HAWTHORN is in the box seat to grab the final spot in the top eight after they shook off a dogged Essendon in a tight five-point win on Sunday.

Essendon dominated play in the final, soggy quarter, but with all but two players living inside 50, couldn't find a clear path to goal, despite various pleas for holding the ball and insufficient intent in the 3.7 (25) to 3.2 (20) result.

HAWKS V BOMBERS Full match coverage and stats

The Hawks' win, and losses to Adelaide and Fremantle earlier this weekend, means Daniel Webster's side can guarantee a finals spot if they beat West Coast next weekend.

While the rain wasn't overly heavy during the game, it was constant, and the ground had been exposed to 24 hours of wet conditions leading into the match, meaning long kicks and direct play were the order of the day.

That didn't faze Poppy Stockwell, who slotted truly tight on the boundary during the first term in an impressive showing of skill. Aine McDonagh quickly followed, and Essendon's bright start at the hands of Bonnie Toogood was wiped out.

The Bombers were down a player from quarter-time after Sophie Van De Heuvel suffered a concussion.

But Hawthorn struggled in front of goal, with two of its six first-half points hitting the post, and Essendon took full advantage of its chances, including a curling snap while falling backwards from Toogood, and a centre-square bomb from the boot of Maddi Gay.

It left the scores even at the main break, despite the Hawks holding a lead of 14 in the inside 50 count, and dominating the outside ball.

Maddy Prespakis and Jas Fleming were locked in an engaging battle throughout the match, but the Bomber didn't have enough support in the clinches, with Hawk Laura Stone particularly strong in the stoppages.

The Hawks may have gone goalless in the second term, but Stockwell kickstarted her side just 30 seconds into the second half.

Essendon's backline stood up remarkably well to the ball living in its defensive half of the ground in the third term, with Hawthorn having very few clear and easy paths to goal. The Bombers' biggest issue was transition, with the Hawks locking the ball in its preferred zone for most of the match.

The tables were turned in the fourth term, with Essendon owning the footy, but despite repeated efforts, they couldn't find the crucial goal, with both Steph Wales and Georgia Nanscawen sending shots wide.

The Hawks' road to November
Dan Webster's side is now four points clear in eighth spot, with West Coast in Perth to come. Should the Hawks lose that game, and Adelaide and/or Fremantle win its remaining match (against Melbourne at Unley Oval and Sydney at Cockburn ARC respectively), the last finals position will come down to percentage.

Wales v Wales
There was dinner on the line for the victor when Steph and Lucy Wales went head-to-head in the ruck for just the second time in their life – the first having come in their inaugural AFLW game in 2022. Steph has the height advantage over Lucy, and temporarily the power too, as the Hawk works her way back to full strength following her health battles, but Lucy's tap-work gave her the edge by a single hit-out. Steph had an opportunity to draw the Bombers back to one point in the fourth term, but her shot drifted wide.

HAWTHORN    2.4     2.6     3.7     3.7     (25)
ESSENDON      1.0     3.0     3.0     3.2     (20)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Stockwell 2, McDonagh
Essendon: Toogood 2, Gay

BEST
Hawthorn: Stone, West, Fleming, L.Wales, Stockwell, Williamson
Essendon: Prespakis, Nanscawen, Gaylor, Gay, Toogood

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Essendon: Van De Heuvel (concussion)

Crowd: 1,513 at the Kennedy Community Centre