The Hawks were too good tonight and at crucial stages of the game their class showed with the game on the line. The Dockers will feel disappointed after finishing on top of the ladder, but they had a great season.
As for the Hawks they await the winner of the Kangaroos and Eagles game tomorrow.
Sam Mitchell was man of the match with 35 disposals. I wonder if it would have been that much had Crowley played?
Final Score:
Dockers 10.7 (67)
Hawks 15.4 (94)
Last year’s premiers, the Hawthorn Hawks, are in the west to face the Fremantle Dockers for a spot in the 2015 Grand Final. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 8:20pm (AEST).
The Dockers will be refreshed and ready for a Hawks onslaught who dominated Adelaide last week at the MCG.
It was unpredictable football from the Hawks who had a number of scoring options going forward, and simply had too much firepower for the Crows who looked out of their depth.
Forget the match these two sides played in Tasmania earlier this year, because this will be an entirely different atmosphere.
Then when you consider how the Hawks have travelled when going to Perth, the Dockers should be favourites. Not to mention the Hawks had a flight delay heading over.
It all comes down to match-ups as it always does, but which side has the edge?
The Hawks will need to be reading Aaron Sandilands all night, and then attempt to outmuscle the Fremantle midfielders who have the size advantage.
If the Dockers can win the clearances they can control the game and deny the Hawks the football. This has proved to be a winning tactic against the Hawks and must be repeated for the Dockers to win.
If the Hawks can get fast football they are dangerous, but they won’t have as much space to work in as their beloved MCG.
The main question is whether or not the Dockers can kick a winning score, or defend the Hawks who are one of the best attacking teams in the competition.
In my opinion a score of 75 or more will be the target to win this game, as I can’t see the Hawks having it their own way like they did earlier this year.
Prediction:
This will be a tight contest with the winner truly deserving of their spot in a Grand Final.
I simply can’t go past a well rested Fremantle side at home.
Fremantle by 10.
Darlene Marron
Guest
I gunned all nite for the Dockers to Win. I am a Eagles though im sure all Eagle supporters were cheering for them. Sad you didn't get over the line. I want to say a big thanks to Pavlich for your outstanding football over the years. Clubs best for sure. I sincerely wish you all the very best☺
Tim
Guest
Don Freo- You are one who loves trying to diminish others opinions by banging on about 'cliches'. Here is one in response to your thoughts, and i am certain you can identify with: ' Winners are grinners..........And losers can suit themselves.........:)'
Don Freo
Guest
Suckling playing on after the siren. Poppy running from behind to take the mark...encroached by 5 metres. The 50 would have had a free 15 metres out. Pav's tackle on Lake. HTB 10 metres out. The Walters one...the first 2 to Hawks. That's 6 goals. Even without Freo's kicking and turnovers and Hawks 2 extra goals in junk time, the umps alone changed the game. Freo was the better side. Hawks used the ball better to stay in it.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Balthazar, Fair point about the decisive decisions going in our favour, particularly the Walters non decision in the last. But I think the Mayne howler from 20 out in the first was the biggest factor in stifling Freo. If he kicks that, things might have been very different
New York Hawk
Guest
Freo were better on Don Freo's purple notepad
New York Hawk
Guest
You are hilarious DotCom, and truly bitter.
jax
Guest
Well said AB. My concern is these umpires are supposed to three of the best six that we have and they were terrible. Commercially it's better to have at least one Vic team in the GF. It does make you wonder and questions should be asked as I'd like to see this investigated, independently. I am not saying that a fix was on as I wouldn't know but it's suspicious and for the good game and it's integrity we need to put this to bed.
deccas
Guest
Well considering freo's best player is still carrying the injury Mitchell inflicted on him I understand the whole "hawthorn are grubs" sentiment. Freo fans were terrible. Saw a vine of a woman getting assaulted by a drunk in the crowd.
FrankR
Guest
Fyfe shoulh stop trying to trip his opponents.
AB
Guest
Yep, Hawthorn had the rub of the green tonight. That's the way footy is. At least two or three of Hawthorn's losses earlier in the season (all much closer margins than this one) probably came down to the rub of the green going against the Hawks. But in this game, the real difference was that Hawthorn made fewer mistakes at critical times; took more of their chances; and kicked a lot straighter. I thought Ross Lyon summed it up very well in his press conference. Fyfe was incredibly brave. And as happy as I am for the Hawks to get through to the Grand Final, I'm also a bit gutted to see McPharlin and Pavlich (and their partners) in tears after the game. Such a shame that neither of these champions won a premiership. Footy can be a cruel game.
Don Freo
Guest
Gee, a couple of you guys lack character if one bloke on a blog can put you off doing what you want to do. I thank you for the ascription of power.
bryan
Guest
"Hawthorn coached to create and exploit opportunities. Freo coached to deny them." The fact is,we didn't defend well tonight,the Hawks did.------the ball was in our forward 50 plenty of times & their defensive pressure,(plus at times "friendly" umpiring),created turnovers which they exploited.. Our defence then failed to do the same thing,allowing them to score. Almost a carbon copy of the Hawks-Crows game.
bart
Guest
Worst umpiring for the year Hawthorns first 2 goals were just pathetic umpiring, i have seen plenty of junior, WAFL and AFL football this year and this was the most blatant one sided umpiring i have seen, i am not saying the umpires were crooked or on the take but it is quite easy to mount a decent argument that they changed the course of this game. Every time Freo looked like gaining or changing momentum the umpires made really bad errors, combined with Hathorn kicking the ball 5 metres to each other and getting paid marks. It really looked like the umpires were really biased.
Norm Lothian
Guest
Paul Haselby Is The New Coach
WhereIsGene
Guest
Hey Don Freo did you enjoy tonight's game mate?
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
There is no legacy. They have won two grand finals in two years. That is all Their nemesis awaits
paulywalnuts
Guest
Not to mention the Dockers supporters. Classy bunch
Si Chewy
Guest
Fully agree with you FreoFan. Umpiring went in waves tonight and they tended to call the small things normally let go in finals footy
Chancho
Roar Rookie
Grubs? ease up... Walters is in a bit of strife, and so too might Taberner... and Ballantyne was at his niggling worst tonight... not sure how many Hawks are on report but if anyone was grubby tonight, it certainly wasn't Hawthorn
justinr
Guest
The most irritating thing about this is the Hawks fans telling everyone that they have the flag won already. Just hoping that West Coast get through unscathed.