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
Amiss!
One clearance, one goal.
The Dockers have their first goal since the opening major of the game.
Serong won the ball and got it to Brayshaw who escaped, delivering the ball onto Amiss’ chest.
FRE 16, HAW 43
Clearance lift
There’s a simple area where the Dockers need to be better, clearances.
Not a single man in purple has more than two clearances.
Being first to the ball in that area will negate the Hawks pressure and let the home side dictate as they have done all year.
Time for a lift.
HT: Fremantle 10, Hawthorn 43
The Dockers did well to limit the damage but they are not learning from their mistakes.
It’s far too wet for the quick handballs and dinky kicks they are trying to use.
It’s not helping that every time they go long they are miles off the mark and can’t buy a one-on-one win.
Clark is playing his heart out with 20 touches and Jackson has been strong in the air.
However, their movers are off the boil.
Watson is also threatening to break the game open despite Walker playing him pretty well.
The Hawks also deserve full credit for their pressure and physicality, it has been elite.

Fair grab!
Clark is a one-man Dockers team right now!
He’s had 16 touches and launches into the sky for a huge sit to get a repeat 50.
However, his teammates waste the chance and have to go again.
FRE 10, HAW 42
Boil over?
The Dockers are not even in the contest right now.
They are clinging on for dear life as the Hawks pepper away at goal.
Freo’s forwards need to start offering an outlet becuase they can’t escape the back half.
FRE 10, HAW 42
Too many
The Dockers are a team under the pump at the moment and they are panicking.
They are using the handball too often and when they kick it’s rushed without real direction.
The Hawks are set up really well behind the ball and are tackling with reckless abondon.
FRE 10, HAW 35
Playing on
Freo skipper Alex Pearce is battling on after dislocating his finger early in the first term.
He had it popped back in and remains out on the ground guarding Mitch Lewis.
FRE 9, HAW 28
Purple party
There is a huge crowd in the house tonight and despite a poor first term from their side, they are making their voices heard.
QT: Fremantle 9, Hawthorn 28
Fremantle fans were frustrated with some of the umpire calls but there players found themselves being outbodied in the contest.
Their hot movement from the opening 10 minutes turned into panic gives as the Hawks increased their pressure across the term.
Erasmus and Clark are racking up the touches and are into double digits but its all coming under intense pressure.
The rain struck late to make matters worse as the home side struggled to find their key forwards for outlet kicks.
The Hawks’ pressure forwards are doing most of the damage and the Dockers need to start winning the contest further in their half.

The dozen
Gunston kicks his 12th goal at Optus for the season and gives the Hawks their fourth on the trot.
The Dockers already have their highest score in the first quarter of a final under Longmuir but they need to find something in these last four minutes.
FRE 9, HAW 27
Originally published on The West Australian
