Hawthorn hosts GWS in Friday night football at the MCG, as the Hawks try to consolidate their hold on third spot on the ladder.

After finishing eighth and seventh on the ladder after the last two home-and-away seasons, Hawthorn is setting itself up for a shot at the double chance and a legitimate shot at a flag.

But with the ladder so tightly packed, a slip-up against the 13th-placed GWS could be costly.

Follow all the action in our live blog.

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 7:13pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 7:13pm

AFL Friday ScoreboardFri 26 Jun 2026 at 10:11pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 10:11pm

Both sides lacking composure

Both these sides are rushing things in their desperation to get back into / finish this game.

There are fumbles, and miskicks and jolting tackles.

The Giants somehow get it inside 50 and Conor Stone takes a mark.

But his kick! It’s … less than ideal. Out on the full, and not even close.

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 10:08pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 10:08pm

Giants miss another chance as Oliver in injury strife

The Giants are still trying.

It’s a great move off half-back, getting to Toby Greene then Aaron Cadman who finds Jake Stringer inside 50.

But his kick goes way wide. No score.

Now Clayton Oliver is limping off. This game is taking a serious toll.

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 10:05pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 10:05pm

Big miss for Jake Stringer

The Giants haven’t had many chances in the last few minutes.

They had one there, though, going inside 50 and the ball came out to Jake Stringer. He thought he had to do the urgent snap and pulled it wide right.

If he had taken another second to steady, he might have kicked that. Bad miss.

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 10:02pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 10:02pm

Chol breaks the Giants hold

Cam McKenzie ended up having a snap after a Hawks break, but his high kick was rushed over the line.

But the Hawks break again, and Mabior Chol marks inside 50.

And he kicks the goal! That’s a relieving goal for Hawthorn.

The lead is out to 27 points, and although there’s plenty of time, that should be enough. Let’s see what the Giants have left.

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:59pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:59pm

Giants fighting but can’t get the goal

This is a desperate section of the game, and the Giants are dead-set on getting the first goal of the final term.

But no one has a clean run at it, and someone always gets tackled, or has a teammate run in their way.

The Giants are still 21 points down.

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:55pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:55pm

Giants on the charge at the MCG

This could be some quarter!

It’s been a ripping start to the final term, with tackles flying in, no time at all on the ball, and the big players trying to step up.

The Giants are pressing hard, but Will Day is standing up for the Hawks.

No score so far, but very entertaining stuff!

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:47pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:47pm

3QT: Hawthorn 13.9 (87) leads GWS 10.6 (66)

Aaron Cadman boots a late goal, and the MCG crowd is a little subdued as the siren sounds!

The game looked gone after those GWS injuries and a few early Hawthorn goals.

But then GWS found another gear despite their personnel problems, and they grabbed the momentum with four straight goals to drag the lead back into manageable range.

The Hawks tried to stem the flow late in the quarter, and they should go on and win from here. But the Giants are still, amazingly, a shot at winning this! Thirty minutes of football, 21 points. That’s doable.

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:44pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:44pm

It’s Ginnivan to Lewis … to a goal from Hawthorn!

The Hawks had to lift their intensity, and they are still operating at less than 100 per cent, but that was a big moment!

They got the ball to Jack Ginnivan on the edge of 50 wide out.

He didn’t have the leg, and just switched it around his body to hit Mitch Lewis deep in the same pocket.

Lewis kicked it from a difficult angle! Great play and a vital goal.

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:42pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:42pm

Finn Callaghan kicks a goal for GWS

The Hawks may not be taking their chances, but the Giants are!

They sort it out, put pressure on the Hawks and Finn Callaghan runs on to it on the right and half-dribbles it home despite a despairing dive! The lead is 21.

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:40pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:40pm

Will Day runs too far!

The Hawks have another late chance, but Will Day runs into goal and kicks it, but is called for running too far.

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:39pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:39pm

Massimo D’Ambrosio hits the post!

That should have been a dagger from Hawthorn!

GWS pressed, then turned the ball over.

The Hawks sent it through hands and Massimo D’Ambrosio snapped from outside the square and hit the post!

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:35pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:35pm

Hawthorn’s Jack Dalton ends the Giants’ run of goals

That was better from the Hawks!

They needed a circuit-breaker after all those goals from GWS.

The Hawks rushed it inside 50, it fell to third-gamer Jack Dalton, and he snapped his second of the game.

The home fans are a lot happier with that. Lead is back to 26.

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:33pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:33pm

Cadman brings Giants even closer

Umm… it’s actually four in a row now!

Aaron Cadman has taken a contested mark inside 50. And he’s kicked the set shot, and the lead is back to 20 points, coming close to time on in the third.

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:31pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:31pm

Brown has another for GWS – what is happening?

Don’t look now, but the Giants have some momentum at the MCG!

It’s Callum Brown who is everywhere. The Northern Irishman is in the ruck and then drifting forward and he’s just converted a set shot for his third of the night.

The Giants are back within 26 points! Over to you, Hawks.

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:27pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:27pm

Smart move from Stringer sets up another Giants goal

GWS is definitely lifting here!

They get the ball in forward half and chip it to Jake Stringer.

Can he get another goal? No, he plays possum and then sneaks in a chip to Callum Brown 30m in front as the Hawks stand around and watch.

Brown kicks it! That’s two in a row. There is plenty of time, you’d still consider it’s an uphill task for GWS but this is something from the visitors.

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:25pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:25pm

Toby Greene gets an answering goal

The Giants are trying to fight back at the MCG, and Toby Greene has a goal back.

The lead is still 37 points, but it’s a start.

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:24pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:24pm

Karl Amon the latest injury issue for Hawthorn

It’s not like it’s a blood-and-thunder match with a heap of collisions.

But this one is racking up the injuries.

Now it’s Hawthorn’s Karl Amon who is off the ground and down the rooms for a mystery ailment.

He’s back up, and his knee is strapped.

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:20pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:20pm

A reminder of the two injury problems for the GiantsFri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:19pm

Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 9:19pm

Mabior Chol gets in on the act for Hawthorn

It may be slippery out there on the MCG, but it’s not stopping the Hawks’ big men.

The home side gets their second centre break, their second inside 50 – and their second goal!

Mabior Chol takes the mark this time. His notoriously inconsistent kicking doesn’t materialise, and he nails the kick – and celebrates hard.

This is out to 42 points, and this could get ugly in a hurry here.

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