The AFL has today confirmed the fixture for the Smithy’s VFL Wildcard Round.

Sunday, August 27
Collingwood (8^th) vs. Richmond (9^th)
Swinburne Centre, 12:00pm AEST
Broadcaster: Seven Network

Sunday, August 27
Casey Demons (7^th) vs. North Melbourne (10^th)
Casey Fields, 2:45pm, AEST
Broadcaster: AFL.com.au

A new feature introduced for the 2023 Smithy’s VFL season, Wildcard Round features two matches on Sunday, August 27.

Reigning premier Casey Demons will play North Melbourne at Casey Fields. The Demons finished the home-and-away season in seventh position, while the Kangaroos finished 10th.

Meanwhile, eighth-placed Collingwood will take on ninth-placed Richmond. The match will be played at the Swinburne Centre due to Collingwood’s home venue not being available.

The highest-ranked winner in Wildcard Round will advance to the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series as the seventh-placed team and will take on Footscray Bulldogs in the second elimination final.

The lowest-ranked winner in Wildcard Round will progress to the first elimination final as the eighth-placed team and will play against Williamstown.

The top-six teams on the ladder at the conclusion of the 2023 Smithy’s VFL home-and-away season will have a bye during Wildcard Round having advanced directly to the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series.

The 2023 Smithy’s VFL season featured 21 teams who each played 18 matches across a 22-round fixture.

AFL Head of State League Competitions Jennie Loughnan said: “We are looking forward to seeing how the action unfolds during Wildcard Round with the final two spots in the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series up for grabs.

“The introduction of Wildcard Round has provided an exciting new element to the 2023 Smithy’s VFL season.

“With 21 teams competing in the Smithy’s VFL, the addition of Wildcard Round this year provided more teams the opportunity to contend for finals and created more anticipation and excitement for clubs and fans throughout the home-and-away season, with more sides remaining in finals contention later in the season.”

2023 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series and Wildcard Round Structure

(Please click here for 2023 Smithy's VFL Finals Series and Wildcard Round explainer)

Wildcard Round
Sunday, August 27
Wildcard Round Game One: 7th vs 10th
Wildcard Round Game Two: 8th vs 9th

Qualifying and Elimination Finals
Saturday, September 2 and/or Sunday, September 3
First Qualifying Final: 1st vs 4th
Second Qualifying Final: 2nd vs 3rd
First Elimination Final: 5th vs Lowest-ranked Wildcard winner (becomes 8th)
Second Elimination Final: 6th vs Highest-ranked Wildcard winner (becomes 7th)

Semi Finals
Saturday, September 9 and/or Sunday, September 10
First Semi Final: Loser of First Qualifying Final vs Winner of First Elimination Final
Second Semi Final: Loser of Second Qualifying Final vs Winner of Second Elimination Final

Preliminary Finals
Saturday, September 16
First Preliminary Final: Winner of First Qualifying Final vs Winner of Second Semi Final
Second Preliminary Final: Winner of Second Qualifying Final vs Winner of First Semi Final

Grand Final
Sunday, September 24
Grand Final: Winner of First Preliminary Final vs Winner of Second Preliminary Final

The AFL has confirmed IKON Park will host the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final on Sunday, September 24 unless two Queensland-based teams are competing. In the event of two Queensland-based teams reaching the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, the match will be played on Sunday, September 24 at Brighton Homes Arena.

Ticketing

Admission prices for Wildcard Round and the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series are as follows:

For all matches during Wildcard Round through to the Preliminary Finals, admission prices will be adults $15, concession/pensioners $10 and children under 15 free.

For the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, admission prices will be adults $20, concession/pensioners $15 and children under 15 free.

Tickets for Wildcard Round matches can be pre-purchased at www.intix.com.au/org/vfl. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate, subject to capacity. Spectators purchasing at the gate are advised the payment method is EFTPOS only.

Broadcast

The AFL is pleased to confirm that seven matches in the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series and Wildcard Round will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network via Channel 7 and 7plus, including the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final. Viewers outside of Victoria can tune in to Seven’s VFL coverage via 7plus.

All Wildcard Round matches and finals, including the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, will be streamed live and free on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.