2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

Round 5 (Gather Round)

Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs
Saturday 11 April | 7:35pm AEST (7:05 ACST)
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide • Kaurna
Broadcast: Kayo/Fox Footy (check your local broadcast guide)

The undefeated Bulldogs are heading to Adelaide Oval to take on the Hawks in the AFL's annual Gather Round... A Festival of Footy!

Tickets

Don’t miss your chance to Get In On It at 2026 AFL Gather Round – while tickets for our match are now sold out, limited tickets remain across the round, including Hawthorn v Bulldogs, along with your final chance to experience The Pepsi Collective (18+) at Adelaide Oval. Secure your tickets now via Ticketek! 

Should any ticket returns become available for our game, Bulldogs members with access entitlements to Gather Round, you can purchase a discounted ticket -one per Gather Round barcode - to attend our match (subject to availability).

Gather Round barcodes can be found in an email sent from the club to eligible members on March 30, 2026.

Macca's Footy Festival

Bulldogs Giveaways

The Club will be at the Live site with the 2016 premiership cup from 3pm on Saturday, come and grab a photo or score a heap of giveawys to show off the red white and blue on your way to the game.

Located at Elder Park, the 2026 Macca’s Footy Festival will run from Thursday 9 April until Sunday 12 April. The four-day festival will be full of free activities and entertainment for all ages: 

• Fireworks Show – Halftime at Thursday Night’s Game
• Zip Line – everyday at the Play Zone, 10am to 7pm, subject to booking.
• Live Music –locatedat the main stage across Thursday, Friday, Saturday  
• Fun for the Kids – games, styling, roving performer’s,kidsentertainment and NEW AFL26 playing station  
• Sunday Morning surprise visit from Bluey!

Plus Top the Torrens, big screen game highlights, player appearances and signings, and lots more!

The Club will be at the Live site with the 2016 premiership cup from 3pm on Saturday, come and grab a photo or score a heap of giveawys to show off the red white and blue on your way to the game.

Click here for more info

Ball In The Mall

Located in Rundle Mall, just beside the giant gold inflatable Sherrin! 

The four-zone activation features accessible activities; Trickshot Arena, Interactive arcade games, Styling Bar and music. Get In On It. 

For more, including player appearances visit https://www.afl.com.au/gather-round/event-day-guide 

Run 4 Your Club 

This Gather Round, fans don’t just cheer. They compete. 

Join Run 4 Your Club, a 4km run or walk where supporters from all 18 AFL clubs battle for off-field bragging rights. 

• Elder Park, Adelaide 
• 8am ACST, Saturday April 11 
• Run or walk 4km 
• $10 entry 
• Sign up, wear your colours and help us climb the leaderboard.
• Join the Western Bulldogs team on Strava here

Register now via Ticketek 

Where to catch us at Gather Round

See below for your guide to all Bulldogs-related activities and training sessions this weekend. Please note that times are subject to change.

NEED HELP ON MATCH DAY? 

To contact us before match day:

• 📆 Monday – Friday, 10 AM – 4 PM
• 📧 membership@westernbulldogs.com.au
• 📞 1300 46 36 47

2026 Gather Round

Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs
Saturday 11 April, 7:35pm AEST 
Adelaide Oval, SA • Kaurna
Broadcast: Kayo/Fox Footy (check your local broadcast guide)

LAST MEETING

Round 13, 2025
Western Bulldogs 8.11 (59) def. by Hawthorn 12.9 (81)

The Bulldogs were outclassed by the Hawks in a Thursday night clash at Marvel Stadium. Fresh off the bye, the Dogs were unable to claw back the deficit after conceding a 24-point lead heading into the main break. 

Midfielders Matthew Kennedy and Ed Richards continued their impressive run of form in 2025, finishing with 29 and 25 disposals respectively, while also hitting the scoreboard with one goal each.

A versatile Rory Lobb was crucial for the Dogs, able to make an impact in defence before moving forward to register eight marks and kick an important goal in the third quarter.

THE LINE-UP

WHAT IT MEANS

The Western Bulldogs (4-0) are the last side to remain undefeated for the first time since 1961 after they blew Essendon away early and then putting the cue in the rack with tougher challenges to come. The Bombers perhaps gave hints of how other sides can slow the Dogs down, as they tried to make uncontested possession harder to obtain, though the clash with the in-form Hawks will give the ladder leaders a better idea of where they are at.

GAME SHAPER

Sam Darcy has not had everything go his way even as the Bulldogs have made a mouthwatering start to the season as the young key forward has come in for extra attention from the opposition and booted 10 goals from the opening four matches. The 22-year-old threatened to tear the Bombers apart before Ben McKay clamped down on him after the main break, but Darcy might have a point to prove against the Hawks in his 50th match.