The Hawthorn Hawks, who play their home games at the MCG, have been one of the dominant sides of the past decade, winning four Premierships since 2008, including a famous three-peat from 2013-2015.

Last year they just barely missed out on a finals appearance for only the third time since 2006, but with plenty of experience both on the list and in their coaching staff they’ll be hoping for a return to the finals in 2020, and you can catch all the action at home on your TV or when streaming live to an eligible mobile device with the options listed in this guide.

2020 Hawthorn Hawks Preview

The Hawks were founded in 1902, five years after the start of the VFL, and entered the competition in 1925. Their early years were a struggle, as they were starved of success and found it difficult to even fulfil their payment obligations. In 1957, over 30 years after their entry to the VFL, the Hawks made the finals for the first time. In 1961 they won their first AFL Premiership, and soon after a powerhouse was born, as they won eight flags between 1971 and 1991. They saluted again in 2008, before winning their famous three-peat between 2013-15, going down as one of history’s greatest sides in the process.

The Hawks have not been the dominant force they once were in recent years, but as they have demonstrated over the past couple of years they have no intention of dropping down the ladder as is customary in a league full of equalisation measures. They finished in ninth place last year, but this year they will be buoyed by the return of 2018 Brownlow Medalist Tom Mitchell, who missed the entirety of last season with a broken leg. Led by a man who many perceive to be the best coach in the business in Alastair Clarkson, it would take a brave person to count this side out.

Hawthorn Hawks TV Rights and 2020 Broadcast Guide

Fortunately, there are several options for watching the Hawthorn Hawks live in Australia, including the Seven Network, Foxtel, Foxtel from Telstra and Kayo Sports. Seven is the official AFL free to air broadcaster and will show only selected Hawthorn Hawks matches live during the 2020 season across Seven and 7mate. Seven’s TV coverage is headed by Bruce McAvaney, Brian Taylor and James Brayshaw, alongside some new recruits in the shape of retired stars Luke Hodge and Jobe Watson, and the returning Daisy Pearce. Seven also offers a range of programming dedicated to AFL such as The Front Bar, Talking Footy and Armchair Experts. 

For comparison and as shown in the TV schedule below, Foxtel, Foxtel from Telstra, and Kayo Sports will televise all 17 Hawthorn Hawks games during the 2020 AFL season. That’s every Tigers match before the finals shown live on their dedicated Fox Footy channel.

As well as these live matches and the option to watch replays at a later time, Foxtel, Foxtel from Telstra and Kayo Sports will also have a wide range of AFL programming that includes AFL 360, AFL Tonight and a new look Bounce. There will also be some familiar faces in the studio this season with live games fronted by Eddie McGuire and Sarah Jones. Match commentary will be made up of a team of former stars including Ben Dixon, Gerard Healy and Dermott Brereton.

Watch the Hawthorn Hawks Live Online

If you enjoy AFL action then Fox Footy (Foxtel/Kayo) is the channel for you, televising all AFL teams and every match from every round LIVE and in HD before the Grand Final, including the contests not available on Free to Air TV and replays of the games you may have missed.

So if you’re a resident in Australia and don’t have access to Fox Footy, you may wish to review the 10 day Foxtel Now trial, which offers rugby fans an opportunity to watch the Hawthorn Hawks online with compatible internet connected devices. Eligible platforms include iOS or Android mobile devices, as well as Telstra TV, the Google Chromecast, Playstation 4 and more (PC and Macs excluded). Foxtel Now can also be renewed month-to-month, requires no set-up fees, and can be accessed instantly.

Watch the AFL Live Online – 10 Days Free trial

Stream the Hawks Live and FREE

Alternatively, Kayo Sports have a 14 day free trial for new customers. With the Kayo trial, you will have access to these same AFL broadcasts as Fox Footy and can stream the Hawthorn Hawks live using eligible mobile devices (Grand Final excluded). Devices include select iOS and Android phones and tablets, Apple and Telstra TV, Google Chromecast, as well as Safari, Firefox, Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers (PC and Mac excluded).

Kayo doesn’t have a lock-in contract or equipment fees, which means you can cancel anytime if you’re no longer using it. For fans who want to catch up on the action, Kayo Minis provide a 10-20-minute recap after play has concluded. Other game changing features include Interactive Graphics, SplitView, NoSpoilers and Key Moments, which provide highlights throughout the matches in real-time.

AFL 2020 Live TV Fixtures (Sydney time)

Date	Event	Time	Channel
Thu, Oct 1	Port Adelaide v Geelong (QF)	LIVE: 7.40pm	Foxtel / Kayo
Fri, Oct 2	Brisbane Lions v Richmond (QF)	LIVE: 7.50pm	Foxtel / Kayo
Sat, Oct 3	St Kilda v Western Bulldogs (EF)	LIVE: 4.40pm	Foxtel / Kayo
Sat, Oct 3	West Coast Eagles v Collingwood (EF)	LIVE: 8.10pm	Foxtel / Kayo

*Fixtures shown as Sydney time, adjust for regional differences. The Hawthorn Hawks free to air matches on channel 7 do not offer full TV replays and are limited by the AFL broadcast agreement.

Channel 7 vs Foxtel TV Fixtures

While the Channel Seven television coverage is limited to four contests per week, Fox Footy (Foxtel/Kayo) will televise every match in every Round Live, before the Grand Final, with five exclusive games each week and the option to stream the AFL live online.

Day / Time / Event	Channel
Thursday Night	Ch. 7 and Foxtel
Friday Night	Ch. 7 and Foxtel
Saturday Afternoon Game 1	Ch. 7 and Foxtel
Saturday Afternoon Game 2	Foxtel
Saturday Evening	Foxtel
Saturday Night Game 1	Ch. 7 and Foxtel
Saturday Night Game 2	Foxtel
Sunday Afternoon Game 1	Foxtel
Sunday Afternoon Game 2	Ch. 7 and Foxtel
Sunday Evening	Foxtel
Monday & Public Holidays	Ch. 7 and Foxtel

2020 Hawthorn Hawks Rivalries

Hawthorn’s rivalry against the Geelong Cats began when their young side upset the dominant Cats in the 2008 Grand Final. The loss sparked a pact from Cats players to never again lose to the Hawks, something which incredibly held true until the 2013 Preliminary Final. Along the way, the two sides contested a number of heart-stopping matches, with nine of the eleven Geelong victories coming by ten points or less. The Hawks may have broken what was dubbed the ‘Kennett curse’ over five years ago, but the rivalry remains and matches between the two are always fierce.

The Hawks and the Essendon Bombers developed a rivalry back in the 80s as a result of simultaneous and sustained success, which culminated in three consecutive Grand Finals being contested by the two sides between 1983 and 1985. The long-standing animosity went to another gear with the ‘Line in the Sand’ match in 2004, when Matthew Lloyd knocked out Hawthorn’s Brad Sewell and kick-started an enormous brawl. Five years later, the two sides confirmed their continued disdain for one another with another match filled spitfires, and one which saw $27,000 worth of fines handed out and four players suspended, and you can catch this year’s action between the two sides by streaming on Foxtel Now and Kayo Sports.

The prolonged success of the Sydney Swans over the past decade has coincided with that of Hawthorn, and has contributed to a number of fierce contests between the two. The most memorable of these was the 2012 Grand Final, which saw the Swans clinch the Premiership by less than two goals. The Hawks got their revenge in the 2014 Grand Final though, and also beat Sydney in finals matches in 2011 and 2013. Though the two sides are no longer the forces they once were, there is still no love lost in these match-ups.