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Fremantle hit record high to demolish abject Hawthorn

Fremantle have produced their highest ever score under coach Justin Longmuir after putting Hawthorn to the sword in a 69-point win.

Catherine Healey
3 min read
May 6, 2023 - 11:14PM
Nat Fyfe returns for the Dockers for the clash with Hawthorn. Picture: Will Russell
Nat Fyfe returns for the Dockers for the clash with Hawthorn. Picture: Will Russell

Fremantle have produced their highest ever score under coach Justin Longmuir after putting Hawthorn to the sword in a 69-point win.

The Dockers were on from the first bounce as they kicked their highest opening quarter score of the season.

And their percentage only grew from there as they registered an 18.9 (117) to 7.6 (48) win at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

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In more good news for the club, Nat Fyfe got through his first game back since Round 1 after battling a foot injury.

He was forced to wait as the sub until late in the third term to come on, but made his way to the midfield in the final term as the Dockers put Hawthorn away.

It is was a disappointing result for the Hawks who had been competitive in recent weeks.

But they couldn’t find avenues to goal against Fremantle as they sunk to their seventh loss of the season.

It took more than five minutes for Michael Walters to get Fremantle on the board, before Josh Treacy added the second after getting marched to the goal line.

Treaty was awarded an in-the-back free kick against Hawks skipper James Sicily who blew up immediately at the call.

As a result of the dissent, Treacy’s goal became a certainty.

“You can see he was not happy with the decision,” Fox Footy’s Matthew Pavlich said of Sicily.

“He certainly put a bit of mayo on it (Treacy).

“It’s a bit sloppy from Sicily.”

A huge Sam Frost hit on Michael Frederick left the Dockers gasping for air on the Optus Stadium turf.

After getting assessed on the boundary, Frederick was able to return to the contest minutes later.

Connor Macdonald punished the Dockers when they coughed up the footy at half back, but Sam Switkowski had the immediate reply to open up a 14-point lead.

Bailey Banfield goaled after he was controversially paid a mark inside 50, and Frederick added another to give Fremantle their best first quarter score of the season.

At the first change it was Fremantle leading 33-20.

Big Mitch Lewis beat Alex Pearce on the lead to kick the Hawks’ fourth goal, but the rest of the second term belonged to the Dockers.

Sam Frost threw his body around to save a certain Lachie Schultz goal, but then coughed up a goal to Jye Amiss with some ill-discipline at half forward.

Frost shoved Amiss after the mark was completed and was marched 50 metres – as Hawthorn coughed up a second 50m goal.

Amiss could have had a second goal but unselfishly dished off the hands in the square to Frederick.

Fremantle’s big quarter was soured when Schultz was brought from the ground late carrying his shoulder with his side leading by 31 points.

When Chad Wingard found space inside 50, he wasted no time going around the body to snap his first for the night.

“It was really well played by Hawthorn,” commentator Matthew Pavlich said.

“It was sloppy by Fremantle – five to two Hawthorn forwards.

“(Fergus) Greene took a few players with him when he led up.”

By the main break, Fremantle scored their equal highest half time score under Justin Longmuir (10.4 64) to lead from Hawthorn’s 33.

The third quarter belonged to Fremantle as their pressure ramped up to more than 240 on the gauge.

Luke Jackson, Andy Brayshaw and Frederick all got on the board to open up a game-high 50-point advantage.

Ned Reeves had a chance to get Hawthorn on the board after almost 18 minutes but sent his shot wide.

Nat Fyfe got the home crowd up and about when he made his way onto the field late in the third term, substituted on for Josh Treacy.

By three quarter time, the Dockers had the match on their terms 90-35.

The final quarter was just a formality as Fremantle found some much-needed percentage.

Nat Fyfe went back to his customary midfield role but also managed to hit the scoreboard floating forward.

The Hawks broke their 50 minute goal drought to give their fans something to smile about, but the match was already all over.

By full time, it was Fremantle who claimed the 117-48 win.

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Originally published as Fremantle hit record high to demolish abject Hawthorn

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/fremantle-hit-record-high-to-demolish-abject-hawthorn/news-story/c0aacd38e66e73a088258d458f389eab