HAWTHORN will play finals for the third straight season after locking away eighth spot with a 55-point win against West Coast, with the Hawks taking red-hot form into the post-season after kicking their highest-ever score in a Halloween feast on Saturday night. 

The Hawks kicked five unanswered goals in the second quarter to set up the 14.10 (94) to 6.3 (39) win at Sullivan Logistics Stadium and then powered away late as they prepare now for an elimination final against either Carlton, Sydney or Gold Coast.

EAGLES V HAWKS Full match details and stats

The ultra impressive win locked away the top eight for 2026, ending the finals hopes of Fremantle and Adelaide before their matches against Sydney and Melbourne respectively on Sunday.  

It was also a warning shot for the Hawks' final opponents, with coach Daniel Webster's team dominating clearances (33-19) and inside 50s (52-19) and bringing ferocious pressure to prevent West Coast from getting any flow in its game. 

The Eagles were put on the back foot early by a game-ending knee injury to superstar midfielder Ella Roberts, with the 21-year-old going down in pain after planting her right foot in the opening minutes, requiring the help of trainers to exit the game. 

The club will now sweat on scans for the talented playmaker, whose absence was telling in the engine room as Hawthorn stars Eliza West (25 disposals and 14 clearances) and Lucy Wales (27 and 27 hitouts) took control of the game.  

In attack, Aine McDonagh booted three goals and took an equal lead in the AFLW goalkicking with Geelong's Jacqueline Parry with 26 goals, with Sydney's Chloe Molloy (24) trailing ahead of Sunday's game against Fremantle. 

Poppy Stockwell (three goals) was electric in attack for the Hawks, while Jasmine Fleming and Tamara Smith were creative in the front half in an otherwise even and deep team performance. 

For the Eagles, Lucia Painter (23 and seven clearances) stepped up in the midfield, while Kellie Gibson (16 and two goals) and Kayla Dalgleish (14 and nine contested possessions) battled hard all day. 

Belinda Smith retired and left the game through a guard of honour, leaving her mark on the game with a courageous grab in the first quarter. 

Hawthorn took control of the game from the opening ball-up, dominating stoppages and field position and going inside 50 the first eight times of the game before McDonagh's opening goal. 

WA product Stockwell followed up with another from 40m before the Eagles responded with their best period for the game, kicking back-to-back goals through Keeley Skeeper and Gibson to cut the margin to two points at the first break. 

The Hawks made their move in the second quarter, dominating clearances (9-4), flexing their muscle in the contest, and kicking five unanswered goals as the Eagles unravelled. 

McDonagh and Stockwell were heavily involved again, while Jacqueline Dupuy and Daisy Flockart booted goals from inside 50 stoppages as the visitors extended their lead to 36 points at the main break. 

The third term was more even as the Eagles lifted their pressure and physicality, going goal for goal with the Hawks as Skepper and Gibson created opportunities and converted for the Eagles. 

The fourth term became about how many goals McDonagh could land, missing a pair of opportunities after taking an equal lead in the AFLW goalkicking.   

Next up 
Hawthorn is locked into eighth spot and a third straight finals berth, with the team now waiting on results on Sunday to find out who it will play in an away elimination final. Carlton, which knocked the Hawks out in a semifinal last year, is a potential opponent, along with interstate trips to face Sydney or Gold Coast. The Eagles' season is over, missing finals after a 4-8 campaign that started with four straight losses.  

WEST COAST      2.0    2.0    5.3      6.3 (39)    
HAWTHORN       2.2    7.6    10.7    14.10 (94)
 
GOALS 
West Coast: Gibson 2, Skepper 2, Franklin, Shannon
Hawthorn: Stockwell 3, McDonagh 3, Antony 2, Dupuy 2, Allen, Fleming, Flockart, Martin
 
BEST 
West Coast: Painter, Gibson, Dalgleish, Skepper, Thomas 
Hawthorn: West, McDonagh, Stockwell, Wales, Fleming, Ashmore   
 
INJURIES
West Coast: Roberts (knee) 
Hawthorn: Nil 
 
Crowd: 1284 at Sullivan Logistics Stadium