The AFL has today confirmed the fixture for the 2024 Smithy’s VFL preliminary finals.
Saturday, September 14
First Preliminary Final, Werribee (1st) vs Brisbane Lions (3rd)
Avalon Airport Oval, 11:00am AEST
Broadcaster: Seven Network and AFL.com.au
Second Preliminary Final, Footscray Bulldogs (2nd) vs Southport Sharks (5th)
Mission Whitten Oval, 2:00pm AEST
Broadcaster: Seven Network and AFL.com.au
Both preliminary finals will be played on Saturday, September 14.
The first preliminary final between minor premier Werribee and the Brisbane Lions will be played at Avalon Airport Oval from 11:00am AEST.
The match will be a repeat of last year’s second preliminary final, which the Tigers won by 30 points to advance to their first Grand Final since 2005 before going down to the Gold Coast SUNS in the premiership decider at IKON Park.
It will be the third-consecutive preliminary finals appearance for the Brisbane Lions, who will be looking to atone for losses to Werribee and the Casey Demons over the past two seasons.
The second preliminary final will be played between the Footscray Bulldogs and Southport Sharks at Mission Whitten Oval from 2:00pm AEST.
The Bulldogs finished the Smithy’s VFL home and away season in second place and will be looking to secure their first Grand Final appearance since winning the 2016 premiership.
The Sharks are aiming to reach their second Grand Final in three seasons, having played in the 2022 decider which they lost to the Casey Demons by 32 points.
Scheduling of the preliminary finals has taken into account a range of factors, including travel for the Brisbane Lions and Southport Sharks, and ensures both clubs can fly back to Queensland on the same day.
Both preliminary finals will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network via 7mate in Victoria and 7plus nationally. The matches will also be live streamed on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
The 2024 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final will be played at IKON Park on Sunday, September 22 at 2:15pm unless the Brisbane Lions and Southport Sharks are both competing.
In the event of the two Queensland-based teams reaching the 2024 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, the match will be played on Sunday, September 22 in Queensland.
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) 8.9 (57) def Geelong Cats (4th) 5.6 (36)
Second Qualifying Final: Footscray Bulldogs (2nd) 12.10 (82) def Brisbane Lions (3rd) 12.6 (78)
First Elimination Final: Southport Sharks (5th) 30.15 (195) def Frankston (8th) 16.7 (103)
Second Elimination Final: Box Hill Hawks (6th) 7.10 (52) def by Williamstown (7th) 11.14 (80)
Semi Finals
Saturday, September 7
First Semi Final: Geelong Cats (4th) 7.16 (58) def by Southport Sharks (5th) 13.9 (87)
Second Semi Final: Brisbane Lions (3rd) 19.16 (130) def Williamstown (7th) 18.5 (113)
Preliminary Finals
Saturday, September 14
First Preliminary Final: Werribee (1st) vs Brisbane Lions (3rd)
Second Preliminary Final: Footscray Bulldogs (2nd) vs Southport Sharks (5th)
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.
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.
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 via 7mate in Victoria and 7plus nationally, 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.
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 at 2:15pm unless the Brisbane Lions and Southport Sharks are both competing.
In the event of the two Queensland-based teams reaching the 2024 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, the match will be played on Sunday, September 22 in Queensland.
