Hawks climb to third on ladder after dominant 70-point MCG victory

Nick Smart, Scott Spits and Ed Jackson

Updated July 19, 2026 — 6:26pm,first published 4:18pm

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Remove items from your saved list to add more.

In today’s AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:

Western Bulldogs heaped more pressure on Gold Coast with a nine-point win.

Hawthorn dined out on lowly Richmond at the MCG on Sunday.

Carlton forward Harry McKay suffered bone bruising and a minor tear in his meniscus against Collingwood.

Bombers young gun Caddy goes to hospital

Young Essendon star Nate Caddy has been sent to hospital due to an elevated heart-rate in the Bombers’ clash with GWS.

Caddy, who recently re-signed until the end of 2031 in a massive boost for the battling Bombers, didn’t return to the ground after quarter-time.

Essendon football boss Daniel McPherson was seen engaged in serious conversations with medical staff on the bench while Caddy was assessed in the rooms underneath Marvel Stadium.

Advertisement

Fox Footy reported that Caddy had been sent to hospital.

The 21-year-old was soon ruled out with illness in the second quarter, with Essendon later detailing the heart issues.

The Bombers, who have won just one of their past 30 games, started the match brightly and led the Giants at quarter-time and halftime.

AAP

Advertisement

Bontempelli stars for Dogs, Gold Coast lose eight straight

The Western Bulldogs have heaped more pressure on Gold Coast with a nine-point win over the Suns at People First Stadium.

A five-goals-to-none third quarter was the game-breaker after an arm wrestle of a first half in blustery conditions as the Bulldogs ran out 11.11 (77) to 9.14 (68) winners on Sunday.

The defeat extends Gold Coast’s losing run to eight matches and leaves their outside hopes of a top 10 finish seemingly extinguished. Victory lifted the Bulldogs to seventh on the ladder.

Advertisement

In a team shorn of Tom Liberatore (soreness) and Riley Garcia (hamstring tightness) and missing Bailey Dale for the first time since 2020, superstar Marcus Bontempelli was a standout.

The Bulldogs’ captain ended the game with three goals, 23 disposals, four tackles and five clearances.

Matthew Kennedy was the other multiple goalkicker for the visitors, with three, while Bailey Humphrey was busy with 29 disposals and 765 metres gained.

For the Suns, Christian Petracca and Leo Lombard kicked two goals each while Touk Miller (39 disposals, five tackles, nine clearances) and Matt Rowell (26 disposals, 11 tackles and eight clearances) were strong in a beaten team.

Suns spearhead Ben King had a tough day, kicking 1.4 and failing to haul in a late mark that could have set up a grandstand finish.

Advertisement

AAP

Watson and Lewis pile on goals as Hawthorn destroy lowly Tigers

Hawthorn have returned to third on the AFL ladder with a major percentage boost thanks to a brutal 70-point demolition of lowly Richmond at the MCG.

The Hawks went into the clash sitting sixth after other results this weekend, but their 18.14 (122) to 6.16 (52) thrashing of the Tigers made a major statement and lifted them back into the top four.

Sunday’s final margin flattered Richmond after they kicked several late consolation goals once Hawthorn eased off in the final term.

Advertisement

They had led by as much as 87 points during the third quarter.

Uncontracted Hawk Mitch Lewis dominated up forward with five goals, all in the first half.

Goalsneak Nick Watson matched him by also kicking five goals in a stunning first-half performance.

The only injury concern for the Hawks was Jack Ginnivan, who was pulled at half-time with the club citing “back soreness.”

Advertisement

For Richmond, it was a sour way to commemorate triple premiership player Dion Prestia’s 250th game.

The only positive was veteran Tom Lynch finally kicking his 500th goal late in the final term after several weeks stuck on 499.

Tiger Taj Hotton failed to finish the game after suffering an ankle injury, while fellow youngster Steely Green finished the match under a HIA.

Watson, who was back from a two-week injury lay-off, picked up where he left off by kicking the first goal mid-way through the first term after a pedestrian start by both teams.

Advertisement

He was able to slot a second goal in the opening quarter but was upstaged by a rampaging Lewis, who kicked three in the first 30 minutes.

Lewis would have had four goals by quarter-time had his set shot after the siren not narrowly missed.

But Lewis didn’t have to wait too long for his fourth – which came early in the second term – on his way to five majors.

The hapless Tigers went goalless in the first term, and were cruelly denied what would have been a brilliant Seth Campbell goal late in the term by an ARC overrule.

Richmond supporters had to wait until the ninth minute of the second quarter to cheer their side’s first major, which came courtesy of Patrick Retschko.

Advertisement

The Tigers had two in a minute after Mykelti Lefau kicked truly, but any joy was short-lived as Hawthorn piled on the next six.

Hawthorn led by a whopping 63 points at the main break, their largest halftime lead in five seasons under coach Sam Mitchell.

The Hawks threatened to blow the margin beyond 100 points in the third term before the Tigers were able to make the scoreline more respectable by the final siren.

AAP

Advertisement

McKay could play through injury for Carlton

Scott Spits, Danny Russell

Carlton forward Harry McKay suffered bone bruising and a minor tear in his meniscus after an awkward clash that commentators described as innocuous-looking against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday night.

Scans on Sunday confirmed the prognosis for McKay, who was forced from the field early in the Blues’ 21-point loss to the Magpies that has effectively ruled Carlton out of the wildcard race.

McKay bumped knees with teammate Sam Walsh early in the first quarter. Despite the benign nature of the impact, McKay was unable to run and took himself from the ground.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Fox Footy commentator David King was perplexed by McKay’s injury. “No one is questioning whether he is injured or not,” he said.

“We are just wondering if it is a pain issue or is it a structural issue. When it has such an influence on the group, it changes six or seven roles in the team, and they were right in the game.”

Collingwood coach Craig McRae agreed McKay’s absence for most of the night aided an undermanned Magpies back line.

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Remove items from your saved list to add more.

More:

AFL 2026

Hawthorn Hawks

Richmond Tigers

Click here to read article