Optus Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 24 AFL game between West Coast Eagles and
Hawthorn Hawks. The game kicks off at 7:20 pm with Hawthorn Hawks heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the West Coast Eagles vs.
Hawthorn Hawks
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Sunday August 23, 2026 at 7:20 pm

Where: Optus Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

West Coast Eagles vs Hawthorn Hawks Odds

West Coast Eagles vs Hawthorn Hawks Preview

Hawthorn can lock away a top-four finish with victory after its 92-92 draw against Collingwood left it vulnerable to the chasing pack. The Hawks are close to full strength and have every reason to play aggressively, with a large win potentially improving their position depending on Brisbane’s result. West Coast fell 111-57 to GWS last week and carries a 10-match losing streak into its final home appearance. Hawthorn has won the past four meetings, including a 124-74 result in Round 7 last season, and its pressure has repeatedly troubled lower-ranked opponents. Jake Waterman remains a genuine focal point for the Eagles after kicking at least three goals in seven straight home appearances, but he will need sustained supply. Hawthorn’s depth, speed and finals urgency point to a comfortable victory.

Darius Garland, the Los Angeles Clippers point guard now half a year removed from the midseason trade that ended his seven-plus years in Cleveland, spoke to HoopsHype exclusively at New Balance’s 2026 Beantown Elite Experience, his second time working the camp. Garland discussed the toe injury that quietly derailed his season, what Tyronn Lue’s vision for him looks like and more.

How has the last year helped you handle bigger challenges, both on the court and with relocating?

Darius Garland: It’s like a revamp, really. Coming to a bigger city, a bigger market. It’s a lot of weight on your shoulders, like really running a team in Los Angeles. It’s a great challenge, great responsibility as well. So I’m super happy just to take that on. Got a little snippet of it last year, but to have a full year under my belt, having a training camp, having some time with T-Lue, I’m super excited about this year.

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What’s it like playing for Ty Lue, and how does his vision fit your game?

DG: It’s super cool, because I’ve actually watched him in 2016. I told him I wanted to play a little bit like Kai [Kyrie Irving] and how he played in 2016 in that Finals run. So actually seeing his vision actually work, so trying to implement it into my game, I think it would be pretty cool. It’s going to be pretty interesting how he tries to fit it in. But I’m super excited. We’ve been talking a lot about the offense this year. I’m super excited to get back over there in LA and just be with the team and be with the guys.

How frustrating was that toe injury, and how much did it limit you?

DG: I didn’t really realize it until it happened as well. So I thought it was just a toe injury. It started off as like a bone bruise at first, like, just kept stubbing my toe in the front of my shoe. And then me thinking it’s just a toe, I could just play on it. It just got worse. So I had like some torn ligaments and stuff like that. So I just had to get that reconstructed. But I’m all good now.

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It was very frustrating, just because the season I had before, it was really, really good. So I think we could have had a chance of making a run if I didn’t get hurt. So that was pretty frustrating. But it’s pretty tough just out there playing with nine toes for like half a year. But it’s all good, though, because the second half of the year, I had all 10 toes. And I felt really good. I felt like I was getting back to normal. But now, having a full summer, having a full offseason back to 100 percent. It was a mental fog most of the time. Because we’re using our toes 24/7. So just out there trying to run on it and play defense, slide, and everything like that. It was pretty tough. Just had to work through it. I get paid to do this stuff. I just wanted to put on my hard hat and go out there and work and do the best I could.

What was it like getting traded midseason? Was the transition hard?

DG: The trade was actually pretty easy for me, bro, to be honest with you. Which was crazy; we were already in LA, we had a road trip to LA already, so the transition wasn’t too hard, to be honest with you. Mentally, it wasn’t a shock, but it was still like a shock. I’ve been here for seven, seven and a half years, and now just to up and pack my bags like that, it was just like, dang. But it’s part of the business. I understand the business side of it.

So once I got to LA, I was pretty happy. Got to be in a new city, like a real new revamp. So it was cool. Easy transition, though. Super excited to be there. I was pretty happy. I was coming to a new opportunity just to take on a new challenge. So I was excited about that.

What’s it like becoming the veteran mentor to young guys like Yanic Konan Niederhäuser and Keaton Wagler?

DG: Calling me big bro and stuff. It’s crazy to hear, but it’s super cool just to have some young bucks around me, just to try to teach them as much as I can. And with some of the stuff that I learned, I can really just implement that into Keaton and Yanic. And then, just to work with them at a young age, I know the potential that they have is probably through the roof. Well, it is through the roof for both of them. So just try to give them little pointers to get better each day. And both are really two hard workers, so you don’t have to tell them to work. Just get acclimated to the game. That’s it. Just be you. That’s all it is in this league. Just have some confidence in yourself.

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What’s an underrated or overlooked part of your game?

DG: Probably my passing. My scoring ability, I think, is pretty underrated. Everybody just thinks about my handles and just being shifty all the time. I can really pass. I can shoot it. I can run an offense at a high level as well. So just being a good all-around point guard.

Do you think people have forgotten what you’re capable of?

DG: Yeah, for sure. It usually happens like that, especially when you have a couple of injuries. They tend to forget about you. But that’s what another 82-game season is for: to go ahead and revamp yourself, show everybody what you’re capable of. And show the confidence and the work that I put in this summer, to go out there and just lay it on the line.

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What do you have to prove? What do you think is that next level?

DG: To be honest with you, I don’t think I have to prove anything, brother. Just want to be the best player I can be out there. Try to go win basketball games as much as I can.

What’s your experience with New Balance’s Beantown event, and what does mentoring there mean to you?

DG: Super cool just being here. We’ve seen the top talent in the country. It’s super cool to see on both sides, girls and boys. And just trying to teach them the little pointers that I have. They have a lot of good trainers here, so they’re just trying to soak a lot in over a couple of days. So just trying to be out there, just be a big brother for them.

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What does it mean to be asked as New Balance brand’s representative for kids to look up to?

DG: It’s an honor just to be here, to be a part of the brand. It’s an honor. So anything they ask me to do, I’m going to try to do it to the best of my ability if I’m available. So this was a no-brainer for me. It’s my second time here. So I plan on coming some more if I get invited.

It’s super cool just to be here. Just seeing the top people in the country and seeing the growth of the game is super cool to see. And just to be here like a big brother for them, be a mentor. It’s super cool just to be out here, just to show them a lot of love and show them the hard work that it takes to get there as well.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Darius Garland Q&A: ‘I told Ty Lue I wanted to play a little bit like Kyrie Irving’

Second placed Red Bull Racing’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen gestures to celebrate on the podium after the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring racetrack in Mogyorod near Budapest, Hungary, on July 26, 2026. (Photo by Attila KISBENEDEK / AFP)

Four-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen has signed a new contract with Red Bull until the end of 2030, the team announced Thursday, ending speculation over his future in the sport.

“I have always said it: The team is like a second family for me and I feel very at home,” said Verstappen.

“I came to the team hoping to be able to win races. What we went on to achieve together has been simply lovely,” added Verstappen, using his trademark phrase.

READ: F1: Max Verstappen swerves around future questions

Verstappen is one of the most successful Formula One drivers of all time, dominating the sport with four consecutive world championships from 2021.

But results have been harder to come by this season, with the 28-year-old failing to see a chequered flag in the first half of the year and sitting sixth in the drivers’ championship.

The uncompetitive nature of the Red Bull car this year has led many to speculate that the mercurial Dutchman could switch to another team or even leave Formula One entirely.

But Verstappen said he was keen to get the team back to winning ways.

“We have the best people and I’m excited to keep working together with everyone to get back to the top again,” he said.

‘Special send off’

Red Bull Racing’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen walks in the paddock ahead of the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit in Mogyorod near Budapest, Hungary, on July 23, 2026. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP)

Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies hailed the Dutchman’s “uncompromising competitiveness, relentless determination and the courage to challenge convention”.

“But we are not done yet. There are more races to win, more milestones to achieve and more history to write,” Mekies said.

The news came with preparations in full swing for Verstappen’s home race, the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, and will delight his thousands of orange-clad fans.

Verstappen is expected to don a special helmet for the occasion, inspired by the famous blue Delft pottery.

The promoters decided not to continue racing at Zandvoort, partly due to uncertainty over Verstappen’s future given his importance for the popularity of the event.

Verstappen was unbeatable on his home track, winning the first three editions since it was reintroduced to the circuit in 2021.

But he has since been chasing McLaren in his own backyard, with Papaya drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri claiming the last two races.

“To make this announcement during the last Grand Prix at Zandvoort is a great moment for me as well,” said Verstappen.

“Hopefully we can give the fans a special send-off for the final race.”

Securing Verstappen’s signature is also a huge boost for Red Bull, as they chase Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren in the teams’ championship.

The Dutchman is always mentioned in conversations about the greatest driver of all time and seemed destined for success from birth.

His Dutch father Jos drove in eight Formula One seasons while his mother, Sophie Kumpen, was a Belgian karting champion.

He started karting in 2005 and mopped up titles as he progressed through classes, finishing with a record-setting season in 2013.

When he made his race debut in a Toro Rosso in Australia in the 2015 season opener, he became the youngest ever Formula One driver by almost two years.

He was just 17 years, 5 months, 15 days old and had taken part in 14 Grand Prix races before he passed his driving test on his 18th birthday.

“To continue this journey with the same team that I have been with my whole career is really special and something I have always wanted to do,” he said.

Manchester United should waste no time in bringing in their crucial next signing after landing Carlos Baleba for £65million

Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Carlos Baleba after submitting a bid worth £60million plus £5m in add-ons for the Brighton midfielder. Baleba is a long-term target of the Reds, who were keen to land him last summer until the Seagulls’ £100m valuation temporarily halted their interest.

Now, it appears United are homing in on the 22-year-old, who costs considerably less than last year due to a dip in form and a recent injury. Nevertheless, Baleba still represents Michael Carrick’s most expensive arrival this summer following the club’s signing of two other midfielders.

United’s engine room overhaul saw Andrey Santos arrive in a £50m deal last month, while Youri Tielemans was signed for £35m. These midfield additions are reminiscent of the way the club prioritised adding three high calibre forwards in Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in the same window a year ago.

However, there are still some key positions that Carrick needs to strengthen before the transfer window slams shut on September 1. Perhaps the most pressing of all is the need to add a left-back to share minutes with Luke Shaw and become the veteran’s long-term successor.

Shaw, 31, cannot be expected to play every Premier League game this season as he did last term, let alone start FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Champions League matches too. And young prodigy Harry Amass could reportedly leave in the coming days, either on loan or in a permanent deal.

As such, after signing Baleba, director of football Jason Wilcox must turn his attention to bringing in Lewis Hall of Newcastle United. The 21-year-old was eyed as the primary defensive target going into the summer.

Hall is one of the league’s most highly-rated left-backs and, given his age, would bolster Carrick’s back-line for many years to come. Reports suggest the young defender could cost as much as £60-£70m due to him being under contract until June 2029.

The i Paper has gone a step further by claiming the Newcastle hierarchy insist Hall is not for sale and will not listen to any offers, given he is an ‘untouchable’ member of the squad. However, a club of United’s size should not give any credence to such comments.

Newcastle said the same thing about Alexander Isak last summer and Bruno Guimaraes earlier this month, and both players ended up leaving for Liverpool and Arsenal, respectively. If United come in with a big offer, and the player himself angles for a move, Hall may realistically be signed.

The allure of playing Champions League football would surely prove too tempting for the player to turn down, especially with the Magpies missing out on Europe and Eddie Howe, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Guimaraes’ exits representing something of a sinking ship.

If their primary target Hall cannot be attained due to an unreasonable fee being demanded, United have other options. Club Brugge hold the same stance on Reds target Joaquin Seys, though an offer over his £30m valuation may be too tempting to turn down.

Reports coming out of Spain this week also claim that United have identified Racing Santander’s Jorge Salinas, 19, as their ‘plan B’ should their pursuit of Hall be doomed to failure.

United bosses are said to be ‘very serious’ about Salinas after watching the teenager’s impressive performances at this year’s Under-19 European Championship. He has a €16m (£13.7m) release clause at Racing Santander and is also being closely monitored by La Liga champions Barcelona.

Whoever United deem to be the most appropriate target, it is essential they sign a left-back. As it stands, a simple injury to Shaw could derail their season and Carrick’s entire project.

Thursday is the second day of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York, with the Group 1 Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks at 3.35pm the day’s feature.

Irish-trained fillies will hold a strong hand in this race with recent Juddmonte Irish Oaks winner, Johanna Walsh, and Aidan O’Brien’s 2025 Yorkshire Oaks victor, Minnie Hauk, leading the Irish challenge in a race the Ballydoyle handler has taken in five of the past six years. The Irish team will be completed by Jim Bolger’s Sparán Nua and Aidan O’Brien’s Sugar Island.

Juddmonte Farms, winning owners of the Juddmonte International hero yesterday, Item, will likely add another Group 1 with Kalpana here.

The five-year-old daughter of Study Of Man is a multiple winner at the highest level, most recently defeating Calandagan, Benvenuto Cellini, Lambourn and one of today’s opponents, Minnie Hauwk, in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Legacy Link, runner-up to Thundering On in the Betfred Oaks at Epsom in June, is also among the nine-runner field, and will add strength to the Juddmonte challenge.

In the opening Group 2 for fillies, the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes, Paddy Twomey (Big Negotiator), Ger Lyons (Livenka) and Joseph O’Brien (Star Of State) will all be represented, with the latter, a recent Leopardstown maiden winner, likely to head the market.

Recent Group 1 Phoenix Stakes winner at The Curragh, Sun Goddess,  £120,000 purchase at the Goffs UK premier yearling sale, qualifies to run in the Harry’s Half Million By Goffs at 2.25pm. If she has come out of the Phoenix Stakes well, she should be very difficult to beat in this race. The other Irish contender here is the Donnacha O’Brien-prepared Where Love Lies.

Both Paddy Twomey and Joseph O’Brien have runners in the listed fillies and mares race at 4.10pm. The 97-rated Perfect Your Craft represents the former, while the Carriganóg handler will saddle the consistent, and 98-rated, Vauntingly. Ryan Moore takes the ride aboard Morrophore for John and Thady Gosden and will start the race as favourite.

Irish-trained runners at York on Thursday, 20 August 2026:

1.50 Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (Fillies’ Group 2)

Big Negotiator (GB) P Twomey
Livenka (GB) G M Lyons
Star Of State (IRE) Joseph Patrick O’Brien

2.25 Harry’s Half Million By Goffs (GBB Race)

Where Love Lives (IRE) Donnacha Aidan O’Brien
Sun Goddess (IRE) A P O’Brien

3.35 Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks (Fillies’ And Mares’ Group 1)

Minnie Hauk (IRE) A P O’Brien
Johanna Walsh (IRE) Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Sparan Nua (IRE) J S Bolger
Sugar Island (IRE) A P O’Brien

4.10 British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes (Fillies’ And Mares’ Listed) (GBBPlus Race)

Perfect Your Craft (IRE) P Twomey
Vauntingly (IRE) Joseph Patrick O’Brien

LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

Lennox Lewis is hailed as one of the greatest British fighters of all time, but when asked to name the top three Britons of the last 25 years, ‘The Lion’ made some notable omissions. 

Lewis defeated every opponent of his career, avenging both of his two career defeats by way of knockout as he halted each of Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman to reclaim the heavyweight throne, thus becoming a three-time ruler of the division.

In an interview with Froch on Fighting, Lewis declared himself as the best British boxer of the last quarter-century, but refused to include any other heavyweights, instead opting for a pair of super-middleweight rivals in Carl Froch and Joe Calzaghe.

“I am definitely up there. Yeah, give me number one, I want to be number one, please. 

“Oh, you [Carl Froch]! You are in there, buddy. 

“Third, he [Joe Calzaghe] has to be in there. That is my buddy, he is a top fighter, for real.”

Froch boasted wins over the likes of Mikkel Kessler, George Groves and Arthur Abraham and became a three-time world champion, but never got his shot at Calzaghe, who vacated his WBC super-middleweight title to avoid a fight with ‘The Cobra’ in 2008, favouring a more lucrative move up to the light-heavyweight division.

Calzaghe remains as the longest-reigning super-middleweight world champion of all time, retiring with an iconic undefeated record after 46 professional bouts and scoring legendary wins over Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. as a 175lber in the final two outings of his career.

The 2026 NFL regular season gets underway in exactly three weeks with the kickoff game on Wednesday, Sept. 9. With Week 1 of the NFL preseason now in the books, the time has come for Fantasy football owners to lock in on draft preparations. Veterans like Josh Allen, Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs and Ja’Marr Chase all headline the 2026 Fantasy football rankings, and will likely be among the top players on most Fantasy football draft boards. The key to Fantasy success remains finding sleepers and rookies who outperform their Fantasy football ADP, and avoiding drafting players that end up being Fantasy football 2026 busts. 

Who should you target in your fantasy football draft strategy, and which players should fall on your list of potential 2026 Fantasy football busts? Before finalizing your 2026 Fantasy football draft strategy, be sure to check out the 2026 Fantasy football rankings and cheat sheets from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

Last year, the model accurately predicted that Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin would fall well short of his top-50 ADP. The result: A season after piling up nearly 1,100 receiving yards and a career-high 13 touchdown catches, McLaurin had career lows in receiving yards (582) and receiving touchdowns (3). Injuries were a factor, but his per-game averages were down across the board as well, so anybody who avoided him in Fantasy drafts dodged a major headache. 

The same model has a proven track record providing Fantasy football tips, identifying A.J. Brown as a sleeper in 2020, nailing Jonathan Taylor’s monstrous season in 2021 and correctly predicting C.J. Stroud would take a step back in 2024. Additionally, it’s called past Fantasy football sleepers like Derrick Henry in 2019, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara in 2018, and Davante Adams in 2017. 

Now, SportsLine has simulated the entire NFL season 10,000 times and released its latest Fantasy football rankings 2026, along with plenty of sleepers, breakouts and busts. Head to SportsLine now to see them. 

Top 2026 Fantasy football busts

One of the 2026 Fantasy football busts the model is predicting: New York Giants receiver Malik Nabers. He’s going off the board around pick No. 34, but SportsLine’s model doesn’t even have him as a top-15 receiver. In fact, it has players such as DeVonta Smith and Nico Collins above him.

Nabers isn’t a lock to be ready to at the start of the season after tearing his ACL last season and then undergoing a follow-up procedure in the spring. The Giants are also expected to lean heavily on the run game under offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, making Nabers a risky pick in the second or early third round. See more busts at SportsLine.

Another bust that SportsLine’s Fantasy football rankings 2026 have identified: Bills running back James Cook. Cook is going off the board with an ADP around No. 11th overall and is the fifth running back being taken on average. SportsLine’s model, however, ranks him as RB No. 10, behind players such as Derrick Henry and Chase Brown, saying that he should be more of a late-second or even third round pick.

Cook has stacked two impressive seasons and was the RB6 a year ago, so it’s understandable why he’s getting first-round consideration in many drafts. He did fumble at a higher rate last season, however, and he’s not an elite target out of the backfield. Also, Josh Allen always looms as a touchdown vulture for Buffalo, as these factors are why the model is leaning to other high-end backs early. See which other Fantasy football busts 2026 to pick here.

How to find proven 2026 Fantasy football rankings

SportsLine is also fading one of the first five receivers off the board in early 2026 Fantasy football drafts. The model ranks this player barely inside the top 10 and is calling for him to be one of the biggest busts in the league this year. You can only see who it is, and the 2026 Fantasy football rankings for every player, at SportsLine.

So which 2026 Fantasy Football busts should you be steering clear of, and which high-end WR should you completely fade? Visit SportsLine now to get 2026 Fantasy Football cheat sheets for every single position, all from the model that helped managers avoid a disastrous Terry McLaurin season in 2025.

2026 Fantasy football ADP

(PPR, via CBS)
Get Fantasy football cheat sheets at SportsLine.

1. Jahmyr Gibbs (1.30)
2. Bijan Robinson (1.94)
3. Ja’Marr Chase (4.03)
4. Puka Nacua (5.05)
5. Jonathan Taylor (5.30)
6. Christian McCaffrey (7.02)
7. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (7.03)
8. Amon-Ra St. Brown (9.25)
9. James Cook (11.20)
10. De’Von Achane (11.56)
11. Ashton Jeanty (12.84)
12. Chase Brown (13.12)

With Ben Stokes having retired and Brendon McCullum no longer in charge, Joe Root returned as England captain for his second stint and immediately found himself at the centre of a dominant opening day. After winning the toss and choosing to bowl under an overcast sky, England’s seamers made the most of the conditions.

Ollie Robinson set the tone from the very first delivery of the three-match series. Bowling around the wicket, he produced a ball that nipped back into Azan Awais and pinned him. Robinson struck again in his third over, switching to over the wicket and trapping Shan Masood for five as Pakistan slipped to 6-2.

A two-hour rain interruption briefly halted proceedings, but Pakistan appeared to have recovered when Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique put together a 91-run stand. Imam made 42, while Shafique top-scored with 61.

That resistance was eventually broken by Robinson and Josh Tongue, who returned to rip through the Pakistan batting order. Robinson claimed 5-51 and Tongue finished with 5-46, as Pakistan collapsed from 117-3 to 171 all out. Their final five wickets fell for just 21 runs in 22 deliveries.

For Robinson, the five-wicket haul marked another memorable comeback. He had last played a Test at Lord’s in June, where he took 7-77 against New Zealand in his first Test appearance in two years. A knee injury and concerns over his fitness had kept him out afterwards.

Pakistan, meanwhile, arrived with only two wins from their previous seven Tests and were also without captain Babar Azam, who is sidelined with a finger injury.

England began their reply positively but lost Ben Duckett for 15 to Mohammad Abbas. Emilio Gay followed for 33 after edging Mohammad Ali to second slip.

Root then took charge, combining with Jordan Cox to stabilise the innings. Root remained unbeaten on 37, having already struck six fours, while Cox was 23 not out at the close.

England finished the day on 112-2, trailing by only 59 runs and with a clear advantage heading into the second day.