Dockers coach Justin Longmuir is “incredibly proud” of Freo’s fight to chase down Hawthorn on Thursday night – despite the heroics of Hawk Jack Gunston.
The veteran had five goals to half time – and even Dockers defender Jordan Clark feared the worst.
Watch every match of every round of the AFL Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say f—k he’s going to kick 10!” he laughed when asked about Gunston’s efforts.
“It’s hard to not think like that – but I trust our boys.
“Luke Ryan and Brennan Cox are two of our best key defenders. When they are not getting a chance to put a hand on him, you know things are breaking down upfield.”
Jack Gunston had five goals to half time.Source: Getty Images
Longmuir echoed those thoughts when speaking post-match, but was happy to hold Gunston to just one goal in the second half.
“Stephen Silvagni probably couldn’t stop him in the first half with the way we were letting them transition the ball,” he shared.
“It’s hard for a back man isolated like they do with Gunston.
“It’s impossible to stop.”
But a midfield shift in the second half put the clamps on Gunston – and Hawthorn.
The visitors managed just two goals after half time as Freo kicked into high gear.
“From the middle of the third quarter it was something like 28 inside 50s to six at one stage,” Longmuir said.
“It took a while for the dam wall to break.
“Once we get that field position, we’re a hard team to stop.
“We just needed that one goal to get the crowd excited. We thought that if we get that one goal, the dam wall would break with the amount of field position we were having.
“Incredibly proud of the players which I have just told them. To have four games in 18 days or whatever we did back-to-back-to-back six days break, didn’t hear any players whinging about it, talking about how sore they were – they just got to work.
“We didn’t look like the tiredest team out there.”
Staring down a 21-point deficit when Gunston kicked his sixth goal in the final term, the Dockers rallied with a five-goal blitz in the space of just 11 minutes.
“It’s just relief,” Clark said of his immediate thoughts post-match.
“The adrenaline, the heart’s pumping!
Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw celebrate the win.Source: Getty Images
“The third quarter was the best quarter of footy we’ve played all year to be honest – we just didn’t get the reward on the scoreboard.
“Going in at three quarter time, the message was pretty clear – lads, you should be full of confidence that this game is stacking up the right way.
“Sure as eggs, we continued on our merry way and got the reward in the fourth quarter.
“As a defender it’s nice to be on the side that don’t see the ball for a bit!
“The game now is momentum … When it’s your turn, capitalise. I thought we did that.”
And that’s what is setting the Dockers of 2026 apart – their ability to remain composed in those crunch moments, despite an average player age of just 25.1.
‘Massive loss!’: Tom Barrass goes down | 00:44
The Dockers refused to wilt despite scoring just one-goal in their third quarter domination.
“We’re a group that just likes winning week to week,” Clark said.
“We will review this game for what it is – there will be a lot of learnings.
“It was far from perfect.”
And teammate Pat Voss agreed when speaking to Fox Footy post match.
“In years past, we’ve probably let those games slip… from our point of view it was very gritty,” he said of the win.
Hawks get away with questionable sub! | 00:35
The Dockers now move into top spot on the AFL ladder – but second placed Sydney have a game in hand when they take on North Melbourne this weekend.
Freo can equal their AFL-best streak of nine consecutive wins when they face Essendon next weekend.
But Longmuir isn’t buying into the ‘Flagmantle’ dream just yet.
“I’m happy for our fans to be excited – we’re playing an exciting brand of footy,” he said.
“Our fans should be excited about the path we’re on.
“But our challenge is to just stay in the moment.”