AFL Rd 16 live updates: Hawthorn vs GWS at the MCG

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By Andrew McGarry

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18

Key Events

3

Hawks vs Giants

12

Highlights

2

Injury

1

Hawks miss another chance from stoppage

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By Andrew McGarry

Hawthorn are dominating here in the opening term, and their stoppage work is causing all sorts of problems, particularly for Joe Fonti.

He started off on Nick Watson, but he's been generally under the pump so far.

He's just given away a holding free kick while waiting for another forward ball-up.

Cam McKenzie takes the kick, but his snap around the corner misses just to the right.

Hawks by nine points.

Hawks hard to stop with goal from stoppage

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By Andrew McGarry

The Hawks are showing how they can score in different ways.

They took it forward, forced a stoppage inside the arc. The ball fell pretty easily to Connor Macdonald, and his snap from 30-35m out went through!

The home side leads by eight points coming close to time on in the opening quarter.

Quick answer from GWS

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By Andrew McGarry

GWS coach Adam Kingsley wouldn't have been happy with the 50m penalty, but his mood would have improved here.

The Giants go forward and take their chance, with Stephen Coniglio kicking a goal from distance.

They're back within a kick.

A Giants error leads to Hawks goal

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By Andrew McGarry

I've seen some interesting things, but that's up there?

Aaron Cadman dropped a mark on the wing, the Hawks broke and Harry Morrison hit up Calsher Dear just inside the arc.

But as he lined up, suddenly the umpire was ordering him forward. We're not sure if it was an interchange error or what, but whatever they found, the Hawks were kicking from the square.

Hawks extend the lead!

Giants get their opening goal through Lachie Ash

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By Andrew McGarry

Thjat was better from the Giants!

They got the ball in the middle, and a string of handballs just shifted it from defensive half to attacking half.

The last handball found Lachie Ash, and he thumped a kick from just inside 50 - it went through, and GWS are in the game.

Hawks dominate the stats early

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By Andrew McGarry

Just to emphasise the strong start for the home side, the Hawks have five inside 50s to none right now, and they have laid eight tackles to one for GWS.

The Giants might need to wake up here!

Hawks bring the pressure and Jack Dalton kicks his first AFL goal

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By Andrew McGarry

The Hawks are on early, and they are bringing the pressure.

The ball is inside forward 50 again, Joe Fonti is there at the back trying to clear - he's grabbed by Mabior Chol, but the tackle can't stick.

But Jack Dalton is there, and the third-gamer gets Fonti holding the ball! He kicks the goal and his team gets around him!

Good start for the Hawks.

Opening score a rushed behind to the Hawks

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By Andrew McGarry

It's been a solid first minute at the MCG. It looks like GWS may have sent Joe Fonti to Nick Watson, which is an interesting task.

The Hawks have broken down the left, and Jack Ginnivan kicked to the square, but Callum Brown punched it through for a point.

We are underway at the MCG

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By Andrew McGarry

Here we go ...

The Hawks took care of the Suns last week thanks (among a number of reasons) to some brilliant work at centre clearance.

Can they repeat the dose tonight, or will the Giants create some history at the MCG?

Cameron Ling chats Essendon's coaching search on ABC

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By Andrew McGarry

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Cameron Ling has taken a deep dive into Essendon's coaching search on ABC Sport's broadcast of tonight's game*.

In particular he's provided new information on the committee that's going to determine who the new coach is - and there are some (vaguely) familiar names in there!

* As you can see, it was a gag rather than anything serious, before you melt down our comments!

Recent results between Hawthorn and GWS

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By Andrew McGarry

R1, 2026: Hawthorn by 27 (Sydney Showground)

EF, 2025: GWS by 19 (Sydney Showground)

R4, 2025: GWS by 12 (Launceston)

R22, 2024: Hawthorn by 2 (Manuka Oval)

R14, 2024: GWS by 6 (Launceston)

R17, 2023: Hawthorn by 13 (Sydney Showground)

The Hawks and the Giants have split the last six meetings in this match-up, three-all. Both teams have won at the other's "fortress", with Hawthorn winning in Canberra, while the Giants have won twice in Launceston.

Perhaps the most important stat in this matchup is nowhere listed above: GWS has never beaten Hawthorn at the MCG in the club's 15-season history. They will be looking to break that drought tonight.

Giants at the MCG for first time in 2026

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By Andrew McGarry

It's fair to say that GWS has a lot of travelling compared to many clubs (looking at you, Collingwood!) but tonight is a first for the Giants in 2026.

So far this season GWS has played five times at their home at Sydney Showground, three times at Docklands, and once each at Alice Springs, Perth Stadium, Carrara, Canberra and Barossa Park (in Gather Round).

But this game is different. It's the first and only time in 2026 that GWS are scheduled to play at the MCG.

Will they cope with headquarters? Let's see.

AFL admits Logan Morris kick after the siren should have been a goal

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By Andrew McGarry

We had some more controversy over kicking for goal last night in the Brisbane — Sydney game, with a Logan Morris goal after the siren rubbed out as the umpires called play-on.

Today, the AFL responded in a statement, acknowledging the goal should have stood.

"The umpire standing directly behind the line of kick judged that Logan Morris did not return to the line of kick and therefore called play-on.

"On further review, while Morris was short of the line of kick, we believe he has complied with the rule by kicking over the man on the mark and has not improved the angle to the goal-posts and therefore play-on should not have been called."

The AFL went on to say that they were clarifying to clubs and umnpires that when a player lines up perpendicular (side-on) to their line of kick, they must EITHER kick over the player on the mark, or kick from the line of the kick.

In the meantime, it's another controversy over the rules.

Are there any other ways the rules can blow up over the weekend? Lock in, folks, it could be an interesting watch.

Kangaroos extend Sheezel to 2032

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By Andrew McGarry

The Kangaroos announced some contract news today which, while not unexpected, is definitely welcome for their fans.

Young gun Harry Sheezel has signed on for a two-year contract extension, which keeps him at Arden Street until the end of 2032.

Sheezel, the 2022 AFL Rising Star, was already signed on until 2030. But obviously the 21-year-old is happy about the improvement at North.

The Kangaroos are already gone past 2025's five wins for the season, with seven victories on the board with nine games still to go.

Rules changes leading to more injuries: Crows coach

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By Andrew McGarry

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks suspects rule changes designed to speed up the AFL have led to a spate of hamstring injuries at the Crows.

Adelaide have lost in-form defender Wayne Milera to a hamstring strain for Saturday night's grudge match against Port Adelaide.

Milera is the eighth Crow to suffer a hamstring injury this season, with the hit list including Izak Rankine, prized recruit Callum Ah Chee and veteran Taylor Walker.

"Across the league, it's a trend I think a lot of teams are working through," Nicks told reporters on Friday.

"With the changes in the game, the speed of the game, it has gone up a lot more high speed than what we're seeing the last few years.

"Extra rotation on the bench; last touch out of bounds — there's a few slight tweaks.

"And a lot of teams are finding some challenges in that space from a games missed point of view."

All Australian contender Milera reported soreness at midweek training, with Nicks describing his injury as minor.

"It was just common sense: no risk taken," Nicks said.

Milera has been replaced by Isaac Cumming, who is making his return from a hamstring injury, while key backman Nick Murray has been dropped in favour of Josh Worrell.

Worrell missed Adelaide's win over Melbourne last weekend due to illness, with Nicks dismissing as inaccurate suggestions the intercept defender had been sidelined for discipline reasons.

The Crows (nine wins, five losses) hold fifth spot and enter the Showdown against the struggling Power as firm favourites.

Port (four wins, 10 losses) languish in 15th and again have been hit by injuries with Esava Ratugolea (patella tendon) and Ewan Mackinlay (knee) out for the season after being hurt last weekend.

Power coach Josh Carr also dropped Todd Marshall, Harrison Ramm and Tom Cochrane, while recalling Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines, Dante Visentini, Jacob Wehr, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Mitch Zadow.

"They have had their challenges," Nicks said of Port.

"But they're playing a great brand of footy and I know Josh really well, I have coached with him along my journey and he's a fantastic coach.

"We understand form means nothing when you come into a Showdown.

"They're tight battles more often than not."

AAP

Teams are in for Hawthorn vs GWS

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By Andrew McGarry

There are no late changes for either team — you can look at the line-ups above.

Both sides are missing key players for tonight's match. The Hawks are without the dynamic Josh Weddle, who is suspended for three matches for rough conduct on the Suns' Daniel Rioli who fractured his jaw in the incident.

They are also without running defender Jarman Impey, who has a hamstring strain and is out for three to four weeks. Cam Nairn is omitted. In come Jack Dalton, Calsher Dear and Flynn Perez.

But the Hawks are not the only ones under-strength for this match. GWS has lost Jesse Hogan to a finger injury, while key defender Jayden Laverde is out for three to four weeks, also with a hamstring issue.

In come Max Gruzewski and Harrison Oliver.

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