The 2026 AFL Finals come to a close with the AFL Grand Final on September 26, 2026, at the MCG after a brand-new AFL Finals system!
2026 AFL Grand Final Betting Outright
AFL odds correct as of 21/06/2026 and subject to change.
2026 AFL Finals
The 2026 AFL Finals dates are scheduled to kick off on Thursday the 3rd of September 2026.
The AFL 2026 finals will conclude with the AFL Grand Final on September 26, 2026, at the MCG in Melbourne.
- 2026 AFL Minor Premiers: TBD
- 2026 AFL Premiers: TBD
- 2026 AFL Runners-Up: TBD
- Coleman Medallist: TBD
The 2026 AFL Finals get underway in early September following the 25-round regular home-and-away season starting with the inaugural ‘Opening Round’ that kicked off on Thursday March 5.
The 2026 AFL Premiers will be decided in the AFL Grand Final which takes place on Saturday the 26th of September 2026.
The reigning champions are the Brisbane Lions who last season defended their title with a 47-point win over the Geelong Cats at the MCG for the fifth Premiership win overall in 2025.
The 2026 AFL Finals introduce the league’s biggest shake‑up in a quarter of a century, built around the new top‑10 finals system and the debut of the Wildcard Finals Round. This format expands September, removes the pre‑finals bye, and keeps more clubs alive deeper into the home‑and‑away season.
How the 2026 AFL finals structure works
- Top six teams at the end of Round 25 advance directly to the traditional finals bracket, giving them rest and preparation time.
- 7th vs 10th and 8th vs 9th play sudden‑death Wildcard matches during what used to be the pre‑finals bye. Winners claim the final two spots in the top eight.
- The finals then revert to the familiar format: qualifying finals, elimination finals, semi‑finals, prelims, and the Grand Final.
- The system is designed to increase meaningful late‑season games, boost competitiveness, and reward higher‑placed teams with rest and home advantage.
Why the new AFL Finals format matters
- More teams in contention: Clubs sitting 9th or 10th now have a genuine September pathway, keeping fan interest high into late August.
- Higher stakes earlier: With only the top six guaranteed a spot, finishing positions become more valuable, especially the battle for 6th vs 7th.
- Wildcard weekend drama: Two knockout games inject a fresh broadcast and betting opportunity, likely becoming one of the most-watched weekends of the season.
- Strategic shift: Coaches must plan for the possibility of playing four straight knockout games if entering via the Wildcard route.
Key AFL Finals dates for 2026
- Wildcard Finals Round: Late August (replacing the pre‑finals bye).
- Traditional finals series: Early September through to the Grand Final.
- 2026 AFL Grand Final: Saturday, 26 September 2026 at the MCG.
The AFL Finals provide Aussie Rules betting fans with some of the best opportunities to enjoy a footy bet of the year with everything going on the line for the Top 10 remaining teams (as of 2026) in the Premiership heading towards the AFL Grand Final held at the MCG on a Saturday in late September or early October.
Each season the annual AFL Premiership takes place around the country with the now 25-week regular home-and-away season featuring the league’s 18 clubs facing off in the AFL fixtures for competition points and ladder positioning.
The remaining two teams at the end of the AFL Finals come head-to-head in the highly anticipated Grand Final AFL game in the last week of the finals, and the winner of that clash is rewarded with the Premiership title and fanfare.
AFL Premiership betting is open across the season with all-in prices for each club on offer to punters.
2026 AFL Finals Schedule
Week 1
AFL FINALS WEEK 1 PREVIEW
Game 1 (Qualifying Final): TBD vs TBD
- 1st v 4th
- Winner: TBD
- Result: TBD
- Score: TBD
- Date: Thursday September 3, 2026
- Time: 7:40pm (AEST)
- Venue: TBD
Game 2 (Qualifying Final): TBD vs TBD
- 2nd v 3rd
- Winner: TBD
- Result: TBD
- Score: TBD
- Date: Friday September 4, 2026
- Time: 7:40pm
- Venue: TBD
Game 3 (Elimination Final): TBD vs TBD
- 5th v 8th
- Winner: TBD
- Result: TBD
- Score: TBD
- Date: Saturday September 5, 2026
- Time: 7:30pm
- Venue: TBD
Game 4 (Elimination Final): TBD vs TBD
- 6th v 7th
- Winner: TBD
- Result: TBD
- Score: TBD
- Date: Friday September 4, 2026
- Time: 7:40pm
- Venue: TBD
Week 2 Semi Finals
AFL FINALS WEEK 2 PREVIEW
Game 1 (Semi-Final): TBD vs TBD
- Winner: TBD
- Result: TBD
- Score: TBD
- Date: Friday September 11, 2026
- Time: 7:40pm
- Venue: TBD
Game 2 (Semi-Final): TBD vs TBD
- Winner: TBD
- Result: TBD
- Score: TBD
- Date: Saturday September 12, 2026
- Time: 7:35pm
- Venue: TBD
Week 3 Preliminary Final
AFL FINALS WEEK 3 PREVIEW
Game 1 (Preliminary Final): TBD vs TBD
- Winner of Qualifying Final 2 vs Winner of Semi-Final 1
- Winner: TBD
- Result: TBD
- Score: TBD
- Date: Friday September 18, 2026
- Start Time: 7:40pm
- Venue: TBD
Game 2 (Preliminary Final): TBD vs TBD
- Winner of Qualifying Final 1 vs Winner of Semi-Final 2
- Winner: TBD
- Result: TBD
- Score: TBD
- Date: Saturday September 19, 2026
- Start Time: 5:15pm
- Venue: TBD
AFL FINALS WEEK 4: 2026 AFL GRAND FINAL
2026 AFL GRAND FINAL PREVIEW
TBD vs TBD
- Winner of Preliminary Final 1 vs Winner of Preliminary Final 2
- Winner: TBD
- Result: TBD
- Score: TBD
- Norm Smith Medal: TBD
- Date: Saturday September 26, 2026
- Start Time: 2:30pm
- Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground
AFL FINALS SYSTEM
From 1994 – 1999 the AFL Finals series used the McIntyre System, but the new format gives the top four teams at the end of the home-and-away season an easier Grand Final lead-up. Below is a run through of how the AFL Premiership Finals Series works.
AFL Finals Week 1: Qualifying & Elimination
Four games are played in the first week of the finals series. Two are Qualifying Finals played between the top four clubs on the AFL ladder and the remaining two are Elimination Finals between teams 5 – 8 on the premiership table. Qualifying winners get a week of rest in the second round of finals, while the losing teams play in the semis against the Elimination winners.
- Qualifying Final 1: 1st (Home) vs. 4th (Away)
- Elimination Final 1: 5th (Home) vs. 8th (Away)
- Elimination Final 2: 6th (Home) vs. 7th (Away)
- Qualifying Final 2: 2nd (Home) vs. 3rd (Away)
AFL Finals Week 2: Semi-Finals
In Week 2 of the AFL finals series the loser of the first qualifier gets the home ground advantage hosting the winner of the first elimination; and the winner of the second elimination plays away to the loser of the second qualifying game the previous week. Both games are must-win knock-outs and determine the two Week 3 final line-ups.
- Semi Final 1: Week 1 First Qualifiers Loser (Home) vs. Week 1 First Elimination Winner (Away).
- Semi Final 2: Week 1 Second Qualifiers Loser (Home) vs. Week 1 Second Elimination Winner (Away).
AFL Finals Week 3: Preliminary Finals
The AFL Preliminary finals are the last stepping stone to a Grand Final appearance the following week with two more clubs knocked out of contention at the end of the two games. After a week off the first and second Qualifying Finals winners get home advantage over the two Semi-Final winners.
- Preliminary Final 1: Week 1 First Qualifiers Winner (Home) vs Semi Final 2 Winner (Away)
- Preliminary Final 2: Week 1 Second Qualifiers Winner (Home) vs Semi Final 1 Winner (Away)
AFL Finals Week 4: AFL Grand Final
In the fourth and final week of the AFL finals series the much awaited Grand Final is contested at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between the two Preliminary winners. Check out our AFL Grand Final page for more information.
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