The AFL has today confirmed the fixture for the 2024 Smithy’s VFL Wildcard Round.
Saturday, August 24
Gold Coast SUNS (7th) vs. Frankston (10th)
People First Stadium, 1:05pm AEST
Broadcaster: AFL.com.au
Sunday, August 25
Williamstown (8th) vs. Richmond (9th)
DSV Stadium, 12:00pm AEST
Broadcaster: Seven Network
A concept introduced in 2023, the Smithy’s VFL Wildcard Round features two matches between the sides who finished seventh to tenth on the Smithy’s VFL ladder at the conclusion of the home and away season.
This year’s Wildcard Round begins with the Gold Coast SUNS hosting Frankston at People First Stadium on Saturday, August 24. The seventh-placed SUNS are the Smithy’s VFL reigning premiers, while the tenth placed Dolphins last played finals in 2008.
The second Wildcard Round match will be played on Sunday, August 25, with eighth-placed Williamstown taking on ninth-placed Richmond at DSV Stadium.
The highest-ranked winner in Wildcard Round will continue in the 2024 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series as the seventh-placed team and will take on the Box Hill Hawks 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 the Southport Sharks.
The top six teams on the ladder at the conclusion of the 2024 Smithy’s VFL home and away season will have a bye during Wildcard Round.
The 2024 Smithy’s VFL season featured 21 teams who each played 18 matches across a 21-round fixture.
AFL Head of State League Competitions Jennie Loughnan said: “Wildcard Round has brought plenty of excitement to the Smithy’s VFL and we look forward to seeing which two teams prevail this weekend to keep their premiership hopes alive.
“It has been another highly-entertaining season with the evenness of the competition highlighted last week when 15 teams could still finish in the top 10 heading into the final round, with nine of the ten Round 21 games having a bearing on spots in the finals.
“We congratulate all teams who have advanced to the 2024 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series and wish them the best of luck in their pursuit of the premiership.
“On behalf of the AFL, I would like to thank all clubs, players, umpires, venues and our broadcast and commercial partners for their outstanding support of the Smithy’s VFL in 2024.”
2024 SMITHY’S VFL FINALS SERIES STRUCTURE
Wildcard Round
Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25
Wildcard Round Game One: Gold Coast SUNS (7th) vs Frankston (10th)
Wildcard Round Game Two: Williamstown (8th) vs Richmond (9th)
Qualifying and Elimination Finals
Saturday, August 31 and/or Sunday, September 1
First Qualifying Final: Werribee (1st) vs Geelong Cats (4th)
Second Qualifying Final: Footscray Bulldogs (2nd) vs Brisbane Lions (3rd)
First Elimination Final: Southport Sharks (5th) vs Lowest-ranked Wildcard Round winner (becomes 8th)
Second Elimination Final: Box Hill Hawks (6th) vs Highest-ranked Wildcard Round winner (becomes 7th)
Semi Finals
Saturday, September 7 and/or Sunday, September 8
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 14
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 22
Grand Final: Winner of First Preliminary Final vs Winner of Second Preliminary Final
Please click here to view the 2024 Smithy's VFL Finals Series structure graphic.
TICKETING
Admission prices for the 2024 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series are as follows:
For matches played in Victoria during Wildcard Round through to the Preliminary Finals, admission prices will be adults $15, concession/pensioners $10 and children under 15 free.
Entry will be free for matches played in Queensland.
For the 2024 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, admission prices will be adults $20, concession/pensioners $15 and children under 15 free.
Tickets can be purchased from midday Tuesday each week of the finals series via www.intix.com.au/org/vfl.
FINALS VENUES
For all matches from Wildcard Round through to the Preliminary Finals, the higher ranked team on the Smithy’s VFL ladder at the conclusion of the home and away season will have the option to host, subject to meeting venue infrastructure requirements.
The 2024 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final will be played at IKON Park on Sunday, September 22 unless two Queensland-based teams are competing.
In the event of two Queensland-based teams reaching the 2024 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, the match will be played on Sunday, September 22 in Queensland.
BROADCAST
The AFL is pleased to confirm that seven matches in the 2024 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network and 7plus, including the 2024 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final.
All matches, including the 2024 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, will be streamed live and free on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
