Hawthorn are within touching distance of a September berth this Saturday evening, as they lock horns with a rejuvenated Melbourne outfit.
And they got some help inside the opening minute when early umpiring drama saw the Hawks given a goal.
Follow our live coverage of Hawthorn v Melbourne in our blog below! Can’t see the blog? Click here
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
MATCH CENTRE: Hawthorn v Melbourne live scores, stats and updates
Dylan Moore was awarded the first goal of the match – despite telling officials the footy was touched. Moore was adamant the Dees got a hand to his snap, which is what Fox Footy replays appeared to show.
But the goal review cleared the snap, and the six points stood.
“All the Hawks already said it’s been touched – they’re setting up a zone,” Nick Dal Santo said at the time.
“This is where the honesty system should just come straight in. The player kicking the football says it’s touched.”
Four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis added: “Don’t waste your time (reviewing).”
“It’s called a goal so you need vision that shows definitively that it’s touched so that will be the challenge.”
Mark Howard described Moore as “honest Dylan” and questioned if players should be honest in those scenarios.
“No,” Lewis answered. “Let the officials make the decision.”
“If I was a player, absolutely not, I’d take whatever I can get,” Dal Santo agreed.
Despite Howard believing the score review could be “swayed” by Moore’s honesty, the goal was confirmed moments later.
“Oh wow!” Lewis said.
“The score counts! Perfect start to the Hawks,” Howard said.
“There must have been no vision to overturn the umpire’s decision.”
That alone left Dal Santo concerned.
“There’s an immediate concern with that – the players, both clubs, say it was touched,” he said.
“The technology is not up to the same level as the honesty of the players.”
The Moore goal started a Hawks spark with Jack Gunston slotting the next two goals to open up an early three-goal buffer.
The Hawks (14-7, 121.2%) can give themselves one foot inside the top eight with a win over the Demons, aided by Fremantle’s slip-up on Friday night.
Meanwhile, the Demons (8-13, 80.5%) will be hoping to jag their first four premiership points since parting ways with Simon Goodwin and a valiant effort last Sunday.
Sam Mitchell’s side will go in unchanged for the duel, while caretaker Demons coach Troy Chaplin has swung two changes.
Steven May returns from suspension and Harry Sharp has been recalled, while last week’s debutant Jed Adams has been dropped. Caleb Windsor will miss through injury.
The first bounce whit the MCG turf at 4:15pm local time in Melbourne, with both sides opting to name a veteran as the sub – Luke Breust for the Hawks and Jake Melksham for the Dees.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504), and streaming on Kayo, from 4pm AEST.