  Solomon was tough and gutsy, as ever.  Tarrant at last looks like he really belongs.  I realised Michael Johnson was starting to get it together again when he pulled out his patented "foot block, intercept and handball" move out of storage.  And whose heart didn't soar as Brett Peake ran the best part of 80 metres to carve 'em up on the wing?

But the special plaudits go to two very special men.  Jeffrey Farmer showed that he is far from over with a stunning all-ground display of pure Wizard magic.  And then, there is Pav.  God bless our captain, shoving it to all the naysayers with an inspirational game that proves he wants to stay until 2014.  Long may he reign over the kingdom of Parry Street.

Yes, the footy gods have banged the television set and the snow and static have cleared.  The Fremantle Football Club is resuming normal service.  And we know what that means, don't we?  A ring-a-ding-ding affair with St Kilda, this time in Melbourne on a Friday night.  Will there be another moment to rival JLo, or Sirengate, or the coward Baker's hit on our Jeffrey?  I sure wouldn't say no!