Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich made a welcome return to form as the Dockers put a major dent in Hawthorn’s top-two hopes with a 19-point victory in Sunday’s grand final re-match at Patersons Stadium.
Pavlich booted five goals in the 17.8 (110) to 13.13 (91) win, with the result breaking Fremantle’s six-game losing streak against the Hawks.
Hawthorn started the round in top spot, but are now a game adrift of both Geelong and Sydney ahead of Saturday’s showdown against the Cats at the MCG.
Fremantle remain a win ahead of Port Adelaide in fourth as the jostling for positions heats up.
Pavlich entered the match having kicked just two goals in his previous three games.
But the 32-year-old veteran wound back the clock in style, taking a series of contested marks and booting some clever snaps to inspire his team to their best win of the season.
Fremantle suffered a late blow when goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne was ruled out with a hamstring injury, but the return of Michael Walters offset that loss.
Walters, playing his first match since round three, booted one goal and set up numerous others, while midfielders David Mundy, Michael Barlow and Stephen Hill were also crucial in the win.
Hawthorn midfielder Jordan Lewis finished with 44 disposals and seven clearances, but the defending premiers lacked their usual finesse for much of the match.
Nat Fyfe was in the thick of the action in the opening quarter – but mostly for the wrong reasons.
Fyfe’s off-the-ball hit on Jordan Lewis is sure to attract attention from the AFL’s match review panel, and the 22-year-old was left clearly frustrated a few minutes later when he gave away a 50m penalty for holding Luke Hodge after a mark.
Hodge kicked truly from the subsequent kick, and Fyfe cost his side another goal when his off-the-ball niggle with Will Langford gifted Paul Puopolo a shot from point-blank range.
Hawthorn posted 11 scores from 15 inside 50s in the opening term, but their waywardness in front of goal kept kept Fremantle in the contest.
The game turned into a shootout in the second quarter, with Pavlich and Fyfe booting two goals apiece for Fremantle, and Puopolo nailing three for Hawthorn to keep the visitors ahead.
Only 19 goals were kicked in last year’s grand final.
But by the 29-minute mark of the second quarter, 20 goals were already on the board in what had quickly turned into a shootout.
The Dockers continued to fire in the second half, but Hawthorn’s inaccuracy cost them dearly, with the absence of suspended forward Jarryd Roughead telling.
Axle an the guru
Guest
Your TV had to much shade of purple in it this time Don,yes some were rushed but some were shots that hawks normally kick,and may i remind you that we very rearlly see the book during the game now,the MRP watch them all in this day and age,and they dont have purple glasses on. He is gone.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
I'm not clouding it, I am just querying it. I had never queried his intent before. I thought his choice to bump was silly, under the laws of the game, but he did choose to bump, did a textbook bump, and made high contact. All I am querying, is whether his choice to bump was also with a bit of intent. It's not out of the question to think that an AFL player, at any level, does not salivate when the opportunity to bump presents itself...... Likewise with yesterdays incident. You could argue he was trying to initiate early contact. Not sure taking a player high around the neck is "initiating contact". Or you could argue his intent was to take the player high because he had a brain snap and the opportunity was there to do it. There are many ways of looking at it.
Don Freo
Guest
I would have thought, Pete, that they'd be dissecting Gene's game analysis, wouldn't they?...or andyl12's incisive commentary.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
Intent is such a nebulous concept, (it probably befits that connection of 4 months or so between them) you need to look for evidence in the actions at the time. When Fyfe bumped Rischitelli, the only thing wrong with it was Rischitelli's head snapped forward and they banged their scones. As you described it "a textbook bump" and then try to cloud it with intention. Yesterday Fyfe didn't exactly rob someone's grandma so I don't think you can call his whole character into question. If you really want to be arguing intent, you could say his was just trying to initiate early contact after thinking Lewis was running a bit of a block on him and was clumsy about it.
mattyb
Guest
You could have as many doctors as you like tell Johnson he is clueless against Crowley.The boy is still going to need some brain capacity to get it.
Don Freo
Guest
How could it have been 7.4? There were forced points in that lot. Freo covered them for skill...the ultimate difference. Fyfe threw some punches? When? He was penalized but not reported. Probably because he didn't throw some punches.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
I'd love to know what club psychologists and coaches sit and go through with players behind closed doors. What are they talking to the Hawks players about today in light of this weeks loss? What did they talk to the Cats about after the narrow Freo win, and likewise after the narrow Blues win? What do they talk to the Cats players about in the lead up to to this weeks game against he Hawks? Is it all just structures and game plans? Is it all just about knowing your role and performing it to the best of your ability? Or is there an element of getting over a loss or a close win and ensuring the players mind is in the right space? These are some things I question sometimes. It does interest me.
Don Freo
Guest
Geelong didn't really beat Freo. The whole comp knows what happened. You really didn't beat Carlton either. You can point to scoreboards and ladders but if we are talking form and actual on field performance, and what we should really believe, Geelong has been beaten over the past two games. But you don't have to convince me, Gene, I know what I think. You have to convince yourself.
Cat
Roar Guru
Sure maybe, don't agree, but I will admit there could be something to it, but wouldn't the team at least have to be involved in the game? I fail to see how Freo beating Hawthorn has any relevance to any mental edge involving Geelong. If there is any measurable metal edge Geelong would be more confident playing Freo after beating them 2 weeks ago than prior and the Hawthorn v. Freo match would have zero affect on that.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
It's not absurd to think a win or loss has some impact on players. I like listening to Leigh Matthews when he talks about how import the mind is. His commentaries about this after the 01/02/03 wins were very interesting.
Axle an the guru
Guest
Dont know what Hawthorn were doing after halftime,I've never seen hawthorn play like Melboune before. Freo were lucky that hawthorn missed opportunities in the fist quarter, 4-7 could easily been 7-4. Mundy was BOG for me sensational game from him,Mayne & Barlow also had good games. Pavlich & Hill played well also. I think Freo should really have had a better win with the way they dominated the second half. Fyfe will go, dont forget he also through some punches at a hawk player after the Lewis incident. It was unusual for Fyfe to do those things,but intent is worth a wk now anyway,he will miss the next two.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
Right of reply Dalgety. He chose to bump. It was a good bump. What was his intent when he bumped? What was his intent when he chose to go high on Lewis? Just raises some queries. Everyone, even me, has backed him on the bump decision. I don't think it is a silly comment.
Cat
Roar Guru
I love how Freo beating Hawthorn gives it some mental edge over Geelong who beat Freo the previous week. Personally I think this whole 'mental edge' is a bunch of bollocks anyway. Any team in the top 4 can beat any other on any given day, yeah someone in every match will go in as underdog but that's no guarantee of a result.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
Actually just had a look at that photo and they could use that as evidence for the appeal. It's almost the equivalent of a head high tackle that, with his bicep the only part of his arm making contact with the head. Biggest problem is that it's behind play, although Lewis does run across his path, as the Hawks were consistently doing, but that will only count minimally for his defence I'd say.
Axle an the guru
Guest
Dont forget the one two he gave the other hawthorn player.
Axle an the guru
Guest
It only takes stupidity nowerdays.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
How doe that have anything to do with his "textbook bump" as you describe it Peter? Stretching things by a mile there and pretty silly thing to say. There's no chance the MRP will let that go and they'll probably throw the book at him. Hopefully Freo will appeal on the grounds of "done bad, but intention wasn't to to much other than make contact and it slipped high off Lewis' arm" and get a reprimand or maybe a week.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
Great win by Freo. Puts any doubts I had in my mind now about their September hopes. This is the game they had to win and they did it in style. Yep, Hawks did look flat, but Freo were simply too good. Ross Lyon said they needed a big scalp and they got it. He also said the mental side didn't come into it but I think we all know how important beating Hawthorn coming into September is for Freo, and the mental edge this gives them over not only the Hawks coming in, but also over Sydney and the Cats. Confidence is huge coming into the finals and Freo just got the confidence they need to give it a massive shake. They also put the faith back into their supporters and those in the media who were doubting where they are at. I wrote them off in this game. I stand corrected. I was kicking the footy with my boys at Kings Park and could here the roar of the crowd from Patersons. It was awesome.
Chuznut
Guest
Though I agree that Hawthorn didn't quite look like they were up at their usual standard, I'd argue that a huge part of that was due to Freo's unrelenting pressure. Hawthorn haven't had to face defence like that for a long time, and it obviously rattled them. The appearance of a lack of game plan, and them looking exhausted came from the fact that for 3 quarters of that game, no matter what they did, or where they went, there was always at least 1 or 2 Freo players ready to monster them (legally) as soon as they got the ball. I'm just glad that Freo have finally got the monkey off of their back about being able to match it with Hawthorn. If they play each other again in the finals, Hawthorn will be better prepared for that defence, but it looks like it should be a great game. It was great to see Michael Walters back in the team too... It's been so long since he's played, I forgot just how good he can be, and how important he is to the team.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
I think it is pretty clear. Pretty stupid thing to do really. Starts to over shadow that textbook bump that he got rubbed out for, and makes you wonder what his intent was back then. His intent here was to take Lewis high. Lewis arm does come up but well and truly after the contact. Shame, because it takes the gloss off an awesome win by Freo.