This was supposed to be remembered as Jack Gunston’s night.
Hawthorn’s seemingly ageless spearhead – an All-Australian with 73 goals at age 33 last year – took eight marks and kicked five of his six majors in the first half on Thursday night to propel his side to a 15-point lead over Fremantle that grew to 22 midway through the third term.
The only player who seemed capable of stealing the limelight from Gunston was his little mate, Nick Watson, whose wizardry was again on display with some brilliant moments and three goals of his own to half-time.
But an opponent nicknamed “the Unicorn”, ruckman Luke Jackson, had other ideas – inspiring the Dockers to a 15-point triumph in Perth that extended their winning streak to eight games and sees them provisionally replace Sydney on top of the AFL ladder.
Hawthorn lost defender Tom Barrass (hamstring) in the second quarter, and hung on for dear life as the momentum swung wildly until the dam wall finally burst.
Fremantle’s avalanche included 22 inside 50s to the Hawks’ four in the last term, but it took until the final four minutes for them to hit the front.
With time running out, Jackson – who played a critical role in Melbourne’s drought-ending 2021 premiership victory – twice intervened in critical contests to help set up Michael Frederick’s game-turning goals.
In between, the athletic Jackson, the perfect prototype for the league’s new ruck rules, also won a crucial centre clearance that led to another goal to Hayden Young.
Jackson held off Josh Weddle with his right hand, and gathered the Sherrin with his left, at the top of the 50-metre arc to set up the first of Frederick’s finishes, before his diving smother on Jai Newcombe’s attempted kick on the wing minutes later proved the key moment.
Ruckmen are not supposed to be able to do things like that.
Instead of Hawthorn going into attack, the Dockers rushed forward through Murphy Reid, and a clever tap from Jye Amiss found Frederick, who slotted what was effectively the sealing goal.
It was an extended run of “Wharfie time”, as the locals call it, that left Hawks coach Sam Mitchell glum-faced, whereas Jackson was joking with his teammates that he was “built different”.
The numbers are Jackson’s evidence: 22 disposals,18 contested possessions, 10 tackles, seven clearances, 22 hitouts and nine score involvements.
He had nine touches, three clearances and five score involvements in the last quarter alone, and might be the man to end his old teammate Max Gawn’s All-Australian ruck monopoly.
“We got what we wanted for the majority of the game, and then late, we played into their hands with a bit of the way we played, and some of their good players stood up,” Mitchell said.
“I think it was 0-6 [from] centre bounce, so we couldn’t get any field position, or any composure on the ball. They played well, and deserved to win.
“We got taught a bit of a lesson late. We’ve talked a lot this year about being ready to play and win against the best sides, and we proved tonight that we’re not quite there.”
It was a third thriller in a month for Hawthorn, who will finish round nine in third spot after a draw and defeat in the last fortnight.
Mitchell forecast a stint on the sidelines for Barrass, joining fellow injured first-choice Hawks Will Day, Mabior Chol and Calsher Dear, but there are positives to make the flight home easier. They still look the best of the Victorian premiership contenders.
After a quiet night against Collingwood, the now 34-year-old Gunston blitzed Fremantle out of the goal square and forced Justin Longmuir to shift Brennan Cox onto him before quarter-time after Luke Ryan struggled to contain him.
His leading patterns remain elite, and he has always been a sharpshooter, although he ended the night with a sore right foot.
Gunston’s sixth goal gave Hawthorn a 19-point buffer almost 12 minutes into the fourth quarter, continuing a remarkable resurgence since he returned from an injury-marred gap year at Brisbane in a 2023 trade.
Mitchell had warned he might have to play some VFL footy in his second stint in brown and gold, and that eventuated in the early rounds of 2024 – but it soon became obvious that he still had plenty to give.
Gunston’s night out means he at least temporarily leapfrogs Gold Coast’s Ben King to lead the Coleman Medal with 30 goals, plus 19 behinds, from eight matches.
As for Watson, he is in pole position for a maiden All-Australian berth. His dancing feet, unerring defensive effort, sublime skills and general brilliance make for captivating viewing. He might already be the league’s best small forward and most exciting player.
Co-captain Jai Newcombe should be in Brownlow Medal contention this season, but equally important is fellow midfielder Cam Mackenzie’s significant development.
The Hawks’ other captain, star defender James Sicily, is still the first player opposition coaches devise plans for. Magpie Steele Sidebottom went to him last week, and this time it was Patrick Voss, before Sicily manned Josh Treacy after Barrass’ injury.
But Mitchell won’t be too glowing of his on-ball brigade as a unit, given their Dockers counterparts – led by Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw – won the clearances 41-29, including 13-9 out of the centre.
Hawthorn looked scintillating with their ball movement in the first half-and-a-bit, but it was always going to be difficult to rely on transitioning from defence all night. Fremantle did a much better job after that of clamping down and forcing the Hawks into long kicks down the line.
Mitchell would also love to be getting more out of swingman Josh Weddle, who scored a fat four-year contract for himself in February after Essendon tried to prise him out of the club.
Mitchell said it himself: Hawthorn are good, but not quite good enough yet. The winter months will be vital to whether they can change that in time to win more silverware.
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