It’s the elimination final so good it’s almost unfair, as the red-hot Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn pack out the MCG to see who can keep their season alive.
The Bulldogs (6th, 14-9, 125.1%) won 11 of their last 15 games, including huge wins over top-four trio Geelong, Sydney and GWS, with that resume leading many to declare them the AFL’s hottest team.
But the Hawks (7th, 14-9, 118.5%) have a strong claim to that crown, becoming just the third team in V/AFL history to play finals after starting 0-5 or worse, and winning 13 of their last 16 games.
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MATCH CENTRE: Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn Second Elimination Final scores, stats and more
FINALS FIXTURE: Every game, time and venue plus how the bracket works
In these sides’ only meeting this season, Hawthorn won by seven points at Marvel Stadium.
Tonight’s winner will travel to face Port Adelaide in the Second Semi Final next week, likely on Friday September 13.
Tonight’s loser will be eliminated from the finals.
The Second Elimination Final gets underway at 7:40pm AEST from the MCG.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504), streaming on Kayo or via Hubbl from 6:30pm AEST.
WESTERN BULLDOGS v HAWTHORN — LIVE UPDATES
There were no late changes at the MCG, with Jack Macrae (Bulldogs) and Luek Breust (Hawks) the subs for the respective sides.
After being spotted at the London Tavern last night, Jack Ginnivan spoke with Channel 7 pre-game to address his Richmond sighting the night before his side’s elimination final.
“Sam (Mitchell) has a lot of trust in me, and I text him before I went to the pub,” the 2023 premiership player told Channel 7’s Mitch Cleary.
“(I) just had a few waters with my mates and I was home by half time, so pretty cruisy from Sam’s end and Rob (the GM of Football).
“(I’m) laughing and ready to go.”
Coach Mitchell was just as jovial pre-game, telling Fox Footy that “half the team probably went out for dinner last night.”
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