Hawthorn Crush Essendon by 93 Points as Jack Gunston Reaches 600 AFL Goals
Hawthorn produced a dominant performance against Essendon, defeating the Bombers 132–39 at the MCG in a one-sided Round 20 clash of the 2026 AFL season.
The victory was made even more memorable by a major milestone for Hawthorn forward Jack Gunston, who became only the 37th player in VFL/AFL history to reach 600 career goals.
Hawks Dominate the Bombers
The match began competitively, but Hawthorn quickly took control after the opening term.
The Hawks produced a powerful second quarter, scoring six unanswered goals and breaking the game open.
Essendon struggled to respond as Hawthorn continued to dominate possession, field position and scoring opportunities.
By the final siren, the Hawks had secured a massive 93-point victory.
Jack Gunston Reaches 600 Goals
The biggest individual highlight came from Jack Gunston.
The Hawthorn forward kicked seven goals during the match, taking his career tally beyond the remarkable 600-goal milestone.
Gunston became the 37th player in VFL/AFL history to reach the mark, adding another major achievement to his distinguished career.
His performance was one of the highlights of Hawthorn's commanding victory.
Will Day Impresses
Hawthorn also received an outstanding contribution from Will Day.
Day made an early impact by kicking two goals and playing an influential role through the midfield.
His performance helped Hawthorn establish control and maintain pressure throughout the match.
Tough Day for Essendon
The defeat was a difficult result for Essendon.
The Bombers struggled to match Hawthorn's intensity and were unable to generate enough consistent scoring opportunities.
Nate Caddy was one of Essendon's brighter performers, contributing three goals despite the team's heavy defeat.
Injuries Mar the Match
The match was also overshadowed by several injury concerns.
Hawthorn suffered a concussion-related injury to Mitch Lewis, while Essendon lost Jordan Ridley with a foot injury and Sullivan Robey with a knee injury.
The injuries added a disappointing note to an otherwise memorable day for Hawthorn.
Match Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Competition | AFL 2026 |
| Round | Round 20 |
| Venue | Melbourne Cricket Ground |
| Hawthorn | 132 |
| Essendon | 39 |
| Margin | Hawthorn won by 93 points |
| Jack Gunston | 7 goals |
| Major Milestone | Gunston reached 600 AFL/VFL career goals |
A Memorable Day for Hawthorn
The victory strengthened Hawthorn's position as one of the competition's leading teams and demonstrated the club's attacking power.
For Gunston, the occasion was particularly special. Reaching 600 career goals places him among an elite group of VFL/AFL players and adds another remarkable achievement to his career.
Conclusion
Hawthorn delivered one of its most dominant performances of the 2026 AFL season, defeating Essendon by 93 points at the MCG.
The match will be remembered not only for the Hawks' emphatic victory but also for Jack Gunston's historic achievement of reaching 600 career goals.
With seven goals in the match, Gunston played a central role in Hawthorn's commanding performance, while the Bombers will now look to regroup after a difficult defeat.