That’s a lot easier said than done.
Following Freo’s 56-point loss to the Hawks at Aurora Stadium in round 8, 2012, Ross Lyon said it like it was: “I thought we got annihilated in the midfield.”
The stats to back this statement amounted to football homicide:
Disposals: Hawthorn 399-338
Contested Posessions: Hawthorn 142-122
Uncontested Possessions: Hawthorn 264-217
Uncontested Marks: Hawthorn 98-69
Clearances: Hawthorn 49-23
Inside 50: Hawthorn 67-38
Fremantle didn’t have Nat Fyfe in that match, while Aaron Sandilands and Matthew Pavlica lined up a year ago but won’t be on the park this Saturday.
The Hawks were missing Luke Hodge in the 2012 game.
But that was the past, and to be frank, Freo was not at top form at that stage of Lyon’s tenure.
The club picked up its game and flew into the finals on the back of a suffocating team-pressure game plan.
So on to beating Hawthorn this week. As previously stated, it’s simple in theory, but very tough to execute.
If the Hawks’ inside-mids get on top, it allows Clarkson’s armada of skilful left-footed half-backs and outside-mids to dictate play.
Freo must cut off Hawthorn’s chain of supply at the source, otherwise known as Sam Mitchell.
He’s second overall in the AFL for total disposals (95), 15th for contested possessions (39), fifth for uncontested (57) and 10th in clearances (19).
Luke Hodge, in the form he used to destroy Collingwood last Sunday, is also a match-winner.
He had 31 disposals, 17 of which were contested, six inside 50s and two inspirational goals that visibly sunk the Magpies’ spirits.
Hodge cannot wield a similar influence on Saturday.
Then there’s Lance Franklin and Cyril Rioli, arguably the most dangerous attacking duo in the league. They provide the finishing touches to their midfield’s hard work.
If there’s an area Freo has an advantage in, it’s leg speed around the ground.
The Hawks have lost round 3 rising star winner Jed Anderson, and while their midfield and defence is among the toughest the game has seen, speed is not a forte.
The likes of Stephen Hill, Nat Fyfe, Michael Walters, Danyle Pearce, Chris Mayne, Hayden Ballantyne and Lachie Neale must run Hawthorn off their legs if the team in purple and white is to take home the four points on Saturday.
