HAWTHORN 2.3 5.5 8.8 11.11 (77)
FREMANTLE 0.3 1.6 6.10 8.14 (62)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 4, Roughead 2, Franklin, Rioli, Smith, Breust, Hill
Fremantle: Pavlich 3, Walters 2, Mzungu, Mayne, Pearce
BEST
Hawthorn: Lake, Gunston, Lewis, Rioli, Hodge, Birchall
Fremantle: Mundy, Fyfe, Crowley, Johnson, Barlow
Official crowd: 100,007 at the MCG
Who played?
Hawthorn
B: B.Stratton B.Lake B.Guerra
HB: S.Burgoyne J.Gibson G.Birchall
C: I.Smith S.Mitchell J.Lewis
HF: L.Breust L.Franklin C.Rioli
F: P.Puopolo J.Roughead D.Hale
FOLL: M.Bailey B.Sewell L.Hodge
I/C: B.Hill J.Gunston J.Simpkin L.Shiels
Emergencies M.Spangher S.Savage T.Duryea
Fremantle
B: M.Johnson Z.Dawson P.Duffield
HB: L.Spurr L.McPharlin D.Pearce
C: D.Mundy R.Crowley T.Mzungu
HF: C.Sutcliffe C.Mayne N.Fyfe
F: Z.Clarke M.Pavlich M.Walters
FOLL: A.Sandilands M.de Boer S.Hill
I/C: H.Ballantyne N.Suban M.Barlow L.Neale
EMG: T.Sheridan J.Hannath A.Silvagni
What happened?
Hawthorn fans will remember clearly the last meeting between the Hawks and the Dockers - the day Hawthorn secured its eleventh premiership and Brian Lake, in his first season at the Club won the Norm Smith Medal.
The game is remembered for Hawthorn’s ability to capitalise when on top and Fremantle’s missed opportunities, particularly early with misses to Nathan Fyfe, Hayden Ballantyne and Matthew Pavlich.
Although the buzz was around Fremantle’s pressure leading into the game, it was Hawthorn who out-pressured them, laying 80 tackles to 65 and shut down their opponent’s avenues to goal - the Dockers kicked just eight goals for the game.
With Aaron Sandilands struggling for match fitness following a number of injury concerns throughout the year, the Hawks were also able to get on top in the midfield, winning the clearances 42-34 and contested possessions 142-136.
Hawthorn dominated the opening quarter and put scoreboard pressure on before the game neutralised in the second and third quarters as the Dockers fought their way back into the game before the Hawks kicked their way to a match-winning lead early in the final term.
Interestingly, the Dockers actually took more marks inside 50 for the game (11-17), proving that their inaccuracy was costly.
Lake was a colossus in defence, marking almost everything that came his way. His best on ground performance saw him finish with 10 marks and 22 disposals, clearly beating his direct opponent and Fremantle skipper Pavlich, despite his three goal performance.
Unlucky not to win the Norm Smith Medal, Jack Gunston was the best performed Hawthorn forward with four goals, while Jarryd Roughead kicked two.
Sam Mitchell was well held by Ryan Crowley and limited to just 12 disposals, but his seven tackles made him an important contributor. Grant Birchall was brilliant off half back with 26 disposals and Jordan Lewis was exceptional in the midfield, finishing with 26 touches, eight clearances and four tackles.
For Fremantle, David Mundy tried hard all day and sparked their third quarter revival with great clearance work from the middle. He finished with 28 disposals, seven clearances and eight tackles.
Michael Walters was as dangerous as ever up forward with two goals and Fyfe finished with 28 touches but his inaccuracy in front of goal was costly.
