Who: Hawthorn Hawks vs Brisbane Lions
Where: MCG
When: Saturday 24 May at 4:15pm (local)
Gates Open:
MCC Reserve – 2:00pm
AFL Reserve and Public – 2:30pm

Weekly Notices  
We will have a Pop-up shop at the MCG! Make sure to head there early and grab your Indigenous guernsey! 

Tickets

Tickets → Tickets are still on sale here.

General Admission Areas at the MCG:

General Admission seating is on Level 4 of the MCG

Around the Ground

Lion Shop & Member HQ → Outside Gate 2 from 2:30pm until end of half time

The MCG Multi-Faith Prayer Room is open to all patrons → Located on Level B1 of the Shane Warne Stand (at approximately M13), the room is able to cater for more than 50 patrons at one time and is suitable for patrons of all faiths including Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Hindu.

A sensory-friendly space, presented by the MCC Foundation → Now open throughout all MCG events. It is located within the Australian Sports Museum on Level 1 (inside Gate 3, behind bay M51).
For more information regarding access and inclusion, please refer to the MCG website.

How to get to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)

Address → Brunton Ave, Richmond VIC 3002

Parking at the MCG or in Yarra Park → For the most up to date parking information in Yarra Park, refer to the MCG website. Please note that the MCC have implemented a small price increase to $15 as of Round 1, 2025. Yarra Park parking for disability permit holders can be pre-booked via Ticketek. Click here for alternative parking options close to the MCG.

Public Transport → We strongly encourage fans to take public transport to the game. For up-to-date information on your train line and upcoming disruptions, please visit https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/.

Broadcast

Watch → Free to air on 7Mate or stream on 7plus, Fox Footy, Kayo, or AFL Live Official App from 4pm.

REIGNING premier Brisbane has broken a 21-year hoodoo, defeating Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday by 33 points.

It’s the first time the Lions have beaten the Hawks at the home of footy since 2004, and they did so convincingly, 14.9 (93) to Hawthorn’s 8.12 (60) in front of a crowd of 57,919.

HAWKS v LIONS Full match coverage and stats

A seven-goal-to-two second-quarter separated the two sides, when Lions midfielders Lachie Neale (32 disposals, five clearances), Will Ashcroft (26 disposals and a goal) and Hugh McCluggage (24 disposals, 11 clearances) gained ascendancy over their Hawthorn opponents. 

The Lions' midfield dominance gave their forwards plenty of supply, with small forwards Callum Ah Chee (four goals), Charlie Cameron (three goals) and Cam Rayner (two goals) all kicking multiple goals.

Former Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko was once again in formidable form, finishing the game with a game-high 33 disposals and a whopping 996m gained.

It was a tight, low-scoring affair to begin with, with both teams finding it difficult to score. The visitors were slightly more efficient when heading inside 50 and it was young star forward Logan Morris who was the beneficiary kicking two consecutive goals to start the game.

But shortly after the Hawks got on the board with two of their own, through athletic utility Josh Weddle and Connor Macdonald.

An unusual unforced error by the normally skilful Zorko gifted fellow veteran Blake Hardwick a goal, making it three for the Hawks for the term as they headed into the first break with a four-point lead.

But from there it was all Brisbane’s way as its midfield lifted. McCluggage, Ashcroft and Neale started to get on top around the ball, winning clearances and contested possession.

Their dominance got the ball moving forward quickly, allowing their small forwards to get dangerous and leaving Hawthorn defenders scrambling to find their opponents.

Callum Ah Chee hit the scoreboard twice in the quarter before dangerous forward Charlie Cameron kicked three in a hurry, giving the Lions breathing space with a 23-point lead at the main break.

The Hawks came out with renewed energy after half-time, but a missed set shot by James Worpel was quickly followed by a running goal to Brisbane’s Cam Rayner, taking the wind out of the Hawks' sails.

Finally, after five consecutive Brisbane goals, Hawthorn midfielder Connor Nash - today playing his first game since his Easter Monday suspension - broke the flurry of Brisbane goals to kick the Hawks' first for the second half

But a third goal to Ah Chee meant the Hawks had only slightly reduced the margin to 21 at the final break.

In a case of deja vu, Rayner kicked the important first goal of the quarter, making an already difficult task even more so for the Hawks.

Hawthorn captain James Siciliy’s day went from bad to worse when direct opponent Ah Chee caught the defender holding the ball, giving the forward his fourth goal and the Lions a game-high lead of 32 points.

Will Ashcroft put the game well and truly out of reach when he scored his first goal midway through the final term. From there, Brisbane held on to walk away 33-point winners in a statement victory.

Where’s Weddle?
Hawthorn’s Josh Weddle puts the ‘u’ in utility. If he’s not in the backline, he’s taking hangers on the wing. If he’s not in the forward line, he’s in the ruck. The athletic number 23 was everywhere today, bringing some joy to Hawks fans on what was otherwise a tough outing.

Fagan joins the 200 club
Today’s game marked the 200th game for Brisbane coach Chris Fagan. Fagan became the 46th person to reach the milestone and the game conveniently came against the Hawks, the club where he spent many years as an administrator. Fagan becomes the oldest person to reach the milestone and he will no doubt be pleased with his side's performance on his special day.

HAWTHORN       3.1   5.4   7.8      8.12 (60)
BRISBANE          2.3   9.3   11.5    14.9 (93) 

GOALS
Hawthorn: Macdonald 3, Weddle, Hardwick, Nash, Ginnivan, Moore
Brisbane: Ah Chee 4, Cameron 3, Morris 2, Rayner 2, L. Ashcroft, Bailey, W. Ashcroft

BEST
Hawthorn: Macdonald, Weddle, Battle, Morrison, Barrass, Worpel
Brisbane: Neale, McCluggage, Ah Chee, W. Ashcroft, Zorko, Cameron

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Brisbane: Nil

LATE CHANGES
Hawthorn: Jarman Impey (personal reasons) replaced in selected side by Finn Maginness
Brisbane: None

SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Finn Maginness (replaced Cam McKenzie in the third quarter)
Brisbane: Deven Robertson (replaced Logan Morris in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: 57,919 at the MCG