FREMANTLE is still searching for its first win of the season after a narrow 15-point defeat to Hawthorn at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.
A dominant second quarter set up the win and the Hawks maintained their advantage, despite the Dockers getting within three points in the third term.
Freo started well and early goals to Ryan Crowley and Matthew Pavlich were cancelled out by majors from Jarryd Roughead and Tim Boyle. Jeff Farmer and fellow native West Australian Lance Franklin also traded goals late on in the term and the Hawks led by a mere two points at the first change, 3.4 (22) to 3.2 (20).
Second-gamer Cyril Rioli again had Hawthorn fans licking their lips in the opening exchanges of the second quarter when he ran off Franklin to kick the opener from close range.
Roughead added another soon after, but the 19-year-old Rioli was stealing the show.
He effected a great tackle on the 50m arc, winning a free kick, and then cooly converted to put his side up by two goals.
When Franklin added his second, the match appeared to be slipping away from Fremantle.
Towering ruckman Aaron Sandilands kicked a much needed goal for the home side after 18 minutes after receiving a 50m penalty, but Tim Boyle marked on the goal line and kicked his second after improving the angle to restore his side's lead.
The Hawks led at the long break 8.7 (55) to 4.4 (28).
The early signs for Freo in the second half were worrying when Franklin kicked his third within a minute, again set up by lovely play from Rioli across half forward.
Sam Mitchell gave away a 50m penalty, which enabled Pavlich to kick his second soon after, and Luke McPharlin provided support with his first two minutes later.
Hawthorn's lead was restored to 28 points when Michael Osborne slotted a left-foot snap, but Geraldton-based Peter Bell kept the Dockers within range with his first.
First-gamer Chris Mayne reduced the gap to three goals at the 19-minute mark when he led strongly, marked and converted. McPharlin then reduced that margin further with his second and Freo had lifted.
Josh Carr slotted a tough left foot chance on the run to put the home team within three points, but Roughead followed up a Hodge long bomb to kick his third from point-blank range and make the margin at the final change 10 points.
Rick Ladson came off with a left shoulder injury late in the term. He returned, but ball magnet Clinton Young didn't, which weakened the Hawks' attack.
Hawthorn again burst out of the blocks in the final term, Second-gamer Cameron Stokes making a fancy checkside effort kick count.
Hawthorn's potent forward line was starting to get on top, with Roughead and then Franklin each bagging their fourth, and Robert Campbell chimed in with his first to open up a 33-point lead.
Pavlich kept Freo in with a shout, kicking his third, Travis Tuck restored the lead, but Carr's second kept the Hawks honest as the clock ran down.
Stuart Dew then continued Hawthorn's injury woes when he looked to badly damage a hamstring while going for a long kick.
First-gamers Mayne and Rhys Palmer kicked goals late in the game as a consolation for the determined Dockers.
HAWTHORN 3.4 8.7 11.11 16.16 (112)
FREMANTLE 3.0 4.4 10.7 14. 13 (97)
Goals
Hawthorn: L Franklin 4, J Roughead 4, T Boyle 2, C Rioli 2, M Osborne 1, C Stokes 1, R Campbell 1, T Tuck 1
Fremantle: M Pavlich 3, L McPharlin 2, J Carr 2, C Mayne 2 , R Crowley 1, J Farmer 1, A Sandilands 1, P Bell 1, R Palmer 1
Best
Hawthorn: Young, Mitchell, Sewell, Tuck, Hodge, Roughead, Franklin, Osborne
Fremantle: Pavlich, Bell, J Carr, Palmer, Dodd, Headland
Injuries
Fremantle: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Margetts, Nicholls
Official crowd: 38,022 at Subiaco Oval
