Fremantle Dockers vs. Hawthorn Hawks prediction: Dockers favored to win Thursday's AFL Round 26 matchup [9/3/2026]

The Fremantle Dockers and Hawthorn Hawks will meet in the Australian Football League (AFL) at Optus Stadium on Thursday, starting at 6:10 AM ET.

Dimers' proven AFL model projects the Dockers as the most likely winner in this Hawks vs. Dockers prediction.

This article offers an expanded analysis of Thursday's matchup, including best bets and picks.

Dockers vs. Hawks prediction and odds

Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of Thursday's AFL game between the Hawks and Dockers, forming part of our AFL predictions coverage.

Our famous predictive model gives the Dockers a 68.2% chance of beating the Hawks.

According to our model, the Dockers (-13.5) have a 53.5% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 167.5 points has a 50.9% chance of staying under.

Latest betting odds

We have sourced the best AFL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

• Moneyline: Hawks +170, Dockers -222
• Total: Over/Under 167.5 (-115/-115)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Model picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets in this matchup. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

• Spread: Dockers -13.5 @ -115 via DraftKings
• Moneyline: Dockers @ -222 via DraftKings
• Total: Under 167.5 @ -115 via DraftKings

According to our AFL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Dockers to win.

These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the current available odds.

Game info & first bounce details

Thursday's Australian rules football action between the Dockers and Hawks at Optus Stadium is scheduled to begin at 6:10 AM ET.

• Who: Hawthorn Hawks vs. Fremantle Dockers
• Date: Thursday, September 3, 2026
• Time: 6:10 AM ET/3:10AM PT
• Venue: Optus Stadium

The AFL is available to bet on in the US through all major sportsbooks, with fans highlighting the high-octane 360-degree nature of the sport as a top reason to follow it.

Conclusion

We predict the Dockers, with a 68.2% win probability, will likely beat the Hawks in Thursday's AFL matchup.

Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.