RECAP: Fremantle Dockers fall to Hawthorn in qualifying final at Optus Stadium

The Dockers have taken ownership of possession and space but they just can’t get the ball to their forwards.

And even when they do, they miss.

This has been a disastour for the Dockers, so far short of the team they have been all year.

But that’s the benefit of finishing top, they get the chance to learn the lessons and use them next week rather than next year.

An away prelim will be tough, if they can get there, but not impossible.

FRE 34, HAW 71

The Dockers’ forward line has been hopeless tonight.

They have gone back to the days of competing against each other in their desperation to get onto the scoreboard.

The Dockers have gone inside 50 43 times for four majors.

The Hawks have only been inside four more times than them.

FRE 33, HAW 70

Morrison gets the first of the last for the Hawks and the lead is out to 38 points.

It came after Watson handballed around a Ryan on the boundary and ran onto his own ball before delivering a perfect inside-50 kick.

FRE 32, HAW 70

The Dockers’ big selection call has sadly ended with another injury to Brandon Walker.

He will miss the last quarter with an ankle concern.

The Hawks have control of this one and it will take some last term for the Dockers to turn this around.

Fremantle have not looked good at any stage since the opening 10 minutes and despite a lift, lose the third term as well.

Shai Bolton had a bright start to the half but was reeled in while Sicily continues to have a strong night marshalling the backline.

Walker has left the ground after rolling his ankle trying to escape a tackler.

While he was getting assistance, Watson snuck into space and gets a goal.

FRE 30, HAW 63

Switkowski grabs a major just when the Dockers desperatly needed it.

He nails the set shot from 48 metres and if the home side can grab one more before the break, they can go into the final term with hope.

FRE 30, HAW 57

It’s been just under a month since Murphy Reid last played and he is having a poor night by foot.

He has been one of their best users in his first two campaigns at AFL level but under the heat, and off an injury, he is struggling to meet the pace of the contest.

The Hawks just continue to have all the answers.

FRE 24, HAW 57

Treacy and Voss have had one kick between them.

And it was Voss who got the kick off.

Luckily for the home side, their halfbacks and midfielders are starting to generate some run.

After missing a set shot off the back of a great burst by Walker, Serong dobs one on the run to start clawing the Hawks’ lead back.

FRE 24, HAW 50

The Dockers still aren’t clicking.

The Hawks have made sure they can’t get momentum with a slow plan when they have the ball.

It then means they are able to clog the spaces if they turn it over.

It does mean their scoring has also slowed but a lead in a final is worth more than in the home-and-away season.

FRE 17, HAW 50