Premierships aren’t won in July. But they can be lost.
This part of the season feels a bit like the third quarter – the premiership quarter. Play it well, and you run home with a head full of steam. Play it poorly and you’re limping towards September disappointment.
This game was a contest of two sides in closer relation to September than their ladder positions suggested: In the purple corner is Fremantle, trying to claw their way back in to the eight, where they would sit comfortably if not for some of those pesky poor losses that they should’ve won. In the yellow corner is Hawthorn, a team close to locking in a top 4 or 5 spot, but also a little too close to missing completely. There are many important games, but this was an important game.
And that was how the game was played: it wasn’t clean. It wasn’t pretty. And it certainly wasn’t easy.
But it was tough.
Both on an off the ball. Spot fires broke out all over the field. Nothing beyond a bit of push and shove, and maybe some choice words. But the tackles were hard and regularly resulted in a melee. The MRO is no doubt rubbing their hands together and making space in the wallet.
Neither team really gained control or any kind of momentum, until Fremantle in the dying stages, and even then, it was more about composure under fatigue than any dominant stretch of footy. Hawthorn became panicked once they lost the lead and Freo pounced.
With about 20 minutes left, the Dockers—spurred on by pressure, territory, and momentum, took the moment. They grabbed it with both hands and held on.
In the end, Fremantle’s 12.5.77 held out against Hawthorn’s 9.10.64 in a result that keeps one side’s dream alive and leaves the other wondering how close they are to it slipping away.
And really, that’s the story of this one.
Here’s what I saw:
What Went Well for Freo
This was a territory game. And Fremantle played it that way. Or, at least, tried to as much as they could.
They over-possessed at times, but when some rain came, they ditched the over-possessing stuff for large chunks, opting to gain distance with their disposal. They played well in a scrappy contest, which isn’t something they’ve been known to do well. They were also highly accurate (for the most part) in front of goal, taking their chances, despite having fewer shots. As the game progressed, their intent lifted, particularly in the last. The Hawks started to look tired and fumbly. Freo smelled blood and just… kept grinding.
Their midfield was much improved over last week’s effort. Lead by Brayshaw (26 disposals, 5 clearances) and Serong (25 Disposals, 8 clearances) they found some of their grunt and drive that had been missing over the last couple of weeks. They also weren’t reliant on too few. No one had particularly huge standout games, but whenever they needed someone to stand up, someone did. Whether it was Brayshaw in the second quarter, Treacy in the final (4 marks, 1 goal), or Switkowski (3 goals), they just found a way to keep in touch with a Hawthorn team that really had them on the ropes for a lot of this game.
What went poorly for Freo
Fremantle are about 5% off being a good side. Or at least, the side they need to be. They’re close – but they’re not there yet. They have too many unforced errors, too many ‘almost’ marks and handballs that ‘almost’ come off. They’re still a bit too indecisive with ball in hand.
Their exit from defensive 50 remains a concern. Bad options, poor execution, and kicking to contests without representation. It’s criminal, really. In the first half, almost all of their kicks from the backline were cut off by Hawthorn. That’s partly due to the Hawks’ structure, but mostly due to the Dockers not kicking to the best option or to the wrong side of a contest.
Worse, the number of uncontested spoils that became goals for Hawthorn were infuriating. It’s not just about spoiling; it’s about where you spoil. Basic stuff. Freo’s backline has preferred to take intercept marks, but for some reason, in the first half particularly, they opted to spoil when they didn’t need to. Chapman’s ill-placed spoil to Dear in the second quarter sums it up. He may not have been able to mark it, but someone missed the boundary completely and landed it right at Dear’s feet, for a very easy goal. Just be better.
And finally: Freo simply aren’t clean or skilled enough to play a polished, short-kick mark style. When they try, it falls apart. But when they simplify it, like they did late? Much more effective. Unfortunately, their stuff down the line wasn’t working either, and they weren’t able to generate a lot of run and handball. They did get better in the last quarter when the game opened up and Hawthorn ran out of breath, but for most of the game, their ball movement was uninspiring. Again – you could see what they were trying to do, but they were just 5%, and Hawthorn pounced.
What Went Well – Hawthorn
Hawthorn were much clearer in the first half, especially with their use of handball and their 45-metre angled switches split Fremantle open more than once. Their willingness to handball through the middle took the sting out of Freo’s zone, and gave them good run and carry. Karl Amon (26 disposals) generated a lot of run and carry off the half-back line and I don’t know what Jack Ginnivan ate before the match, but he was everywhere, picking up 27 disposals and a goal for his efforts. D’Ambrosio (20 disposals) really led the way for them in the first quarter, especially. He linked up with Amon well, and even though Freo did put a stop to that eventually, his kicking and decision-making was elite in the opening quarter..
Defensively, Hawthorn just had answers to most Fremantle movements, especially when they forced turnovers just outside the arc. A few of their goals were textbook transition: turn it over at 70, move it quick, kick truly.
What didn’t go well for Hawthorn
Hawthorn should have won this game, but at the end of the day, when Freo brought heat in the fourth and found some momentum, panic crept into their game. Where they were clean and making good decisions, suddenly they were rushing the ball out to either Clark, Ryan or the boundary. I’ve never seen an umpire so excited about insufficient intent before, nor pay so many in a short patch of time.
Without the ball, Hawthorn brought a lot of the fight and anger, but it didn’t necessarily translate into better football. They tackled hard, yes, and managed 78 of them, but that was still 25 fewer tackles than the men in purple.
They also didn’t have a plan for Serong. This isn’t the thing that killed them, but as the game progressed, Serong got better and better. Freo’s midfield, beaten in the first quarter, got into the game more and evened out not just the clearances, but the quality of them as well. Sam Mitchell should’ve put someone on Serong during the third quarter, maybe early in the fourth. Not because the Hawks weren’t winning the midfield, but just to make sure of it completely.
They did have this guy named Finn Maginness out there, who has a bit of a knack for closing down an opponent. he kicked a nice goal, but would he have been better if the Hawks used him to cut Serong out of the contest?
Finally, do the Hawthorn players go to bed at 10.30? I made a joke about 8.30 Perth time that, as a Freo fan, I hoped the Hawks would fall asleep. Turns out that’s almost exactly what happened.
Other Bits and Pieces
Lloyd Meek made a statement against his old side.
He was massive around the contest. 11 tackles, a few important clearances, and a physical presence that seemed to catch Darcy off-guard at times.
Don’t get me wrong—Darcy wasn’t bad. He competed well, didn’t drop his head, and worked into the game, and kicked probably the winning goal at the end. But this felt like Meek’s night. He has come such a long way. I guess, sometimes, all a bloke needs is a genuine chance.
I’d be remiss if didn’t mention Jackson’s involvement. He was fairly quiet in the first half, but lifted in the second. He started the third quarter like a man possessed. Hadn’t been influential to that point but sparked Freo with some aggressive running, which if nothing else, tired Meek out.
So I’ll give Meek the chocolates for this one. Up against two quality ruckmen (albeit Darcy still not 100%), he more than held his own.
Jye Amiss: Longmuir’s public challenge clearly had some effect. Kicked straight when it counted and found more of the ball than he has in weeks. But then forgot how to kick again come the second half. His walk-in run up sees him struggle for distance when further out, and I wonder whether he needs to generate a little more momentum so he is more balanced when he kicks?
Josh Treacy: Invisible for three quarters, then exploded in the fourth. Kicked a crucial goal and brought pressure up forward.
Jai Newcombe: I almost forget about Newcombe. He’s such an important accumulator of the ball. 23 disposals, but 16 handballs. He played a very important in-and-under role.
Loved Brayshaw giving an interview with his brains falling out. His gee-up to the crowd while running off with blood pouring from his head,as well… inspirational stuff.
I loved Calsher Dear’s game early. I’ve not seen much of him, but he attacks it well, gets into the right spots, and uses it beautifully. He ended up with two goals and a new fan. He was important to the Hawks last year, or so my fellow Hawthorn-affiliated mongrels tell me, so they’d be rapt to have him back out there for the remainder of the season.
James Worpol was everywhere as well. He collected 20 and again, just uses the ball beautifully by foot. His run and carry through the midfield was electric compared to that of his opposition.
The Wrap
Fremantle just about keep their season alive. They weren’t dominant, they weren’t clean—but they were harder for longer. In a game that felt like a final, that’s often enough.
For Hawthorn, this stings. A win would’ve put them in a strong position. A loss now leaves the door ajar, and a poor finish to the season could see them slip out altogether. Their road form in 2025 is a real worry. Just the one win outside of Vic/Tassie, and that came all the way back in opening round, against the Swans.
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