The 2025 AFL season's Round 23 match sees the Hawthorn Hawks face off against the Melbourne FC in a Saturday afternoon clash at the MCG.
Hawthorn will host their annual Inclusion Match when they take on Melbourne this weekend. After defeats to fellow top-four contenders Fremantle and Adelaide in recent weeks, the Hawks bounced back with a 110-46 win over Collingwood, who slipped down to third after occupying the top spot just weeks ago.
The win kept the Hawks in the top eight but they still remain in danger territory. With an in-form Bulldogs side boasting a better percentage trailing them, Hawthorn can’t afford to drop any points at this stage in the campaign.
Melbourne, meanwhile, fell 105-99 to the Bulldogs in their first outing under caretaker Troy Chaplin, who stepped in last week following Simon Goodwin’s sacking. The Demons currently sit 13th on the ladder with a 7-14 record.
While Melbourne hold a 2-1 edge in the last three encounters between the sides, Hawthorn claimed the most recent meeting 91-56 at the MCG earlier this year.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times, and the latest lineup news.
Hawthorn vs. Melbourne free live stream, free-to-air channel
- Live Stream: Kayo, Foxtel
- TV Channel: Fox Footy
- Free-to-air: ---
Kayo Sports and Foxtel are providing both live and catch-up coverage of Saturday's match. The clash will also be available on TV in Australia via Fox Footy.
Fans can stream Hawthorn vs. Melbourne on Kayo, which is currently offering a free trial for new subscribers, so you can essentially watch this game and others this week for free. The match will also be streamed on the AFL website.
Hawthorn vs. Melbourne start time
- Date: Saturday, August 16
- Start Time: 4:15 p.m. AEST
- Venue & Location: MCG
The AFL Round 23 game between Hawthorn Hawks and Melbourne will be played on Saturday, August 16, at the MCG in Melbourne.
Here's how that kick-off time translates to the various Australian time zones:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | Sat, Aug. 16 | 4:15 p.m. |
| Australian Central Standard Time | Sat, Aug. 16 | 3:45 p.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Sat, Aug. 16 | 2:15 p.m. |
AFL 2025 fixture schedule this week
Friday, August 15
| Fixture | Venue | Time (AEST) | TV/Livestream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essendon vs. St. Kilda | Marvel Stadium | 7:20 p.m. | Seven, Fox/Kayo, Binge |
| Fremantle vs. Brisbane | Optus Stadium | 8:20 p.m. | Fox Sports 3/Kayo, Binge |
Saturday, August 16
| Fixture | Venue | Time (AEST) | TV/Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast vs. GWS Giants | People First Stadium | 12:35 p.m. | Channel 7, Fox Sports 3/ Kayo |
| Carlton vs. Port Adelaide | Marvel Stadium | 1:20 p.m. | Fox /Kayo |
| Hawthorn vs. Melbourne | MCG | 4:15 p.m. | Fox/Kayo |
| Adelaide vs. Collingwood | Adelaide Oval | 7:35 p.m. | Fox/Kayo |
Sunday, August 17
| Fixture | Venue | Time (AEST) | TV/Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Melbourne vs. Richmond | Ninja Stadium | 1:10 p.m. | Fox/Kayo |
| Sydney vs. Geelong | SCG | 3:15 p.m. | Seven, Fox Sports 3/Kayo |
| Bulldogs vs. West Coast | Marvel Stadium | 4:40 p.m. | Fox/Kayo |