Fremantle's band of talented youngsters will enter Friday night's semi-final showdown against Geelong at the MCG without fear after ending Hawthorn's AFL season in convincing fashion on Saturday.

The Dockers marked the start of a new era with their 30-point elimination final win over the Hawks, who dominated most of the key stats but faltered badly in front of goal at Subiaco Oval.

Fremantle entered the match with 13 finals debutants compared to the Hawthorn's three.

But the Dockers' young guns flourished in the pressure-cooker atmosphere as an error-riddled Hawthorn, premiers in 2008, were left to rue another wasted season.

Stephen Hill, Anthony Morabito, Nat Fyfe, and Greg Broughton all shone for the home side in front of 42,719 fans.

And with older heads David Mundy (25 possessions), Adam McPhee, Paul Duffield, Luke McPharlin and Matthew Pavlich also standing tall, Fremantle ran out convincing 14.10 (94) to 8.16 (64) winners in their first taste of September action since reaching the preliminary final in 2006.

Fremantle face a monumental task to topple defending premiers Geelong next weekend but coach Mark Harvey said the job wouldn't faze his fledgling side.

"It won't be daunting to us," Harvey said.

"I think our culture has grown.

"It (the game against Hawthorn) was our first final for many players and it's been four years in the making really.

"It's been the biggest game for the club for many years and probably the coaching staff too.

"I saw (former captain) Peter Bell's comments in the paper the other day and he said it was very important for young players at Fremantle to be involved in a winning culture." The Hawks endured a horror first half, posting a wayward 1.11 and losing Cyril Rioli (hamstring) and Xavier Ellis (ankle) to injury.

Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands was also struck down by the injury curse, a heavy knock to the knee forcing him to spend most of the match in the forward line.

Two weeks ago, Hawthorn put a Dockers 'B' side to the sword by 116 points in Tasmania.

But Fremantle showed their 'A' side was a completely different prospect, racing out to a 42-point lead at the final change before taking their foot off the pedal somewhat in the last quarter.

"Freo are a 25-goal better side over here, they beat us by five and we beat them by 20 over there," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson joked.

"They're pretty impressive. "The tough thing for them now is they've got to travel and play the Cats and I reckon the Cats would be pretty steamed up after last night's dramatic loss." Luke Hodge and McPhee set the tone before the bounce, exchanging a series of jumper punches on the wing that could land the pair in trouble from the match review panel.

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett wasn't present to see the early biffo after his plane from Melbourne, which also contained the match's MC Craig Willis, was delayed by two hours.

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