Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
· collected 2026-09-03 · by Roy Ward, Peter Ryan, Russell Bennett
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell's team secured a home preliminary final at the MCG after beating Fremantle, with Jack Ginnivan calling it "special" to play for the Hawks. The team is preparing to face either Western Bulldogs or Adelaide Crows in their next match, as Ginnivan named them as likely opponents. David King commented on the pressure now on Dockers coach Justin Longmuir and his team, saying a straight-sets exit from the finals would be devastating after having been unbeaten at home. The Hawks won the match 101-93.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-03,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Hawthorn Hawks upset Fremantle in a qualifying final by 32 points (72-40). The game took place at Optus Stadium in Perth, with Hawthorn completing a stunning win over the minor premiers. Fremantle had been dominant throughout the home and away season, but "froze under the bright lights" as Hawthorn's pressure led to many key players having poor games. The Hawks' Jack Ginnivan scored a crucial goal in the second half to help seal the win. As a result of their victory, Hawthorn will host an MCG preliminary final, while Fremantle will face either Geelong or Carlton in Perth.
Written for “AFL Preliminary Finals” on 2026-09-03,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 3475 · logged 2026-09-03
Dockers coach Justin Longmuir spoke to the media post-game.
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Longmuir → speak → media
“They were a little more decisive in getting it to the outside.
“
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They → get → outside
Down the other end, we got stuck in our back half.
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we → stick → half
We had 20 back-half turnovers in the first half, [and] we usually do that for a whole game.
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we → have → game
That was where the damage was done, really.
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damage → do → ?
An elated Jack Ginnivan has laid down the challenge to the rest of the AFL to stop his Hawks as they prepare for a home preliminary final at the MCG.
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they → lay → MCG
Ginnivan called teammate Nick Watson the best player in the AFL and claimed his side thought they were on the right side of the draw, appearing to dismiss the undermanned Sydney Swans’ hopes of winning their qualifying final against Brisbane Lions at the SCG on Saturday.
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they → call → Saturday
He named the Swans and elimination finalists Western Bulldogs and Adelaide Crows as their likely opponents in the preliminary final, but left out the Lions.
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He → name → Lions
“It’s special.
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It → ’ → ?
I’ve always wanted to play for the Hawks,” Ginnivan told Kayo Sports.
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Ginnivan → want → Sports
Hawthorn star Will Day spoke to Kayo post-game.
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Day → speak → Kayo
On the win:
“It’s so special to come over and knock off the top team, it’s not easy, especially in this environment.
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it → ’ → environment
The theme leading into the win:
“Our big thing was loving your teammate and doing it for your teammate, so it’s not about yourself but making your teammate’s day a little easier.
“Coming in as the underdog, we could play with a bit of freedom as everyone had written us off and we used that as fuel.
uncertain
we → lead → fuel
All eyes will be Justin Longmuir and his Dockers this week as they face the heartbreak of a potential straight-sets exit from the finals.
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they → face → finals
The Dockers will host the winners of Geelong and Carlton in Perth next week in a knockout semi-final.
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Dockers → host → final
“I think this puts enormous pressure on the coach,” David King said on Kayo Sports.
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King → think → Sports
“I mean, [it’s] the perfect preparation – it’s almost the healthiest list you can have, [and they were] unbeaten at home.
“It was all set up to go home final here, home prelim, and now the heat is right on.
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heat → mean → home
Hawks star Will Day and coach Sam Mitchell are leading some emotional celebrations after winning tonight’s match and setting up a preliminary final in two weeks time.
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Day → lead → time
Mitchell was hugging everyone of his players and whispering messages in their ears - he took extra time with Day, Tom Barrass and a few others.
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he → hug → Day
Day was playing his first finals match tonight after injuries had robbed him of previous appearances.
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injuries → play → appearances
You can hear Hawks fans chanting “Hawthorn, Hawthorn” as the team walks off the ground.
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team → hear → ground
Hawthorn star Nick Watson spoke to Kayo Sports post game.
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Watson → speak → Sports
A whole lot of emotions, the belief in the group is outstanding and I’m just so happy we got up tonight.
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we → ’m → group
On the pressure from the Hawks:
Hawthorn have flown to WA and stolen the hosting rights for a preliminary final as they’ve overpowered Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
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they → fly → Stadium
Nick Watson, James Sicily and many others impressed in what many would call the best win of Sam Mitchell’s coaching career.
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many → impress → career
The Hawks will have a week off and host a preliminary final while Fremantle will be fighting for their season at home next weekend.
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Fremantle → have → home
Josh Treacy has struggled all night but won a free kick and booted his first goal of the evening.
“He’s had a tough night and this was one of the first times the ball has come down the middle of the ground,” Riewoldt said on Kayo Sports.
“It’s a big week to come for the footy club.”
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It → struggle → club
Hawks 71, Freo 40 with five mins to go.
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Freo → go → mins
