Waite booted three goals - all in the second-half rain - to help lift North Melbourne to the 12.14 (86) to 8.10 (58) win.

The triumph saw North Melbourne jump to fifth spot on the ladder with a 6-4 record, while Fremantle (4-6) now face an uphill battle to push for a finals berth.

Players from both sides struggled to handle the ball when the rain poured down in the second half.

And even when it was dry North Melbourne's players couldn't kick straight, with the team registering 1.10 before finally finding their radar.

Waite proved to be the difference in the third quarter, slotting his first from a tight angle, before taking a big mark later in the term to boot his second.

The 35-year-old now has 22 goals to his name this season, and is well on track to earn another one-year deal at the club.

"You could make an argument that he was the difference," Kangaroos coach Brad Scott said.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon will consider giving Aaron Sandilands a well-earned rest after the ruckman suffered a heavy concussion late in the match.

Sandilands clashed heads with Sam Durdin after attempting to lay a heavy shepherd.

Fremantle were comprehensively beaten in the inside-50m battle (60-46), and were lucky to only be down by 11 points at the final change.

And a come-from-behind victory beckoned when Michael Walters soccered through a goal-of-the-year contender to close the margin to three points.

However, an umpire howler broke Fremantle's momentum.

Dockers defender Joel Hamling should have been paid a free kick after being tackled to the ground without the ball by Ben Jacobs.

But with no free kick given, Shaun Atley was able to swoop on the loose ball and shoot truly from 35m out - starting a run of four straight goals.

"There were a couple that didn't go our way, trust me," Scott replied when asked about the incident.

"Rub of the green stuff.

"We had a free kick off the ball that resulted in a Freo shot at goal.

"Shaun Higgins got ironed out off the ball and our players reacted and had a free kick paid against them."

Lyon didn't want to use the non-decision against Hamling as an excuse.

"You want to be in positions where one or two of those moments doesn't affect you," Lyon said.

"I think that's flip of the coin stuff. Never focus on it, don't want to focus on it now."

Fremantle skipper Nat Fyfe (31 disposals, one goal) and tagger Ben Jacobs (29 disposals, one goal) enjoyed an intriguing battle.

Lyon was left to lament a series of 50m penalties that his team gave away.

"They're just unnecessary. They don't get you anywhere," Lyon said.

Australian Associated Press