Well. That was quite a September.
The 2026 AFL finals gave us a brand new Wildcard round, record crowds, one of the greatest preliminary finals ever played and a grand final that went down to the final minute.
Brisbane are premiers again, for the third year running. Fremantle fans, we're so sorry. We won't mention Wharfie Time.
Here at Acquaint, we love finals footy almost as much as our clients do. So here's the whole series, week by week, plus a few ideas for making next September even easier to enjoy.
The 2026 AFL grand final
Saturday 26 September, MCG
Brisbane Lions 14.12 (96) defeated Fremantle 12.17 (89)
Kylie Minogue opened proceedings in the rain, and the footy that followed was every bit as dramatic.
Fremantle had the game in its hands. The Dockers led by 17 points with a little over 4 minutes to play, and the club had just cued up Wharfie Time, its once a game call for crowd noise. Then Brisbane kicked the last 4 goals of the match. Logan Morris put the Lions in front with 91 seconds left and added another in the final seconds for good measure.
It's Brisbane's third premiership in a row and the club's sixth overall, won in front of 100,023 people.
Norm Smith Medal
Fremantle's Shai Bolton was named best on ground with 10 votes, after 26 disposals and a game high 686 metres gained. He's only the fifth player to win the medal in a losing side, and the first since Chris Judd in 2005. Brisbane's Dayne Zorko and Will Ashcroft polled 6 votes each.
Spare a thought for Freo. A club that has never won a flag came within 4 minutes of one. Loyalty like that, season after season, deserves a very good seat next September.
Wildcard Finals: a brand new first week
For the first time, teams finishing 7th to 10th played sudden death Wildcard Finals for the last 2 places in the finals. It's the first change to the AFL finals system since 2000.
Friday 28 August, MCG: Western Bulldogs 14.12 (96) defeated Collingwood 14.9 (93). Tim Membrey's set shot after the siren faded right, and the Dogs survived by 3 points in front of 81,036 fans.
Saturday 29 August, MCG: Carlton 10.14 (74) defeated Melbourne 7.13 (55). The Blues gave up the first 4 goals, then stormed home to win by 19 points in front of 91,733.
Week one: qualifying and elimination finals
Thursday 3 September, Optus Stadium (qualifying final): Hawthorn 10.12 (72) defeated Fremantle 5.10 (40). The Hawks stunned the minor premiers by 32 points and earned a home preliminary final.
Friday 4 September, MCG (elimination final): Geelong 14.23 (107) defeated Carlton 11.8 (74). Patrick Dangerfield kicked 5 goals in front of 96,680 fans and brought Carlton's fairytale run to an end.
Saturday 5 September, SCG (qualifying final): Sydney 21.15 (141) defeated Brisbane 13.10 (88). The Swans beat the reigning premiers by 53 points and earned a week off.
Saturday 5 September, Adelaide Oval (elimination final): Adelaide 14.6 (90) defeated Western Bulldogs 9.14 (68). The Crows held off a late Bulldogs push to win by 22 points.
Week two: semi finals
Friday 11 September, Optus Stadium: Fremantle 18.12 (120) defeated Geelong 16.10 (106). The Dockers trailed in the third quarter, then found another gear to win by 14 points.
Saturday 12 September, the Gabba: Brisbane 21.18 (144) defeated Adelaide 13.13 (91). The Lions answered their Sydney loss with a 53 point win, and Charlie Cameron kicked 5 goals.
Week three: preliminary finals
Friday 18 September, SCG: Fremantle 12.11 (83) defeated Sydney 10.11 (71). Sydney led by 28 points late in the third quarter. Fremantle then kicked 6 goals in a row and held the Swans to a single behind in the last.
Saturday 19 September, MCG: Brisbane 20.11 (131) defeated Hawthorn 19.8 (122). Many are calling it one of the greatest preliminary finals ever played. Hugh McCluggage kicked the goal that put Brisbane in front with 18 seconds left.
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.
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
