Footy finals fever is here, and Melbourne is buzzing. To help you enjoy every kick, mark and roar, we’ve refreshed our fan-friendly guide with the confirmed top eight, week-one fixtures, and simple ways Acquaint can make game day easy at home or out at the ‘G.

The top eight and week-one fixtures

Here’s how the ladder settled after the home and away season and who plays first up in the AFL Finals series:

Final top eight

Adelaide Crows (minor premiers)
Geelong Cats
Brisbane Lions
Collingwood Magpies
GWS Giants
Fremantle Dockers
Gold Coast Suns (first-ever finals)
Hawthorn Hawks.

Week 1 – AFL Finals fixtures and times (AEST):

Thu 4 September – First Qualifying Final: Adelaide Crows v Collingwood, Adelaide Oval, 7:40pm AEST (7:10pm local).
Fri 5 September – Second Qualifying Final: Geelong v Brisbane, MCG, 7:40pm AEST.
Sat 6 September – First Elimination Final: GWS v Hawthorn, ENGIE Stadium, 3:15pm AEST.
Sat 6 September – Second Elimination Final: Fremantle v Gold Coast, Optus Stadium, 7:35pm AEST / 5:35pm AWST.

Finals footy, week by week – Acquaint style

The AFL Finals series runs across four weeks. Here’s how we can help you enjoy each stage stress-free, with the same friendly face supporting you from the first bounce to the final siren.

Qualifying finals (top-four teams)

If your club finished top four, you’ve earned a double chance. Think of this week as a chance to settle the nerves. We can set up a calm, comfy viewing space at home: clear walkways, good lighting, remote within reach, and a tidy snack station. Prefer to feel the crowd? We’ll plan transport, meet-up points and entry so you move from car to seat without rush.

Little touches matter: captions on the TV, a warm throw, a thermos of tea at the ready. If you’d like, we’ll keep gentle notes about what helped so we can repeat it next week.

Elimination finals (win or your season ends)

This one can be tense, and that’s okay. We’ll sort out a simple routine that keeps the focus on the fun part: the footy. That might mean an early dinner and a half-time stretch. If you’re going to the game, we’ll arrange drop-off zones near accessible gates and help with tickets on your phone or printed paper, whatever you prefer. Need a scarf or beanie on the way? We’ll make a quick stop.

Week two: semi-finals

The second week is where stories turn. If your team has a home final, we’ll plan an easy run-sheet: who’s attending with you, where you’ll meet, and how you’ll get home. Watching at home? We’ll give the lounge a quick reset, line up replays for the moments you want to see again, and keep your phone charged for family check-ins.

Result update: Over the weekend, Hawthorn beat Adelaide, and Brisbane beat the Suns. That means the prelims are now set.

Week three: preliminary finals

So close you can almost taste it. Excitement can mean a busy house: visitors calling, kids dropping by, food arriving. We’ll keep things smooth, doors answered, kettle boiled, and a clear seat with your favourite view of the screen. If you’re heading to the stadium, we’ll confirm access, quiet rest spots, and the best time to leave to miss the crush.

Week four: the grand final

Grand final day is a marathon of smiles, songs and snacks. If you have long-held traditions, we’ll follow them to a tee with special cheese, the “lucky” cushion, and the same playlist before the first bounce. We can invite a small crew, keep numbers comfortable, and tidy up as we go so you can relax into the post-match glow, win or lose.

Game-day support at home

A good viewing set-up makes every quarter better. Here’s what we can do before the siren:

Picture and sound made simple: TV tuned, volume set, captions on, footstool in the right spot.
Snacks without fuss: prep a light platter, keep water and tea (or your favourite tipple) close by.
Comfort and calm: adjust room temperature, position a lamp to reduce glare, and keep the phone nearby for family texts during breaks.
Stay connected: if you’d like, we’ll send a quick message to your loved ones before the bounce and at full-time.

Getting to the ‘G

If you’re off to the footy, we’ll plan the whole trip:

Tickets and timing: help with ticket purchases, on-sale dates and accessible seating notes from the AFL site.
Transport: door-to-door drop-off and pick-up, parking plans, and help with rideshare apps.
Access made easy: support with bag checks, lifts and ramps, and finding your row and seat without a hurry.
Friendly company: the same trusted person by your side, someone who knows your routine and your team song.

Who’s playing who and what it means

Week one shapes the path to the premiership:

Qualifying finals: Winners take a straight path to the preliminary finals; losers get a second chance next week against elimination final winners. This year, Collingwood and Geelong are through to preliminary finals (both at the MCG).
Elimination finals: Hawthorn and Gold Coast won their do-or-die clashes and progress to week two

Week two semi-finals confirmed

Friday 12 September: Adelaide v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval, 7:40pm AEST (7:10pm ACST). Winner plays Geelong in a preliminary final.
Saturday 13 September: Brisbane v Gold Coast, the Gabba, 7:35pm AEST. Winner plays Collingwood in a preliminary final.

Week three preliminary finals confirmed

Friday 19 September: Geelong Cats v Hawthorn, MCG, 7:40pm AEST.
Saturday 20 September: Collingwood Magpies v Brisbane Lions, MCG, 5:15pm AEST.

Finals footy, the Acquaint way

Finals fever should be fun, not fiddly. With Acquaint, you get:

Consistency: the same friendly face for your finals run, not a surprise roster.
Flexibility: light help now with room to add more support later.
Local know-how: Melbourne traffic tips, gate numbers, and the best time to leave the ‘G after the final siren.
Simple communication: clear notes after visits so family members stay in the loop; no chasing, no guesswork.

Plan your finals fever

Whether you’re watching at home, booking accessible seats, or heading out for a semi-final, we can make it easy from the first qualifying final to the grand final. Call Acquaint on 03 9267 9090 to book your finals run-sheet, home set-up, or game-day companion and enjoy footy finals fever your way.

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_{Last updated: September 2025}