The final match of the AFL home and away season takes place in Perth with West Coast hosting Hawthorn. The Hawks will be chasing a triple-figure winning margin to jump into third spot on the ladder, which is a huge ask but certainly not out of the realm of possibility.
We bring you our full preview and expert tips for the Swans vs North below, with odds thanks to UniBet!
West Coast vs Hawthorn Prediction & Betting Tips: AFL 2026 Round 24
Hawthorn Chasing a Mega Percentage Boost
Hawthorn travels to Perth for the final match of the 2026 home and away season with a very specific assignment on their hands. Brisbane's Friday night demolition of Collingwood blew the top four percentage gap wide open, meaning Sam Mitchell's side needs to dish out a thrashing in the range of 15 to 16 goals to snatch third spot. Motivation will be sky high across the board, with beloved veteran Jack Gunston celebrating his 300th AFL match alongside Mitch Lewis and Lloyd Meek both bringing up their 100th career games. While Jack Ginnivan misses out due to back soreness, young Hawk Jack Dalton earns his opportunity in an attack that will be instructed to score fast and often.
Eagles Facing a Tough Final Assignment
West Coast returns to Optus Stadium for their final appearance of a gruelling 2026 campaign, looking to put up a brave showing in front of their home fans. The Eagles have struggled to stem the tide against top-tier opposition in recent weeks, coming off a 54-point loss to GWS where their backline was subjected to relentless forward entries. Facing an opponent that is actively incentivised to run up the score makes this an incredibly tough assignment for Andrew McQualter's young group.
Recent History and Tactical Matchup
While travelling to Perth can sometimes present a banana skin, Hawthorn's aggressive style of play is well-suited to the wide expanses of Optus Stadium. The tactical setup will revolve around Hawthorn's midfield establishing absolute stoppage dominance through Meek and feeding their elite running players. If Hawthorn can win clean footy at the coalface and transition rapidly into open space, West Coast's inexperienced defensive unit will simply be overwhelmed. The Eagles lack the firepower to win a high-scoring shootout, so their best chance of staying competitive relies on making the contest messy around the ground.
Match Prediction and Best Bet
Rarely does a team head into Round 24 with a clear mandate to attack for a full four quarters regardless of the scoreboard, but that is exactly the position Hawthorn finds itself in. The Hawks will not be taking their foot off the gas at any point on Sunday as they hunt every single point of percentage. Driven by the emotion of Gunston's 300th milestone and boasting far superior midfield depth, Hawthorn should dominate territory from the outset and put on an absolute clinic to cover the margin.
Hawthorn -51.5
$1.91 (1 Unit)
West Coast vs Hawthorn Prop Bet
Jack Gunston lines up for game 300 on Sunday in what should be a big win for his Hawks. He’ll get a few more kicks directed his way than usual and should absolutely fill his boots. He also kicked four against the Eagles last time, and six against them three starts back.
Jack Gunston 4+ Goals
$1.98
West Coast vs Hawthorn Same Game Multi
Jack Gunston 4+ Goals: For the reasons highlighted above in our prop bet.
Jake Waterman 2+ Goals: His inaccuracy in front of goal this season has been well documented, but he’s still managed to kick 2+ goals in his last three matches.
Jai Newcombe 25+ Disposals: He’s averaging 26.3 disposals this season and 28 over the past month. He should dominate this midfield battle.
West Coast vs Hawthorn Match Info & Betting Odds
Date: Sunday, 23rd August
Time: 7:20pm AEST
Location: Optus Stadium, Perth
Odds: West Coast $11 vs Hawthorn $1.04
Line: +51.5
Points: 185.5
Where to Watch West Coast vs Hawthorn
You can watch the Eagles vs Hawks live and ad-free on Kayo Sports.
Back in our 2026 AFL Tips at UniBet!
Not familiar with UniBet? Check out our full UniBet review here, or by clicking the banner below.
