The top 10 could be decided this afternoon as two key games shape the wild card places on the ladder.
GWS has a mathematical chance of taking 10th spot, but they must beat West Coast in Sydney — preferably by a percentage-boosting margin.
Even if the Giants are successful, Carlton can wrap things up with a victory at Docklands over a Western Bulldogs side without Marcus Bontempelli.
And as Round 23 comes to a conclusion, the Sydney Swans can lock in second spot on the ladder by beating Essendon at the MCG.
We also have four games to complete the opening round in the AFLW.
Follow all the action in our live blog.
Live updates
Pinned
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:27pm
AFL Sunday Scoreboard
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:59pm
Warning signs for the Giants
Ok, some alarm bells going here for GWS.
They are having problems stopping West Coast in attack.
They gave away a free for a hold on Tom Cole in the right forward pocket.
And Cole is proving to be an unlikely forward weapon. He slotted the goal (in addition to his two goal assists), and the Eagles lead by 16 points halfway through the quarter!
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:54pm
Eagles bag another goal to get an early break
This is a surprising start by West Coast, they are right on top of things at the minute.
They break down the right, and Tom Cole crosses it in, EPL winger-style as it lands with Milan Murdock.
Murdock’s set shot starts out right, but fades back in for the goal!
That’s West Coast’s third, and they lead by 11 points with 13 minutes on the clock in the opening term.
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:52pm
Frenetic pace at Sydney Showground
I’m not sure they can keep this up, but both sides are absolutely CHARGING at the ball right now.
The game is being played at breakneck pace, and there is no backing off the contests. It’s a solid start at Sydney Showground!
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:49pm
Liam Baker puts Eagles in front
This is good stuff from West Coast!
They are playing on with verve and energy, and making the Giants chase their tails.
The ball was surged forward, Liam Baker thumped it on over his head, then followed up in time to take the grab from a kick from the right side of 50.
He marked close in, and steered the ball home for West Coast’s second, as the visitors hit the front!
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:47pm
Jake Waterman answers for West Coast
All right, the Eagles HAVE lifted!
That was a serious passage of play, on the burst through the middle with the ball fast and low on the bounce to Liam Baker, who handballed to the onrushing Jake Waterman.
Waterman’s set-shot woes are well known, but the Eagles spearhead showed he is fine on the run, kicking it off the outside of the boot through for West Coast’s opening goal.
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:45pm
Harvey Thomas gets the opener for GWS
The Eagles had the better of the opening minute, sending the ball inside 50 and putting pressure on the Giants defence.
But it broke down, and GWS broke down the right, with Josaia Delana finding Aaron Cadman at half-forward, then Cadman switched it into the middle for Harvey Thomas to mark 40 out.
And Thomas converts the set shot, as GWS hits the early lead!
That was a bit too easy on the break for the Giants.
Key Event
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:41pm
We are underway at Sydney Showground
Here we go!
For the Eagles the motivation is to cause another upset and add to their four wins for the season. For the Giants, it may be an outside chance, but they are still possibles to make the wildcard round.
Can they get the fast start and build a big percentage-boosting lead? We’re about to find out.
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:39pm
Marcus Bontempelli managed
Why isn’t the Bont playing? I missed this one sorry
– Eunice
Eunice,
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has decided to manage Marcus Bontempelli and rest him for today, given the Bulldogs have already locked in a spot in the wildcard round.
Key Event
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:38pm
Here’s how the AFL ladder stands
Tenth spot on the ladder comes down to three teams.
St Kilda has already played and won – they are a game behind Carlton with better percentage.
GWS are two games behind with two to play – they HAVE to win, and their percentage is not as good as either Carlton or the Saints, so they have to win by a lot.
And the Blues can stop all this speculation with a win later on over the Bulldogs – that would lock in the top 10.
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:37pm
Recent results between GWS and West Coast
- R10, 2026: West Coast by 17 (Perth Stadium)
- R17, 2025: GWS by 59 (Perth Stadium)
- R4, 2025: GWS by 81 (Sydney Showground)
- R2, 2024: GWS by 65 (Perth Stadium)
- R2, 2023: West Coast by 19 (Perth Stadium)
- R10, 2022: GWS by 52 (Sydney Showground)
The early days of this match-up were, as you might expect, heavily favouring West Coast, who won nine of the first 12 outings.
Since then, however, it has gone the other way with the Giants winning five of the last seven.
A quick scan of the results shows that when it’s close the Eagles seem to come out on top, but when GWS has their day, it’s usually a BIG day.
If the Giants are to have a chance of keeping their season alive, then they need one of those really big days to boost their percentage (before hoping Carlton loses later).
Key Event
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:32pm
Late change for Giants against Eagles
UPDATE: There IS a late change after all that, with the Giants losing Toby Bedford right before the game. he is replaced by Conor Stone.
There are no late changes for either team, and you can catch up on both line-ups above.
Both initial changes for the Giants from last week are enforced, with Xavier O’Halloran out with a hamstring issue, and Jayden Laverde missing with a punctured lung.
Into the side come Toby McMullin and Cody Angove.
For the Eagles, Bo Allan is being managed. Into the side comes Hamish Davis.
Key Event
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:25pm
The end of THAT draw from last night at the MCG
I’m not sure any of us can cope with more drama after last night’s incredible draw between Hawthorn and Collingwood.
I do know I’m glad that our own Chris De Silva has some downtime today after keeping everyone entertained on last night’s blog of that amazing finish.
If you want to hear how the ABC broadcast covered the dramatic finish, you can check out Clint Wheeldon’s excellent call above.
Key Event
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:12pm
Welcome to Sunday footy
Hello, good afternoon and welcome to ABC’s live online coverage of the conclusion of round 23 of the AFL.
There are only 12 games left in the home-and-away season, three of them today — and by the end of today we could have a couple of major questions answered, or we could finish the weekend none the wiser, depending on results!
First up we go to Sydney Showground, where GWS hosts West Coast. The Giants are well behind the eight ball and will need everything to go their way to wedge their way into wildcard calculations, starting with a big win at home.
Then comes the big one of the day, with the Western Bulldogs taking on Carlton at Docklands without their biggest name, as the Blues seek the win that would clinch a spot in the wildcard round and lock in the teams that will make up the top 10.
Finally we head to the MCG for a twilight conclusion to the round, as Essendon takes on Sydney with the Bombers seeking a third win of the year and the Swans looking to lock up second spot and two home finals.
We also have four games in the AFLW, beginning with Essendon vs Brisbane and Adelaide vs Sydney. Then later we’ll have Fremantle vs Port Adelaide before GWS vs West Coast wraps things up.
My name is Andrew McGarry, and I’m delighted to bring you all the action on this Sunday of footy.
Let’s jump in!
Timeline
-
AFL Sunday Scoreboard
Pinned
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:27pm
-
Warning signs for the Giants
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:59pm
-
Eagles bag another goal to get an early break
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:54pm
-
Frenetic pace at Sydney Showground
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:52pm
-
Liam Baker puts Eagles in front
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:49pm
-
Jake Waterman answers for West Coast
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:47pm
-
Harvey Thomas gets the opener for GWS
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:45pm
-
We are underway at Sydney Showground
Key Event
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:41pm
-
Marcus Bontempelli managed
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:39pm
-
Here’s how the AFL ladder stands
Key Event
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:38pm
-
Recent results between GWS and West Coast
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:37pm
-
Late change for Giants against Eagles
Key Event
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:32pm
-
The end of THAT draw from last night at the MCG
Key Event
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:25pm
-
Welcome to Sunday footy
Key Event
Sun 16 Aug 2026 at 1:12pm
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