22m agoFri 13 Mar 2026 at 8:32amBombers vs Hawks live
Just nowFri 13 Mar 2026 at 8:54am
Ned Reeves kicks a popular Hawthorn goal!
We haven’t seen a whole lot of big Ned recently, but he’s making his presence felt here already. Blakiston conceded the free kick in the ruck contest inside 50, a little overzealous in the physical battle, and Reeves made no mistake with his set shot.
Another goalfest early! A bit of a trend so far this season.
3m agoFri 13 Mar 2026 at 8:52am
Xavier Duursma answers straight back for the Dons
Both sides are going end to end so easily here, defences at either end looking really soft. Then when the long kick came in, Hawthorn had three talls able to kill the contest but let it slip out the back.
Duursma ran hard to crumb and goal, but defensive coaches must be having some headaches right now.
4m agoFri 13 Mar 2026 at 8:50am
Josh Weddle with a long launch and goal! Three for the Hawks
Gunston was held by Reid about 65 from goal, and as the play slowed down you would have thought the Dons could have plugged all the holes defensively.
Instead Weddle marked unopposed 55 out, and then no defender went near him. He took a couple of seconds, lined them up and knocked them down.
7m agoFri 13 Mar 2026 at 8:47am
Connor Macdonald wobbles one through for the Hawks
The seas parted for Macdonald and Hawthorn, the Bombers defence pulled up the ground and well out of position. It wasn’t a pretty kick on the run from Macdonald but it bounced nicely for him.
And of course, Dylan Moore was the man who handballed off to Macdonald on the run. Partners in crime out there tonight in Hawthorn’s forward line.
9m agoFri 13 Mar 2026 at 8:45am
Sam Durham gets the Bombers on the board in 2026
Defensive errors at both ends already, with the Hawks made to pay for Tom Barrass’s spilled mark at half-back. Parish’s kick in board to Durham inside 50 was really clever.
Durham dobs his set shot from 40, Dons up and running.
10m agoFri 13 Mar 2026 at 8:44amA mixed reaction to Zach Merrett’s first touch
On the surface it sounded like a warm reception for Merrett as he took the ball deep in his back pocket, but there were definitely some boos mixed in there too.
Who from? No idea. Bombers fans holding a grudge, I suppose. I reckon that was probably 70-30 cheers to boos, which is slightly more negative than I had expected.
12m agoFri 13 Mar 2026 at 8:42am
Jack Gunston on the board inside a minute!
Dream start for the Hawks! They’ve gone from half back to half forward in the blink of an eye, threading through the Bombers to find Gunston in the pocket.
That would have been a tricky set shot for most, deep in the pocket and 45 out, but Gunston never looked like missing. He’s been doing it for years.
14m agoFri 13 Mar 2026 at 8:40am
Game on at the MCG!
Ball is in the air and the roar around the MCG is substantial. Reckon we could be in for a good one tonight.
19m agoFri 13 Mar 2026 at 8:35am
Bombers and Hawks are almost ready to go
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The players are on the field and the smoke from the accompanying fireworks is just starting to clear now. We are expecting a massive crowd tonight, maybe even a bigger one than this time last year, which turned out to be a record for a home and away game between these two sides.
Looks a bit breezy out there again tonight, as it was last night. I’m hopeful for a better game tonight though. We’ll find out soon enough.
30m agoFri 13 Mar 2026 at 8:25am
The next generation of Dons
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The Bombers are wheeling out three debutants tonight, all from last year’s draft. Dyson Sharp, Max Kondogiannis and Hussien El Achkar will wear the sash for the first time, and what a stage upon which to make your AFL debut.
I’m particularly excited to see Sharp play tonight. He’s a tough and hard-working midfielder who was near enough ready for AFL action last year. In time he wil become a key figure in this Essendon midfield, but for now I look forward to seeing how he settles in and imposes himself on the occasion.
The Bombers have a couple more first rounders up their sleeve who will certainly earn debuts at some point this year, with Jacob Farrow probably only a week or two away and Sullivan Robey playing soon to play with the VFL as he continues recovery from a back problem. The future is bright at the Hangar.
40m agoFri 13 Mar 2026 at 8:15am
The Zach Merrett of it all
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Tonight, Zach Merrett will play for Essendon. He won’t captain them as he had done for the past few years, but he will line up in that Bombers midfield again. Had things gone another way – the way Merrett himself wanted – he would be playing for Hawthorn instead. But that trade famously didn’t go through, and after plenty of apologies and “winning back the respect of the group”, Merrett’s Essendon career continues.
What sort of reception will Merrett get from the fans and from his opponents tonight? I can’t imagine he’ll get too much grief, but there’s no doubt he’ll have a few weird feelings about it all. It’s one of a number of stories to watch as the night progresses.
47m agoFri 13 Mar 2026 at 8:08am
Dylan Moore’s difficult week
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It was revealed this week that Hawthorn’s Dylan Moore had been arrested in the US during the off-season. More details have come forward today, with Arizona police alleging they found Moore with a bag of a “crystalline substance” and a rolled up $100 dollar bill.
Moore and teammate Conor Macdonald spent a night in jail and will face a US court later this year on a count of trespassing.
Moore was stripped of the vice-captaincy and the pair have been fined by the Hawks, but will face no further club or AFL punishment. Both are playing in tonight’s game.
Get the full story below:
57m agoFri 13 Mar 2026 at 7:57amFinal teams are in
(AFL.com.au)
No late changes for either side.
Hawthorn have welcomed Cam Mackenzie and Ned Reeves back for this one, with Finn Maginness and Harry Morrison making way.
1h agoFri 13 Mar 2026 at 7:53am
What to expect from the Bombers and Hawks?
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It’s a new year for Essendon and with it comes new hope. 2025 was a disappointing season for Brad Scott’s men but with an improved injury list and some fresh faces in the side there is hope for better things this time around.
At the very least this year, Dons fans will want to see progress and development. The finals are probably not a realistic goal this year but steps towards that goal need to be taken. A few big wins in games like this one, against rivals and on the big stages, will help convince the faithful that the club is on the right track.
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The Hawks were a bit of a letdown in Opening Round, beaten by a GWS side missing a plethora of key players. Question marks around the Hawthorn midfield have not gone away, and those mids will need to be improved tonight or else an upset could be on the cards.
There are still high expectations on the Hawks this season coming off a prelim final year, so finding a first win is critical. Expect to see them fast and full of flair.
1h agoFri 13 Mar 2026 at 7:39amWelcome to Friday night footy
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Good evening, and welcome to ABC Sport’s live blog coverage of the 2026 AFL season. We are back at the MCG tonight to enjoy a meeting between two of Australian rules football’s great rivals in Essendon and Hawthorn as the first proper round of the season continues.
There are subplots and threads to follow all over this game, and of course the result itself is critical for both sides in the early stages of this campaign. So get yourself comfy and keep me company as we settle in for a big night of footy.