The AFL has today confirmed the fixture for Week Two of the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series.
Saturday, September 9
Second Semi Final, Box Hill Hawks (3rd) vs. Footscray Bulldogs (6th)
Box Hill City Oval, 11:30am AEST
Broadcaster: Seven Network and AFL.com.au
First Semi Final, Brisbane Lions (4th) vs. Williamstown (5th)
Brighton Homes Arena, 1:15pm AEST
Broadcaster: AFL.com.au
The second semi final between the Box Hill Hawks and the Footscray Bulldogs will be played at Box Hill City Oval from 11:30am. The match will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network via Channel 7 and 7plus ahead of the Network’s coverage of the AFL first elimination final between St Kilda and the GWS GIANTS.
The Brisbane Lions will host Williamstown at Brighton Homes Arena in the first semi final from 1:15pm. The game will be broadcast live and free on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App. The start time of the game allows for the travelling team to fly out of Brisbane that evening.
The semi finals scheduling ensures the winners of both matches receive a seven-day break ahead of the preliminary finals, which will be played on Saturday, September 16. Start times for both preliminary finals are yet to be confirmed.
The winner of the second semi final between the Box Hill Hawks and the Footscray Bulldogs will advance to take on the Gold Coast Suns at Heritage Bank Stadium. The winner of the first semi final between the Brisbane Lions and Williamstown will take on Werribee at Avalon Airport Oval.
The 2023 Smithy’s VFL season featured 21 teams who each played 18 matches across a 22-round fixture. A Wildcard Round featuring the teams who finished seventh to 10th on the ladder preceded the finals.
Casey Demons are the reigning premiers after defeating the Southport Sharks by 32 points in the 2022 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final.
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: Casey Demons (7th) 20.14 (134) def North Melbourne (10th) 5.3 (33)
Wildcard Round Game Two: Collingwood (8th) 21.9 (135) def Richmond (9th) 8.12 (60)
Qualifying and Elimination Finals
Saturday, September 2
First Qualifying Final: Gold Coast Suns (1st) 19.13 (127) def Brisbane Lions (4th) 12.12 (84)
Second Qualifying Final: Werribee (2nd) 11.14 (80) def Box Hill Hawks (3rd) 8.12 (60)
First Elimination Final: Williamstown (5th) 12.10 (82) def Collingwood (8th) 3.9 (27)
Second Elimination Final: Footscray Bulldogs (6th) 22.16 (148) def Casey Demons (7th) 10.9 (69)
Semi Finals
Saturday, September 9
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 the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series are as follows:
For all finals in Victoria through to the preliminary finals, admission prices will be adults $15, concession/pensioners $10 and children under 15 free. For all finals in Queensland through to the preliminary finals, admission will be 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 this weekend’s 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 matches, including the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, will be streamed live and free on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
