After 23 rounds of the home-and-away season, the ladder is finally locked in and we know which teams will go head-to-head in week one of the 2018 AFL Finals.
Richmond and Hawthorn have been handed the Thursday night timeslot, with the elimination final between Melbourne and Geelong given Friday night.
Sydney will host the GWS Giants at the SCG on Saturday afternoon, before attention turns to the West Coast Eagles and Collingwood Magpies on Saturday night.
As per the last two years, there will be no finals played on Sunday.
2018 AFL finals fixture week 1
First qualifying final: Richmond Tigers (1) vs Hawthorn Hawks (4)
7:20pm AEST Thursday September 6, MCG
First elimination final: Melbourne Demons (5) vs Geelong Cats (8)
7:50pm AEST Friday September 7, MCG
Second elimination final: Sydney Swans (6) vs GWS Giants (7)
4:20pm AEST Saturday September 8, SCG
Second qualifying final: West Coast Eagles (2) vs Collingwood Magpies (3)
8:10pm AEST Saturday September 8, Optus Stadium
(Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
The Richmond Tigers have finished on top of the ladder to back up winning the 2017 premiership and will enter the 2018 finals as strong favourites to go back-to-back.
They’ll open their finals campaign with a qualifying final against the Hawthorn Hawks at the MCG, and remarkably it will be the first time in VFL/AFL history that Hawthorn and Richmond have met in a finals match.
Richmond surely will be the favourites to win and set up a home preliminary final, but the Hawks have an ace up their sleeve in that tactical mastermind Alastair Clarkson will have a whole two weeks to prepare for the game.
It’s the West Coast Eagles and the Collingwood Magpies who will go head-to-head in the other qualifying final, to be played at Optus Stadium, after both sides secured their spots with wins this week.
Both teams will spend the bye week sweating on the potential return of superstar players for September – Josh J Kennedy for West Coast, Adam Treloar and Jeremy Howe for Collingwood.
A win for the Melbourne in their final game of the season has seen them rise to fifth on the ladder, and means they’ll host Geelong in an MCG blockbuster.
The promises to be an absolute thriller, given the two sides have already played out two matches decided by less than a goal this year.
Meanwhile the Dees’ win also means that the Giants will finish in seventh, and will go up against the Sydney Swans, likely at ANZ Stadium.
An all-Sydney finals showdown with elimination on the line promises to be a mouthwatering clash, and GWS will hope a two-week break allows them to bring back some stars and reverse the form slide that has seen them drop their last two matches of the year.
Griffo
Guest
Didn't a Thursday night game in Melbourne get 90,000+ this year? Seem to recall Richmond played in that too.
Griffo
Guest
Parramatta aren't playing finals
Joe B
Guest
Friday is a school/work day, so try not to finish (or start) too late on Thurs night (risk less attendance and viewers)... only 30mins difference I know, but it helps a bit. It is more likely the broadcasters would want it started later so they can play more gambling advertisements... there are some restrictions before 8.30pm.
mds1970
Roar Guru
A bit of luck for my Giants to get the Swans. It's amazing that there's only ever been one all-SA final, never been an all-WA final, but this will be the second Giants v Swans final in 3 seasons. Thankful for the week off. The Giants need every day they can get to regroup. No wind in their sails today.
Realist
Guest
So, PtS, you consider winning 8 of our last 9 games including Geelong twice, Sydney & Collingwood (by plenty) and also Bombers & Bulldogs (arguably the 2 best teams outside the 8) Tigers worst form in 14 months? Do you actually believe the rubbish you write? Maybe you should be a little more concerned about your own team (most likely to go out in straight sets) than your obsessive preoccupation with the Tigers. It has become a mental health issue with you now Snide. Is your real name Tex Walker?
Realist
Guest
Doubt it. Hawks are over-rated. Tigers been cruising last 2 weeks now primed and ready for the real stuff. Pies in poor form and face a massive task on perth. Could be straight sets exit for poor old Collingwood.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
At the start of the season I did suggest that Port and Essendon would miss out and the Pies and Dees would take their place
Back2Back
Guest
Worst form in 14 months? You muppet they've won 6 games in a row lmaoo. The Tiges have had heavy training loads for the last 4 weeks in preparation for the finals. They're cherry ripe. Throw Lambert and Butler back in and that's literally zero key injuries lol. They've treated the second half of this season like it's the NAB cup. Hawks will get smacked and so will everyone else in their way. They've played dead rubbers for a month. Pies got reamed by the finals draw tho.
RT
Roar Rookie
Nothing to do with extra day break going in to the game. Only the recovery time after i.e. loser should get a longer recovery time than winner of Geel Melb. Other point is correct... Richmond game will sell out whenever it is played.
Darren
Guest
My response was based on Peter the Scribes initial comment that the cats and D's were the form sides of the competition. Melb now having been able to close a game out and you guys might be lucky to survive week 1 as both times you one by less than a kick and experience got you accross the line..
Mitcher
Guest
Scott Pryde, one of the most respected and prolific contributors to the Roar... I shan’t wonder long who is actually likely to look foolish in this exchange.
anon
Roar Pro
Optus Stadium was sold out for a Thursday night 4:40pm semi final in the Big Bash. Subiaco Oval was sold out two years ago for a Thursday night final. People will figure out how to get there.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Doesn't mean it was an intelligent idea by any stretch.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
Unless it IS Luke Shuey kicking after the siren for the win,having been brought down by a high tackle in the goalsquare. I'd cope with that
Raimond
Roar Guru
It's a definite surprise that RICH-HAW is not on Friday night.
User
Roar Rookie
Still say Thurs should be Melbourne v Geelong but whoever loses between Hawks v tiges deserve extra day rest.
Darren
Guest
In this day and age where everyone is talking about advantage it seems the only logic.. Unless afl think they will sell out the G on either night with Tigers V Hawks but will get a bigger crowd for Melb V Cats on Friday. Usually these decisions are driven by TV networks around revenue so that might also influence
Mitcher
Guest
Someone needs their lasagne.
Scott Pryde
Expert
I said if. I never said anything about they were definitely going to play Thursday night. Just that 'if' they were it would be madness.
marine boy
Guest
If someone had told you at the start of the season that Magpies and Hawks would both make the top 4 and BOTH South Australian teams would miss the finals completely - you would have been committed.... Having said that I have to say kudos to both, especially to the Pies considering their injuries. All 4 finals look like great match ups, please no Luke Shuey moments though.