Hawthorn's Victory Overshadowed by Captain's Injury
By Editor • September 12, 2026 • 1 min read
The Hawthorn Hawks celebrated a hard-fought 11-point victory against the Western Bulldogs, but the triumph was marred by a distressing injury to captain Emily Bates. The incident occurred in the third quarter when Bates sustained a serious leg injury during a tackle, leading to her being stretchered off the field.
Bates, who recently marked her 100th AFLW match, twisted her right leg beneath her during the clash, prompting immediate medical attention. Reports indicate she was expected to be taken to the hospital for further evaluation. The Hawks also faced another setback when Laura Stone was ruled out due to concussion after an early head collision.
Despite these challenges, the Hawks turned the game around after being 11 points down at half-time. Aine McDonagh shone brightly, scoring a career-high four goals, which helped propel the team to a 6.5 (41) to 4.6 (30) victory. This win improved Hawthorn's record to 3-2, placing them in the top eight and pushing the Bulldogs down on percentage. Other standout performances included Eliza West with 24 disposals and ruck Lucy Wales, contributing to the team's solid performance.
Source: www.abc.net.au
#AFLW #Aine McDonagh #Emily Bates #Hawthorn Hawks #Western Bulldogs
