Michael Walters lets his joy be known after kicking a goal. Picture: AFL Photos

AN ANGRY Fremantle found its fire and squared its season 2-2, shaking off a persistent Hawthorn to win by 15 points at Optus Stadium on Sunday.

Called out by coach Justin Longmuir for hanging some teammates out to dry in round three, the Dockers upped the ante against the Hawks and got physical on their way to a 13.18 (96) to 12.9 (81) win.

In a fiery clash, the Dockers benefited from the return of their champion midfielder Nat Fyfe, who led the physical charge in the midfield and was superb with 31 possessions.

07:27

Highlights: Fremantle v Hawthorn

The Dockers and Hawks clash in round four

The skipper's radar was well off in attack, however, kicking 0.6 as the Dockers' inaccuracy in front of goal continued, leaving the door ajar for the Hawks throughout an entertaining clash.  

DOCKERS v HAWKS Full match coverage and stats

The result continued an up-and-down start to the season for the Dockers, who are undefeated at home but have disappointed away. It left the brave Hawks at 1-3, competing hard but failing to secure the result for the second week running.

00:52

Freo frenzy as fast Frederick takes on fellow speedster

Optus Stadium erupts as Michael Frederick bursts away from the speedy Changkuoth Jiath for a clever soccer

As well as Fyfe, Mundy was excellent for the home team, continuing a brilliant first month with 25 disposals, seven clearances and nine inside 50s.

The experienced pair led the midfield through a dominant final term in which the Dockers won the clearances (16-5), contested ball (41-33) and inside 50s (17-10) to snuff out any challenge from the Hawks.

Ruckman Sean Darcy showed plenty of forward craft with three goals, while defender Reece Conca held Luke Breust goalless. First-year defender Heath Chapman was composed with the ball and had 18 disposals.

00:33

Sonny dances and delivers to dangerous Darcy

Michael Walters does a little shuffle before lofting the ball up to Sean Darcy, who has been plucking everything against the Hawks

Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell fought hard for the Hawks with 37 possessions, while James Worpel's tagging job on Andrew Brayshaw was influential through the first three quarters.

Brayshaw fought back in the final term to finish with 15 possessions after being held to three in the first half, with his teammates continually coming to his aid off the ball. 

Fyfe was thrown straight into the midfield at the opening bounce in his return and won the first centre clearance, controlling the game early as the Dockers kicked the opening five goals.

Scratchy with the ball in the first quarter, the Hawks found their composure after quarter-time and went on a five-goal-to-one run as Tom Mitchell had 18 possessions for the term.

00:54

Wingard wizardry on his right foot

Chad Wingard conjures a brilliant snap on his non-preferred foot to inch the Hawks one step closer

When Mitchell ran into an open goalsquare late in the quarter, the margin was cut to 14 points and the Hawks looked to have found the formula to overrun the Dockers at home.

An armwrestle ensued in the second half, and ultimately it was the Dockers' midfielders' ability to get on top that decided the match.  

Wayward Fyfe fires in the midfield  
After his midfield was beaten convincingly against Carlton, Justin Longmuir sent captain Nat Fyfe into the first centre bounce and left him there for much of the first half. The Dockers didn't compete at a centre bounce without either their dual Brownlow medallist or veteran star David Mundy in attendance during the first half, and it paid off over four quarters, winning the clearances 37-30. The Dockers' young midfielders have shown plenty of promise, but keeping the veteran pair in the middle alongside them is the winning formula right now.

Nat Fyfe gets a handball away. Picture: AFL Photos

Hawks slow out of the gates again
Hawthorn has kicked a combined 6.5 in first quarters this season to its opponents' 14.17. It is the reason they have a 1-3 record after the opening month, despite lengthy periods on top within games and the slow start proved too much for them to overcome on Sunday. Alastair Clarkson's men went goalless in the opening term, while Fremantle piled on 5.6, which could easily have been 7.4 if Fyfe took his chances. Darcy, Michael Walters and Josh Treacy also missed shots, with the Hawks let off the hook in another poor opening. They lost the inside 50s 6-19 and starting well against Melbourne next Sunday will be critical.  

Worpel puts the clamp on Brayshaw
Out of form in the opening three rounds, Hawthorn club champion James Worpel was given a defensive role on Andrew Brayshaw and he executed it superbly. What also happened offensively would have pleased the Hawks, however, with the midfielder winning a season-high 22 disposals himself. Worpel has struggled to find his role in a midfield that boasts Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O'Meara in top form. He's more than a run-with midfielder, but maybe a string of defensive roles is the way to get the 22-year-old back into his best-and-fairest-winning form.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 00:21

    Phillips finally finds one for Hawks with lefty

    he Hawks were crying out for a major to halt the Fremantle barrage and Tom Phillips delivers with a clever snap

    AFL
  • 00:54

    Wingard wizardry on his right foot

    Chad Wingard conjures a brilliant snap on his non-preferred foot to inch the Hawks one step closer

    AFL
  • 01:06

    Have you seen Moore courage this round?

    Dylan Moore puts his body on the line in this outstanding mark

    AFL
  • 01:23

    Manic minute as Mitchell goes down and Hartley goals

    The Fremantle faithful voice their frustration after an incident involving Tom Mitchell and Andy Brayshaw results in a goal to Michael Hartley

    AFL
  • 00:33

    Sonny dances and delivers to dangerous Darcy

    Michael Walters does a little shuffle before lofting the ball up to Sean Darcy, who has been plucking everything against the Hawks

    AFL
  • 00:52

    Freo frenzy as fast Frederick takes on fellow speedster

    Optus Stadium erupts as Michael Frederick bursts away from the speedy Changkuoth Jiath for a clever soccer

    AFL
  • 00:37

    Howe hurt in late Hawk blow

    Daniel Howe leaves the field in a spot of bother after this clash with David Mundy

    AFL
  • 07:27

    Highlights: Fremantle v Hawthorn

    The Dockers and Hawks clash in round four

    AFL
  • 02:09

    Darcy too big, too strong, too good

    Sean Darcy monstered the Hawks with an inspired performance that included a series of big grabs and three goals

    AFL
  • 06:24

    Clarko: 'We just lost our spririt for a period of time'

    Alastair Clarkson says his side's inability to halt Fremantle's barrage in the first quarter was ultimately the cause for their loss

    AFL
  • 10:00

    Longmuir on Brayshaw: 'He should embrace the attention'

    Justin Longmuir says young star Andy Brayshaw should look at being tagged as a 'badge of honour', after his midfielder struggled early with the extra attention

    AFL

FREMANTLE        5.6   6.11   10.12   13.18 (96)
HAWTHORN        0.2   5.4   8.8   12.9 (81)  

GOALS
Fremantle: Darcy 3, Taberner 2, Colyer 2, Mundy, Chapman, Acres, Walters, Frederick, Sturt    
Hawthorn: Moore 3, Wingard, Hartley, Morrison, Phillips, Howe, Lewis, Brockman, O'Brien, Mitchell

BEST:
Fremantle: Fyfe, Mundy, Darcy, Conca, Cerra, Serong, Chapman
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Jiath, Worpel, O'Meara, Wingard, Moore 

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Hawthorn: Howe (shoulder)

SUBSTIRUTES
Fremantle: Stefan Giro (unused)  
Hawthorn: Shaun Burgoyne (unused)   

Crowd: 29,490 at Optus Stadium

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