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AFL live updates: Fremantle Dockers host Hawthorn Hawks in Thursday night blockbuster

The two hottest teams in the competition will meet as Fremantle host Hawthorn in what could be an early finals preview. Follow all the action live!

Headshot of Jake Santa Maria
Jake Santa Maria
The West Australian
Jack Gunston celebrates a goal.
Jack Gunston celebrates a goal. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian

AFL: The two hottest teams in the competition will meet as Fremantle host Hawthorn in what could be an early finals preview.

The Dockers haven’t lost to Hawthorn at home since the 2015 preliminary final and are on a hot-streak of seven straight wins.

The Hawks are unbeaten in their last seven, coming off a draw with Collingwood in what will be the biggest test yet of Fremantle’s premiership credentials.

Follow all the action live!

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Jake Santa Maria is reporting live.

Concerns for Mason Cox

He’s getting work done on his hamstring at the back of the bench and now he’s on the bike trying to get it going again.

Amiss hits back

The Dockers’ continue their centre clearance dominance and Jye Amiss gets on a lead and takes a strong mark.

He converts on the angle and the Dockers are back in front.

Cox what are you doing?

Judd McVee misses the handball but Brennan Cox has time to collect Nick Watson is closing and instead of getting rid of it takes him on and of course is caught holding the ball.

You can’t be doing that and Watson has two goals. He’s never kicked multiple goals against Freo before.

Early misses at both ends

Max Ramsden wins a free as Luke Ryan holds onto him having switched off Gunston but misses left.

Dockers continue their rapid ball movement and Corey Wagner gets a free for a soft call for a push from D’Ambrosio after an attempted chase down but misses right.

End of Q1 FRE 4.4 (28) HAW 4.2 (26)

Hawthorn have a late chance but a high tackle on Isaiah Dudley puts an end to the danger as the siren sounds to end a frenetic quarter of footy.

The Dockers continue to dominate clearances but in open play the Hawks look dangerous, especially if Watson gets anywhere near it.

He’s almost been too fast at times as he’s slipped over but he’s generated three inside 50s from four touches.

Luke Ryan looks all at sea against Jack Gunston but at the other end Freo’s smalls have brought the pressure and Josh Treacy has been strong being the leading disposal geter with eight and a goal.

So far this clash has lived up to the height but how long can both teams keep up this pace?

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MAY 07: James Sicily of the Hawks is tackled by Jye Amiss of the Dockers during the round nine AFL match between Fremantle Dockers and Hawthorn Hawks at Optus Stadium, on May 07, 2026, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MAY 07: James Sicily of the Hawks is tackled by Jye Amiss of the Dockers during the round nine AFL match between Fremantle Dockers and Hawthorn Hawks at Optus Stadium, on May 07, 2026, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos/via Getty Images) Credit: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Treacy puts the Dockers back in front

Surge kick from stoppage and Barrass is behind Treacy who takes an uncontested mark and has it 20m out from goal.

Boots it through and they lead by two points.

Watson is crazy

No one on the ground can keep up with him as he bursts on the loose ball and kicks to Gunston who has another look on goal but misses right.

He’s just so fast and is looking incredibly dangerous.

Dudley pressures a goal

Sicily mucks around with it in defence and the Hawks run themselves into trouble as Dudley hunts down Newcombe to win a free kick.

Missed one earlier, but he’s back on form this time to cut the margin to three points.

Gunston burns Ryan again

Cam Mackenzie with a delightful spin move to get out of trouble and open up the corridor for Hawthorn.

Ryan is burnt again by Gunston has he recieves a brilliant kick over the top to mark in space.

No doubt about this one as he gets his second.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MAY 07: Jack Gunston of the Hawks celebrates a goal during the 2026 AFL Round 09 match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Hawthorn Hawks at Optus Stadium on May 7, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MAY 07: Jack Gunston of the Hawks celebrates a goal during the 2026 AFL Round 09 match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Hawthorn Hawks at Optus Stadium on May 7, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images) Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Scratch that

A very late goal reveiw and the snicko shows a spike so Ryan’s blushes are saved as he takes the kick-in.

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