The race for the 2024 McClelland Trophy is heating up, with the Brisbane Lions and Hawthorn Hawks locked in a tight contest.

Currently, the Lions lead with 114 points, just ahead of the Hawks at 112 points, following impressive victories in the NAB AFLW round.

The trophy rewards the best-performing team across both the AFL and AFLW competitions, with a total prize pool of $1 million to be shared among players and the club.

Brisbane's AFL premiership run last month in the men's competition following a historic late-season surge has put them in pole position, while the young Hawks' unlikely run to semi-final weekend may prove pivotal.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Leigh Matthews watches on as Chris Fagan, Senior Coach of the Lions, Lachie Neale, Dayne Zorko, and Harris Andrews of the Lions hoist the premiership cup during the AFL Grand Final match between Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on September 28, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos)

The points system gives significant weight to wins in both leagues: four points for AFL wins and eight points for AFLW victories. With only three games remaining in the AFLW season, every match is crucial, and the Lions and Hawks will have to navigate their final fixtures carefully.

Notably, the two teams will not face each other in the remainder of the women's season, making this battle even more intriguing as it unfolds.

As the competition reaches its climax, the stakes are high for both clubs. The $1 million prize, split evenly between AFL and AFLW players, adds major motivation for clubs.

With teams like Fremantle and Port Adelaide still in the mix, the coming weeks promise an exhilarating finish to the McClelland Trophy race.