Clinical Hawks smash Dockers

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Match. "A GAME or a contest in which two or more contestants or teams oppose each other".

This was no match and certainly no contest.

Hawthorn last night obliterated the Dockers with such unmerciful power and precision it will scare the living daylights out of the rest of the competition.

This is a side which has scaled football's summit, and yet it applies frenzied pressure, runs to space with such undying desire and is so clean by foot you'd swear they were striving to break a premiership drought.

Sam Mitchell shrugged off a calf injury to finish with 36 possessions. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: News Corp Australia

That is what Fremantle is trying to do, and yet if last night is any indication it could be another 50 years away.

Hawthorn lead by 75 points early in the last quarter before finally taking the foot off the Dockers' throat to win by 58 — 21.11 (137) to 11.13 (79).

At the end of it all, it was hard to believe these were the two sides locked in a ferocious arm wrestle only six months ago on the same ground in the biggest game of the year.

Luke Breust was at his creative best with four goals. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: News Corp Australia

This was a journey back in time to the old Freo; the purple mob who would go into their shell away from home and put in insipid performances outside WA.

Records were broken everywhere.

Hawthorn's score was the biggest the Dockers have conceded in the Ross Lyon era and the Hawks' 492 disposals the seventh-most ever recorded.

The home side won the ball inside and shared it on the outside with such mesmeric efficiency Fremantle literally couldn't get its hands on the ball.

Isaac Smith kicked two goals in a minute in the second quarter to blow the game apart. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: News Corp Australia

The uncontested possession count stood 31-0 after 15 minutes and Fremantle didn't take a mark of any kind until the 16 minute mark of first quarter.

Will Lanford got into the act, kicking his first career goal, much to the delight of the faithful. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: News Corp Australia

At half-time it was the worst disposal differential (-133) ever under Lyon. The Dockers' 128 possessions at the main break was also the lowest of the Lyon era.

Yes, Michael Barlow (injured) and Nat Fyfe and Zac Dawson (both suspended) provide an asterisk. But if that's the case what does Luke Hodge, Brian Lake, Ben Stratton and Brad Sewell provide?

No, absentees are a cop-out.

Brad Hill had a career-high 30 disposals. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: News Corp Australia

There were periods last night where you could have argued the Dockers had thrown in the towel. It is a harsh accusation, especially at the Grand Finallist, but there was a distinct 'It's all too hard' stink about them for much of the game.

So out of their depth were they that it was like watching Melbourne in its darkest hour or Greater Western Sydney or Gold Coast shortly after birth.

David Mundy was muzzled by Will Langford, Ryan Crowley was given a hiding from Sam Mitchell, Michael Walters Chris Mayne and Hayden Ballantyne combined for two goals.

Ryan Crowley is chased and tackled by Cyril Rioli. Picture Wayne Ludbey. Source: News Corp Australia

And yet again, Aaron Sandilands' ruck dominance (33 hit-outs) didn't translate to clearance ascendancy.

As bad as Fremantle were, Hawthorn was super impressive. It's Round 3, but if the Hawks don't win this year's premiership, it won't be complacency that brings them unstuck.

Last night they outworked, out-hassled and out-skilled the so-called second-best side in the country. They got extra numbers to the contest and after winning possession, simply didn't give it back.

Matt Spangher filled a key defensive post admirably. Picture Wayne Ludbey. Source: News Corp Australia

Cyril Rioli provided the highlights; Jordan Lewis and Mitchell the drive. Six Hawks had 30 disposals or more.

Goals don't get more exciting that Luke Breust's in the first quarter after Rioli and Paul Puopolo combined majestically on the wing to slice open the Dockers. Fremantle's famed full-ground defence was made to look like witches hats.

This wasn't a Grand Final rematch.

It was a statement.

HAWTHORN:

FREMANTLE:

SAM EDMUND'S BEST PLAYERS

HAWTHORN: Mitchell, Lewis, Smith, Suckling, Roughead, Breust, Rioli, Birchall

FREMANTLE: Pavlich, Pearce, Hill

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