How many drawn games were there in AFL Round 23, 2026?

Two. Hawthorn and Collingwood finished level at 92-apiece at the MCG, and the Western Bulldogs and Carlton drew 82-all at Marvel Stadium the following day.

What was the biggest win of Round 23?

Melbourne beat Port Adelaide 132–56 at Adelaide Oval, a 76-point away win that took the Demons to 60 points.

How did the draws affect the finals race?

Hawthorn's two points kept them fourth on 60 and Collingwood's kept them eighth, while Carlton and the Western Bulldogs each banked two points when both arguably needed four.

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Round 23 Review: Two Draws in One Round — and a Flag Contender Roars

Hawthorn 92, Collingwood 92. Bulldogs 82, Carlton 82. One round, two draws, and Melbourne's 76-point warning shot.

Zac ChristieSports and Racing Analysis17 August 2026

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Round 23 of the 2026 season produced something genuinely rare: two drawn games in a single round. Hawthorn and Collingwood finished locked at 92 apiece at the MCG on Saturday night, and a day later the Western Bulldogs and Carlton couldn't be separated at 82-all at Docklands.

Draws change finals races in ways wins and losses don't. Hawthorn banked two points that kept them fourth on 60. Collingwood's two points kept eighth. Carlton and the Bulldogs each took two — and both probably needed four.

Melbourne's statement

The result of the round belonged to Melbourne: 132–56 over Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, a 76-point away demolition that lifted the Demons to 60 points and announced them as a genuine September threat.

Elsewhere, Fremantle consolidated top spot with a 112–88 win over Adelaide in Perth, Sydney handled Essendon by 36 at the MCG, and Geelong outlasted North Melbourne in a 235-point shootout at Docklands.

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The bottom line

Brisbane's 42-point win over Gold Coast and GWS's 54-point win over West Coast rounded out a Round 23 that clarified the top two — Fremantle and Sydney — and left six clubs separated by eight points fighting for the other six finals spots.

Quick answers

How many drawn games were there in AFL Round 23, 2026?: Two. Hawthorn and Collingwood finished level at 92-apiece at the MCG, and the Western Bulldogs and Carlton drew 82-all at Marvel Stadium the following day.
What was the biggest win of Round 23?: Melbourne beat Port Adelaide 132–56 at Adelaide Oval, a 76-point away win that took the Demons to 60 points.
How did the draws affect the finals race?: Hawthorn's two points kept them fourth on 60 and Collingwood's kept them eighth, while Carlton and the Western Bulldogs each banked two points when both arguably needed four.

Round 23HawthornCollingwoodMelbourneDraw

Thirty-Six Seconds: Brisbane Win a Preliminary Final That Will Be Argued About for Years

Brisbane 20.11 (131) to Hawthorn 19.8 (122) in front of 97,835. Twelve goals in the final quarter, Nick Watson kicked six for the night, and a holding-the-ball free kick with 36 seconds left decided a Grand Final berth.

Zac Christie21 September 2026

Match Reviews

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Zac Christie6 September 2026

Match Reviews

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Hawthorn 10.12 (72) to Fremantle 5.10 (40) at Optus Stadium. The Dockers scored ten points in the first half of a home qualifying final. The Hawks go straight to a home preliminary final; Fremantle are one loss from straight sets.

Zac Christie4 September 2026