HAWTHORN has sent a powerful message to the competition, dismantling Fremantle by 58 points in a commanding performance at the MCG on Friday night.
A brilliant first-quarter blitz – which saw the Hawks 37 points up 17 minutes into the game – blew away the Dockers, and they could never get back into the contest, the Hawks running out 21.11 (137) to 11.13 (79) winners.
In a frighteningly dominant display, the reigning premiers were too good in every area. By half-time they had doubled the Dockers for possessions, were too strong at the clearances and too quick bolting away from them.
By the end, that superiority was still evident on every level. While both teams entered the game as equal flag favourites, one was the bully and one was the beaten.
It might have been a Grand Final rematch, but it was in no way a Grand Final replay, nothing like the pressure-soaked, tight, congested premiership decider between these sides in September last year.
The stars, of high and low profile, were everywhere for coach Alastair Clarkson as the Hawks made it nine wins from their past 10 games against Fremantle.
Sam Mitchell returned from a calf complaint to gather 36 disposals, and Jordan Lewis gave the midfield grunt with 37.
They fed it out to the likes of Bradley Hill and Matthew Suckling, who used their running power and kicking depth to break through Fremantle's defence. Both finished with 30 disposals a goal each.
Liam Shiels and Isaac Smith covered enormous ground, while Luke Breust's three goals and 24 disposals was the perfect foil for Cyril Rioli's magic, to which Fremantle had no answer.
Will Langford also did his job, shutting down David Mundy and holding the Dockers star to 20 disposals.
Freo captain Matthew Pavlich was one of few Dockers to stand up, booting four goals, and Stephen Hill and Danyle Pearce tried to provide some run.
Fremantle didn't escape unscathed, either, being forced to active substitute Tom Sheridan early in the first term after Garrick Ibbotson left the field with a dislocated right shoulder.
Hawthorn looked to have a worry when David Hale was helped the field cradling his right shoulder in the third term, but it appeared to be only a knock to his AC joint and he returned to the field.
The Hawks' barnstorming first term was enthralling in two ways: because it was sublime, quick and attractive football, and because it left the usually impenetrable Dockers defence looking completely lost.
Spinning kicks bounced awkwardly through for goals, crafty tap-ons across the ground worked, and there was a rhythm to the Hawks' performance, summed up by a fast-moving play that started with a Matt Spangher spoil, included some Rioli brilliance, and was finished with Luke Breust's smarts around goal.
Freo took until the 22-minute mark to score – when Mundy ran into an open goal and hit the post – and required a marking decision in favour of Pavlich to boot their first goal a minute later.
By half time, if the Hawks' position wasn't obvious with a glance at the scoreboard, a look at the statistics sheet would have reinforced it.
At the main break, only one Docker (Hill) had hit double figure disposals, compared to 16 Hawks.
Hawthorn's 12.7 was the highest half-time score against a Lyon-coached Fremantle, and the final score was also the highest posted against the Dockers under Lyon since he took charge in 2012.
Before the game, the club unfurled its 2013 premiership flag in front of its Melbourne supporter base. By the end of the game, it was very clear Hawthorn want another one.
HAWTHORN 6.2 12.5 17.7 21.11 (137)
FREMANTLE 1.2 2.8 5.10 11.13 (79)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Breust 3, Smith 3, Puopolo 3, Roughead 2, Rioli 2, Gunston 2, Hale, Birchall, Langford, Shiels, Suckling, Hill
Fremantle: Pavlich 4, Duffield 2, Ballantyne, D. Pearce, Mayne, Sandilands, Crowley
BEST
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Hill, Lewis, Langford, Breust, Rioli, Smith, Birchall, Suckling
Fremantle: Pearce, Pavlich, Sandilands, Hill
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Ben McEvoy (calf) replaced in selected side by Jonathon Ceglar
Fremantle: Garrick Ibbotson (right shoulder)
SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Matt Spangher replaced by Angus Litherland in the final quarter
Fremantle: Garrick Ibbotson (right shoulder) replaced by Tom Sheridan in the first quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Rosebury, Foot
Official crowd: 43,583 at the MCG
