HAWTHORN has kept its faint finals hopes alive, and put a serious dent in Fremantle's top-eight ambitions, with a 31-point victory at University of Tasmania Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
In a scrappy affair, the Hawks shot out to an early lead before being reeled in by the Dockers, as Ross Lyon coached his 300th game in a career that started at St Kilda.
However, despite getting within a point during the third term after having trailed by five goals, Freo couldn't go on with the job as Hawthorn won, 12.12 (84) to 8.5 (53).
It continued a torrid time for the Dockers in Launceston, which has won just one out of 12 games at the venue. That one came in 2006, in the infamous 'siren-gate' match against the Saints.
Fremantle, which slips to 7-9, desperately needed to find a way to drag itself back into the contest following a disappointing opening quarter when it went goalless, as it did in the final term of last week's brutal derby loss.
Of course, it was superstar Nat Fyfe that broke the streak, midway through the second.
That had seemed unlikely just minutes earlier after he left the field with a right shoulder complaint, the Dockers losing the man most likely to provide a much-needed boost.
Fyfe wasn't going to let his side's finals hopes slip away that easily though.
Returning soon enough sporting strapping, the skipper put the team on his back, his overhead marking proving influential.
The skipper bagged three goals for the term, including this magnificent effort in congestion.
Freo pushed hard early in the third quarter, and the Hawks need to respond. Young forward Mitch Lewis stepped up.
After missing a set shot he should have converted, Lewis slotted a couple late in the term to give his team breathing room.
The Dockers had chances in the final quarter, but poor foot skills let them down, as they did throughout much of the contest.
In what was largely a drab game, James Sicily provided some entertainment when he marked while sitting down.
Then there was Tim O'Brien, who had moments both good and bad, but held on to a great mark.
WATCH: Tim O'Brien takes a ripper early in the first against Freo.
Plenty of eyes were on returning Hawthorn pair Grant Birchall and Chad Wingard. Birchall, who hadn't played in 740 days after dealing with knee and calf issues, started relatively well and looked tidy in collecting 21 disposals in 66 per cent game time.
Wingard, who has been plagued by hamstring injuries in his first year since crossing over from Port Adelaide, spent plenty of time in the middle of the ground and picked up 15 disposals, along with a couple of goals.
MEDICAL ROOM
Hawthorn: The Hawks appeared to emerge unscathed.
Fremantle: It was worrying for Freo when captain Nat Fyfe went down to the rooms during the second term after hurting his right shoulder, but he returned soon enough with the joint strapped up. Big man Rory Lobb went down late, copping a rough landing after flying for a mark, but played the game out.
NEXT UP
Fremantle will look to rectify its faltering season against Sydney next Saturday night at Optus Stadium. The following afternoon, one of the great modern-day rivalries will be renewed when Hawthorn meets Geelong at the MCG.
HAWTHORN 3.1 5.5 9.8 12.12 (84)
FREMANTLE 0.3 4.3 6.5 8.5 (53)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Lewis 3, Breust 3, Hanrahan 2, Wingard 2, Hardwick, Nash
Fremantle: Fyfe 3, S.Hill, McCarthy, Tucker, Matera, Lobb
BEST
Hawthorn: Worpel, Lewis, O'Meara, Henderson, Breust
Fremantle: Fyfe, B.Hill, Walters, Blakely, Langdon
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Fremantle: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Deboy, Whetton, McInerney
Official crowd: 13,006 at University of Tasmania Stadium
