Hawthorn increase psychological edge over Fremantle with crushing win in grand final replay
HAWTHORN increased its stunning psychological hold over Fremantle with a 58-point hiding that will weigh down the Dockers all season.
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HAWTHORN has increased its stunning psychological hold over Fremantle with a 58-point hiding that will weigh down the Dockers’ flag aspirations all season.
The Hawks’ shot to outright premiership favouritism ($3.70) in devastating fashion last night, again exposing the team they beat in last year’s grand final as their ‘bunny side’, with a ninth win from their past ten meetings.
The MCG hammering reaffirmed the Hawks’ view they can be better despite the departure of superstar forward Lance Franklin and overcome the key match day absences of captain Luke Hodge (groin), Ben McEvoy (calf), Ben Stratton (hamstring), Brad Sewell (hamstring) and Brian Lake (calf) last night.
Worryingly for the Dockers, their injury toll grew with backman Garrick Ibbotson substituted out early with a dislocated shoulder and gun forward Michael Walters forced off the ground with an injured ankle.
Dockers’ trio Hayden Ballantyne, Chris Mayne and Luke McPharlin also looked to be carrying injuries last night and will be under a fitness cloud for next Sunday’s redemption bid against Essendon in Perth.
Only a late rally saved Fremantle from the embarrassment of eclipsing last year’s 71-point loss to St Kilda in Rd 23 as Ross Lyon’s worst loss as senior coach.
The Hawks blew Fremantle away leading by 30 points in the first quarter and had doubled the Dockers’ possession tally by half time, putting the Hawks in the box seat to carry out their back-to-back premiership bid.
The Hawks next meet the Dockers in Rd 21 in Perth.
Melbourne champion and respected commentator Garry Lyon branded Fremantle’s performance a “monumental failure” after starting the night $4 equal premiership favourites with Hawthorn.
“They have not turned up, Fremantle. This is disgraceful,” Lyon said on Triple M.
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