AFL finals: First week fixture confirmed

• AFL Live ladder: Every finals scenario for the eight

The AFL is set to confirm the schedule for the two Qualifying Finals and Elimination Finals in week one.

• Thursday, Sept 4: Adelaide Crows vs Collingwood at Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)
• Friday, Sept 5: Geelong vs Brisbane Lions at MCG (7.40pm)
• Saturday, Sept 6: GWS v Hawthorn at ENGIE Stadium *
• Saturday, Sept 6: Fremantle v Gold Coast at Optus Stadium *

(Opponents could change*)

Here’s what will occur depending on results:

Gold Coast win by 30+ points:

(5) GWS versus (8) Hawthorn @ ENGIE Stadium
(6) Fremantle versus (7) Gold Coast @ Optus Stadium

Gold Coast win by less than 30 points OR Gold Coast and Essendon draw:

(5) GWS versus (8) Gold Coast @ ENGIE Stadium
(6) Fremantle versus (7) Hawthorn @ Optus Stadium

Essendon beat Gold Coast:

(5) GWS versus (8) Western Bulldogs @ ENGIE Stadium
(6) Fremantle versus (7) Hawthorn @ Optus Stadium

So much will depend on the result of the Gold Coast v Essendon clash this Wednesday, meaning AFL fans will have to wait for finals fixturing and ticket information.

Brisbane's 10-point win over Hawthorn on Sunday night locked in third spot for the reigning premiers with the Hawks currently occupying seventh.

The top four is locked in with Adelaide on top, Geelong second, Brisbane third and Collingwood fourth. The Crows will play the Magpies in Adelaide and the Cats will host the Lions at the MCG in Qualifying Finals.

GWS and Fremantle cannot move from fifth and sixth respectively.

If the Suns defeat the Bombers in the last home and away fixture - as most expect - they will qualify for the eight, but they'll have to win fairly comfortably to leapfrog the Hawks and finish seventh.

If the Suns lose to the Dons, the Western Bulldogs will finish eighth.

Information provided by the Cats suggests that after the siren on Wednesday night, the AFL will release the fixture and ticketing information with sales set to start on Friday August 29.

A statement on their website said:

“The Week 1 Toyota AFL Finals fixture and ticket on-sale information will be confirmed on Wednesday night (27 August) following the conclusion of the final game of the home and away season - Gold Coast SUNS v Essendon.

“Ticket on-sales will commence from Friday 29 August.

“Please keep an eye out for an email from the Club and on our Finals Hub page after the final match of Round 24 for all the ticketing details for Week 1 Toyota AFL Finals Series.”