FREMANTLE'S winless season of woe continued on Saturday, when Stephen Hill appeared to suffer a quad injury and Hawthorn recorded a 41-point win in Launceston.

The Dockers fought back in the second quarter to boast a two-point lead at halftime but the Hawks steadied in style to triumph 17.14 (116) to 11.9 (75).

The triple reigning premiers booted 8.7 to 0.2 in the third term, lifting their pressure to bust the game open at Aurora Stadium.

TALKING POINTS: Hawthorn v Fremantle

"It took us a long, long time to get some sort of scoreboard ascendancy," Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said post-match.

"We played really well in the third quarter and had 15 shots on goal in one quarter which was pivotal to the outcome of the game, really.

"We just weren’t using the ball as well as we’d like in the first quarter when we had the breeze and in the third quarter we just did it a little bit smarter and got some of our entries a little bit deeper which allowed our defenders to get further up the ground and defend from a high position, so that always makes it a bit easier."

Dockers star Hill hobbled off the field during the third quarter with a leg injury and played no further part in the contest.

Despite initially fearing the pacey midfielder had damaged a calf or hamstring, Dockers coach Ross Lyon appeared to indicate that the damage may not have been as bad as he first feared.

"I think it was an adductor (but) it didn’t look good, it looked like a calf or hammy that was sort of critical when he was coming out," Lyon said, going on to praise Hill for his efforts in a different on-field role.

"We know he’s a top flight winger, but we’re giving him an opportunity inside. He’s enjoying it, we’re enjoying it and hopefully he’ll come up but we’re not too sure."

The result extended Hawthorn's winning streak at their adopted home venue to 17 games.

Both sides were guilty of turning the ball over in windy conditions.

Fremantle's problem was the hosts proved more capable of punishing errors.

The Hawks also had more opportunity to do so, especially in the blitz that followed half-time.

The cellar dwellers' low point during that stretch came when they were unable to find a target with consecutive kick-ins and were eventually punished by a Jordan Lewis goal.

Liam Shiels, Isaac Smith, Josh Gibson and Jordan Lewis all starred for Hawthorn, while forwards Jack Gunston, Luke Breust and Paul Puopolo were also influential.

Veteran on-baller Sam Mitchell, who returned from a corked calf, tallied 26 disposals.

Hawks young gun Taylor Duryea will be sweating on the findings of the match review panel, having floored Hayden Ballantyne in the second term.

Duryea smacked Ballantyne on the jaw, throwing an elbow backwards when the umpire was about to restart play.

Ballantyne had given his side the lead in the second quarter with a magnificent crumbing goal, shrugging Lewis' tackle and kicking truly from a near-impossible angle.

The small forward was also one of many Dockers to err with the Sherrin in hand.

Fremantle has now lost nine games in a row, dating back to the 27-point defeat inflicted by the Hawks in last year's preliminary final.

The decline of Ross Lyon's side since that loss has been nothing short of incredible.

They will aim to open their season account against Richmond next Saturday, when veteran Matthew Pavlich should return after being rested from the clash in Tasmania.

MEDICAL ROOM
Hawthorn: The Hawks’ only worry appears to be with half-back Grant Birchall who looked to have damaged his shoulder, however, coach Alastair Clarkson had no concerns about the injury when quizzed by reporters during his press conference.
Fremantle: If Hill doesn’t come up for next week’s match against Richmond it will be another cruel blow for the Dockers who are reeling with a lengthy injury list already stacked with key players. 

NEXT UP
It’s blockbuster time for the Hawks as they host the Swans on Friday night at the MCG. The Dockers will continue their quest for a win to open their 2016 account and might just fancy their chances against the struggling Tigers on their home patch at Domain Stadium on Saturday evening.

HAWTHORN      4.3    6.6    14.13    17.14   (116)
FREMANTLE      3.0    7.2    7.4    11.9   (75)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Breust 3, Gunston 3, O’Brien 2, McEvoy 2, Puopolo, Lewis, Gibson, Hill, Birchall, Smith, Sicily
Fremantle: Walters 2, Mayne, Hill, Crozier, Langdon, Neale, Griffin, Ballantyne, Mundy, Weller

BEST
Hawthorn: Smith, Shiels, Lewis, Gibson, Gunston, Mitchell
Fremantle: Walters, Mundy, Neale, Spurr, A Pearce, Griffin

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Fremantle: Stephen Hill (adductor)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Edwards, Pannell, Mollison

Official crowd: 12,012 at Aurora Stadium