# 2024 AFL finals series

The 2024 Australian Football League finals series was the 128th annual edition of the VFL/AFL finals series, the Australian rules football playoff tournament staged to determine the winner of the 2024 AFL premiership season. The series was played over 4 weeks in September, culminating in the 2024 AFL Grand Final.
The top eight teams from the 2024 AFL Premiership season qualify for the finals series. AFL finals series have been played under the current format since 2000.

## Qualification

In round 24 of the 2024 AFL season, Sydney's win over Adelaide confirmed their minor premiership. Port Adelaide's victory against Fremantle secured second place, while Geelong's win over West Coast and Greater Western Sydney' loss to Western Bulldogs locked in third and fourth positions respectively. Brisbane Lions guaranteed fifth place and a home final by defeating Essendon. Western Bulldogs' upset win over Greater Western Sydney ensured they finished sixth, while Hawthorn's earlier victory against North Melbourne confirmed their seventh place. Finally, despite Carlton's loss to St Kilda, Fremantle's defeat by Port Adelaide secured Carlton the eighth and last Finals spot.

### Ladder

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Sydney | 23 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 2242 | 1769 | 126.7 | 68 | Finals series |
| 2 | Port Adelaide | 23 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 2011 | 1752 | 114.8 | 64 | Finals series |
| 3 | Geelong | 23 | 15 | 8 | 0 | 2164 | 1928 | 112.2 | 60 | Finals series |
| 4 | Greater Western Sydney | 23 | 15 | 8 | 0 | 2034 | 1864 | 109.1 | 60 | Finals series |
| 5 | Brisbane Lions (P) | 23 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 2130 | 1747 | 121.9 | 58 | Finals series |
| 6 | Western Bulldogs | 23 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 2171 | 1736 | 125.1 | 56 | Finals series |
| 7 | Hawthorn | 23 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 2090 | 1763 | 118.5 | 56 | Finals series |
| 8 | Carlton | 23 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 2151 | 1952 | 110.2 | 52 | Finals series |
| 9 | Collingwood | 23 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1991 | 1943 | 102.5 | 52 | |
| 10 | Fremantle | 23 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1964 | 1755 | 111.9 | 50 | |
| 11 | Essendon | 23 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 1892 | 2024 | 93.5 | 46 | |
| 12 | St Kilda | 23 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 1748 | 1758 | 99.4 | 44 | |
| 13 | Gold Coast | 23 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 1925 | 1943 | 99.1 | 44 | |
| 14 | Melbourne | 23 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 1785 | 1812 | 98.5 | 44 | |
| 15 | Adelaide | 23 | 8 | 14 | 1 | 1906 | 1923 | 99.1 | 34 | |
| 16 | West Coast | 23 | 5 | 18 | 0 | 1594 | 2339 | 68.1 | 20 | |
| 17 | North Melbourne | 23 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 1619 | 2550 | 63.5 | 12 | |
| 18 | Richmond | 23 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 1505 | 2364 | 63.7 | 8 | |

### Season notes

* Sydney won the minor premiership for the first time since 2016 and its tenth overall.
* After winning the premiership the previous season, Collingwood missed finals for first time since 2021.
* Melbourne missed finals for the first time since and 2020 respectively.
* Hawthorn reached the finals for the first time since 2018 respectively.

## Venues

| Melbourne | BrisbaneSydneyAdelaideMelbourne | Brisbane |
| Melbourne Cricket Ground | BrisbaneSydneyAdelaideMelbourne | The Gabba |
| Capacity: 100,024 | BrisbaneSydneyAdelaideMelbourne | Capacity: 36,700 |
| Adelaide | BrisbaneSydneyAdelaideMelbourne | Sydney | Sydney |
| Adelaide Oval | BrisbaneSydneyAdelaideMelbourne | Sydney Cricket Ground | Engie Stadium |
| Capacity: 53,500 | BrisbaneSydneyAdelaideMelbourne | Capacity: 48,000 | Capacity: 23,500 |

## Matches

The system used for the 2024 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, and 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.
| 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, Sydney Cricket Ground | 7 September, Sydney Cricket Ground | 7 September, Sydney Cricket Ground | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Sydney | 13.10 (88) | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Greater Western Sydney | 12.10 (82) | 14 September, Engie Stadium | 14 September, Engie Stadium | 14 September, Engie Stadium | | | | |
| | | | Greater Western Sydney | Greater Western Sydney | 15.10 (100) | | | | |
| 7 September, the Gabba | 7 September, the Gabba | 7 September, the Gabba | Brisbane Lions | Brisbane Lions | 15.15 (105) | 20 September, Sydney Cricket Ground | 20 September, Sydney Cricket Ground | 20 September, Sydney Cricket Ground | | | |
| 5 | Brisbane Lions | 14.15 (99) | | | | Sydney | Sydney | 14.11 (95) | |
| 8 | Carlton | 11.5 (71) | | | | Port Adelaide | Port Adelaide | 8.11 (59) | 28 September, Melbourne Cricket Ground | 28 September, Melbourne Cricket Ground | 28 September, Melbourne Cricket Ground |
| | | | | | | | | | Sydney | Sydney | 9.6 (60) |
| 6 September, Melbourne Cricket Ground | 6 September, Melbourne Cricket Ground | 6 September, Melbourne Cricket Ground | | | | 21 September, Melbourne Cricket Ground | 21 September, Melbourne Cricket Ground | 21 September, Melbourne Cricket Ground | Brisbane Lions | Brisbane Lions | 18.12 (120) |
| 6 | Western Bulldogs | 9.8 (62) | | | | Geelong | Geelong | 12.13 (85) | | |
| 7 | Hawthorn | 14.15 (99) | 13 September, Adelaide Oval | 13 September, Adelaide Oval | 13 September, Adelaide Oval | Brisbane Lions | Brisbane Lions | 14.11 (95) | | |
| | | | Port Adelaide | Port Adelaide | 11.9 (75) | | | | | | |
| 5 September, Adelaide Oval | 5 September, Adelaide Oval | 5 September, Adelaide Oval | Hawthorn | Hawthorn | 11.6 (72) | | | | | |
| 2 | Port Adelaide | 7.12 (54) | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Geelong | 20.18 (138) | | | | | | | | |
All starting times are local time. Source: afl.com.au

## Finals Series
### Week one – Qualifying and Elimination Finals

| | Second qualifying final | Second qualifying final | Second qualifying final | | |
| Thursday, 5 September (7:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 7.12 (54) | def. by | Geelong 20.18 (138) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 50,342) | ReportStats |
| | 3.4 (22) 6.7 (43) 6.9 (45) 7.12 (54) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 | 3.7 (25) 9.9 (63) 14.16 (100) 20.18 (138) | | |
| Burgoyne, Burton, Georgiades, Horne-Francis, McEntee, Rioli, Rozee | Burgoyne, Burton, Georgiades, Horne-Francis, McEntee, Rioli, Rozee | Goals | Cameron 4, Stengle 4, Mannagh 3, Miers 3, Bowes 2, Neale 2, Bruhn, O. Henry | Cameron 4, Stengle 4, Mannagh 3, Miers 3, Bowes 2, Neale 2, Bruhn, O. Henry |
| Bergman, Wines, Horne-Francis, Burton | Bergman, Wines, Horne-Francis, Burton | Best | Dangerfield, Holmes, Stengle, Cameron, Mannagh, Miers, Bowes | Dangerfield, Holmes, Stengle, Cameron, Mannagh, Miers, Bowes |
| | Second elimination final | Second elimination final | Second elimination final | | |
| Friday, 6 September (7:40 pm) | Western Bulldogs 9.8 (62) | def. by | Hawthorn 14.15 (99) | Melbourne Cricket Ground (crowd: 97,828) | ReportStats |
| | 4.1 (25) 5.4 (34) 6.5 (41) 9.8 (62) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 | 2.1 (13) 7.3 (45) 11.11 (77) 14.15 (99) | | |
| Naughton 3, Bontempelli, Darcy, English, Treloar, Vandermeer, Williams | Naughton 3, Bontempelli, Darcy, English, Treloar, Vandermeer, Williams | Goals | Watson 4, Dear 3, Macdonald 2, Ginnivan, Gunston, Maginness, Meek, Newcombe | Watson 4, Dear 3, Macdonald 2, Ginnivan, Gunston, Maginness, Meek, Newcombe |
| Liberatore, Richards, Treloar, Lobb, Williams | Liberatore, Richards, Treloar, Lobb, Williams | Best | Newcombe, Sicily, D'Ambrosio, Meek, Dear, Ward | Newcombe, Sicily, D'Ambrosio, Meek, Dear, Ward |
| The crowd of 97,828 for the Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn elimination final is the largest ever crowd for an elimination final and the largest crowd for a match between the two clubs since 1961. ||||||
| | First qualifying final | First qualifying final | First qualifying final | | |
| Saturday, 7 September (3:20 pm) | Sydney 13.10 (88) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 12.10 (82) | Sydney Cricket Ground (crowd: 43,189) | ReportStats |
| | 1.4 (10) 4.5 (29) 7.6 (48) 13.10 (88) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 | 2.5 (17) 7.8 (50) 10.9 (69) 12.10 (82) | | |
| Heeney 3, Hayward 2, Papley 2, Amartey, Campbell, Lloyd, McDonald, Rampe, Rowbottom | Heeney 3, Hayward 2, Papley 2, Amartey, Campbell, Lloyd, McDonald, Rampe, Rowbottom | Goals | Cadman 3, Hogan 3, Ward 2, Jones, Keeffe, McMullin, Peatling | Cadman 3, Hogan 3, Ward 2, Jones, Keeffe, McMullin, Peatling |
| Heeney, Lloyd, Warner, Rowbottom, Papley, Cunningham | Heeney, Lloyd, Warner, Rowbottom, Papley, Cunningham | Best | Green, Peatling, Hogan, Ward, Whitfield, Cadman | Green, Peatling, Hogan, Ward, Whitfield, Cadman |
| | First elimination final | First elimination final | First elimination final | | |
| Saturday, 7 September (7:30 pm) | Brisbane Lions 14.15 (99) | def. | Carlton 11.5 (71) | The Gabba (crowd: 35,660) | ReportStats |
| | 5.5 (35) 9.7 (61) 10.12 (72) 14.15 (99) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 | 0.0 (0) 2.1 (13) 5.2 (32) 11.5 (71) | | |
| Rayner 3, Ah Chee 2, Cameron 2, Daniher 2, Lohmann 2, Morris 2, Bailey | Rayner 3, Ah Chee 2, Cameron 2, Daniher 2, Lohmann 2, Morris 2, Bailey | Goals | McKay 3, Pittonet 2, Acres, Cripps, Docherty, Fantasia, Hewett, E. Hollands | McKay 3, Pittonet 2, Acres, Cripps, Docherty, Fantasia, Hewett, E. Hollands |
| McCluggage, Zorko, Ashcroft, Neale, Starcevich, Wilmot | McCluggage, Zorko, Ashcroft, Neale, Starcevich, Wilmot | Best | Cripps, Hewett, Acres, Newman, De Koning, Weitering | Cripps, Hewett, Acres, Newman, De Koning, Weitering |
| Carlton's scoreless first quarter against the Brisbane Lions was the first by any team in a final since 1974. ||||||

### Week two – Semi-Finals

| | Second semi-final | Second semi-final | Second semi-final | | |
| Friday, 13 September (7:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 11.9 (75) | def. | Hawthorn 11.6 (72) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 51,012) | ReportStats |
| | 2.3 (15) 5.6 (36) 7.8 (50) 11.9 (75) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 | 0.2 (2) 4.3 (27) 7.3 (45) 11.6 (72) | | |
| Georgiades 3, Byrne-Jones 2, Rioli 2, Burgoyne, Horne-Francis, Marshall, Rozee | Georgiades 3, Byrne-Jones 2, Rioli 2, Burgoyne, Horne-Francis, Marshall, Rozee | Goals | Watson 3, Ginnivan 2, Breust, Chol, Dear, Maginness, Moore, Sicily | Watson 3, Ginnivan 2, Breust, Chol, Dear, Maginness, Moore, Sicily |
| Burgoyne, Rioli, Horne-Francis, Georgiades, Jones, L. Evans, Zerk-Thatcher, Sweet | Burgoyne, Rioli, Horne-Francis, Georgiades, Jones, L. Evans, Zerk-Thatcher, Sweet | Best | Scrimshaw, Newcombe, Watson, Worpel, Sicily, Morrison | Scrimshaw, Newcombe, Watson, Worpel, Sicily, Morrison |
| | First semi-final | First semi-final | First semi-final | | |
| Saturday, 14 September (7:30 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 15.10 (100) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 15.15 (105) | Engie Stadium (crowd: 18,357) | ReportStats |
| | 5.3 (33) 8.7 (55) 14.8 (92) 15.10 (100) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 | 3.5 (23) 4.10 (34) 9.13 (67) 15.15 (105) | | |
| Hogan 5, Greene 3, Peatling 2, Ash, Briggs, Cadman, Green, O'Halloran | Hogan 5, Greene 3, Peatling 2, Ash, Briggs, Cadman, Green, O'Halloran | Goals | Daniher 4, Cameron 2, Lohmann 2, Zorko 2, Ah Chee, Bailey, Fletcher, Hipwood, McInerney | Daniher 4, Cameron 2, Lohmann 2, Zorko 2, Ah Chee, Bailey, Fletcher, Hipwood, McInerney |
| Green, Hogan, Peatling, Kelly, Whitfield, Greene | Green, Hogan, Peatling, Kelly, Whitfield, Greene | Best | McCluggage, Daniher, Berry, Ashcroft, Zorko, Dunkley | McCluggage, Daniher, Berry, Ashcroft, Zorko, Dunkley |
| The Brisbane Lions trailed by 44 points during the third quarter of the semi-final against Greater Western Sydney and went on to win, recording its biggest ever comeback in a final. ||||||

### Week three – Preliminary Finals

| | First preliminary final | First preliminary final | First preliminary final | | |
| Friday, 20 September (7:40 pm) | Sydney 14.11 (95) | def. | Port Adelaide 8.11 (59) | Sydney Cricket Ground (crowd: 44,053) | ReportStats |
| | 4.0 (24) 9.1 (55) 13.7 (85) 14.11 (95) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 | 2.3 (15) 4.6 (30) 6.9 (45) 8.11 (59) | | |
| Amartey 3, Papley 3, Heeney 2, McDonald 2, Warner 2, Lloyd, McLean | Amartey 3, Papley 3, Heeney 2, McDonald 2, Warner 2, Lloyd, McLean | Goals | Rozee 2, Boak, Burgoyne, Burton, Dixon, Georgiades, Rioli | Rozee 2, Boak, Burgoyne, Burton, Dixon, Georgiades, Rioli |
| Heeney, Gulden, Blakey, Rowbottom, Warner, Florent | Heeney, Gulden, Blakey, Rowbottom, Warner, Florent | Best | Boak, Burgoyne, Rozee, Sweet, Butters | Boak, Burgoyne, Rozee, Sweet, Butters |
| Ken Hinkley coached his 274th match for Port Adelaide in its loss to Sydney, breaking the record held by Mark Williams for most AFL matches coached for Port Adelaide. ||||||
| | Second preliminary final | Second preliminary final | Second preliminary final | | |
| Saturday, 21 September (5:15 pm) | Geelong 12.13 (85) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 14.11 (95) | Melbourne Cricket Ground (crowd: 93,066) | ReportStats |
| | 1.5 (11) 8.7 (55) 10.8 (68) 12.13 (85) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 | 3.2 (20) 5.6 (36) 10.10 (70) 14.11 (95) | | |
| O. Henry 4, J. Cameron 2, Miers 2, Blicavs, Dangerfield, Dempsey, Mannagh | O. Henry 4, J. Cameron 2, Miers 2, Blicavs, Dangerfield, Dempsey, Mannagh | Goals | Ah Chee 3, Bailey 2, C. Cameron 2, Morris 2, Rayner 2, Hipwood, Lohmann, McCluggage | Ah Chee 3, Bailey 2, C. Cameron 2, Morris 2, Rayner 2, Hipwood, Lohmann, McCluggage |
| Holmes, Dangerfield, Stewart, Miers, O. Henry | Holmes, Dangerfield, Stewart, Miers, O. Henry | Best | Lohmann, Neale, McCluggage, Starcevich, Zorko, Bailey | Lohmann, Neale, McCluggage, Starcevich, Zorko, Bailey |

### Week four – Grand Final

| | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | | |
| Saturday, 28 September (2:30 pm) | Sydney 9.6 (60) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 18.12 (120) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | |
| | 3.1 (19) 4.3 (27) 5.4 (34) 9.6 (60) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 4.3 (27) 11.7 (73) 16.11 (107) 18.12 (120) | Norm Smith Medal: Will Ashcroft Television broadcast: Seven Network National anthem: Cody Simpson | Norm Smith Medal: Will Ashcroft Television broadcast: Seven Network National anthem: Cody Simpson |