Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir admits missed opportunities in front of goal cost his team the win and the Dockers missed the chance to secure a place in the top four.
Four deficits early in the third quarter proved costly for the visitors, who scored 5.9 points in a wasteful second half and lost 13.9 (87) to 10.14 (74) in Launceston on Saturday.
“In this game it was a question of who took their chances better and in the end they took their chances better,” Longmuir said.
“We played the game we wanted to play in the third quarter, especially in the first two periods. We played it on our side, created chances, but started the quarter with four points.
“I think we shot 4.6 in that quarter and just should have created more distance when we had the upper hand in the game.”
In a masterpiece by Hawks coach Sam Mitchell, returning captain James Sicily was sent forward and kicked three goals, including two late in the final period, to secure the lead and seal the 13-point victory.
Mitchell said Sicily switched sides after the defender struggled to make an impact behind the ball.
“When you have a player of his caliber who isn’t as dominant as you’d like, we obviously have the opportunity to use him and he just has the desire to play in those positions,” Mitchell said.
“I was excited that he was able to score the goal and make a good impact for us in front of the ball.”
On the other hand, Jye Amiss and Patrick Voss each shot 1.3 balls, including a total of four behinds in the second half.
“He (Sicily) had some big moments, won some competitions and got the job done,” Longmuir said.
“That was the difference, especially in the second half… they just finished their job.
“He played a big part in it, he won some important duels and scored his goals. Unfortunately, we were inaccurate in the second half.”
Longmuir admitted that Amiss’s accuracy issues were affecting him, with the striker kicking 24.24 this season, compared to 41.17 last year.
But the pragmatic coach was confident that the 20-year-old could overcome this hurdle by September.
“There’s no doubt that missing goals is a little upsetting,” Longmuir said.
“He has to work and we have to help him get through this and he will undoubtedly work on that.”
Fremantle are expected to be boosted by the return of Alex Pearce to face Melbourne at Optus Stadium on Sunday, with an eight-day break between matches expected to improve the injured captain’s chances.
Longmuir said Pearce, who is from Tasmania, was “close” to playing against the Hawks.
“Sitting here now, I probably expect him to play next week, but he’s not over the finish line yet,” Longmuir said.