🔥 Trending Understanding the AFL Finals Format

The Australian Football League (AFL) finals series is an annual playoff tournament that determines the league's premier team. The format has evolved over time, with a significant change planned for the 2026 season ³.

Current AFL Finals Format (Until 2025: Final Eight System)

Until the end of the 2025 season, the AFL uses a "Final Eight System" ³. This system involves the top eight teams from the regular season (home-and-away season) competing in a four-week knockout tournament. The structure is designed to reward higher-ranked teams with advantages such as home-ground advantage and a "double chance" ¹.

Key Concepts

• Top 8 Teams: Only the teams finishing in the top eight on the ladder at the end of the regular season qualify for the finals ⁷.
• Double Chance: Teams finishing in the top four receive a "double chance." This means if they lose their first final, they still get to play another match in the second week of the finals ¹.
• Knockout: For teams finishing 5th to 8th, every game is a knockout. A loss means elimination from the competition ¹.
• Home-Ground Advantage: Higher-ranked teams generally host their finals matches, providing a significant advantage ¹.

Week-by-Week Breakdown

The finals series unfolds over four weeks:

1. Week 1: Qualifying and Elimination Finals

• Qualifying Finals (QF):
• 1st vs. 4th
• 2nd vs. 3rd
• The winners of these matches proceed directly to the Preliminary Finals (Week 3) and earn a week off. They also secure a double chance.
• The losers of these matches play in the Semi-Finals (Week 2).
• Elimination Finals (EF):
• 5th vs. 8th
• 6th vs. 7th
• The winners of these matches proceed to the Semi-Finals (Week 2).
• The losers of these matches are eliminated from the competition.

1. Week 2: Semi-Finals

• Loser of QF1 vs. Winner of EF1
• Loser of QF2 vs. Winner of EF2
• The winners of these matches proceed to the Preliminary Finals (Week 3).
• The losers of these matches are eliminated.

1. Week 3: Preliminary Finals

• Winner of QF1 vs. Winner of SF2
• Winner of QF2 vs. Winner of SF1
• The winners of these matches advance to the Grand Final.
• The losers of these matches are eliminated.

1. Week 4: Grand Final

• The two winners from the Preliminary Finals compete for the AFL Premiership ⁴. This is the ultimate championship match.

Future AFL Finals Format (From 2026 Onwards: Final Ten System)

From the 2026 season, the AFL will transition to a "Final Ten System" ³. While the exact detailed structure for all weeks under this new system is still being finalized, the core change is the expansion to include ten teams in the finals series, rather than eight. This change aims to provide more opportunities for teams to make the finals and potentially increase engagement throughout the regular season.

Further details on how the "Final Ten System" will operate, particularly the specific matchups and progression through the weeks, are expected to be released closer to its implementation. However, it is anticipated that the principles of rewarding higher-ranked teams and providing a double chance for the very top teams will likely be retained, albeit with adjustments to accommodate the increased number of participating teams.

The AFL publishes all the latest news, fixtures, scores, and information on its official website ²⁵⁶.