The Dockers trailed by 28 points at quarter time after the Hawks opened with the first seven goals to two and with the lead blowing out to 41 points during the second quarter another thrashing looked likely.
However, the Dockers kicked 11 goals to 3 after half time to run out victors 16.10.106 to 13.12.90.
The Dockers, considered certain to become the first team in 37 years to go winless through a VFL/AFL season, understandably celebrated their victory in the centre of Colonial Stadium with scenes reminiscent of a team that had just won the grand final.
Hawthorn had no players available from the bench due to injury after half-time, but there could be no taking away from Fremantle’s victory.
The Hawks led by 40 points midway through the second term when young Docker forward Matthew Pavlich inspired a mini-revival, dishing off a goal to Brendon Fewster and kicking two of his own to narrow the gap to five goals at the main change.
Hawks captain Shane Crawford appeared to have a corked thigh, Daniel Chick a hamstring strain, Jade Rawlings an ankle problem and Tim Clarke a broken collarbone.
To add further salt to their wounds the Hawks will need to monitor all four over the next week as they look to be doubtful for their clash with Melbourne.
The Dockers stunned the small crowd with three goals in the opening six minutes of the third term, and when Steven Koops took a Justin Longmuir handball and snapped his second, the gap was down to just four points.
The Hawks steadied but could not pull away, holding a 13-point advantage at the last change.
Hawthorn looked like hanging on, leading by 14 points at the 12-minute mark of the final term before Pavlich goaled from deep in the pocket, Peter Bell snapped a goal and Koops roved expertly to goal at the 16-minute mark to put Fremantle in front for the first time.
Shaun Rehn missed a set shot from 45 metres out and an Aaron Lord snap was smothered before Longmuir ran into an open goal and kicked his fifth soon after to seal an unlikely win.
The only sour note for the Dockers was the performance of young star Heath Black. Black, who has been one of Fremantle’s best players this season injured his groin in the second half of the game but not before being reported three times in the first half, twice for the serious charge of striking.
Scoreboard:
FREMANTLE 2.4 5.6 10.7 16.10 (106)
HAWTHORN 7.2 10.5 12.8 13.12 ( 90)
Goals: Fremantle: J Longmuir 5 M Pavlich 4 S Koops 3 P Bell 2 A McPhee B Fewster.
Hawthorn: A Lord 4 J Barker 3 L McCabe T Hazell D Chick N Thompson T Clarke A Lekkas.
Best: Fremantle: P Bell R Haddrill J Longmuir A Fletcher M Pavlich A Jones.
Hawthorn: N Thompson A Lord J Barker A Cox S Crawford.
Injuries: Fremantle: H Black (groin).
Hawthorn: D Harford (ankle) replaced in selected side by T Hazell, S Crawford (corked thigh), J Rawlings (ankle), T Clarke (collarbone), D Chick (hamstring).
Reports: H Black (Fremantle) reported by emergency umpire J Harvey for striking R Vandenberg (Hawthorn) during the first quarter, H Black (Fremantle) reported by emergency umpire J Harvey for wrestling R Vandenberg (Hawthorn) during the first quarter, R Vandenberg (Hawthorn) reported by emergency umpire J Harvey for wrestling H Black (Fremantle), H Black (Fremantle) reported by field umpire B Rosebury for striking T Clarke (Hawthorn) during the second quarter.
Umpires: b Rosebury, M Vozzo, S Jeffery.
Official crowd: 16,595 at Colonial Stadium.
