3QT stats
Inside 50s: 44-37 Hawthorn
Clearances: 25-24 hawthorn
Centre clearances: 9-4 Hawthorn
Contested possessions: 110-107 Hawthorn
Uncontested possessions: 173-144 Fremantle
Marks inside 50: 8-7 Hawthorn
Tackles: 48-37 Hawthorn
Tackles inside 50: 14-7 Hawthorn
Nothing much changed in that quarter, and almost all signs point to the Hawks
3QT: Hawthorn 9.10 (64) leads Fremantle 4.6 (31)
A late, late chance for Freo ends up with a dribbled shot from Patrick Voss that's rushed through.
And as the quarter ends, it's like deja vu.
The lead is still 33 points, and the Hawks have this one in hand, barring a miracle.
The Dockers showed something at least in that quarter - but Hawthorn had the answers every time.
And it's that man, Nick Watson for Hawthorn!
What can you say?
Three times the Dockers have made a breakthrough in the third quarter - and three times the Hawks have hit straight back.
James Sicily gets the ball, sends it to Dylan Moore, and Moore hits Nick Watson - and the Wizard does what the Wizard does, and kicks it on the run from 45.
Game. Set. Match?
Switkowski keeps Dockers in it
It's not enough, right now, but good Lord Jordan Clark is having some game.
Clark is everywhere - he popped up two or three times in that move, exhanging passes with Andrew Brayshaw before hitting up Sam Switkowski for a grab inside 50.
Switkowski nailed the set shot, and it's back to 27 points in the shadows of three quarter time.
Mitch Lewis gets the quick reply!
It's just not there for the Dockers tonight.
They fight and scrape to get a goal (after a few opportunities) - and then Hawthorn hit back straight away.
The ball goes forward, and the umpires find a (pretty soft) free for Heath Chapman's arm on Mitch Lewis. Lewis goes back (as the Freo crowd SEETHES), and he kicks it. Back to 32 points. We're in time on in the third, and time is beginning to run out already for the home side.
Brayshaw gets it right for Freo!
Desperation time for the Dockers, and they are lifting in the third term.
The ball is chaos-surged forward, and it goes through several sets of hands, the Hawks can't get it and it falls to Brayshaw who drills it.
Back to 26 points.
Much better from Dockers - but only a point
That was the best passage of play from Fremantle all night.
The hawks were attacking again, but Mason Cox took a vital mark in D50.
He fed Jordan Clark, who handballed to Brandon Walker, who clapped on the pace and raced through the corridor, then went wide to Isaiah Dudley, and Dudley chipped to Andrew Brayshaw inside 50.
Great move, but the kick missed. That's tough.
Someone stop James Sicily
The Hawks are in control here, and one of the main reasons why is not in their forward line. It's James Sicily.
He has 18 possessions, three inside 50s, eight intercept possessions, nine marks and a goal assist.
And we still have more than a quarter and a half to go.
Semifinal would be played in Perth
If the Dockers do go down tonight, they'll play the winner of Geelong v Carlton next week. Will that game be played in Perth, or in Melbourne?
- Viscount Bradford
Good evening Viscount,
The one positive for the Dockers from finishing top of the ladder is that they are guaranteed two home finals.
IF they lose tonight, then they would play the winner of Geelong-Carlton next week in Perth.
Jack Ginnivan answers for the Hawks!
Well, that didn't take long!
The Hawks hit back, the ball goes out to the wing and Nick Watson surges free of Brandon Walker and hooks one round his body - it flies long over the first Fremantle defender and lands in the arms of Jack Ginnivan!
Ginnivan goes back and his kick is true. Back to 33 points.
Jye Amiss gets the early goal for Freo!
Ok, I hope you weren't getting a late half-time drink or anything ... because the Dockers are awake!
They get the early clearance, get the ball inside 50, and Jye Amiss takes the grab. 19 seconds!
He goes back and kicks it! It's back to 27 points ... but they need a LOT more where that one came from.
Throwback comeback needed for Dockers victory from here
So, the 33-point half-time deficit is ... not good if you're from Freo.
According to Fox Footy it would require the biggest finals second-half comeback since 1993 for a home win here.
HT stats
Inside 50s: 29-25 Hawthorn
Clearances: 18-16 Hawthorn
Centre clearances: 5-2 Hawthorn
Contested possessions: 80-74 Hawthorn
Uncontested possessions: 119-94 Fremantle
Marks inside 50: 5-4 Hawthorn
Tackles: 31-27 Hawthorn
Tackles inside 50: 10-6 Hawthorn
When the only stat you're winning for Freo is uncontested possessions, it's REALLY not looking good.
Minor premiership is no guarantee of finals success
This situation was exactly where the Adelaide Crows were last year... on top throughout the year in the minor round, out in the finals. 😔
- Anni
Anni,
There were some extra factors with the Crows last year, starting with the absence of Izak Rankine. But it's fair point - at least to now.
We're two quarters into eight guaranteed quarters of footy for the Dockers. They need to lift massively in the second two terms, or the blowtorch will go right on at Fremantle, and they'll have to head to the east coast three weeks early.
HT: Hawthorn 6.7 (43) leads Fremantle 1.4 (10)
The siren sounds, and there is a rapid intake of breath from the Fremantle crowd. That's one hell of a first half from the Hawks!
They brought the pressure and shut down Fremantle's ball movement and attack.
One goal from a half of football in front of a huge home crowd with a spot in the prelim on offer - it is NOT what Justin Longmuir had in mind going into this one.
Is it over? You can't rule the Dockers completely out ... but it would require a 180-degree turnaround from here, starting with Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss and Patrick Voss getting their hands on the footy!
Injury worry for Hawthorn as Mitch Lewis goes off
It's desperate times for the Dockers, and they are under pressure again.
The ball goes inside 50, it's a big contest, and Mitch Lewis delivers a big hit on a Freo defender. It's a free, and the Dockers clear it somehow.
But Lewis has hurt himself, and he comes off holding his shoulder. That's a big watch. he's gone down the rooms.
Huge hanger from Jordan Clark!
The Dockers need something to lift them - and that might be it!
The Hawks kicked to the wing, and Jordan Clark just LEAPT for a hanger!
What a grab! The crowd gives a huge roar ... but it doesn't mean anything as the ball inside 50 is defused by Hawthorn.
A big effort from Clark, who has been racking up disposals, but when your half-back is the only one doing the business, #ThatsASign
Dylan Moore quietens the crowd with ANOTHER Hawks goal
There is just no answer right now from the home side.
Fremantle cannot move the ball, and the pressure is forcing errors.
Another turnover, the Hawks get it inside 50 - Dylan Moore runs to 40 and DRILLS it. Six in a row for the visitors!
It's a 31-point margin! We're halfway through the second quarter, and this one is slipping rapidly out of the Dockers hands.
