Hawthorn Hawks eye Fremantle Dockers qualifying final, Blake Hardwick Grand Final ambitions, Sam Mitchell, Wharfie Time

Hawthorn got what it needed from its final home-and-away game of the season.

Now the real challenge begins.

A commanding 62-point victory over West Coast secured the Hawks a top-four finish and double chance, setting up a blockbuster qualifying final against minor premiers Fremantle in Perth.

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And after falling one step short of a Grand Final last season, Hawthorn defender Blake Hardwick has made no secret of where the Hawks want this September campaign to end.

“We’ve been going a step further each year, so this year is the year for us to take that step further again and get to a granny,” Hardwick told Foxsports.com.au post-game.

“But you can’t look too far forward really.”

For now, that means Fremantle.

Hawthorn will return to Perth in less than a fortnight knowing victory would earn it a week off and a home preliminary final, while defeat would leave the Hawks facing the long road through September.

Sunday night’s win at least ensured they will arrive with some momentum.

Hawthorn entered the final round without a victory in its previous two matches after a draw against Collingwood followed a 67-point defeat to Brisbane.

For Hardwick, rediscovering some form before September was significant.

“We haven’t really been playing our best, so it was nice to get some form going into finals and against a team like Freo you need to be in form,” Hardwick said.

The Hawks briefly had another prize within reach against West Coast, with the margin opening the possibility of leapfrogging Brisbane into third place on percentage.

“We got close with the percentage,” Hardwick said.

“It wasn’t something we concentrated on early in the game, but later on we tried to still attack the game and see how we could go.”

They ultimately fell short, meaning Fremantle awaits in a rematch carrying no shortage of intrigue.

The Hawks have already discovered just how difficult the Dockers can be to stop at Optus Stadium.

Hawthorn led Fremantle late in their previous meeting before the Dockers stormed home during what is known as ‘Wharfie Time’, snatching an 88-73 victory as the home crowd erupted.

Hardwick expects nothing less when Hawthorn returns for the qualifying final.

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“Expecting the best really,” Hardwick said.

“We got that when we played here last time, they really turned it on in that last quarter and I don’t think they’ve lost at home this season, so we’re expecting the best.

“They finished on top of the ladder for a reason and we’ll have to be on our A-game.”

While ‘Wharfie Time’ has become part of Fremantle folklore this season, Hardwick admitted the phenomenon had barely registered with him at the time.

“To be honest, I didn’t know what that was all about,” Hardwick said.

“If it ever happened, I’m sometimes going to be sleepy up the back, so I’m not sure if I missed that one, but when that came out, I was as confused as anyone.”

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell was far more aware of the challenge awaiting his side when speaking during his post-game press conference, particularly the advantage Fremantle has earned by finishing on top of the ladder.

But Mitchell also delivered a warning of his own.

“They’re a hard side to beat anywhere. They’ve been a great team for the whole season and they deserve to have a home final,” Mitchell said.

“But a home final doesn’t make a win, so it’s our challenge to come here and get the job done.”

It will be Hawthorn’s third trip to Perth this season, and while Mitchell played down how much of an advantage that familiarity provides, he was adamant the Hawks would return believing they can win.

“It certainly doesn’t hurt, I guess. Does it give us a significant advantage? Of course not,” Mitchell said.

“It’s still their home ground, but we’ll go into the game confident that our best will get it done.”

Sunday night also provided an early dress rehearsal for what awaits, although Hardwick expects the qualifying final to look vastly different from the wet-weather battle against West Coast.

“The conditions were interesting for the most part of the game,” Hardwick said.

“Didn’t really expect those conditions, but the boys adjusted well and turned it into a bit of a territory game.

“I’m sure in two weeks it will probably look like a different game to that.

“Nice little dress rehearsal, I guess, and come back in two weeks.”

Before then, Hawthorn has the luxury of a week off to freshen up after a long home-and-away campaign.

“We get a few days off now. Just relax. I’ll relax with my partner and little one,” Hardwick said.

“It’s nice to have a week off. It feels like a long season at the moment.

“There’s a lot of games, so it’s nice to have a break and then attack the Thursday night.”

Mitchell is also determined to ensure his players don’t spend the entire break thinking about Fremantle.

“The players, it’s important not to play the game before you get there,” Mitchell said.

“We need to refine our own game, do some learning, get some good training in, which will be great, and then come over here ready to play.”

When they do, Mitchell knows exactly what will be waiting.

“We prepare for every environment that we play in and we’re obviously going to be in a hostile environment filled with purples, so we’ll be ready for that,” Mitchell said.

The Hawks came to Perth needing a victory to secure the double chance.

Next time they arrive, the stakes will be considerably higher.

A hostile Optus Stadium, the minor premiers and possibly another dose of ‘Wharfie Time’ stand between Hawthorn and a home preliminary final.