MCG will play host to Friday's AFL game between Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn Hawks. The game kicks off at 7:40 pm with Western Bulldogs heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Western Bulldogs vs. Hawthorn Hawks game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Friday September 6, 2024 at 7:40 pm

Where: MCG

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Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn Hawks Odds

Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn Hawks Preview

It almost seems unfair that both these sides will face off in an Elimination Final, given how in-form each side is.

In the last 10 years, only two times the top four all make it through to the Preliminary Final, which suggests that one side outside the top four at the very least makes it into a Preliminary Final, which places a greater weight on the emphasis of winning this game.

It’s all-out attack against midfield masters, and there is no real telling which way the game will be played.

Finals footy brings out a scrappier contested fight in most games, which suits the Bulldogs, but the Hawks always find a way to impose their system against the odds.

It’s Hawthorn’s first AFL Finals series since 2018, where they were knocked out in straight sets, marking the end of the Premiership era.

The Doggies have featured in the AFL Finals in four of the past five years but have failed to win a final since the Preliminary Final in 2021, with an Elimination Final exit to Fremantle their last final in 2022.

The ground advantage is in favour of the Hawks, which won’t please the Dogs fans who would take Marvel as their home ground any day of the week.

Liam Jones avoiding a suspension for his tackle against the Giants is brightening news for the Dogs, who will need every key defender in the side to combat the fast-scoring Hawks.

The biggest question in this game is how will the Hawks handle Finals pressure? They’re certainly capable of winning by no means, but finals are typically low scoring, full of contested possession, and won on moments rather than momentum.

If we dial it down statistically, the Dogs are leaders in the competition for inside 50s, so they are the masters of stoppage craft, which presents as the main challenge for the Hawks.

Earlier this season the Hawks beat the Dogs by seven points, clinical inside 50 with their efficiency whilst getting smashed in stoppages and clearances.

The Dogs turned it over quite a lot and if Hawthorn’s pressure matches, all of a sudden, things sway in their direction irrelevant of stoppage dominance.

Both forward lines are the topic of discussion, with the Dogs posing the tall timber in Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Aaron Naughton, and Tim English, while the Hawks are small and speedy, capitalsiing through the likes of Nick Watson, Dylan Moore, and Connor Macdonald, and Jack Ginnivan.

The wingman battles will be fascinating, especially on the wider MCG ground, you’d lean towards Massimo D’Ambrossio and Karl Amon given their experience on the ground compared to Ed Richards and Bailey Williams who are suited to a narrower Marvel Stadium.

Adam Treloar was reported to be in doubt early in pre-finals week, so if he is out there, he’ll be a bit injured at the least, so a lot of the load will be on Marcus Bontempelli and Tom Liberatore to force the offensive pressure.

A Hawthorn midfield of Jai Newcombe, Finn Maginness, and potentially Will Day is offensively loaded, but the inexperience in Finals is something the Hawks will have to contend with.

Given the rawness of the opportunity for Hawthorn, their biggest challenge may be absorbing the pressure early, but they’re often fast starters, and if they’re able to continue that trend, it could be over quite quickly.

Both sides are in ripping form, but sadly one has to go, and at the MCG where the Dogs have limited experience at this year, and a crowd that will likely favour the Hawks, stopping them has become a task not just physically demanding, but mentally.

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Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn Hawks Tip

Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn Hawks Teams

BULLDOGS

B: T.Duryea, L.Jones, J.O’Donnell

HB: L.Bramble, R.Lobb, B.Dale

C: E.Richards, A.Treloar, B.Williams

HF: J.Ugle-Hagan, A.Naughton, L.McNeil

F: C.Weightman, S.Darcy, L.Vandermeer

FOLL: T.English, M.Bontempelli – C, T.Liberatore

I/C: C.Daniel, J.Freijah, H.Gallagher, J.Harmes, J.Macrae

EMG: A.Jones, B.Khamis, R.West

IN: J.Harmes

OUT: A.Jones (Omitted)

HAWKS

B: J.Sicily – C, S.Frost, J.Impey

HB: M.D’Ambrosio, J.Scrimshaw, F.Maginness

C: C.Macdonald, D.Moore, J.Ward

HF: K.Amon, M.Chol, J.Ginnivan

F: C.Dear, J.Gunston, L.Breust

FOLL: L.Meek, J.Worpel, J.Newcombe

I/C: J.Weddle, H.Morrison, C.Nash, B.Hardwick, N.Watson

EMG: J.Serong, C.Jiath, N.Reeves

IN: J.Ward

OUT: C.Mackenzie (Injured)