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Read Article Hawthorn Hawks vs. GWS Giants prediction: Hawks favored to win Friday's AFL Round 16 matchup [6/26/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Damien Souness, Chief Experience Officer
Get Hawthorn Hawks vs GWS Giants predictions for AFL Friday.
The Hawthorn Hawks will face the GWS Giants in Australian Football League (AFL) action at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, beginning at 5:40 AM ET.
Based on updated simulations, Dimers' advanced AFL model projects the Hawks as the most likely winner of the Giants vs. Hawks game.
This article offers a closer look at Friday's matchup, including best bets and picks.
Hawks vs. Giants prediction: Who will win Round 16 game?
Using powerful machine learning and data analysis, we have simulated the outcome of Friday's AFL game between the Giants and Hawks, forming part of our AFL predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model currently gives the Hawks a 76.2% chance of beating the Giants.
According to our model, the Hawks (-21.5) have a 52.1% chance of covering the spread, while the 170.5-point over/under has a 51.1% chance of staying under,.
GWS vs. Hawthorn odds
We have researched the best AFL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Giants | Hawks |
|---|---|---|
| H2H (Moneyline) | +285 | -385 |
| Line (Spread) | +21.5 (-115) | -21.5 (-115) |
| Total | o170.5 (-115) | u170.5 (-115) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Giants vs. Hawks picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Hawks -21.5 | -115 |
| Moneyline | Giants | +285 |
| Total | Under 170.5 | -115 |
According to our best AFL bets, the top play to make on this game is Under 170.5 total points.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Hawks vs. Giants game-day updates and essential details
Friday's Australian rules football action between the Hawks and Giants at Melbourne Cricket Ground is scheduled to begin at 5:40 AM ET.
- Who: GWS Giants vs. Hawthorn Hawks
- Date: Friday, June 26, 2026
- Time: 5:40 AM ET/2:40AM PT
- Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground
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 Hawks, with a 76.2% win probability, will likely beat the Giants in Friday's AFL matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
Damien Souness is Chief Experience Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, helping lead sports media brands such as Dimers. He specializes in creating trustworthy and data-driven content for sports fans, with experience working for globally recognized sports and media organizations.
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