FREMANTLE has marked captain Nat Fyfe’s 200th AFL game with a dominant 62-point win over Hawthorn that keeps them in the finals mix.
Dockers forward Rory Lobb slotted an equal career-best four goals, including three in the first term, at University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston.
Fyfe was outstanding in the opening exchanges, picking up 13 disposals in the first quarter before finishing with 31 for the game.
Lobb took a number of strong pack marks early as the Dockers opened a 35-12 quarter-time lead before inflicting plenty of pain late.
Fyfe added his name to the score sheet early in the fourth quarter amid a run of six-straight Fremantle goals.
The 16.12 (108) to 6.10 (46) win puts the Dockers in the top eight as of Saturday afternoon with others around them on the ladder still to play in round 17.
It was Fremantle’s biggest win over Hawthorn, surpassing their 61-point victory at Subiaco Oval in 2002.
Hawthorn kicked just two goals in the second half.
They had some promising passages but it was not the response the club was seeking after revealing the succession plan for coach Alastair Clarkson earlier this week.
The club announced Clarkson would depart at the end of 2022 and hand the reins to Sam Mitchell.
Hawthorn lost Jack Scrimshaw at halftime when he was medically subbed out of the match due to concussion concerns.
Scrimshaw copped an accidental whack to the head from teammate Ben McEvoy and was replaced by Oliver Hanrahan.
Changkuoth Jiath also failed to finish the match with an apparent knee problem.
In just his third game, Emerson Jeka picked up two goals including a running effort in the second quarter.
Hawthorn’s cause wasn’t helped when defender Blake Hardwick (hamstring) was forced to withdraw moments before the match.
The Hawks remain in second last with just four wins for the season and have lost three of their four matches in Tasmania this year.
(C) AAP 2021
FREMANTLE 5.5 8.7 11.12 16.12 (108)
HAWTHORN 2.0 4.5 5.7 6.10 (46)
Goals: Fremantle: R Lobb 4 B Banfield 3 D Mundy 2 J Treacy 2 S Switkowski 2 B Acres M Walters N Fyfe. Hawthorn: E Jeka 2 J Koschitzke 2 D Moore J Worpel.
Umpires: Leigh Fisher, Robert O’Gorman, Cameron Dore.
Official Crowd: 9,111 at University of Tasmania Stadium.
