Round 23 is over, the ladder is set, and now we know which teams will meet in the first week of the 2017 AFL finals series.
» Twelve quick takes from AFL Round 23
The Adelaide Crows and the GWS Giants will kick off the 2017 finals series on Thursday night, with the other qualifying final to be played on Friday night between Geelong and Richmond.
Sydney and Essendon then Port Adelaide and West Coast will play out the two elimination finals on Satruday.
2017 AFL Finals week 1 fixture
First Qualifying Final: Adelaide Crows (1) vs GWS Giants (4)
7:50pm AEST Thursday 7 September, Adelaide Oval.Second Qualifying Final: Geelong Cats (2) vs Richmond Tigers (3)
7:50pm AEST Friday 8 September, MCG.Second Elimination Final: Sydney Swans (6) vs Essendon Bombers (7)
4:20pm AEST Saturday 9 September, SCG.First Elimination Final: Port Adelaide Power (5) vs West Coast Eagles (8)
7:50pm AEST Saturday 9 September, Adelaide Oval.
(AAP Image/Ben Macmahon)
The West Coast Eagles secured their qualification for the finals series in thrilling circumstances, with two late goals from Lewis Jetta and Jack Darling putting them just marginally into eighth.
They’ll play Port Adelaide, whose domination of Gold Coast on Saturday night saw them secure fifth, and also finish the year with the second best percentage.
Essendon completed their comeback story and secured seventh place with a win over Fremantle on Sunday afternoon, but they have a huge challenge ahead.
They’re up against Sydney, the finals wildcard, and will have to travel to the SCG to play them. Sydney, if they win through, will find themselves up against the loser of Geelong and Richmond.
The Adelaide Crows finished on top of the ladder for the first time since 2005 and have won the right to host a qualifying final at Adelaide Oval.
The Geelong Cats secured a top-two finish last night when they defeated the GWS Giants at Simonds Stadium.
The GWS Giants’ loss in the very same game has condemned them to travel in the first week, and they’ll face the Crows who caned them at Adelaide Oval in Round 1.
A win for the Richmond Tigers on Sunday saw them pick up third place, and a match at the MCG against Geelong will be for all intents and purposes a home final.
Keith
Guest
Yes
Mark
Guest
Shut up
Cat
Roar Guru
Both choose to sell home games to Tassie. They are both well compensated for doing so. Geelong on the other hand loses money being forced to play home games in Melbourne. There is also the fact that NM and Hawthorn aren't playing at another teams home ground. They aren't giving up their home ground advantage, its just at a different venue.
Tonka Goldman
Guest
When interstate teams came into the VFL it was renamed as the AFL. If they moved the Grand Final away from the MCG the AFL will have lied to us having stated the GF will always be played in Melbourne, the birthplace of Aussie Rules, and that one WILL NOT BE FORGIVEN. If those calling for an interstate Grand Final... if you don't like it then take your bat and ball and go home. It's bad enough the umpires don't know the rules and give free kicks away like they are napkins at McDonalds, but having interstaters comment on the Geelong move to the MCG.... particularly when they asked to come into OUR league, now the guests are demanding everything their own way. You lot are worse than muslim immigrants fair dinkum! Next you'll want the Melbourne Cup to be run at Morphetville!!!
Cat
Roar Guru
Far as I know tickets go on sale for both competing club members at the same time. Public after.
joe b
Guest
except North and Hawks... they play in Tas :)
joe b
Guest
Agree, Geelong are disadvantaged... and the AFL GF should be rotated amongst Adelaide Oval, Perth Stadium, Sydney , MCG
joe b
Guest
McGregor went 10 rounds with one of the greats, and took home $100mil.... not sure how many professional boxers would feel foolish with that effort. Agree, the ref was good to make that call.
John
Guest
If allowing more people to go to the Geelong v Richmond game is the reason for the switch to the MCG ( of course it is $$$) why not move the Sydney v Essendon game as well to the MCG ... more people = $$$$.
LMS
Guest
Are there any specific rules for allocating tickets to competing clubs members? Or, in other words, if played at Geelong how many tickets are reserved for Richmond members and therefore how many Geelong members wouldn't be able to get in? I agree its not fair though, as I now assume it will be a packed Richmond crowd.
Keith
Guest
Gill is quiet because he is a glorified Puppet of Richmond & the $$$$ not Morality when u erns a home final you should get a home final . Perhaps Gutless GILL will configure the playing surface to the Simmons Stadeum Size In a pigs Ear he Would..................
Cat
Roar Guru
I dunno the Tigers (1-20 versus the Cats and 13 straight losses) have a pretty low chance too, but I admit I'm probably not the best person to accurately weigh their chances.
Cat
Roar Guru
You are correct $$$ over fairness every day for the AFL.
Connor
Guest
Yeah I think the Giants have the least chance of causing an upset of all the finals in week 1
Wayne
Roar Guru
Don't the AFL own finals? They tell the clubs where they will be playing in their home state. ANZ wasn't available, I believe NRL booked it out for their semis. You'll get 80k+ if weather holds at MCG. Why would AFL forgoe 50k of ticket sales (at inflated price) for Geelong to feel happy.
Cat
Roar Guru
Definitely liking the draw Geelong has in front of them. If GWS somehow found a way to beat Adelaide first up it would set up the potential for two showdown/derby finals. Port v. Adelaide in Elimination final and Sydney v GWS in Prelim. I'd be surprised if GWS won their first round match though.
Cat
Roar Guru
Connor
Guest
I'll go out on a limb and say the winner of Geelong v Richmond will definitely make the grand final. They won't have to play Sydney in a prelim; probably the Giants or Port, but in Victoria. Either way they'd be playing an interstate team
Jewels
Roar Rookie
I'm a crazy Swans fan but I totally agree with Cat, the GF should always be played at the MCG regardless of who the combatants are but Geelong should get to play all their finals at Kardinia. It is ridiculous and very wrong that the team coming second have to forgo their hosting rights and play their first final at the home ground of the team that came third - there is no rhyme, reason or logic to this decision apart from dollars in the pocket of the AFL. Will be interesting to see what will happen if GWS end up having to host the Swans in a final this year. Will the AFL spend the estimated $500,0000 on getting ANZ reconfigured? The showground is very obviously too small but to force The Giants to the SCG would be grossly unfair.
Phil
Guest
Simply Kardinia park is too small to host a big pulling final. Increase the capacity if you want a big final there its a luxury that the AFL wven let you play home games there. As for GWS theyre not going to pull much more than what they did last year anyway if it were played at the SCG ut would have been half empty.