Hawthorn defeats Fremantle to reach the AFL preliminary final

Hawthorn secured a spot in the preliminary final after defeating Fremantle by 32 points at Optus Stadium on Thursday night. The win follows a four-quarter performance defined by high pressure and consistent work rate against the minor premiers. Coach Sam Mitchell praised his team's ability to execute their game style on a major stage but emphasized that the side still has two wins to achieve to secure a premiership. The Hawks finished their previous season after a preliminary final loss to Geelong and a semi-final exit against Port Adelaide. Hawthorn will now return to Melbourne for a weekend break before resuming training on Monday to prepare for their next opponent. The team currently remains focused on the upcoming match as they await the final structure of the remaining finals bracket.

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