RECAP: Fremantle Dockers fall to Hawthorn in qualifying final at Optus Stadium
Fremantle has been condemned to having to go the long way to a grand final after being stunned by the Hawks at Optus Stadium. Recap all the action from our blog!
AFL: Fremantle has been condemned to having to go the long way to a grand final after being stunned by the Hawks at Optus Stadium.
Justin Longmuir pulled a selection shock in the lead in, naming Brandon Walker, who had made just three AFL appearances in two seasons, to combat Nick Watson.
And while it worked for three quarters, Walker ended up injured.
Walker joined Murphy Reid, Jye Amiss, Heath Chapman and Sam Switkowski as ins for Fremantle while Jack Ginnivan’s return was the only change at Hawthorn.
But in the end, it all came down to another slow finals start.
Recap all the action from our blog!
Key events
03 Sep 2026 - 08:59 PM
MATCH REPORT
03 Sep 2026 - 08:40 PM
THREE-WORD ANALYSIS
03 Sep 2026 - 08:37 PM
FT: Fremantle 40, Hawthorn 72
03 Sep 2026 - 08:09 PM
Walker out
03 Sep 2026 - 08:03 PM
3QT: Fremantle 31, Hawthorn 64
03 Sep 2026 - 07:14 PM
HT: Fremantle 10, Hawthorn 43
03 Sep 2026 - 06:41 PM
QT: Fremantle 9, Hawthorn 28
03 Sep 2026 - 06:14 PM
On the board!
03 Sep 2026 - 05:06 PM
Heavens open
03 Sep 2026 - 04:14 PM
Traffic warning
03 Sep 2026 - 04:10 PM
The one everyone’s talking about
That’s a wrap
The Dockers’ Flagmantle bubble has taken a blow tonight but the dream is far from dead for Fremantle.
They will host either Carlton or Geelong in a semifinal next week and then either Sydney or Brisbane in a prelim if they can win.
We will be back for the semi, until then farewell.
Don’t miss Friday’s The West Australian
Captain gutted
Fremantle captain Alex Pearce has conceded his side’s performance in their shock qualifying loss to Hawthorn was ‘really disappointing’.
Work starts now
Mason Cox is back on the ground doing extra running with a trainer.
He had only four touches for the night with three marks and five hitouts.
Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss had tough nights as well with nine touches and two goals between them.
MATCH REPORT
Fremantle’s premiership dreams have taken a massive hit, the anxiety of passionate fans will be at an all-time high and players will spend the next week living with extreme doubt after they were blown away by Hawthorn to lose the qualifying final.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
FT: Fremantle 40, Hawthorn 72
The Hawks deserve a lot of credit for the pressure they applied in the first half that forced Fremantle to lose all the gains they made this year.
They will probably now be premiership favourites.
For the Dockers, they are going to have a long week on the training track and will need to do things the hard way.
Clark was huge with 36 disposals and Brayshaw was also big but there is no doubt the occasion got to Fremantle as it did last year in the elimination final against the Suns, which is actually their last loss at Optus Stadium.
Sicily, Day and Watson were strong for the Hawks while their small forwards were electric when the contest was on in the first half.
Crowd
The Purple Army have produced their biggest ever crowd with 59,446 in the house.
They were hoping for much better but will get the chance to come back next week.
A kick!
Treacy get his first kick of the night after copping a shove in the back.
He makes it a goal but it’s not been a good night from the Dockers’ star spearhead.
He’s one who will have a long week ahead of the semifinal.
FRE 40, HAW 71
Originally published on The West Australian
