AFL Qualifying Final: Hawthorn leads Fremantle at half-time

AFL Qualifying Final Scoreboard

By Andrew McGarry

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! 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! 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.

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.

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.

It's desperate times for the Dockers, and they are under pressure again. Mitch 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.

Dylan Moore quietens the crowd with ANOTHER Hawks goal. 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!

Gunston makes Freo pay! Cam McKenzie grabbed the ball and hit a speculator to the square, where jack Gunston marked at the second grab! Gunston kicks it! The Hawks are on fire in the wet, and the lead is out to four goals!

QT stats: Inside 50s: 16-13 Hawthorn. Clearances: 10-10. Centre clearances: 4-2 Hawthorn. Contested possessions: 36-35 Hawthorn. Uncontested possessions: 59-42 Fremantle. Marks inside 50: 4-2 Hawthorn. Tackles: 17-13 Hawthorn. Tackles inside 50: 7-2 Hawthorn.

QT: Hawthorn 4.4 (28) leads Fremantle 1.3 (9). The siren sounds, the rain gets heavier ... and it's raining on Freo's parade right now. The Hawks lead by 19 points, and they're good for their lead.

Hawks put a gap in the Dockers with a goal to Gunston. An intercept mark on the wing from James Sicily set up a kick to the pocket for the Hawks, and Jack Gunston received a free for a bump/bit extra. He slots it from the pocket, never looked like missing - the Hawks lead by 18 points deep in time on in the first quarter.