After a thrilling first week of finals, we’ve now confirmed the two semi-final match-ups to be played next weekend.
Hawthorn Hawks vs Western Bulldogs
Second semi-final
Time: 7:50pm (AEST)
Date: Friday, September 16
Venue: MCG
Sydney Swans vs Adelaide Crows
First semi-final
Time: 7:25pm (AEST)
Date: Saturday, September 17
Venue: SCG
The AFL has also confirmed as much as possible of the preliminary final fixtures for the third week of the finals series. They will be:
Geelong Cats vs TBA (winner of first semi-final)
Second preliminary final
Time: 7:50pm (AEST)
Date: Friday, September 23
Venue: MCG
GWS Giants vs TBA (winner of second semi-final)
First preliminary final
Time: TBA
Date: Saturday, September 24
Venue: Spotless Stadium
These fixtures are the result of a thrilling weekend of footy that saw matches that were both surprising and entertaining.
On Thursday night the Western Bulldogs pulled off a major upset to knock off the West Coast Eagles at Domain Stadium.
That sees them go through to a semi-final against Hawthorn, after the Hawks were beaten by the Geelong Cats on Friday night.
That Friday night match was only resolved after Isaac Smith missed a shot on goal that would have won the game after the siren.
That result also means the Cats will get a week off before playing a preliminary final against the winner of the first semi-final.
That semi-final will be played between the Sydney Swans and the Adelaide Crows, after they experienced markedly different fortunes in the first week.
The ladder leaders and premiership favourites, Sydney, were belted by ‘younger brother’ GWS at ANZ Stadium.
The Adelaide Crows on the other hand made short work of a tired and injury-stricken North Melbourne side at Adelaide Oval.
GWS’ win over the Swans means they go through to a preliminary final on their home turf at Spotless Stadium against the winner of the Hawthorn vs Bulldogs game.
Cat
Roar Guru
if you change it to suit the semi-finalists then you could end up with the highest seed going into the GF with the shorter break. I'd think getting the breaks going into GF to be the most important, those teams will have earned it. If the semis are screwed up that's just bad luck, more motivation to finish higher up the ladder and avoid the semis
me too
Guest
except when it suits the AFL. i.e. 2012. It's all about money.
TomC
Roar Guru
Well, I suppose that's a fair principle. Although avoiding teams travelling interstate off a six day break in the finals seems like a much more important principle.
Cat
Roar Guru
Higher seeded preliminary finalist should always play first.
TomC
Roar Guru
I'm really not sure what that has to do with anything, but on the face of it the huge difference in potential crowds between a preliminary final crowd in Melbourne and one in Sydney seems like a big reason why they're treated differently. I cannot see any similar reason why the Victorian game must be played on a Friday. Is it because Sydney hosts Friday night football so much less often?
Cat
Roar Guru
One team gets to play their home prelim at their home ground and the other doesn't, this despite but games being a Vic vs. Sydney side and both home grounds having similar capacities and both having nearby larger capacity grounds available.
TomC
Roar Guru
Hang on, so Geelong's opponent gets a six day break, and GWS' opponent gets an eight day break? This seems like a really obvious problem with a really obvious solution.