We have ourselves a serious game here.
Brennan Cox has doused the Jack Gunston fireworks, and Fremantle finished the third quarter well – but Hawthorn boast a 15-point lead at the start of the final term.
Gunston remains on five goals as the Dockers put the clamps on the Hawks’ slick ball movement from the first two-and-a-half quarters that helped them go 22 points clear midway through the third term.
Hawthorn – without injured star defender Tom Barrass (hamstring) – did a good job to maintain a decent buffer, given Freo were pushing hard to make inroads in their deficit.
Dockers ball magnet Caleb Serong was enormous in the momentum swing, gathering 10 disposals and three clearances, while Victorian Murphy Reid had a couple of chances to set up Fremantle scoring opportunities, but was not his usual clean self.
Gunston (one handball) and fellow first-half hero Nick Watson (three disposals) had little impact in the third quarter, but some acts of brilliance from one or both in the final quarter might be enough to secure a big win for the Hawks.
