The Western Bulldogs have fallen to a fired-up Hawthorn by 22 points in a highly anticipated clash at Marvel Stadium.

An important game for the Dogs coming off the bye, the team was outclassed by the Hawks and unable to find a consistent rhythm throughout the match.

00:34

AFL R13 | Richards races onto scene and buries a beauty

Ed Richards receives a slick handball from Ryley Sanders and drills a ripper for the Dogs.

While it was a close contest at times, the Dogs were unable to claw back the deficit after conceding a 24-point lead heading into the first 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.

00:32

AFL R13 | "As good as you’ll see this year" O'Donnell's fearless mark

James O’Donnell earns all the praise after reeling in a courageous grab with Jack Ginnivan bearing down.

With Lobb shifting into attack, James O'Donnell stood tall in the backline, with the young defender continuing to showcase his ability to read the play well and disrupt the Hawks' repeat entries with a game-high 10 intercept marks.

Speaking following the game, Senior Coach Luke Beveridge credited the Hawks on their ability to bring the pressure while acknowledging the Dogs' need to respond better to the opposition. 

“When you’re discussing what is required and what is going to unfold in the game, everyone knew—off the back of some bad press and scrutiny over a period of time—that they were going to find a way in the contested and pressure stakes. And they did, so they get credit for that," the coach said following the game

“We knew we were going to have to work our way through it. I think that was a problem for a fair portion of the game. When we actually got out, we put it back into pressure. And when we got out, we didn’t use the ball particularly well.

“They had us in a stranglehold, and the times we looked like maybe we’d break out of it, they got us back in it.

“We’re half-and-half, six and six, and we know that’s part of our game that needs to improve for larger portions of the game.”

The Bulldogs will regroup ahead of next Thursday night’s clash with St Kilda.

Match Summary: 

WESTERN BULLDOGS   1.2    4.5    7.7      8.11 (59)
HAWTHORN                  5.2    8.4    10.5    12.9 (81)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Vandermeer 2, Richards, Kennedy, Harmes, Williams, Lobb, Khamis
Hawthorn: Chol 4, Ginnivan 2, Weddle, Nash, Newcombe, Macdonald, Gunston, Impey

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Richards, Freijah, Dale, O'Donnell, Kennedy, Lobb
Hawthorn: Newcombe, Chol, Meek, Weddle, Ginnivan, Ward, Hardwick

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Hawthorn: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Josh Dolan (replaced Lachie McNeil in the third quarter)
Hawthorn: Changkuoth Jiath (replaced James Worpel in the third quarter)

Crowd: 35,725 at Marvel Stadium