Hawthorn forward Mitch Lewis admits Wharfie Time caught his side by surprise last time they played Fremantle.
The way the club addressed the loss to Fremantle garnered plenty of headlines through the middle of the season after the Dockers overran Hawthorn to win by 15 points after leading at the start of stoppage time.
“If anything, it was just surprising for us initially. We didn't know what was going on initially,” Lewis said.
“There were sirens, the crowd got really loud and as a forward we couldn't do much, because it was centre bounce-goal, centre bounce-goal, and they won the game before we could blink.
“We know what it is now, which is a good start, and if it were to happen again, I think we'd be more prepared.”
Star midfielder Will Day, who had not yet returned from injury for the game, concurred with the view but believes the experience will hold them in better stead.
“You prepare for any team with a big fan base, which Freo do have, and it's obviously great for them with all their supporters, but it's something we're really excited (about). It probably caught us off guard last time, whereas now we know that it's going to come so very much better prepared.”
Hawthorn does enter the game somewhat out-of-form, having lost three of their last five games against top 10 opponents – and drawing another – but the Round 24 victory over West Coast appeared a positive step.
Fremantle has overrun Hawthorn in their last two clashes, but the ability to go toe-to-toe in a high-octane game has Lewis confident of what the qualifying final could hold for his side.
“We can reflect on it quite well for 90 per cent of the game,” Lewis said of the Round 9 loss.
“I thought that was a finals-type match early in the season and both sides were playing good football but we just couldn't quite get over the line leading at three quarter time and then being overrun so we'll definitely take some learnings from that game and take it into next week, we know it's going to be a hostile environment, I think the boys are excited to get back over there.”
Contextualising the crowd noise of Wharfie Time, both Day and Massimo D'Ambrosio likened it to the atmosphere of facing Collingwood at a packed MCG or Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval. It is, therefore, interesting to note the Hawks drew both their games with the Pies and only narrowly defeated a Port Adelaide line-up it was expected to beat comprehensively on paper.
Hawthorn will leave for Perth on Tuesday, giving them an extra day out west to prepare.
The Hawks' last game of the home and away season was against West Coast at Optus Stadium, giving them another important run on the now familiar ground.
“It was a great dress rehearsal,” Day said.
“It worked well; we got to head over and get our preparation right, which I thought we did.
“We headed over a day early just to get used to it all and get everything in shape, and the way we were able to perform, get a good win and play our way gives us a lot of confidence going into this week.”
D'Ambrosio was more reserved when discussing the noise but admitted it deviated from a usual game.
“It was different. It's something we don't experience often, but the environment is what it is, and we'll be ready to take that on,” he said.
