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!
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!
Key events
21 mins ago - 08:10 PM
End of Q3 Hawthorn 10.7 (67) Fremantle 7.10 (52)
1 hour ago - 07:00 PM
Barrass is done
1 hour ago - 06:55 PM
Concerns for Mason Cox
1 hour ago - 06:53 PM
Cox what are you doing?
1 hour ago - 06:45 PM
End of Q1 FRE 4.4 (28) HAW 4.2 (26)
3 hours ago - 05:31 PM
Longmuir says Hawks will give them a good audit
3 hours ago - 05:13 PM
No late changes
3 hours ago - 05:06 PM
Welcome
Jake Santa Maria is reporting live.
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?
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.
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.
Ryan is struggling on Gunston
For the second time, he drags him deep then pushes off the Docker to get on a clear lead.
From 35m he sneaks through his second and you have to wonder if they might switch that match-up.
Butler gives Hawks the lead
Mason Cox takes a strong mark in the last line of defence but his kick is poor to turn it over to Ginnivan who puts it straight back in.
This time it goes to ground and Butler has space in the pocket and boots his first goal from a similar angle to Watson’s from earlier.
Gunston gets his first
The Hawks finally win a centre clearance at Gunston uses all his footy smarts to take his defender deep and then double back on him.
His kick is true, and we’ve had four goals in the first five minutes!
Fast Freddy bursts through
Karl Worner forces the turnover at half back goes quick to Young to Clark who goes to Bolton.
He shrugs off the tackle to get it to Frederick on the outside who runs in and launches from 50m and it bounces through.
Kane Cornes describes it as “scintillating” ball movement from Freo
