How Luke Jackson, Caleb Serong and the Fremantle Dockers dampened the night of Jack Gunston and the Hollywood Hawthorn Hawks of Sam Mitchell and Nick Watson
This was supposed to be remembered as Jack Gunston’s night.
Hawthorn’s seemingly ageless frontman – an Australian who scored 73 goals as a 33-year-old last year – took eight points in the first half on Thursday night and scored five of his six majors to take his team to a 15-point lead over Fremantle, a tally that grew to 22 midway through the third term.
The only player who managed to steal Gunston’s spotlight was his junior mate Nick Watson, whose wizardry was again on display with some spectacular moments and three half-time goals.
But the rival, drifter Luke Jackson, nicknamed “The Unicorn”, had other ideas; It gave the Dockers a 15-point victory in Perth that extended their winning streak to eight games and they temporarily replaced Sydney in the AFL standings.
Hawthorn lost defender Tom Barrass (hamstring) in the second quarter and, as momentum swung wildly, hung on for dear life until the dam wall finally burst.
Fremantle’s avalanche added 22 points inside the 50s to the Hawks’ four in the final term, but it took until the final four minutes for them to take the lead.
With time running out, Jackson, who played a crucial role in Melbourne’s drought-ending title victory in 2021, twice intervened in crucial contests to help set up Michael Frederick’s game-changing goals.
Meanwhile, the athletic Jackson, the perfect prototype for the league’s new rules of football, also won a crucial center clearance that led to Hayden Young scoring another goal.
Jackson stopped Josh Weddle with his right hand and collected Sherrin with his left at the top of the 50-metre arc to set up Frederick’s first finish, before minutes later he dived and smothered Jai Newcombe’s attempted kick to the wing, which proved to be the key moment.
Ruckmen shouldn’t be able to do things like this.
Instead of Hawthorn attacking, the Dockers pounced on Murphy Reid and a clever flick from Jye Amiss found Frederick, who effectively set up the sealing goal.
The extended period of “Wharfie time,” as locals call it, left Hawks coach Sam Mitchell glum, even as Jackson joked with his teammates that he was “just a different nature.”
The numbers are proof for Jackson: 22 disposals, 18 contested possessions, 10 tackles, seven clearances, 22 clubbing and nine score involvements.
He had nine touches, three clearances and five tackles in the final quarter alone and could be the man to end former teammate Max Gawn’s All-Australian monopoly.
“We got what we wanted for most of the game and then we got a little bit of our style of play going in their favor and some of their good players stepped up,” Mitchell said.
“I think it was 0-6 [from] it bounced off center so we couldn’t get any field position or maintain any composure on the ball. They played well and deserved to win.
“We learned a lesson a little bit late. We talked a lot this year about being ready to play and win against the top teams, and tonight we proved we weren’t quite there.”
It was the third thriller in a month for Hawthorn, who will finish third in the ninth round after a draw and defeat in the last two weeks.
Mitchell predicts Barrass will remain on the sidelines, joining fellow injured Hawks Will Day, Mabior Chol and Calsher Dear, but there are positives that will make the homecoming easier. They still look the best of the Victorian premiership contenders.
After a quiet night against Collingwood, Gunston, now 34, blasted Fremantle out of the goal square, forcing Justin Longmuir to shift Brennan Cox to him before quarter-time after Luke Ryan struggled to contain him.
His leadership style remains elite and he has always been a sharpshooter despite finishing the night with a sore right foot.
Gunston’s sixth goal gave Hawthorn a 19-point cushion almost 12 minutes into the fourth quarter, continuing their remarkable resurgence since returning in a 2023 swap after an injury-plagued break at Brisbane.
Mitchell had warned he might have to play some VFL football during his second tour in the brown-and-gold, which came true in the early rounds of 2024 – but it soon became clear he still had plenty to give.
Gunston’s night out means he has at least temporarily overtaken Gold Coast’s Ben King to lead the Coleman Medal with 30 goals in eight games, plus 19 behind.
As for Watson, he is on pole position for a first-ever all-Australian berth. His dancing feet, flawless defensive effort, exceptional skills and overall intelligence make it fascinating to watch. He might already be the league’s best small forward and most exciting player.
Vice-captain Jai Newcombe should be in contention for the Brownlow Medal this season, but equally important is the significant improvement made by midfielder Cam Mackenzie.
The Hawks’ other captain, star defenseman James Sicily, is still the first player opposing coaches schedule. Magpie Steele Sidebottom went to him last week and this time it was Patrick Voss, before bringing in Josh Treacy after the injury to Sicily Barrass.
But given that their Dockers counterparts, led by Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw, won by 41-29, including 13-9 from centre, Mitchell as a unit will hardly shine from the on-ball brigade.
Hawthorn looked dazzling with their ball movement in the first half, but it was always going to be difficult to rely on passing from defense all night long. Fremantle did a much better job after pinning the Hawks down and forcing long kicks at the line.
Mitchell would also love to get more from swinger Josh Weddle, who signed a solid four-year contract for him in February after Essendon tried to oust him from the club.
Mitchell said it himself: Hawthorns are good, but not good enough yet. The winter months will be vital to see if they can change this over time to earn more silverware.
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