# 2012 AFL finals series

The 2012 Australian Football League finals series determined the winner of the 2012 AFL season. The series took place over four weekends in September 2012, culminating with the 116th AFL/VFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 29 September 2012.

## The finals system

The system is a final eight system. This system is currently used by the National Rugby League, and is different from the McIntyre final eight system, which was previously used by both the AFL and the NRL.
The top four teams in the eight receive what is popularly known as the "double chance" when they play in week-one qualifying finals. This means that even 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, in that only the winners survive and move on to the next week. Home-state advantage goes to the team with the higher seed in the first two weeks, to the qualifying final winners in the third week. Games in Victoria are played at the MCG, regardless of the team's usual home ground, if a crowd larger than the seating capacity of Etihad Stadium (53,359) is expected.
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.

## Qualification

2012 AFL ladder :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | |
| 1 | Hawthorn | 22 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 2679 | 1733 | 154.6 | 68 | Finals series |
| 2 | Adelaide | 22 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 2428 | 1833 | 132.5 | 68 | Finals series |
| 3 | Sydney (P) | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2290 | 1629 | 140.6 | 64 | Finals series |
| 4 | Collingwood | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2123 | 1823 | 116.5 | 64 | Finals series |
| 5 | West Coast | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2244 | 1807 | 124.2 | 60 | Finals series |
| 6 | Geelong | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2209 | 1886 | 117.1 | 60 | Finals series |
| 7 | Fremantle | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 1956 | 1691 | 115.7 | 56 | Finals series |
| 8 | North Melbourne | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 2359 | 2097 | 112.5 | 56 | Finals series |
| 9 | St Kilda | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2347 | 1903 | 123.3 | 48 | |
| 10 | Carlton | 22 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 2079 | 1925 | 108.0 | 44 | |
| 11 | Essendon | 22 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 2091 | 2090 | 100.0 | 44 | |
| 12 | Richmond | 22 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 2169 | 1943 | 111.6 | 42 | |
| 13 | Brisbane Lions | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 1904 | 2092 | 91.0 | 40 | |
| 14 | Port Adelaide | 22 | 5 | 16 | 1 | 1691 | 2144 | 78.9 | 22 | |
| 15 | Western Bulldogs | 22 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 1542 | 2301 | 67.0 | 20 | |
| 16 | Melbourne | 22 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 1580 | 2341 | 67.5 | 16 | |
| 17 | Gold Coast | 22 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 1509 | 2481 | 60.8 | 12 | |
| 18 | Greater Western Sydney | 22 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 1270 | 2751 | 46.2 | 8 | |

## Summary of results

| Qualifying and elimination finals | Qualifying and elimination finals | Qualifying and elimination finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Preliminary finals | Preliminary finals | Preliminary finals | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final |
| 7 September, MCG | 7 September, MCG | 7 September, MCG | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Hawthorn | 20.15 (135) | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Collingwood | 15.7 (97) | 15 September, MCG | 15 September, MCG | 15 September, MCG | | | | |
| | | | Collingwood | Collingwood | 10.13 (73) | | | | |
| 9 September, Patersons Stadium | 9 September, Patersons Stadium | 9 September, Patersons Stadium | West Coast | West Coast | 9.6 (60) | 22 September, MCG | 22 September, MCG | 22 September, MCG | | | |
| 5 | West Coast | 24.18 (162) | | | | Hawthorn | Hawthorn | 13.19 (97) | |
| 8 | North Melbourne | 9.12 (66) | | | | Adelaide | Adelaide | 14.8 (92) | 29 September, MCG | 29 September, MCG | 29 September, MCG |
| | | | | | | | | | Hawthorn | Hawthorn | 11.15 (81) |
| 8 September, MCG | 8 September, MCG | 8 September, MCG | | | | 21 September, ANZ Stadium | 21 September, ANZ Stadium | 21 September, ANZ Stadium | Sydney | Sydney | 14.7 (91) |
| 6 | Geelong | 11.14 (80) | | | | Sydney | Sydney | 13.18 (96) | | |
| 7 | Fremantle | 14.12 (96) | 14 September, AAMI Stadium | 14 September, AAMI Stadium | 14 September, AAMI Stadium | Collingwood | Collingwood | 10.10 (70) | | |
| | | | Adelaide | Adelaide | 12.9 (81) | | | | | | |
| 8 September, AAMI Stadium | 8 September, AAMI Stadium | 8 September, AAMI Stadium | Fremantle | Fremantle | 11.5 (71) | | | | | |
| 2 | Adelaide | 5.12 (42) | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Sydney | 11.5 (71) | | | | | | | | |

## Week one (qualifying & elimination finals)
### First qualifying final (Hawthorn vs. Collingwood)

| | First qualifying final | First qualifying final | First qualifying final | | |
| Friday, 7 September (7:50 pm) | Hawthorn | def. | Collingwood | MCG (crowd: 84,625) | Report |
| | 4.6 (30) 9.10 (64) 15.13 (103) 20.15 (135) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 2.3 (15) 7.4 (46) 12.7 (79) 15.7 (97) | Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast) | Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast) |
| 4: Franklin 2: Breust, Gunston, Hale, Hodge, Rioli, Savage 1: Ellis, Puopolo, Roughead, Smith | 4: Franklin 2: Breust, Gunston, Hale, Hodge, Rioli, Savage 1: Ellis, Puopolo, Roughead, Smith | Goals | 6: Cloke 4: Krakouer 2: Wellingham 1: Dawes, Shaw, Sinclair | 6: Cloke 4: Krakouer 2: Wellingham 1: Dawes, Shaw, Sinclair |
| Mitchell, Sewell, Franklin | Mitchell, Sewell, Franklin | Best | Cloke, Pendlebury, Beams | Cloke, Pendlebury, Beams |
| Whitecross (knee) | Whitecross (knee) | Injuries | | |

### Second qualifying final (Adelaide vs. Sydney)

| | Second qualifying final | Second qualifying final | Second qualifying final | | |
| Saturday, 8 September (2:45 pm) | Adelaide | def. by | Sydney | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 44,849) | Report |
| | 1.3 (9) 2.7 (19) 3.10 (28) 5.12 (42) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 2.2 (14) 7.2 (44) 8.4 (52) 11.5 (71) | Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast) | Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast) |
| 1: Callinan, Johncock, Sloane, van Berlo, Walker | 1: Callinan, Johncock, Sloane, van Berlo, Walker | Goals | 3: Goodes 2: Jetta, Morton 1: Kennedy, McGlynn, Parker, Reid | 3: Goodes 2: Jetta, Morton 1: Kennedy, McGlynn, Parker, Reid |
| Thompson, Sloane, Doughty | Thompson, Sloane, Doughty | Best | O'Keefe, Kennedy, Goodes | O'Keefe, Kennedy, Goodes |
| Talia (arm) | Talia (arm) | Injuries | | |
| Sydney improved to 2-0 in September Finals in Adelaide. In both games they never trailed. ||||||

### Second elimination final (Geelong vs. Fremantle)

| | Second elimination final | Second elimination final | Second elimination final | | |
| Saturday, 8 September (7:45 pm) | Geelong | def. by | Fremantle | MCG (crowd: 44,460) | Report |
| | 0.1 (1) 3.5 (23) 6.9 (45) 11.14 (80) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 5.7 (37) 8.9 (57) 12.11 (83) 14.12 (96) | Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast) | Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast) |
| 2: Mackie, J. Hunt 1: Selwood, Duncan, Christensen, Stokes, Taylor, Vardy, Motlop | 2: Mackie, J. Hunt 1: Selwood, Duncan, Christensen, Stokes, Taylor, Vardy, Motlop | Goals | 6: Pavlich 3: Ballantyne 2: Walters 1: Crowley, de Boer, Pearce | 6: Pavlich 3: Ballantyne 2: Walters 1: Crowley, de Boer, Pearce |
| Selwood, Bartel, Mackie | Selwood, Bartel, Mackie | Best | Pavlich, Mundy. Ballantyne | Pavlich, Mundy. Ballantyne |
| Fremantle won their first finals game outside of Western Australia. ||||||

### First elimination final (West Coast vs. North Melbourne)

| | First elimination final | First elimination final | First elimination final | | |
| Sunday, 9 September (1:15 pm) | West Coast | def. | North Melbourne | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 41,790) | Report |
| | 7.4 (46) 11.8 (74) 15.11 (101) 24.18 (162) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 0.3 (3) 2.8 (20) 8.10 (58) 9.12 (66) | Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast) | Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast) |
| 4: Embley, Darling, Kennedy 3: Lynch 1: Kerr, Masten, Shuey, Hurn, Cox, Naitanui, Hill, McGinnity, Mackenzie | 4: Embley, Darling, Kennedy 3: Lynch 1: Kerr, Masten, Shuey, Hurn, Cox, Naitanui, Hill, McGinnity, Mackenzie | Goals | 3: Campbell, Harvey 1: Cunnington, Hansen, Petrie | 3: Campbell, Harvey 1: Cunnington, Hansen, Petrie |
| Embley, Cox, Kerr | Embley, Cox, Kerr | Best | Swallow, Ziebell, Harvey | Swallow, Ziebell, Harvey |
| Waters (foot) | Waters (foot) | Injuries | | |
| | | Reports | Harvey (striking) | Harvey (striking) |

## Week two (semi-finals)
### First semi-final (Collingwood vs. West Coast)

| | First semi-final | First semi-final | First semi-final | | |
| Saturday, 15 September (7:45 pm) | Collingwood | def. | West Coast | MCG (crowd: 65,483) | Report |
| | 3.4 (22) 4.5 (29) 8.10 (58) 10.13 (73) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 5.1 (31) 6.4 (40) 7.6 (48) 9.6 (60) | Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast) | Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast) |
| 3:Thomas 2: Swan 1: Pendlebury, Goldsack, Blair, Jolly, O'Brien | 3:Thomas 2: Swan 1: Pendlebury, Goldsack, Blair, Jolly, O'Brien | Goals | 2: Hill, Darling 1: Kerr, Cox, McGinnity, Naitanui, Kennedy | 2: Hill, Darling 1: Kerr, Cox, McGinnity, Naitanui, Kennedy |
| Pendlebury, Swan, Thomas | Pendlebury, Swan, Thomas | Best | Kerr, Gaff, Shuey | Kerr, Gaff, Shuey |

### Second semi-final (Adelaide vs. Fremantle)

| | Second semi-final | Second semi-final | Second semi-final | | |
| Friday, 14 September (8:15 pm) | Adelaide | def. | Fremantle | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 31,742) | Report |
| | 1.3 (9) 4.7 (31) 8.9 (57) 12.9 (81) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 4.1 (25) 7.2 (44) 8.4 (52) 11.5 (71) | Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast) | Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast) |
| 5: Walker 3: Porplyzia 1: Vince, Dangerfield, Wright, Tippett | 5: Walker 3: Porplyzia 1: Vince, Dangerfield, Wright, Tippett | Goals | 3: Mayne, Walters 1: Fyfe, Ibbotson, Ballantyne, Pavlich, Suban | 3: Mayne, Walters 1: Fyfe, Ibbotson, Ballantyne, Pavlich, Suban |
| Walker, Porplyzia, Reilly | Walker, Porplyzia, Reilly | Best | Mundy, Mayne, Johnson | Mundy, Mayne, Johnson |
| Petrenko (shoulder) | Petrenko (shoulder) | Injuries | | |

## Week three (preliminary finals)
### Second preliminary final (Sydney vs. Collingwood)

| | Second preliminary final | Second preliminary final | Second preliminary final | | |
| Friday, 21 September (7:50 pm) | Sydney | def. | Collingwood | ANZ Stadium (crowd: 57,156) | Report |
| | 5.5 (35) 7.9 (51) 9.14 (68) 13.18 (96) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 2.3 (15) 3.6 (24) 5.8 (38) 10.10 (70) | Umpires: Matt Stevic, Simon Meredith, Brett Rosebury Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast) | Umpires: Matt Stevic, Simon Meredith, Brett Rosebury Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast) |
| 3: Jetta 2: Kennedy, Bolton, Roberts-Thomson 1: O'Keefe, Goodes, Bird, Mumford | 3: Jetta 2: Kennedy, Bolton, Roberts-Thomson 1: O'Keefe, Goodes, Bird, Mumford | Goals | 3: Cloke 1: Beams, Swan, Johnson, Fasolo, Tarrant, Dawes, Goldsack | 3: Cloke 1: Beams, Swan, Johnson, Fasolo, Tarrant, Dawes, Goldsack |
| Kennedy, O'Keefe, Goodes | Kennedy, O'Keefe, Goodes | Best | Pendlebury, Beams, O'Brien | Pendlebury, Beams, O'Brien |
| Jude Bolton (Sydney) played his 300th game. Sydney defeated Collingwood for the first time since round 13, 2005, breaking an eleven-game losing streak. ||||||

### First preliminary final (Hawthorn vs. Adelaide)

| | First preliminary final | First preliminary final | First preliminary final | | |
| Saturday, 22 September (5:15 pm) | Hawthorn | def. | Adelaide | MCG (crowd: 69,146) | Report |
| | 2.6 (18) 5.10 (40) 11.14 (80) 13.19 (97) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 4.1 (25) 7.3 (45) 10.4 (64) 14.8 (92) | Umpires: Chris Donlon, Mathew Nicholls, Shane McInerney Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast) | Umpires: Chris Donlon, Mathew Nicholls, Shane McInerney Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast) |
| 3: Franklin 2: Rioli, Breust, Gunston 1: Young, Shiels, Burgoyne, Suckling | 3: Franklin 2: Rioli, Breust, Gunston 1: Young, Shiels, Burgoyne, Suckling | Goals | 4: Tippett, Walker 1: Porplyzia, Sloane, van Berlo, Henderson, Smith, Johncock | 4: Tippett, Walker 1: Porplyzia, Sloane, van Berlo, Henderson, Smith, Johncock |
| Mitchell, Rioli, Sewell | Mitchell, Rioli, Sewell | Best | Porplyzia, Dangerfield, Tippett | Porplyzia, Dangerfield, Tippett |

## Week four (Grand Final)

| | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | | |
| Saturday, 29 September (2:30 pm) | Hawthorn | def. by | Sydney | MCG (crowd: 99,683) | Report |
| | 4.5 (29) 4.6 (30) 9.10 (64) 11.15 (81) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 1.4 (10) 7.4 (46) 10.5 (65) 14.7 (91) | Umpires: Rosebury, Stevic, Meredith Norm Smith Medal: Ryan O'Keefe (Sydney) Television broadcast: Seven Network National anthem: Marina Prior | Umpires: Rosebury, Stevic, Meredith Norm Smith Medal: Ryan O'Keefe (Sydney) Television broadcast: Seven Network National anthem: Marina Prior |
| Franklin 3, Breust 2, Gunston 2, Hale 2, Ellis, Smith | Franklin 3, Breust 2, Gunston 2, Hale 2, Ellis, Smith | Goals | Jack 2, Kennedy 2, Malceski 2, McVeigh 2, Morton 2, Goodes, Hannebery, Reid, Roberts-Thomson | Jack 2, Kennedy 2, Malceski 2, McVeigh 2, Morton 2, Goodes, Hannebery, Reid, Roberts-Thomson |
| Franklin, Sewell, Burgoyne, Mitchell, Breust, Hale | Franklin, Sewell, Burgoyne, Mitchell, Breust, Hale | Best | Hannebery, O'Keefe, Kennedy, McVeigh, Jetta, Goodes | Hannebery, O'Keefe, Kennedy, McVeigh, Jetta, Goodes |
| Ellis (calf), Hodge (head) | Ellis (calf), Hodge (head) | Injuries | Goodes (knee), Johnson (wrist) | Goodes (knee), Johnson (wrist) |
| Nil | Nil | Reports | Nil | Nil |

## Scheduling Issues

There were a number of scheduling issues during the 2012 AFL finals series:
* In Week 1, West Coast was forced to play on either the Friday night or Sunday due to Patersons Stadium being unavailable on the Saturday due to a rugby union international between the Wallabies and the Springboks.
* In week 2, the late match starting time between Adelaide and Fremantle of 8:15 pm ACST contributed to the lowest crowd for an Adelaide final. 31,742 fans attended the match at AAMI Stadium, almost 20,000 short of capacity. The AFL dismissed suggestions that ticket prices were to blame, but said the unusual starting time and possibly the pessimistic expectations of local supporters following their defeat to Sydney the previous week may have led to the poor turnout.
* In week 3, a potential fixturing clash between the AFL and NRL at ANZ Stadium in Sydney led to the AFL scheduling the second preliminary on the Friday night. The SCG would usually be used for finals in the event of a fixture clash at ANZ Stadium, but it was unavailable due to a redevelopment. Normally, it is AFL policy to schedule the highest ranked qualifying winner on the Friday night to give that team the longest time to prepare for the grand final the following week.
* There was a disagreement about the starting time of the first preliminary final. Hawthorn pushed for a day game to minimise the time difference between its game and the second preliminary final the night before; the AFL and broadcasters preferred a night time-slot to maximise television audiences. The AFL ultimately scheduled a twilight 5:15 pm AEST game as a compromise between the two drivers.