Sicily move sparks Hawks to crucial win over Freo

An inspired move to throw James Sicily forward ensured Hawthorn kept its finals hopes alive with a stirring win over Fremantle in Launceston on Saturday.

Jon Tuxworth

@Tuxy81

3 min read

July 13, 2024 - 4:38PM

News Sport Network

LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA - JULY 13: Jai Newcombe (left) and James Sicily of the celebrate one of Sicily’s late goals. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

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A coaching masterstroke to throw skipper James Sicily up forward ensured Hawthorn kept its finals hopes alive with a heart-stopping 13.9 (87) to 10.14 (74) win at Launceston’s UTAS Stadium on Saturday.

Struggling to make an impact down back after missing last week’s loss at Geelong with a shoulder issue, Hawks coach Sam Mitchell took a punt by putting him in the forward 50 in the second half. It hit the jackpot.

A four-goals-to-two third term from Fremantle gave them a ten point lead at the last change, but Sicily kicked two of his three goals in the back half of the last term to steer his side to a crucial win.

The move by Mitchell was inspired as he looked to fill the void left by an ACL injury to key forward Mitch Lewis, while livewire Jack Ginnivan also missed through injury.

It was a great bounce back from Hawthorn after a five-game losing streak was halted by a 51-point loss to the Cats.

They are now just percentage outside the top eight while the Dockers, who had won the previous six games against Hawthorn, missed a golden chance to firm up a top four spot with three of their next four games at home.

“That well and truly keeps our season alive, it’s a big win for us,” Sicily told Fox Footy.

“I’m really proud of the way we went about it today. It wasn’t easy.

“I wasn’t doing much down back, I was a bit of a liability. I was rapt the coach made the move, but our mids got on top in the last quarter to be honest.”

With the pressure high from both teams, goals were hard to come by until Hawthorn flicked the switch with four straight goals to surge to the lead late in the first half. However, a Dockers major on the siren from Pat Voss reduced the margin at the main break to seven points.

Fremantle continued the momentum to begin the second half, booting the opening three goals of the third term as their midfield began to get on top.

Mabior Chol eventually stopped the bleeding for the Hawks when he kicked truly from 45 metres out to get the Hawks within nine points entering time on in the third quarter.

But Hawthorn dominated the final term with five goals to the Dockers’ one to maintain touching distance with the top eight.

TASSIE’S ‘CARDIAC KIDS’

The Hawthorn faithful in Launceston have certainly got their money’s worth this season with the Hawks winning all three games thus far at UTAS Stadium in thrilling fashion.

They beat St Kilda by five points in a grinding affair in round nine, before a downfield free kick and subsequent Luke Breust goal in the dying stages gave them a six-point win over the Giants in round 13.

They have a terrific record at their ‘second home’, and face the Kangaroos there in the last round which could make or break their finals hopes

DEAR SHOWING GREAT SIGNS

Calsher Dear is just 18, but the son of the late Norm Smith medallist Paul is showing great signs of developing into a gun long term forward for the Hawks.

In the second quarter, with both teams struggling to hit the scoreboard, Dear crumbed a goal off a pack for his first of the game, before marking and making no mistake with a set shot soon after.

The teenager is strong overhead and has the ability to follow up his work on the ground, and will be a handy foil for luckless Hawthorn Mitch Lewis if he can overcome another long term injury, a ruptured ACL sustained in last week’s defeat at Geelong.

Hawthorn’s Calsher Dear takes a mark. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

HAYDEN YOUNG CONTINUES TO SHINE

Young is fast developing into Fremantle’s most dangerous player. In the first quarter he had four inside 50s and had two goal assists after finding Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss with bullet passes.

He had 11 first half disposals, three of which were goal assists. It continues to emphasis the thoughts of Fox Footy expert David King, who has been insistent in commentary teams need to start think about tagging him instead of the likes of Caleb Serong.

Young finished with 20 touches and four goal assists for the match to continue his fine season. He had 16 goal assists since round ten before Saturday’s clash.