The AFL has today confirmed the fixture for the 2024 Smithy’s VFL qualifying and elimination finals.
Saturday, August 31
First Qualifying Final, Werribee (1st) vs Geelong Cats (4th)
Avalon Airport Oval, 12:00pm AEST
Broadcaster: Seven Network (7Mate) and AFL.com.au
First Elimination Final, Southport Sharks (5th) vs Frankston (8th)
Fankhauser Reserve, 12:05pm AEST
Broadcaster: AFL.com.au
Second Qualifying Final, Footscray Bulldogs (2nd) vs Brisbane Lions (3rd)
Mission Whitten Oval, 1:05pm AEST
Broadcaster: AFL.com.au
Second Elimination Final, Box Hill Hawks (6th) vs Williamstown (7th)
Box Hill City Oval, 3:00pm AEST
Broadcaster: Seven Network (7Mate) and AFL.com.au
All qualifying and elimination finals will be played on Saturday, August 31.
Werribee hosts Geelong Cats in the first qualifying final at Avalon Airport Oval, while the Footscray Bulldogs will take on the Brisbane Lions at Mission Whitten Oval in the second qualifying final.
The two winners of the qualifying finals will advance directly to the preliminary finals in a fortnight, while the losers will host semi finals next week.
Frankston returns to Queensland to clash with the Southport Sharks in the first elimination final. The Dolphins defeated reigning premiers the Gold Coast Suns by three points at People First Stadium in Wildcard Round.
The Box Hill Hawks will host the other Wildcard Round winner, Williamstown, at Box Hill City Oval in the second elimination final. The Seagulls progressed after downing Richmond by 66 points.
The top six teams on the ladder at the conclusion of the 2024 Smithy’s VFL home and away season had a bye during last week’s Wildcard Round.
AFL Head of State League Competitions Jennie Loughnan said: “After the excitement of Wildcard Round we are looking forward to another four great finals matches this weekend.
“The top six sides enjoyed a well-deserved break last week and will be raring to go in their respective finals, while the two Wildcard Round winners in Williamstown and Frankston will be looking to claim another scalp.
“It’s fantastic to have finals matches being played in Victoria and Queensland this weekend and pleasing to have four standalone clubs among the eight teams still vying for the premiership.
“On behalf of the AFL, I 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) 14.16 (100) def by Frankston (10th) 16.7 (103)
Wildcard Round Game Two: Williamstown (8th) 18.12 (120) def Richmond (9th) 7.12 (54)
Qualifying and Elimination Finals
Saturday, August 31
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 Frankston (8th)
Second Elimination Final: Box Hill Hawks (6th) vs Williamstown (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 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.