HAWTHORN 2.4 10.9 13.12 17.17 (119)

FREMANTLE 0.3 2.6 7.8 9.9 (63)

Hawthorn have flung themselves back into Premiership contention after a massive 56-point victory over the declining Fremantle Dockers.

Played at the Hawks’ ‘home away from home’ in Launceston; the 12,000 strong Tasmanian crowd were given a scintillating glimpse at the sheer fire-power of their adopted side as the healed Jarryd Roughead put on a show.

Roughead finished with four goals in the demolition, while fellow forward Cyril Rioli snared two and applied fantastic forward pressure throughout the contest.

In a rarity; Hawthorn won by nigh on 10 goals with the usually dynamic Lance Franklin only converting one major.

Meanwhile, Fremantle appear to be slipping back into perennial woe mode, despite the expensive addition of Ross Lyon.

In a theme for the round, the Dockers finished the first quarter with less than a goal on the board, but were thankfully only down by two goals. The comfort didn’t last long as Hawthorn strung together over half a dozen consecutive goals in the second quarter to compound the problems facing the Purple Pride.

Hayden Ballantyne top scored for the Dockers with two, but his efforts from the middle were otherwise minimal. Michael Barlow and Greg Broughton also fought hard for their side, but the brilliance of the Hawks undid them.

With an even spread of possession winners, all seems up for this Hawthorn side after the Round 5 capitulation against Sydney.

Brad Sewell, Liam Shiel and Jordan Lewis accumulated 81 possessions and a goal between them – while Clinton Young amassed a superb 132 Dream Team points.

The uncertainty surrounding the club early in the season appears to have gone, and the rejuvenated Hawks can look forward to the final two thirds of the season with fervor. Key injuries down back remain a constant issue, and the management of Josh Gibson will be crucial.

Sadly for Ross Lyon, it seems that money doesn’t buy you love as his Fremantle side looked devoid of energy and fight. Whether the renowned coach can pick up his players after fetching his hefty cheque is another issue – and one sure to be debated amongst the suffering Fremantle faithful.

Two weeks ago, the Hawks were three wins and three losses: Now sitting five and three, they can both be excited about their future and inspire other struggling clubs that the times will change.

All in all, it was an old fashioned second quarter shellacking that drove the Dockers into the bed of despair in a 56-point defeat.

Votes:

3 – Clinton Young (Hawks)

2 – Jarryd Roughead (Hawks)

1 – Cyril Rioli (Hawks)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Roughead 4, Suckling 2, Rioli 2, Breust 2, Young, Guerra, Franklin, Hale, Lewis, Mitchell, Smith
Fremantle: Ballantyne 2, Barlow, Neale, Crowley, Clarke, Johnson, Mayne, Dawson

BEST:
Hawthorn: Roughead, Sewell, Rioli, Young, Mitchell, Lewis
Fremantle: Barlow, Crowley, Sandilands, Mzungu, Hill

SUBSTITUTES:
Hawthorn: Paul Puopolo replaced by Shane Savage in the fourth quarter.
Fremantle: Clancee Pearce replaced by Jay van Berlo in the third quarter.

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Justin Schmitt, Troy Pannell, Andrew Mitchell

Official crowd: 12, 959 at Aurora Stadium