Dockers v Hawks player ratings: How Fremantle’s stars fared in a horror movie against ‘Hollywood’ Hawks

It loomed as a good, old-fashioned “danger game” for the Dockers, who finished clear on top of the ladder, but no one could have predicted just how thoroughly they’d be outplayed by Sam Mitchell’s men at Optus Stadium.

Here’s how we saw the performances of Justin Longmuir’s men.

Fremantle

(3) Caleb Serong: He worked his way into the contest after a quiet start, but never exerted his usual influence around stoppage. Didn’t help the midfield play to the conditions. 4/10

(5) Heath Chapman: Provided important drive from an under-siege defence, although he was beaten in the air in some costly moments. 6/10

(6) Jordan Clark: Fremantle’s standout, defending desperately and repeatedly driving them forward with bold run and excellent ball use in his milestone match. Fremantle’s best player for the night. 8/10

(8) Andrew Brayshaw: He started slowly and his early possessions lacked impact, but lifted after half-time to inject urgency and kick a much-needed goal. 6/10

(9) Luke Jackson: Kicked the opener, competed strongly around the ground and was Fremantle’s second most influential player through the first half. 7/10

(10) Shai Bolton: He was barely sighted early on a night that should have suited him, before providing flashes of energy through give-and-go football after half-time. 4/10

(13) Luke Ryan: Valiant and unrelenting under sustained pressure, he read the play well and producing several important spoils. 7/10

(16) Murphy Reid: The youngest player on the field looked composed around stoppage and was clean when opportunities came, but he struggled to impact in the second half. 5/10

(18) Mason Cox: Struggled to impact early as Jackson’s ruck support, but improved as the game wore on and took important defensive marks. 4/10

(20) Patrick Voss: Could not win enough contests ahead of the ball and was repeatedly worked underneath it by James Sicily. 2/10

(21) Oscar McDonald: Conceded an early high free kick to Jack Gunston and lost another crucial contest in the goal square on a difficult night. 4/10

(23) Karl Worner: Produced a huge chase-down tackle and a goal-saving smother, but an errant kick that gifted Hawthorn a goal proved costly. He gave it a crack. 6/10

(24) Jye Amiss: He was frustrated and largely unsighted in the first half, but gave Fremantle an immediate lift with the opening goal after the half-time break. 3/10

(25) Alex Pearce: Battled hard against Mitch Lewis and offered a strong presence in a defence that was repeatedly placed under pressure. 7/10

(26) Hayden Young: His early ball use was uncharacteristically poor and he struggled to generate his usual damage through the midfield. 4/10

(28) Neil Erasmus: One of Fremantle’s better early contributors, using the ball with purpose and looking through the corridor when others played safe. 6/10

(30) Nathan O’Driscoll: Needed to be stronger aerially early, but lifted his intensity and produced a fierce third-quarter tackle on Newcombe. 3/10

(31) Brandon Walker: A surprise inclusion for just his second game of the year, he competed bravely on Watson before an ankle roll contributed to another Hawks goal and his night done. 5/10

(32) Michael Frederick: Was unable to find space or use his speed, remaining largely unsighted. 2/10

(35) Josh Treacy: He fought a difficult battle against Hawthorn’s organised defence but had little impact and went without a single kick deep into the third term. 2/10

(39) Sam Switkowski: He had a brilliant third quarter and kicked a huge goal to give Fremantle a (slight) sniff – the first finals major of his career. 6/10

(43) Isaiah Dudley: Missed an early opportunity but grew into the contest, improving his defensive pressure and contributing to Fremantle’s second-half ball movement. 4/10

(44) Matthew Johnson: One of Fremantle’s better midfielders in the first half, competing strongly and providing some composure amid Hawthorn’s pressure. 5/10

More to come

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Libby Birch is a four-time AFLW premiership player.Scott Spits is a sports reporter for The Age.Connect via X or email.AdvertisementAdvertisement