2018 AFL finals series - Wikipedia 2018 AFL finals series 2018 premiership season Date 6 -- 29 September 2018 Teams 8 Premiers West Coast Matches played 9 Attendance 700,393 ( 77,821 per match ) Highest attendance 100,022 ( Grand Final, West Coast vs Collingwood ) ← 2017 2019 → Picture taken during the National anthem prior to the elimination final between Melbourne and Geelong starting The 2018 Australian Football League finals series was the 122nd annual edition of the VFL / AFL finals series, the Australian rules football tournament staged to determine the winner of the 2018 AFL season. The finals ran over four weekends in September 2018, culminating with the 2018 AFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 29 September 2018. The top eight teams from the 2018 season qualified for the finals series, which has been played under the current format since 2000. Contents 1 Qualification 2 Venues 3 Matches 3.1 Week one ( qualifying and elimination finals ) 3.1. 1 First qualifying final ( Richmond vs Hawthorn ) 3.1. 2 First elimination final ( Melbourne vs Geelong ) 3.1. 3 Second elimination final ( Sydney vs Greater Western Sydney ) 3.1. 4 Second qualifying final ( West Coast vs Collingwood ) 3.2 Week two ( semi-finals ) 3.2. 1 First semi-final ( Hawthorn vs Melbourne ) 3.2. 2 Second semi-final ( Collingwood vs Greater Western Sydney ) 3.3 Week three 3.3. 1 First preliminary final ( Richmond vs Collingwood ) 3.3. 2 Second preliminary final ( West Coast vs Melbourne ) 3.4 Week four ( grand final ) 4 References 5 External links Qualification See also : 2018 AFL season Venues The matches of the 2018 AFL finals series were contested at three venues around the country. The newly - built Perth Stadium hosted its first finals, hosting West Coast 's qualifying and preliminary finals. The MCG hosted Richmond 's qualifying and preliminary finals, both semi finals ( hosted by Hawthorn and Collingwood ), as well as Melbourne 's elimination final. The SCG hosted its first Sydney derby final. Sydney Sydney Perth Melbourne Sydney Cricket Ground Capacity : 48,000 Melbourne Melbourne Cricket Ground Capacity : 100,024 Perth Optus Stadium Capacity : 60,000 Matches See also : AFL final eight system The system used for the 2018 AFL finals series is a final eight system. The top four teams in the eight receive the `` double chance '' when they play in week - one qualifying finals, such that if a top - four team loses in the first week it still remains in the finals, playing a semi-final the next week against the winner of an elimination final. The bottom four of the eight play knock - out games -- only the winners survive and move on to the next week. Home - state advantage goes to the team with the higher ladder position in the first two weeks, to the qualifying final winners in the third week. In the second week, the winners of the qualifying finals receive a bye to the third week. The losers of the qualifying final plays the elimination finals winners in a semi-final. In the third week, the winners of the semi-finals from week two play the winners of the qualifying finals in the first week. The winners of those matches move on to the Grand Final at the MCG in Melbourne. Qualifying / Elimination finals Semi-finals Preliminary finals Grand final QF1 : Sep 6, MCG Richmond 13.17 ( 95 ) Hawthorn 9.10 ( 64 ) SF1 : Sep 14, MCG Hawthorn 10.11 ( 71 ) EF1 : Sep 7, MCG Melbourne 16.8 ( 104 ) PF1 : Sep 21, MCG 5 Melbourne 10.15 ( 75 ) Richmond 8.10 ( 58 ) 8 Geelong 6.10 ( 46 ) Collingwood 15.7 ( 97 ) GF : 29 Sep, MCG West Coast 11.13 ( 79 ) EF2 : Sep 8, SCG PF2 : Sep 22, Optus Stadium Collingwood 11.8 ( 74 ) 6 Sydney 4.6 ( 30 ) West Coast 18.13 ( 121 ) 7 Greater Western Sydney 10.19 ( 79 ) SF2 : Sep 15, MCG Melbourne 7.13 ( 55 ) Collingwood 9.15 ( 69 ) QF2 : Sep 8, Optus Stadium Greater Western Sydney 9.5 ( 59 ) West Coast 12.14 ( 86 ) Collingwood 10.10 ( 70 ) Week one ( qualifying and elimination finals ) First qualifying final ( Richmond vs Hawthorn ) The first qualifying final saw minor premiers and defending premier Richmond defeat the fourth placed Hawthorn at the MCG in the third - ever Thursday night final and first in Victoria. Despite both clubs ' presence in the competition for almost 100 years, this was the first meeting between Richmond and Hawthorn in a final. Scoreboard First qualifying final Thursday, 6 September ( 7 : 20 pm ) Richmond def. Hawthorn MCG ( crowd : 91,446 ) Report 2.2 ( 14 ) 5.7 ( 37 ) 10.13 ( 73 ) 13.17 ( 95 ) Q1 Q2 Q3 Final 2.3 ( 15 ) 3.5 ( 23 ) 5.8 ( 38 ) 9.10 ( 64 ) Television broadcast : Seven Network, Fox Footy ( simulcast ) 3 : McIntosh, Rioli 2 : Caddy 1 : Martin, Prestia, Higgins, Edwards, Graham Goals 3 : Roughead 1 : Shiels, Nash, Impey, Mitchell, Breust, Smith Martin, Prestia, Cotchin, Rioli, Lambert, Grimes, Grigg Best O'Meara, Mitchell, Shiels, Smith, Henderson, Sicily Rance ( foot ) Injuries Hardwick ( hip ), Stratton ( hamstring ) First elimination final ( Melbourne vs Geelong ) The first elimination final was held between fifth placed Melbourne and eighth placed Geelong at the MCG. Melbourne returned to the finals for the first time in twelve years, securing two impressive wins over West Coast and Greater Western Sydney in the final two rounds of the home and away season to earn a home final for the first time since the corresponding first elimination final in 2006. Geelong, meanwhile, looked in danger of missing the eight late in the home and away season but recorded two victories by 100 or more points over Fremantle and Gold Coast to secure their eleventh finals berth in twelve years. This marked the eighth final between the two sides, having previously met in a Sectional Round 1 Final in 1900, the 1925 Semi Final, 1937 Semi Final, 1950 First Semi Final, 1954 Preliminary Final, 1989 First Semi Final and 2005 Second Elimination Final. Scoreboard First elimination final Friday, 7 September ( 7 : 50 pm ) Melbourne def. Geelong MCG ( crowd : 91,767 ) Report 5.3 ( 33 ) 5.9 ( 39 ) 6.13 ( 49 ) 10.15 ( 75 ) Q1 Q2 Q3 Final 0.2 ( 2 ) 2.4 ( 16 ) 3.8 ( 26 ) 6.10 ( 46 ) Television broadcast : Seven Network, Fox Footy ( simulcast ) 3 : Weideman 1 : Harmes, Gawn, Melksham, T. McDonald, Jones, Hannan, Neal - Bullen Goals 2 : Hawkins 1 : Kelly, Tuohy, Murdoch, Duncan Weideman, Harmes, Brayshaw, T. McDonald, Gawn, Viney, vandenBerg Best Dangerfield, J. Selwood, Ablett, Bews, Tuohy Injuries Stewart ( neck ) Second elimination final ( Sydney vs Greater Western Sydney ) The second elimination final saw Sydney and Greater Western Sydney face each other in a finals match for the second time in three years, after the two sides had previously met in the 2016 first qualifying final. It was the first finals match between the pair to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground, after the 2016 final was played at Stadium Australia. Scoreboard Second elimination final Saturday, 8 September ( 4 : 20 pm ) Sydney def. by Greater Western Sydney SCG ( crowd : 40,350 ) Report 1.4 ( 10 ) 2.4 ( 16 ) 2.6 ( 18 ) 4.6 ( 30 ) Q1 Q2 Q3 Final 2.3 ( 15 ) 4.7 ( 31 ) 7.11 ( 53 ) 10.19 ( 79 ) Television broadcast : Seven Network, Fox Footy ( simulcast ) 2 : Papley 1 : Parker, Ronke Goals 3 : Greene 2 : Cameron, Himmelberg 1 : Coniglio, de Boer, Ward Kennedy, Parker, Heeny, Cunningham Best Davis, Whitfield, Greene, Coniglio, Himmelberg, Ward, Haynes Injuries Kelly ( knee ) Second qualifying final ( West Coast vs Collingwood ) The second qualifying final sees second placed West Coast host third - placed Collingwood at Optus Stadium ; the first final at the new venue. This marks the sixth final between the two sides, having previously contested a qualifying final and replay in 1990, a qualifying final in 1994, a semi final in 2007, a qualifying final in 2011 and a semi final in 2012. Scoreboard Second qualifying final Saturday, 8 September ( 6 : 10 pm ) West Coast def. Collingwood Optus Stadium ( crowd : 59,585 ) Report 3.3 ( 21 ) 6.7 ( 43 ) 7.11 ( 53 ) 12.14 ( 86 ) Q1 Q2 Q3 Final 1.3 ( 9 ) 7.4 ( 46 ) 9.9 ( 63 ) 10.10 ( 70 ) Television broadcast : Seven Network, Fox Footy ( simulcast ) 2 : Ryan, Darling, Kennedy 1 : Vardy, Jetta, Sheed, Cripps, Rioli, Redden Goals 2 : Adams, De Goey, Mihocek 1 : Stephenson, Thomas, Varcoe, Mayne Yeo, McGovern, Ryan, Jetta, Sheed, Redden Best Sidebottom, Adams, Grundy, Goldsack, Treloar, Mihocek Sheppard ( hamstring ) Injuries Week two ( semi-finals ) First semi-final ( Hawthorn vs Melbourne ) This was the seventh finals meeting between Hawthorn and Melbourne, and the first since the 1990 elimination final. Scoreboard First semi-final Friday, September 14 ( 7 : 50 pm ) Hawthorn def. by Melbourne MCG ( crowd : 90,152 ) Report 3.1 ( 19 ) 3.7 ( 25 ) 6.9 ( 45 ) 10.11 ( 71 ) Q1 Q2 Q3 Final 3.1 ( 19 ) 6.2 ( 38 ) 12.5 ( 77 ) 16.8 ( 104 ) Umpires : Rosebury, Stevic, Nicholls Television broadcast : Seven Network, Fox Footy ( simulcast ) 3 : Gunston 2 : Schoenmakers, Roughead 1 : Worpel, Puopolo, Smith Goals 4 : T. McDonald 2 : Weideman, Brayshaw, Melksham, Spargo 1 : Petracca, Gawn, Neal - Bullen, Hannan Gunston, Mirra, Howe, Shiels, Mitchell, Henderson Best Viney, T. McDonald, Petracca, Jetta, Hibberd, Oliver Mitchell ( AC joint ), Puopolo ( hamstring ) Injuries Nil Nil Reports Nil Second semi-final ( Collingwood vs Greater Western Sydney ) This was the first finals meeting between Collingwood and Greater Western Sydney. Scoreboard Second semi-final Saturday, September 15 ( 7 : 25 pm ) Collingwood def. Greater Western Sydney MCG ( crowd : 72,504 ) Report 3.6 ( 24 ) 4.9 ( 33 ) 6.12 ( 48 ) 9.15 ( 69 ) Q1 Q2 Q3 Final 0.2 ( 2 ) 4.2 ( 26 ) 7.3 ( 45 ) 9.5 ( 59 ) Umpires : Chamberlain, Findlay, Ryan Television broadcast : Seven Network, Fox Footy ( simulcast ) 3 : De Goey 2 : Thomas, Hoskin - Elliot 1 : Mihocek, Varcoe Goals 2 : Coniglio 1 : Griffen, Himmelberg, Lobb, Cameron, Langdon, De Boer De Goey, Sidebottom, Howe, Treloar, Maynard, Adams, Langdon, Phillips Best Whitfield, Coniglio, Lobb, Shiel, Williams, Davis Nil Injuries Davis ( shoulder ) Nil Reports Nil Week three First preliminary final ( Richmond vs Collingwood ) This was the seventeenth finals meeting between Richmond and Collingwood, and the first since the 1980 Grand Final. Richmond have won nine of those games, while Collingwood have won eight. This was the first time that Collingwood has defeated Richmond in a final since 1937. Scoreboard First preliminary final Friday, September 21 ( 7 : 50 pm ) Richmond def. by Collingwood MCG ( crowd : 94,959 ) Report 1.3 ( 9 ) 2.8 ( 20 ) 6.10 ( 46 ) 8.10 ( 58 ) Q1 Q2 Q3 Final 5.2 ( 32 ) 10.4 ( 64 ) 12.7 ( 79 ) 15.7 ( 97 ) Umpires : Rosebury, Stevic, Ryan Television broadcast : Seven Network, Fox Footy ( simulcast ) 5 : Riewoldt 2 : Higgins 1 : Houli Goals 4 : De Goey 3 : Cox 2 : Crisp, Mihocek 1 : Varcoe, Treloar, Grundy, Stephenson Riewoldt, Cotchin, Houli, Higgins Best Sidebottom, Cox, Grundy, Adams, Crisp, De Goey, Greenwood Nil Injuries Howe ( ankle ) Nil Reports Nil Second preliminary final ( West Coast vs Melbourne ) This was the fifth finals meeting between West Coast and Melbourne. The clubs previously met in the 1988 elimination final, the 1990 semi final, the 1991 semi final and the 1994 preliminary final. West Coast won three of those four games. Scoreboard Second preliminary final Saturday, September 22 ( 1 : 20 pm ) West Coast def. Melbourne Optus Stadium ( crowd : 59,608 ) Report 4.8 ( 32 ) 10.9 ( 69 ) 15.10 ( 100 ) 18.13 ( 121 ) Q1 Q2 Q3 Final 0.3 ( 3 ) 0.6 ( 6 ) 5.9 ( 39 ) 7.13 ( 55 ) Television broadcast : Seven Network, Fox Footy ( simulcast ) Melbourne became the first side since Richmond in the 1927 Grand Final to not score a goal in the first half of a final and the first ever in a preliminary final. Week four ( grand final ) Main article : 2018 AFL Grand Final Grand final Saturday, 29 September ( 2 : 30 pm ) West Coast def. Collingwood MCG ( crowd : 100,022 ) Report 2.2 ( 14 ) 4.3 ( 27 ) 8.7 ( 55 ) 11.13 ( 79 ) Q1 Q2 Q3 Final 5.1 ( 31 ) 6.3 ( 39 ) 8.7 ( 55 ) 11.8 ( 74 ) Umpires : Rosebury, Stevic, Ryan Norm Smith Medal : Luke Shuey Television broadcast : Seven Network, Fox Footy ( simulcast ) National anthem : Mahalia Barnes References Jump up ^ Hutchinson, Col ; Rodgers, Stephen ( 1 August 2010 ). `` The final 8 system explained ''. Australian Football League. Telstra Media. Retrieved 8 September 2014. Jump up ^ Harrington, Anna ( 22 September 2018 ). `` Melbourne becomes the first team since 1927 to be held goalless to halftime of a VFL / AFL final ''. Fox Sports Australia. Retrieved 22 September 2018. External links Australian rules football portal AFL finals series official website VFL / AFL finals series VFL 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 AFL 2017 2018 2018 AFL season Events AFLX competition Pre-season matches Premiership season Finals series Grand Final Awards 22under22 team AFL Players Association awards All - Australian team Brownlow Medal Coleman Medal Goal of the Year Leigh Matthews Trophy Mark of the Year Norm Smith Medal Rising Star Club overviews Adelaide Brisbane Lions Carlton Collingwood Essendon Fremantle Geelong Gold Coast Greater Western Sydney Hawthorn Melbourne North Melbourne Port Adelaide Richmond St Kilda Sydney West Coast Western Bulldogs Player changes Trades National draft Pre-season draft Rookie draft Debuts Retirements and delistings See also 2018 AFL Women 's season Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2018_AFL_finals_series&oldid=862120125 '' Categories : 2018 Australian Football League season Hidden categories : Use Australian English from August 2017 All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English Use dmy dates from August 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 2 October 2018, at 09 : 12 ( UTC ). 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Question: when do the afl semi finals start 2018
Answer: Friday, September 14