Hawks humiliate Dockers 155-39

Hawthorn have humiliated a Fremantle seconds team by 116 points in a farcical AFL
match in Launceston.
Fremantle were missing 16 of their best 22 and Hawthorn took full toll with the
biggest winning margin of the season, kicking 24.11 (155) to 5.9 (39) and ensuring
they will make the finals.
It is Hawthorn's highest score against the Dockers and one point short of
Fremantle's biggest losing margin.
But the cakewalk came at a high price for the Hawks, with star midfielder Luke Hodge
hurting his leg in the final term and Grant Birchall suffering a hamstring injury.
The Hawks' previous highest score against Fremantle was 22.17 in 1998.
Fremantle were also threatening to equal their previous lowest score of 1.7 until
they kicked four goals in the final term.
Hawks midfielder Shaun Burgoyne was best afield and Lance Franklin kicked five goals.
Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich headed seven players who were rested from the
match because of soreness, with the Dockers clearly concentrating on the round-22
home match against Carlton.
They also lost veteran onballer Paul Hasleby as a late withdrawal because of a knee
injury.
They were already understrength because of several injuries and took a deliberate
decision to rest more players ahead of the finals.
But the massive margin will severely damage their percentage and they now must beat
the Blues to maintain fifth spot and the home elimination final.
Before this weekend, Fremantle were a game ahead of Carlton and Sydney and there was
not much difference in their percentages.
Hawthorn predictably took control from the outset, kicking five goals to two behinds
for a 32-point lead at the first change.
They also hurt the Dockers physically, with Hodge running off the bench and
blindsiding Garrick Ibbotson with a fearsome tackle that forced him from the ground.
While Ibbotson returned to the game, Campbell Brown's bump on Tim Ruffles later in
the first term could have more serious consequences.
Ruffles limped off with a knee injury and was soon in a tracksuit, his match over.
The 19-year-old needed a reconstruction on his right knee last year and was playing
only his second senior game this season when he hurt his left knee.
Playing his 100th game, Michael Johnson kicked Fremantle's first goal 13 minutes
into the second term.
But the Hawks kicked seven more in the second quarter for a 69-point lead at the
main break.
Fremantle did not go across half-forward for the first seven minutes of the third
term as the Hawks continued their rampage.
Cyril Rioli provided the highlight of the match during the third quarter when he
snapped a goal out of mid-air.
But a few minutes later Birchall pulled up suddenly as he was chasing an opponent
and two trainers had to help him from the field.
Birchall had played every game this season, but seems certain to be sidelined for
the start of the finals.
Hawthorn's lead went past 100 points at 23 minutes in the third term.