Hawthorn Chases Top-Four Finish and Percentage Boost in High-Stakes Clash Against West Coast

The 2026 AFL home-and-away season draws to a dramatic close this Sunday evening at Optus Stadium, where the West Coast Eagles will host the Hawthorn Hawks in a clash that carries massive finals implications. While the Eagles are looking to salvage pride at the end of a gruelling campaign, the Hawks arrive in Perth with their eyes firmly fixed on a top-four finish and the crucial double chance in September.[1]

Hawthorn enters Round 24 sitting fourth on the ladder, boasting a formidable record of 14 wins, two draws, and six losses. A victory against the 16th-placed Eagles will lock in a top-four berth, but coach Sam Mitchell’s squad has an even bigger prize in their sights. If they can engineer a colossal victory, the Hawks have a mathematical chance of leapfrogging the Brisbane Lions to snatch third place.[1][3]

To achieve that ladder jump, Hawthorn must overcome a 4.4 percent gap. Analysts calculate that this will require a winning margin of anywhere between 80 and 110 points, depending on West Coast's final score. This unique scenario means the Hawks cannot afford to simply win the game and rest their stars; they are heavily incentivised to keep their foot on the accelerator until the final siren.[3][4]

Beyond the ladder permutations, Sunday’s match is a monumental occasion for the Hawthorn Football Club. Veteran forward Jack Gunston will run out for his 300th AFL game, adding another chapter to a decorated career that includes three premierships. The milestone adds an emotional undercurrent to the fixture, with teammates eager to honor Gunston's legacy with a dominant performance.[1]

The celebrations do not end with Gunston. Key forward Mitch Lewis and dominant ruckman Lloyd Meek will both notch their 100th AFL games. Meek, in particular, will be looking to replicate his monstrous 57-hitout performance from the last time these two sides met in 2025, a game Hawthorn won comfortably by 50 points.[1]

For the West Coast Eagles, the 2026 season has been another rebuilding year, yielding just four wins against 18 losses. However, playing in front of a loyal home crowd at Optus Stadium provides the perfect stage to finish the year on a positive note. Senior coach Andrew McQualter has urged his side to throw everything at the Hawks and embrace the opportunity to play spoiler.[2]

The Eagles will have to navigate the challenge without co-captain Liam Duggan, who was ruled out of the final team late in the week due to soreness. Emerging talent Bo Allan has been called up to replace him, joining a lineup that still features dangerous weapons. Forward Jake Waterman has been a beacon of consistency at home, kicking at least three goals in seven consecutive appearances at Optus Stadium.[2][3]

The tactical dynamic of the match promises to be fascinating. Because Hawthorn needs a massive percentage boost, they are expected to adopt an ultra-aggressive, attacking game style. While this opens up scoring opportunities for the Hawks, it also leaves them vulnerable on the counter-attack, potentially playing into the hands of West Coast's forwards.[3][7]

Fantasy sports analysts and betting markets are predicting a high-scoring shootout. Recent history at Optus Stadium suggests the scoreboard will be busy; Collingwood and West Coast combined for 215 points at the venue just two weeks ago. With Hawthorn throwing caution to the wind in pursuit of third place, fans can expect an open, fast-paced contest to close out the regular season.[3][5]

As the sun sets on the 2026 home-and-away campaign, the narrative at Optus Stadium is perfectly poised. Whether it is Hawthorn executing a ruthless percentage-boosting masterclass to honor their milestone men, or West Coast digging deep to defend their home turf, the final match of Round 24 promises to deliver compelling football.[1][2][6]