The AFL has introduced a new finals system for season 2000 and we thought Bombers fans might want to know exactly how it works.
So the following is a detailed explanation of the new final eight system so Bomber fans know exactly what the weekend's results mean.
The final eight at the end of the home and away season was:
1: Essendon
2: Carlton
3: Melbourne
4: Kangaroos
5: Geelong
6: Brisbane
7: Western Bulldogs
8: Hawthorn
In the opening week of the finals there are two qualifying finals and two elimination finals. The top four at the end of the home and away season all receive a double chance.
The qualifying finals are Essendon (1) v Kangaroos (4) and Carlton (2) v Melbourne (3). The winners of these two matches will advance to the preliminary finals and have a week's break.
The two elimination finals will be Geelong (5) v Hawthorn (8) and Brisbane (6) v Western Bulldogs (7).
The losers of these two matches are eliminated from the finals while the winners advance to the semi-finals the following week.
The semi-finals will comprise the winners of the eliminations finals and the losers of the qualifying finals.
The winners of the two semi-finals will then advance to the preliminary finals where they will play the winners of the qualifying finals.
Should the top four all advance to the preliminary final stage - (1) will play (3) and (2) will play (4) to ensure there isn't a replay of the qualifying finals played in week one.
The two winners of the preliminary finals then advance to the Grand Final.
