Fremantle have produced their highest ever score under coach Justin Longmuir as they put Hawthorn to the sword in a 69-point win.
The Dockers were on from the first bounce as they kicked their highest opening quarter score of the season.
And their percentage only grew from there as they registered an 18.9 (117) to 7.6 (48) win at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
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In more good news for the club, Nat Fyfe got through his first game back since Round 1 after battling a foot injury.
He was forced to wait until late in the third term to come on as the sub, but made his way to the midfield in the final term as the Dockers put Hawthorn away.
It is was a disappointing result for the Hawks who had been competitive in recent weeks.
But they couldn’t find avenues to goal against Fremantle as they sunk to their seventh loss of the season.
QUARTER BY QUARTER MATCH REPORT
It took more than five minutes for Michael Walters to get Fremantle on the board, before Josh Treacy added the second after getting marched to the goal line.
Treacy was awarded an in-the-back free kick against Hawks skipper James Sicily who blew up immediately at the call.
As a result of the dissent, Treacy’s goal became a certainty.
“You can see he was not happy with the decision,” Fox Footy’s Matthew Pavlich said of Sicily.
“He certainly put a bit of mayo on it (Treacy).
“It’s a bit sloppy from Sicily.”
A huge Sam Frost hit on Michael Frederick left the Docker gasping for air on the Optus Stadium turf.
After getting assessed on the boundary, Frederick was able to return to the contest minutes later.
Connor Macdonald punished the Dockers when they coughed up the footy at half back, but Sam Switkowski had the immediate reply to open up a 14-point lead.
Bailey Banfield goaled after he was controversially paid a mark inside 50, and Frederick added another to give Fremantle their best first quarter score of the season.
At the first change it was Fremantle leading 33-20.
Big Mitch Lewis beat Alex Pearce on the lead to kick the Hawks’ fourth goal, but the rest of the second term belonged to the Dockers.
Sam Frost threw his body around to save a certain Lachie Schultz goal, but then coughed up a goal to Jye Amiss with some ill-discipline at half forward.
Frost shoved Amiss after the mark was completed and was marched 50 metres – as Hawthorn conceded a second 50m goal.
Amiss could have had a second goal but unselfishly dished off the hands in the square to Frederick.
Fremantle’s big quarter was soured when Schultz was brought from the ground late carrying his shoulder with his side leading by 31 points.
When Chad Wingard found space inside 50, he wasted no time going around the body to snap his first for the night.
“It was really well played by Hawthorn,” commentator Matthew Pavlich said.
“It was sloppy by Fremantle – five to two Hawthorn forwards.
“(Fergus) Greene took a few players with him when he led up.”
By the main break, Fremantle scored their equal highest half time score under Justin Longmuir (10.4 64) to lead from Hawthorn’s 33.
The third quarter belonged to Fremantle as their pressure ramped up to more than 240 on the gauge.
Luke Jackson (twice), Andy Brayshaw and Frederick all got on the board to open up a game-high 50-point advantage.
Ned Reeves had a chance to get Hawthorn on the board after almost 18 minutes in the third term but sent his shot wide.
As the match started to fizzle, Nat Fyfe got the home crowd up and about when he made his way onto the field late in the third term, substituted on for Josh Treacy.
By three quarter time, the Dockers had the match on their terms 90-35.
The final quarter was just a formality as Fremantle found some much-needed percentage.
Nat Fyfe went back to his customary midfield role but also managed to hit the scoreboard floating forward.
The Hawks broke their 50-minute goal drought to give their fans something to smile about, but the match was already all over.
By full time, it was Fremantle who claimed the 117-48 win.
THE 3-2-1…
3. ‘SLOW MO FREO’ NO MORE
Fremantle’s biggest criticism has been their inability to move the ball with any speed this season.
Dubbed “slow mo Freo” by Fox Footy’s David King, it hasn’t been pretty viewing for Dockers fans.
But against the Hawks on Saturday night, the Dockers found their run and dare.
Former Freo forward Matthew Pavlich praised the home side’s ability to “slice and dice” a Hawthorn outfit that too often left the corridor open.
“They were able to hit those 45s and really open up the ground,” he praised.
The Dockers were so good by foot against Hawthorn, they racked up a competition high 76 per cent efficiency to three quarter time – the best of any team this season.
“Fremantle have just kicked the ball beautifully,” Fox Footy’s Dermott Brereton said.
“Fremantle have marched the ball by foot … until they get to a position where they can explode and launch.
“They went at one stage at 83 per cent kicking efficiency … that second quarter was a wonderful display of how to move the ball forward without taking real risks.”
While Fremantle’s skills by foot were elite, their pressure also ramped up as they posted their equal highest half-time score under coach Justin Longmuir.
“We haven’t seen this type of Freo pressure from this midfield or forward group I’m going to say almost all season,” Pavlich praised.
“Maybe not until the derby late in that match.
“The pressure is the best it’s been.”
2. WASTEFUL HAWKS CAN’T CAPITALISE
Hawthorn were the better contested and clearance team in the opening half against Fremantle – yet still found themselves staring down a six-goal deficit.
The Hawks won the centre clearance battle 12-3 in the first half to give their forwards the first opportunity over and over again.
But they just couldn’t find avenues to goal.
And down the other end, the Dockers were making them pay with their rebound game.
“Their contested work and clearance work has been really effective – they just haven’t hit the scoreboard,” Fox Footy’s Matthew Pavlich said.
Statistics showed the Hawks went inside forward 50 29 times for just four goals.
“Fremantle have only gone inside forward 50 19 times – when they do it’s open, clean and spacious,” commentator Dermott Brereton praised.
“19 times for 14 scores.
“Hawthorn have gone in 29 times for only eight scores.
“Fremantle’s backline is on top. Hawthorn’s forward line is not working with a lot of polish.”
1. FYFE RETURNS … AND NOT AS A FORWARD
The Dockers’ dual Brownlow Medallist was back for his first match since Round 1 – but he had to wait until late in the third term to see any action.
Fyfe started as the sub after missing the past six weeks with a foot injury.
And when he entered, he headed forward and “ran 150s”, according to Matthew Pavlich as he went end to end in search of his first disposal.
But it was where he started the fourth quarter that raised eyebrows – smack bang in the centre of Optus Stadium.
“That’s a big change to Fremantle’s messaging at the start of the season,” commentator Adam Papalia said.
“That Nat Fyfe would purely be a forward and not be going back into the midfield – there he is inside the centre square.”
And that’s where he stayed for the fourth term in a surprising move.
But he looked good back where he has played his best footy.
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