The AFL set the round 26 fixture. It establishes the first top-10 wildcard finals games. The top six ladder places were settled on Sunday, August 23, 2026. Hawthorn has one match remaining. It decides if they finish third or fourth. Their place on the live ladder hinges on the outcome.
Games in this stage include Sydney Swans against North Melbourne, Adelaide Crows versus GWS Giants, and Melbourne taking on Western Bulldogs. The ladder refreshes as scores are recorded. The Hawks' final spot depends on their ultimate performance.