The 2026 AFL Finals Series has delivered a dramatic start, with the introduction of the new Wildcard Finals adding an extra weekend of September footy.
With the home-and-away season complete and the first week of traditional finals now finished, the premiership race is down to eight teams. Fremantle finished the season as minor premiers, while Sydney, Brisbane and Hawthorn earned the other top-four spots and the valuable double chance.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 AFL Finals Series, including the teams remaining, results so far, upcoming fixtures and how Acquaint can help make finals footy easier to enjoy.
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:
The 2026 finals teams
- Fremantle Dockers – minor premiers
- Sydney Swans
- Brisbane Lions
- Hawthorn Hawks
- Geelong Cats
- Adelaide Crows
- Melbourne Demons
- Western Bulldogs
- Collingwood Magpies
- Carlton Blues
Under the new 2026 finals format, teams finishing seventh to 10th entered the inaugural Wildcard Finals. Melbourne and Collingwood were eliminated, while Carlton and the Western Bulldogs progressed into the traditional finals series.
Wildcard Finals: the new first week
The 2026 season introduced Wildcard Finals, giving teams finishing seventh to 10th a sudden-death opportunity to reach the traditional finals series.
Friday 28 August
Western Bulldogs 14.12 (96) defeated Collingwood 14.9 (93)
MCG
The Bulldogs survived a thrilling three-point contest after Collingwood's Tim Membrey missed a set shot after the final siren.
Saturday 29 August
Carlton 10.14 (74) defeated Melbourne 7.13 (55)
MCG
Carlton produced a 19-point win in front of 91,733 fans to continue its remarkable late-season revival and earn an elimination-final meeting with Geelong.
Week one of the traditional AFL Finals
The four qualifying and elimination finals were played from Thursday 3 September to Saturday 5 September.
Thursday 3 September – Qualifying Final
Fremantle 5.10 (40) lost to Hawthorn 10.12 (72)
Optus Stadium
Hawthorn produced one of the opening weekend's biggest upsets, defeating minor premier Fremantle by 32 points.
The result sends the Hawks directly into a preliminary final, while Fremantle must now take the longer route through a semi-final.
Friday 4 September – Elimination Final
Geelong 15.17 (107) defeated Carlton 11.8 (74)
MCG
Geelong ended Carlton's impressive finals run with a 33-point victory at the MCG.
The Cats now face Fremantle in a do-or-die semi-final.
Saturday 5 September – Qualifying Final
Sydney 21.15 (141) defeated Brisbane 13.10 (88)
SCG
Sydney produced one of the standout performances of the finals series so far, overwhelming reigning premiers Brisbane by 53 points.
The Swans earned a week off and will host a preliminary final.
Saturday 5 September – Elimination Final
Adelaide 14.6 (90) defeated Western Bulldogs 9.14 (68)
Adelaide Oval
Adelaide held off a late Bulldogs fightback to win by 22 points and progress to a semi-final against Brisbane.
The victory was particularly significant for the Crows, giving them their first finals win since 2017.
Week two: semi-finals
The semi-finals are where the pressure really ramps up. There is no second chance: lose and the season is over.
Friday 11 September
Fremantle v Geelong
Optus Stadium
6:10pm AWST / 8:10pm AEST
Fremantle will be looking to recover from its surprise qualifying-final defeat, while Geelong arrives after eliminating Carlton at the MCG.
The winner advances to a preliminary final against Sydney.
Saturday 12 September
Brisbane v Adelaide
The Gabba
7:35pm AEST
Brisbane gets the opportunity to respond after its heavy loss to Sydney, while Adelaide enters the contest full of confidence after its breakthrough finals win.
The winner advances to a preliminary final against Hawthorn.
Week three: preliminary finals
The winners of the two semi-finals will join Hawthorn and Sydney in the preliminary finals.
The match-ups are:
- Sydney will host the winner of Fremantle v Geelong.
- Hawthorn will host the winner of Brisbane v Adelaide.
The preliminary finals are scheduled for the weekend of 18–19 September, with venues determined by the qualifying-final winners.
Week four: the 2026 AFL Grand Final
The 2026 AFL Grand Final is scheduled for:
Saturday 26 September 2026
Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
The premiership decider has not yet been played, so there is no 2026 premier or Norm Smith Medallist to report at this stage.
The four remaining teams after the preliminary finals will determine who contests the Grand Final.
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.
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.
Grand Final Result
In the 2025 AFL Grand Final, Brisbane Lions triumphed over Geelong in a commanding 47-point victory, securing their second consecutive premiership. The final score was Brisbane 18.14 (122) to Geelong 11.9 (75). Brisbane delivered a dominant second half performance, with Lachie Neale making an immediate impact after being subbed on in the third quarter, including a crucial goal that helped break Geelong's momentum.
Will Ashcroft was awarded the Norm Smith Medal for his stellar performance, collecting 32 disposals and 10 clearances. Ashcroft’s impressive showing made him one of the youngest players to win the prestigious medal twice in a row. This victory marks Brisbane's back-to-back premierships, solidifying their place in AFL history.
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.
Last updated: September 2026
