First Wildcard Final (WC1)
7th v 10th
Winner → Re-seeded into EF1 or EF2 · Loser → Eliminated
THE AFL FIXTURE GUIDE
AFL Finals Format 2027: How the System Works
Ten clubs stay in the premiership race after the home-and-away season. Two wildcard games reduce the field to eight, with a double chance for the top four and sudden-death footy for everyone else.
Who qualifies for the AFL finals?
1st–4th
Bye, then a qualifying final. Double chance: a qualifying-final loss leads to a semi-final.
5th–6th
Bye, then an elimination final. Sudden death from the first game.
7th–10th
Wildcard final: 7th v 10th, 8th v 9th. Sudden death; winners are re-seeded before the elimination finals.
AFL finals system diagram: every winner and loser route
QF = qualifying final · EF = elimination final · SF = semi-final · PF = preliminary final · GF = Grand Final. Positions refer to the final home-and-away ladder. Match listings decide the actual ground and home/away order.
1. Wildcard finals
Second Wildcard Final (WC2)
8th v 9th
Winner → Re-seeded into EF1 or EF2 · Loser → Eliminated
2. Qualifying & elimination finals
First Qualifying Final (QF1)
1st v 4th
Winner → PF1 · Loser → SF1
Second Qualifying Final (QF2)
2nd v 3rd
Winner → PF2 · Loser → SF2
First Elimination Final (EF1)
5th v Lower-ranked wildcard winner (8th seed)
Winner → SF1 · Loser → Eliminated
Second Elimination Final (EF2)
6th v Higher-ranked wildcard winner (7th seed)
Winner → SF2 · Loser → Eliminated
3. Semi-finals
First Semi-final (SF1)
Loser QF1 v Winner EF1
Winner → PF2 · Loser → Eliminated
Second Semi-final (SF2)
Loser QF2 v Winner EF2
Winner → PF1 · Loser → Eliminated
4. Preliminary finals
First Preliminary Final (PF1)
Winner QF1 v Winner SF2
Winner → GF · Loser → Eliminated
Second Preliminary Final (PF2)
Winner QF2 v Winner SF1
Winner → GF · Loser → Eliminated
5. Grand Final
Grand Final (GF)
Winner PF1 v Winner PF2
Winner → Premiers · Loser → Runner-up
Four possible wildcard outcomes
These examples use ladder positions, not predictions about clubs. A lower number means a higher ladder position.
If 7th and 8th win
EF1: 5th v 8th · EF2: 6th v 7th
If 7th and 9th win
EF1: 5th v 9th · EF2: 6th v 7th
If 10th and 8th win
EF1: 5th v 10th · EF2: 6th v 8th
If 10th and 9th win
EF1: 5th v 10th · EF2: 6th v 9th
AFL finals rules explained
The top four: a double chance
First plays fourth in QF1, and second plays third in QF2. Winners go straight to a preliminary final and have the semi-final week off. Losers get another chance in a semi-final. A second finals loss ends their campaign.
Fifth and sixth: a week off, then sudden death
Both clubs sit out the wildcard round. Fifth meets the lower-ranked wildcard winner in EF1; sixth meets the higher-ranked wildcard winner in EF2. An elimination-final loss ends the season. A win earns a semi-final against a qualifying-final loser.
Seventh to tenth: win a wildcard to stay alive
Seventh hosts tenth and eighth hosts ninth, subject to the AFL's venue arrangements. The top six have a bye. Wildcard winners are re-seeded by their original ladder positions, rather than permanently assigned to an elimination final by the wildcard game they won.
Home-state advantage is not a guaranteed stadium
The published regulations provide home-state entitlements for finals, subject to AFL Commission decisions and venue arrangements. A club's usual home ground is not guaranteed. Use the published match venue to plan your trip. The Grand Final is scheduled for the MCG.
What happens if an AFL final is drawn?
Under the current published regulations, a tied final goes to extra time: two three-minute halves plus time-on. If scores remain level, the process repeats until there is a winner. There is no drawn result that sends both clubs through.
Finals terms in plain English
A bye is a week without a game. A double chance lets a qualifying-final loser play again. Sudden death means a loss ends the season. A preliminary final decides a Grand Final place; a qualifying final is an earlier top-four match. Time-on is added for stoppages.
AFL finals format questions
Is the 2027 AFL finals series a top-eight or top-ten system?
Ten teams qualify for the wildcard-era finals. After the two wildcard games, eight clubs remain. The AFL's 2027 season announcement confirms a five-week finals series beginning with wildcards.
Can a team finishing tenth win the premiership?
Yes. It must win its wildcard, elimination final, semi-final, preliminary final and Grand Final: five consecutive finals wins.
How many finals does a top-four team need to win?
Three wins if it wins its qualifying final: qualifying final, preliminary final and Grand Final. After a qualifying-final loss, it must win the semi-final, preliminary final and Grand Final.
Which published rules does this guide use?
The AFL's published final-ten system and February 2026 regulations, together with its confirmation of the 2027 wildcard finals series. Check the official regulations for any subsequent amendments.