The AFL tonight confirmed the fixture for week one of the 2015 Toyota AFL Finals Series, to be as follows (all times are local):
Friday September 11
Second Qualifying Final, West Coast v Hawthorn at Domain Stadium, 6.20pm
Saturday September 12
First Qualifying Final, Fremantle v Sydney Swans at Domain Stadium, 1.20pm Second Elimination Final, Western Bulldogs v Adelaide Crows at the MCG, 7.20pm (series ticket match)
Sunday September 13
First Elimination Final, Richmond v North Melbourne at the MCG, 3.20pm
All matches in week one of the Toyota AFL Finals Series will be broadcast live nationally on the Seven Network and Fox Footy.
Simon Lethlean, the AFL Executive Team Member responsible for the fixture, said the AFL had placed the First Qualifying Final between Fremantle v Sydney Swans match at Domain Stadium on Saturday as Fremantle was deserving of a seven-day break after travelling in round 23, having finished the home and away season in top position.
The Second Qualifying Final between West Coast v Hawthorn, where each team will have a six-day break, was placed on Friday night as West Coast had been at home in Perth in round 23 while Hawthorn had also been at home in Melbourne for its final game of the regular season.
Mr Lethlean said the AFL had consulted Fremantle, as the first-ranked side on the ladder, on its preference to play Friday or Saturday in week one and the club had advised the AFL they wished for consideration to be given to being scheduled on Saturday, to ensure a seven-day break leading into their first final.
“The AFL has again continued its position that the two qualifying finals between the top four teams should be played as the opening two matches of the finals series, so that the losers of these matches will then have the longer breaks leading into week two of the finals series than their prospective opponents,” Mr Lethlean said.
Mr Lethlean said the potential crowd for the Western Bulldogs v Adelaide Crows Elimination Final required the match to be played at the MCG. This match was scheduled for Saturday evening as the winner would play the loser of Friday night’s West Coast / Hawthorn match.
The First Elimination Final between Richmond and North Melbourne was scheduled as a day game for the MCG on Sunday September 13 as the winner of this match would meet the loser of Saturday’s Fremantle / Sydney Swans encounter.
The AFL is working very closely with its official airline partner, Virgin Australia, to ensure as many fans as possible are able to travel to interstate Finals. Thousands of additional seats have already been added to their flight schedule in anticipation of the increased demand throughout the AFL Finals Series. Match day ticket information for all games across the country can be sourced at afl.com.au/finals.
“All ticket prices for every match of the 2015 Toyota AFL Finals Series have been frozen at last year’s prices, to ensure that fans of each of the eight clubs can have the best chance to see their team in action,” Mr Lethlean said.
