It was a game that will be spoken of a lot this week, round 15, Hawthorn v Fremantle at Aurora Stadium in Launceston.
In chilly conditions Hawthorn dominated Fremantle by 72-points, the greatest loss under senior coach Ross Lyon.
Fast forward a couple of months and the two sides meet in a cut-throat Preliminary Final at Domain Stadium on Friday night.
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Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich said while previous results meant little, his side had learned plenty from the last meeting with the premiers.
“The Hawks were fantastic that day they beat us in and around the ball and beat us on the outside,” Pavlich told Channel 7’s Game Day on Sunday.
“When both of those things happen, in contested and uncontested possessions, you’re no chance of winning.”
Pavlich said Freo’s main lesson from the loss was backing its own game plan and ball-usage.
“We took a lot of learning out of that,” he said.
“Sticking to our game plan and making sure we move the ball with our method and not go back into our shells.
“There were elements of that game that were non-existent to our style.
“We’ll look at that and also what we and other teams have done well against them.”
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Pavlich was asked whether midfielder Ryan Crowley, who is available for selection after serving a 12-month suspension for breaching the anti-doping code, would play.
Crowley has been able to train with the side for the past two months and appears in good shape.
“I think Ross has been on record that it’s highly unlikely,” Pavlich said.
“That being said, it’s a prelim and things change.
“Ryan has a good record against Sam Mitchell…he’s fit and ready, whether he gets picked we’ll see later in the week.”