hawthorn vs bulldogs opened at the MCG on Friday night with Bodie Ryan back in Hawthorn's team after Jack Gunston was sidelined. The 7.40pm AEST start came with both clubs trying to lock in their places near the top of the ladder.
Bodie Ryan back for Hawthorn
Ryan's recall was Hawthorn's clearest selection move. He came in as the Hawks chased a third straight win, after beating St Kilda with a defensive effort that kept the Saints goalless in the first half.
That form also carried another layer of pressure into Friday night. Hawthorn had won five consecutive games against the Western Bulldogs before this meeting, so the home side entered with recent history on its side as well as a two-game winning streak.
Western Bulldogs restore Cody Weightman
The Bulldogs answered with Cody Weightman's return, his first game since the 2024 elimination final. Lachie Jaques was dropped, leaving the selection change as a straight swap in impact rather than a broad reshuffle.
Weightman's return mattered because the Bulldogs had already been living on the edge in recent weeks. They had won three matches by under a kick in their past four games, including a win over Collingwood, and were trying to turn those tight finishes into a steadier run.
MCG form and ladder pressure
Friday's match sat inside a bigger push from both clubs. Hawthorn were chasing a top-four finish, while the Bulldogs were trying to prove their top-six credentials at a time when the ladder was tightening around them.
The Bulldogs also had a difficult stretch ahead, with the Hawks, Crows, Saints and Swans among the opponents in front of them, plus a bye in the mix. That makes the Hawthorn meeting more than a one-off test: it sits in the middle of a run that will shape how strongly they can hold their place in the upper reaches of the ladder.
