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The 2025 AFL AAMI Community Series continues on Thursday, February 27th, with the Hawthorn Hawks taking on the Western Bulldogs at University of Tasmania Stadium.
Hawthorn was one of the biggest stories of the 2024 AFL Season, making an impressive run to the semi-finals after finishing 7th on the ladder with a 14-9 record. Despite their strong campaign, their season ended in heartbreak with a narrow 75-72 loss to Port Adelaide. Now, they’ll be looking to build on that success in 2025.
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, have undergone some changes, parting ways with a few out-of-favour senior players while also dealing with injuries to key members of their squad. They finished with the same 14-9 record as Hawthorn but were eliminated in the first week of finals with a disappointing 99-62 loss to the Hawks.
Both teams are coming off match simulation losses last week—Hawthorn fell 106-86 to Geelong, while the Bulldogs were beaten 77-58 by Essendon. With both sides eager to fine-tune their lineups ahead of the season, this should be an intriguing preseason clash.
Here is a Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs Prediction for Thursday, February 27th 2025.
Be sure to check back before each AFL Match for AFL Tips, AFL Predictions, AFL Picks, AFL Previews, and AFL Quick Facts for each match of the 2025 AFL Season.
Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs
Venue – University of Tasmania Stadium
Bouncedown – 5.20pm EST
2024 Season Record
| Team | W-L | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawthorn | 14-9 | 8-3 | 6-6 |
| Western Bulldogs | 14-9 | 7-5 | 7-4 |
2024 Season Scoring
| Team | Pts | Opp Pts | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawthorn | 90.9 | 76.6 | 167.5 |
| Western Bulldogs | 94.4 | 75.5 | 169.9 |
Quick Game Facts
- The Hawks finished the 2024 AFL season strong, winning 12 of their last 15 games, including finals.
- Hawthorn has had the upper hand in recent clashes, winning 3 of the last 4 matchups against the Bulldogs.
Prediction
The Hawks finished last season like a freight train and now face a Bulldogs side that may not be 100% fit by Round 1. The Dogs have several star players unavailable, while the Hawks have strengthened their defence with the additions of Tom Barrass and Josh Battle. The Hawks should come away with the win.
For predictions of some of the other AAMI Community Preseason clashes, check out some of the posts below.