How do the AFL Finals work? Qualification, structure, seeding and more

We break down the intricacies of the AFL Finals system, and take a closer look at the qualification structure, seedings and much more.

Who qualifies for the AFL Finals?

At the end of the regular AFL season, the top eight teams will progress through to the AFL Finals series.

The AFL league ladder consists of 18 teams, with four points being awarded for a victory, two for a draw and none for a defeat.

In the event that teams are tied on the same amount of points, then their positions will be determined by point average - a score calculated by the number of match points scored by the number of match points conceded.

How are the AFL Finals fixtures decided?

Identically to the NRL, AFL Finals fixtures are determined by each teams finishing position in the regular AFL season.

The top four teams will take seeding positions one through to four, with the teams finishing in fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth being allocated a seeding position based on their AFL regular season finishing position.

Teams who finish in first and second position will gain home advantage in their Week 1 Qualifying Finals, and will take on the teams who finished the season in third and fourth positions.

Should they prevail in those fixtures then they will advance through to the Preliminary Finals in Week 3, whilst defeats for either of the top four seeds would result in them entering the Week 2 Semi-Finals.

The structure of the AFL Finals are designed to ensure that the teams who finish higher during the regular season gain an advantage in the Finals - this is also evident given the top two seeds will play their fixtures in their own home state, with the only exception being if they progress after being beaten in their Qualifying Final.

AFL Finals format

Week One: The Qualifying & Elimination Finals

In the first week of the AFL finals, four games are played:

• 1st Qualifying Final: First placed team against fourth placed team (1 v 4)
• 2nd Qualifying Final: Second placed team against third placed team (2 v 3)
• 1st Elimination Final: Fifth placed team against eighth placed team (5 v 8)
• 2nd Elimination Final: Sixth paced team against seventh placed team (6 v 7)

The winners of the two AFL Qualifying Finals earn a bye in Week Two and advance directly to the AFL Preliminary Finals in Week Three.

Meanwhile, the losers are offered a second opportunity in the Week Two Semi-Finals.

The winners of the two Elimination Finals - teams placed fifth to eighth - progress to the Semi-Finals with the two losers being eliminated from the competition.

Week Two: The Semi-Finals

Just two games are played during the second week of the finals:

• 1st Semi-Final: The loser of the 1st Qualifying Final against the winner of the 1st Elimination Final
• 2nd Semi-Final: The loser of the 2nd Qualifying Final against the winner of the 2nd Elimination Final

The two victors of the Qualifying Finals enjoy the benefit of a week off, whilst the the teams that were beaten in those fixtures participate in the Week 2 Semi-Finals.

They take on the winners of the two Elimination Finals, with the two winners from the Semi-Final stage advancing through to the Preliminary Finals a week later.

The two losing teams are eliminated from the competition.

Week Three: The Preliminary Finals

The third week of the finals features two hugely significant matches, with a spot in the AFL Grand Final the reward for the winners:

• 1st Preliminary Final: The winner of the 1st Qualifying Final against the winner of the 2nd Semi-Final
• 2nd Preliminary Final: The winner of the 2nd Qualifying Final against the winner of the 1st Semi-Final

The two winners progress through to the AFL Grand Final, while the two losers will see their Grand Final dreams crushed.

Week Four: The Grand Final

The pinnacle of the AFL season, the Grand Final:

• The Grand Final: The winner of the 1st Preliminary Final against the winner of the 2nd Preliminary Final

What happens if there is a draw in the AFL Finals?

Previously, a drawn AFL Grand Final would result in the two teams having to face off for a second time in a replay the following week, however, that is no longer the case.

Identically to the NRL Grand Final, extra-time is now used to determine the winning team if the scores are level following regulation time.

The teams will be faced with two five-minute periods of additional playing time with the team in front at the end of that period being declared the winner.

In the event that both sides remain level, the end of match siren will not sound and play will continue with the team scoring next winning the match.