Fremantle’s already hot season is about to improve, with superstar skipper and Brownlow double medalist Nat Fyfe to play his first game of 2022 when his club hosts the Hawthorn.
The Dockers (9-3, 134%) will welcome Fyfe to his first AFL game since round 19 last year, although his finger was dislocated in the first moments of his return to the WAFL last weekend.
It will be a difficult task for the Hawks (4-8, 87.6%), who have only won one of their last seven games but have played some of their best footballers this season against eight top players such as Carlton, Geelong and Brisbane. , Melbourne and Collingwood.
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MATCH REPORT
There were no late changes for either side, with Darcy Tucker (Fremantle) and Josh Morris (Hawthorn) appointed the medical subordinates.
Freo wasted no time in hitting 50 minutes into the game, but Rory Lobb was just a finger’s breadth away from an equalizer for FC with a strike from the left, but his shot deflected off the post.
The Hawks had barely touched the ball in the first few minutes, and the Dockers looked ominous at first.
“This defensive set-up by Freo is a whole new ball game,” Demons’ great Garry Lyon told Fox Footy.
Fyfe, despite suggesting that he would spend more time later in his return match, interestingly started the match exclusively in the middle of the field. The Dockers’ boss advanced later in office.
The Hawks turned the script around after a strong five-minute burst in the middle of the first period, scoring three goals in a row, including a brilliant finish from Daniel Howe off 50 at the boundary line.
“These are three exceptional conversions that we expect from players at this level. but we don’t see it that often. They have joined the competition and now it’s up to Freo, “said Lyon.
A brilliantly placed corner kick from Dylan Moore was followed by Hawthorn’s hard but accurate header.
“They’ve been perfect in their seven shots,” noted Fox Footy commentator Adam Papalia.
Hawthorn took a three-point lead in the quarter, 5.0 (3rd) to 4.3 (27).
The Hawks’ pressure was brilliant in the first quarter, including six of their 16 tackles entering 50.
“It sounds like a bouquet that says, ‘Come on, we’re going to kick the guy, it doesn’t matter if I’m forward or backward,'” Lyon said.
Fremantle responded, and as in the first quarter, he started the first major of the second quarter on the opening play when Brandon Walker scored his first goal at the AFL level.
However, Hawthorn instantly hit the other quarter with Moore’s second goal to make it an efficient 6.1 in front of the big sticks for the visitors.
“It brings tears to the eyes of a striker,” Lyon said mockingly about Hawthorn’s accurate shot.
The ball lived in the Hawthorn front half early in the second quarter with 76 percent versus Fremantle’s 24 percent.
Lyon noted that James Sicily, who did what he wanted in the first half with nine rebounds and five points, “did not pay attention” to Griffin Logue in his clash.
This prompted Justin Longmuir to advance Fyfe deeply to play in Sicily.
The Dockers resumed their game later in the second period, but were unable to hit the scoreboard, while they were sometimes forced to play unusually down the aisle.
The Hawks led by 10 points at the break, 8.4 (52) to 6.6 (42).
This match started at 16:10 AEST from the Optus Stadium.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504) from 16:00 AEST.
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