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Live: Hawks and Lions face off for grand final spot to face Dockers

Read the original at ABC News (AU) ↗
Cite

Silva, C. D. (2026, September 19). Live: Hawks and Lions face off for grand final spot to face Dockers. ABC News (AU). https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-19/afl-prelim-final-hawthorn-hawks-brisbane-lions-live-blog/107165006

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

ABC News (AU) · collected 2026-09-19 · by Chris De Silva

Quick Summary

Hawthorn and Brisbane face each other at the MCG on September 26 for a preliminary final spot that would qualify them to play Fremantle in the AFL grand final. Hawthorn won their qualifying final against Dockers, while Brisbane defeated the Crows in their semifinal. The match is expected to draw a large crowd similar to the recent NFL game at the MCG with over 100,000 attendees.
Written by AI on 2026-09-19, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

The Sydney Swans faced heartbreak as they lost their preliminary final match against the Fremantle Dockers on September 18, 2026. Despite the team overcoming significant challenges following a scandal involving season-ending suspensions of several players, the Dockers mounted a comeback from a deficit to win. The game was marked by intense moments and controversial umpiring decisions in the final minutes. This loss ends the Swans' hopes for an AFL premiership this year, despite their impressive run during finals.

Written for “Dockers Surge Into Grand Final” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 15 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Dockers Surge Into Grand Final
Sports · 16 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
The Sydney Morning Herald
Hedges 2 of 6 claims Outlet record 61/100
The Sydney Morning Herald
Hedges 2 of 74 claims Outlet record 61/100
ABC News (AU)
Hedges 0 of 2 claims Outlet record 68/100
“Article A reports on multiple games and injuries throughout a season, while Article B focuses on a single upcoming game between Hawks and Lions for the grand final spot.”
ABC News (AU)
Hedges 1 of 3 claims Outlet record 68/100
“The articles describe different matches involving various teams on different dates.”
ABC News (AU)
Hedges 0 of 3 claims Outlet record 68/100
“Article A describes a preliminary final match between Hawks and Lions in AFL, while Article B covers various matches on different days including one scheduled game between Lions and Crows.”
ABC News (AU)
Hedges 1 of 9 claims Outlet record 68/100
“Article A describes a game not started between Swans and Dockers on September 18th, while Article B reports the final score of that game as Swans 71, Dockers 83.”
ABC News (AU)
Hedges 0 of 3 claims Outlet record 68/100
“The articles describe different sporting events involving different teams and sports (NRL finals match vs. AFL preliminary final).”
The Sydney Morning Herald
Outlet record 61/100
“The articles describe different stages of the AFL competition with Article A detailing team selections and expert tips for a match while Article B provides live updates and scores from various matches, including a preliminary final.”
ABC News (AU)
Hedges 3 of 58 claims Outlet record 68/100
“While both articles mention the same teams and scores for previous matches, Article A discusses the build-up to a game between Swans and Dockers which was not started, while Article B is providing live updates for an upcoming preliminary final match between Hawks and Lions.”
The Sydney Morning Herald
Hedges 0 of 6 claims Outlet record 61/100
“Article A describes a family's involvement in an upcoming grand final match between Sydney Swans and Fremantle Dockers, while Article B lists scores of several matches leading up to a preliminary final game between Hawks and Lions.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
9
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
0%
0 of 9 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
68/100
ABC News (AU)'s corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
16
Sports
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-09-19 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

ABC News (AU) · 4461 article(s) · 10 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 10 correction(s)

Who wrote this

Chris De Silva
18 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 AUS versus ENG Thu, 3 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, NSW versus WAU Thu, 3 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, VIC versus QUE Thu, 3 Dec, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAM versus TAS Thu, 3 Dec, 7:10 pm, Game not started, versus Sat, 5 Dec, 7:10 pm, Game not started, versus Wed, 9 Dec, 1:20 pm, Game not started, AUS versus NZL Sat, 12 Dec, 8:10 pm, Game not started, MER versus PER Mon, 14 Dec, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAS versus WAW Tue, 15 Dec, 10:00 am, Game not started, ACM versus SYW Tue, 15 Dec, 3:00 pm, Game not started, SLW versus AUW Tue, 15 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, BRI versus SYS Wed, 16 Dec, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAS versus WAW Wed, 16 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, SYT versus ADE Thu, 17 Dec, 10:00 am, Game not started, ACM versus SYW Thu, 17 Dec, 11:30 am, Game not started, AUS versus NZL Thu, 17 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, HOB versus BRI Fri, 18 Dec, 3:00 pm, Game not started, SLW versus AUW Fri, 18 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, MES versus ADE Sat, 19 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAW versus VIW Sat, 19 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, SYT versus SYS Sun, 20 Dec, 3:00 pm, Game not started, SLW versus AUW Sun, 20 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, PER versus HOB Mon, 21 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAW versus VIW Mon, 21 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, MES versus BRI Tue, 22 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, SYS versus MER Wed, 23 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, ADE versus SYT Thu, 24 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, MER versus HOB Sat, 26 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, AUS versus NZL Sat, 26 Dec, 6:05 pm, Game not started, SYS versus BRI Sat, 26 Dec, 9:15 pm, Game not started, PER versus MES Sun, 27 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, SYT versus MER Mon, 28 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, BRI versus ADE Tue, 29 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, HOB versus MES Wed, 30 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, PER versus SYT live Live updates: South Africa vs Australia, third Test, day five from Newlands, Cape Town Australia looks to chase down 288 runs to win the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town, with series honours on the line. Follow all the action in our live blog, check out the stats in our match Scorecard and ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage. Submit a comment or question Live updates What happened yesterday? There were plenty around the traps who thought that, perhaps, the Test would be finished yesterday.
🔮 If Kez [Carey] and I could have added another 50, that would have been really nice.
🔮 New: Filters Choose what information you see below by using filters Some advice for Head and Renshaw Hi Chris, it would be an understatement to say I'm a bit fidgety waiting for the Aussies start batting.
🔮 Key Event Richmond secures trade for Port Adelaide's pick five The Tigers have been considered the front-runner for this pick for the past few days, and the deal will go through this afternoon.
🔮 New: Filters Choose what information you see below by using filters Who could Sydney use to replace Blakey?
🔮 The latest from AFL.com.au's Cal Twomey is the Suns will meet with Nick Blakey this morning as both parties investigate a potential trade.
🔮 The reporting around this suggested Marshall didn't feel comfortable being there considering his desire to leave the club, but you could also read this as him making a statement to the Saints and trying to force their hand a little.
🔮 , some clutching their jerseys in disbelief, others simply looking into any space possible that meant they could avoid eye contact.
🔮 → When Fremantle coach Ross Lyon activated his sub in the fourth quarter of the 2013 grand final against Hawthorn, he scarcely could have believed the impact that player was going to have.
🔮 Thu, 3 Sept, 8:10 pm, Final score, Dockers 40, Hawks 72 Fri, 4 Sept, 7:40 pm, Final score, Cats 107, Blues 74 Sat, 5 Sept, 3:15 pm, Final score, Swans 141, Lions 88 Sat, 5 Sept, 7:35 pm, Final score, Crows 90, Bulldogs 68 Fri, 11 Sept, 8:10 pm, Final score, Dockers 120, Cats 106 Sat, 12 Sept, 7:35 pm, Final score, Lions 144, Crows 91 Fri, 18 Sept, 7:40 pm, Final score, Swans 71, Dockers 83 Sat, 19 Sept, 5:15 pm, Final score, Hawks 122, Lions 131 Sat, 26 Sept, 2:30 pm, Game not started, Dockers versus Lions Spectator facing police charge for throwing food at woman and child during AFL final In short: A 34-year-old man is expected to be charged after allegedly throwing a plate of food at a woman and a child during the Hawthorn-Brisbane AFL preliminary final at the MCG.
Also by Chris De Silva
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 18 articles by Chris De Silva →

Topics

Brisbane Crows Dockers Hawks Lions

Subjects

Lions ORG · 6× Dockers ORG · 5× Hawks ORG · 5× Brisbane GPE · 4× Crows ORG · 4× AFL ORG · 3× Hawthorn GPE · 3× Cats ORG · 2× Fremantle GPE · 2× Swans ORG · 2×

Narrative

Thu, 3 Sept, 8:10 pm, Final score, Dockers 40, Hawks 72 Fri, 4 Sept, 7:40 pm, Final score, Cats 107, Blues 74 Sat, 5 Sept, 3:15 pm, Final score, Swans 141, Lions 88 Sat, 5 Sept, 7:35 pm, Final score, Crows 90, Bulldogs 68 Fri, 11 Sept, 8:10 pm, Final score, Dockers 120, Cats 106 Sat, 12 Sept, 7:35 pm, Final score, Lions 144, Crows 91 Fri, 18 Sept, 7:40 pm, Final score, Swans 71, Dockers 83 Sat, 19 Sept, 5:15 pm, Game not started, Hawks versus Lions Sat, 26 Sept, 2:30 pm, Game not started, Winner of PF1 versus Winner of PF2 live AFL live updates: Hawthorn vs Brisbane, preliminary final — blog, scores and stats Hawthorn hosts dual reigning premiers Brisbane at the MCG in the preliminary final as both sides look to join Fremantle in next week's AFL grand final.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-19
🔮 Can the Hawks make it into their first grand final since 2015 or will the Lions make it four straight trips to the big dance?
2026-09-19 · ABC News (AU)
Live: Hawks and Lions face off for grand final spot to face Dockers · assertive framing

Claims (9 extracted, 0 hedged)

Thu, 3 Sept, 8:10 pm, Final score, Dockers 40, Hawks 72 Fri, 4 Sept, 7:40 pm, Final score, Cats 107, Blues 74 Sat, 5 Sept, 3:15 pm, Final score, Swans 141, Lions 88 Sat, 5 Sept, 7:35 pm, Final score, Crows 90, Bulldogs 68 Fri, 11 Sept, 8:10 pm, Final score, Dockers 120, Cats 106 Sat, 12 Sept, 7:35 pm, Final score, Lions 144, Crows 91 Fri, 18 Sept, 7:40 pm, Final score, Swans 71, Dockers 83 Sat, 19 Sept, 5:15 pm, Game not started, Hawks versus Lions Sat, 26 Sept, 2:30 pm, Game not started, Winner of PF1 versus Winner of PF2 live AFL live updates: Hawthorn vs Brisbane, preliminary final — blog, scores and stats Hawthorn hosts dual reigning premiers Brisbane at the MCG in the preliminary final as both sides look to join Fremantle in next week's AFL grand final. asserted
sides → start → final
The Hawks come in off a week's break having stunned the Dockers in Perth in their qualifying final, while the Lions come in after thrashing the Crows in last weekend's home semifinal. asserted
Lions → come → semifinal
The crowd is pouring into the MCG for this one They had over 100,000 here for the NFL last weekend, and my guess is that we'll go pretty close again this evening. asserted
we → pour → NFL
They're already pouring in from all corners. asserted
They → pour → corners
It must be said that Brisbane also has a very strong Victorian following thanks to their Fitzroy roots. asserted
Brisbane → say → roots
We've got another preliminary final on deck tonight as Hawthorn hosts Brisbane at the MCG as both sides look to join Fremantle in next week's grand final. asserted
sides → get → final
The Hawks have enjoyed a week off after their upset win over the Dockers in the qualifying final, while the Lions come into this clash on the back of a monster win against the Crows last week. asserted
Lions → enjoy → Crows
Can the Hawks make it into their first grand final since 2015 or will the Lions make it four straight trips to the big dance? asserted
it → make → dance
The first bounce is set for 5:15pm, so strap yourselves in as we bring you all the news from the pre-match. asserted
we → set → match
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