Fremantle Shocks Hawks in Final-Term Blitz as Finals Race Heats Up
What a game it was on Saturday night at Optus Stadium—an absolute rollercoaster between Fremantle and Hawthorn. And if you're a Hawks fan, it felt like a punch to the stomach. Literally. That final quarter? Brutal. Hawthorn was right there, controlling so much of the match, laying down pressure, owning the inside 50s in the first half... and then, bang—gone in the blink of an eye. Fremantle flipped the script completely in the fourth quarter.
Sam Mitchell, Hawthorn's coach, didn’t sugar-coat it. He said it was a lesson, and honestly, it looked like one. The Hawks were given a taste of finals-level pressure, and when it mattered most, the Dockers were just cleaner, hungrier, and sharper. They kicked four unanswered goals late, while Hawthorn couldn’t find a way through the heat. That loss dropped Hawthorn to sixth on the ladder, missing a golden opportunity to jump into the top four.
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But Mitchell’s message was clear—there’s still fight in the team. The finals dream isn’t dead. Not even close. In his words, "the ball is in our court." They just need consistency, especially over the last six rounds. And to be fair, for three quarters, they showed they belong. It’s that five percent drop-off that cost them.
On the other side, Justin Longmuir had every reason to be proud of his Dockers. They were relentless—103 tackles for the game. That’s not a typo. Andrew Brayshaw, in particular, was everywhere—14 tackles, a career-best. And to think, just last week he had a quiet game against Sydney. Talk about a response. Bloodied but unbowed, he even got a post-game interview with blood running down his face. That’s the kind of leadership Fremantle is thriving on.
Then there’s Sam Switkowski, back from injury and straight into the thick of it—three goals, eight score involvements. Huge impact. Fremantle’s win now puts them at 11-6, with seven wins from their last eight games. They're building at the right time, and next week’s clash against Collingwood at the MCG? Massive. Top-tier stuff. Longmuir said it perfectly: "If we can execute the way we play, we can beat anyone."
The Dockers didn’t panic after their Sydney loss, and they’re not getting ahead of themselves now. That kind of mindset is dangerous—for the opposition. Meanwhile, the Hawks regroup. Finals footy isn't guaranteed, and every week from here is do-or-die.
One thing’s certain—this finals race just got a whole lot spicier.
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