See the full schedule for the first week of finals below:
Friday September 5
Second Qualifying Final, Hawthorn v Geelong Cats at the MCG, 7.50pm
Saturday September 6
First Qualifying Final, Sydney Swans v Fremantle at ANZ Stadium, 2.45pm
Second Elimination Final, North Melbourne v Essendon at the MCG, 7.15pm (series ticket match)
Sunday September 7
First Elimination Final, Port Adelaide v Richmond at the Adelaide Oval, 2.50pm
AFL Chief Executive Officer Gillon McLachlan said the AFL had determined that the highest teams on the ladder deserved to have the greatest consideration where possible when weighing up the fixture structure and match locations for the opening week of matches in the 2014 Toyota AFL Finals Series.
Mr McLachlan said the AFL had consulted the Swans, as the first-ranked side on the ladder, on its preference to play Friday or Saturday in week one and the Swans had advised the AFL they wished for consideration to be given to being scheduled on Saturday, to ensure a seven-day break leading into their first final.
The Swans were therefore scheduled as a day game on Saturday September 6 at ANZ Stadium, which would also allow Fremantle to return to Perth that evening after the game, while the Second Qualifying Final would be played on Friday night at the MCG between Hawthorn and the Geelong Cats at the MCG.
“It was the AFL’s view that the two qualifying finals between the top four teams deserved to be played as the opening two matches of the finals series, so that the losers of these matches had the longer breaks leading into week two of the finals series than their prospective opponents,” Mr McLachlan said.
Mr McLachlan said the potential crowd for the North Melbourne v Essendon Elimination Final required the match to be played at the MCG. This match was scheduled for Saturday evening as the winner would play the loser of the Hawthorn / Geelong Cats match the previous evening.
The First Elimination Final between Port Adelaide and Richmond was scheduled as a day game for Adelaide Oval on Sunday September 7 as the winner of this match would meet the loser of the Sydney Swans / Fremantle encounter.
Mr McLachlan said he wanted to thank all football supporters for their commitment to the game in the 2014 season, with AFL crowd figures for the home and away season scheduled to eclipse the 2013 tally with three matches still to be played tomorrow.
“All ticket prices for every match of the 2014 Toyota AFL Finals Series have been frozen at last year’s prices, to ensure that fans of each of the eight clubs can have the best chance to see their team in action,” Mr McLachlan said.
“We congratulate all the teams that have made the eight and look forward to an exciting finals series given the quality of the football that has been on display through the first 23 rounds,” he said.
