VENUE & TIME: Subiaco, Saturday September 4, 1:20pm AWST (3:20pm AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 22, Fremantle 6, Hawthorn 16
LAST TIME: Hawthorn 24.11 (155) d Fremantle 5.9 (39) Round 21, 2010 at Aurora Stadium
LAST TIME AT VENUE: Hawthorn 13.9 (87) d Fremantle 9.11 (65) at Subiaco, Round 8, 2009
WALKING WOUNDED: The Dockers have suffered a massive blow leading into their first final in four years, losing Hayden Ballantyne to a broken foot. Ballantyne was rushed back into the side for last week's nailbiting win over Carlton, even though he'd only missed just three weeks with a hot spot in his foot that was found after booting six goals in the Round 18 derby win over West Coast. The gamble proved somewhat worthwhile as Ballantyne played his part in last week's win, but the pesky little forward is now out for the season, joining Michael Barlow (broken leg) and Tim Ruffle (ACL) on the sidelines. Ryan Crowley is the favourite to play in Ballantyne's place, but Des Headland and Rhys Palmer are also in contention. The Dockers also have Chris Tarrant (knee) down as returning in one to two weeks, but they'd almost need to make the Grand Final to see Tarrant play for Freo once again. In contrast, the Hawks have been able to bring Luke Hodge back into the side after a minor knee injury. Max Bailey is listed as the dreaded TBC with his knee injury while Grant Birchall's hamstring problem will keep him out for two to three matches if the Hawks survive that long.
FORM:
Fremantle's Past Five:
Round 22: Win, 13.15 (93) - 13.9 (87) v Carlton, Subiaco
Round 21: Loss, 5.9 (39) - 24.11 (155) v Hawthorn, Aurora Stadium
Round 20: Loss, 13.9 (87) - 14.12 (96) v Sydney, Subiaco
Round 19: Loss, 19.9 (123) - 10.9 (69) v North Melbourne, Etihad Stadium
Round 18: Win, 24.16 (160) - 13.7 (85) v West Coast, Subiaco
Hawthorn's Past Five:
Round 22: Win, 15.9 (98) - 13.17 (95) v Collingwood, MCG
Round 21: Win, 24.11 (155) - 5.9 (39) v Fremantle, Aurora Stadium
Round 20: Win, 15.9 (99) - 12.6 (78) v Melbourne, MCG
Round 19: Loss, 13.7 (85) - 19.15 (129) v Sydney, SCG
Round 18: Loss, 12.2 (84) - 13.14 (92) v Port Adelaide, AAMI Stadium
The Hawks are certainly taking better form into this encounter, having won their last three matches. However, how much the last two wins mean is anyone's guess as they thrashed a Fremantle B-team in Launceston before beating a Collingwood side last week, that didn't hunt with anywhere near their true ferocity. For Fremantle, just two wins from the last five games doesn't paint a pretty picture, but the Dockers were decimated by injury after their big derby win over the Eagles and have since regained a host of big-name players.
WHO'S HOT: Heavily criticised by Leigh Matthews after a dismal day at the office against North Melbourne a few weeks back, Stephen Hill returned from a week off with some dazzling little cameos against Carlton. With Matthews looking on from the Channel 7 commentary box, the youngster helped himself to 25 possessions and two goals, although he was helped on his way by an injury to his tagger Andrew Carrazzo. For the Hawks, Clinton Young may have picked up just 15 possessions last week against the Magpies, but his run and carry, combined with precise disposal skills, gave his side a big advantage when it came to breaking through Collingwood's defensive zone. Young finished last week's game having carried the ball over 600 metres for his side, to be in the top five for this stat across the whole competition in Round 22, ably illustrating just how much he was missed in 2009 when hip and hamstring issues kept him to just five games.
WE THINK: The Hawks may be the great dark horse in this year's finals, despite finishing seventh, but the truth is that Alastair Clarkson's boys have endured a tough week. On top of travelling to Perth, the club has had to deal with the ongoing fallout from Travis Tuck's personal issues with drugs, a matter that came to a head on Tuesday night when he was suspended heavily by the AFL tribunal. That being said, the Hawks have a solid, core group of experienced campaigners in their team and one imagines it would probably take more than this to deflect their focus. Added to the experience factor that Hawthorn brings to Subiaco, is the fact they have some bona fide superstars in their side as well, like Buddy Franklin, Cyril Rioli and Luke Hodge. Of course, the Dockers boast a few superstars of their own in Aaron Sandilands and Matthew Pavlich, but one suspects they've lost that x-factor in their forward line which Ballantyne gives them. The Hawks have been here before and know just how unsociable they need to be to win finals. The young Dockers, on the other hand, are really limping into this encounter despite their brave victory over Carlton last week. Although Sandilands will still give Fremantle a massive advantage in the stoppages, the Hawks pressure on the next player, may just nullify the benefit of this. And, if the Hawks get the ball forward, Buddy, Cyril and Roughead can do the rest. Hawthorn by 24 points.