Get Kayo now ><\/a><\/p>\nFor the first time since the AFLW\u2019s creation, neither Brisbane nor Adelaide will feature in the grand final after both sides missed finals altogether in 2026.<\/p>\n
Remarkably it\u2019s just the third time in AFLW history \u2013 and the first since 2022 \u2013 that the Lions won\u2019t be there for the decider, having contested the past four grand finals.<\/p>\n
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Melbourne will play in the opening final against Geelong.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
The 2026 fixture will see Geelong host the finals opener at IKON Park on Saturday afternoon, given their home ground is unavailable due to a venue clash with Australia\u2019s premier Supercross AUSX Open.<\/p>\n
That qualifying final against Melbourne will serve as the first match of an IKON Park double header with North Melbourne to follow with their clash against Carlton.<\/p>\n
The winner will then book themselves a home preliminary final, with the loser to host the winner of the Sunday elimination finals.<\/p>\n
The finals then head to Sydney\u2019s Henson Park for the Swans\u2019 elimination final against the Bulldogs, with the last match of week one Gold Coast\u2019s do-or-die clash with Hawthorn from 3.05pm AEDT.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like this double header set up,\u201d Lauren Wood said on Fox Footy\u2019s W Debrief.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know they are interstate games on a Sunday, but particularly the Saturday timeslot I know we\u2019ve had them in years gone by with quite a big gap between games. The 1.05pm into the 4.05pm, it\u2019s quite nice \u2013 everyone can get down and make a real day of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Wood did question the conditions for the final match given the timeslot handed to the Gold Coast.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is the heat of the day really for them (Gold Coast), the two o\u2019clock local time on the Gold Coast. 26 degrees forecast at the moment,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cCould be polar opposites (playing conditions) across the few days.\u201d<\/p>\n
North Melbourne have the chance to secure a record third consecutive flag.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Wood also explained why there is no Friday night final for the AFLW in week one.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe absence of a Friday night game, we understand that may be due to the turnaround,\u201d she confirmed.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust the teams playing, a number of them in action today, the likes of Sydney and Melbourne.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe league would be keen to avoid those short turnarounds particularly in the finals so that\u2019s why we\u2019re going for Saturday and Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both Sydney and Melbourne had away games in that final round, with the Swans to return from Perth and the Dees travelling back from Adelaide.<\/p>\n
While it\u2019s Geelong opening the finals series, it will be away from their home venue in disappointing news for the top two side.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in the exact scenario everyone wanted to avoid,\u201d Wood said of the venue booking clash.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Kardinia Park Trust are the ones that are behind this decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cYears gone by they\u2019ve forgone a number of opportunities like this (Supercross) \u2013 that bring a lot of money not only to the Trust but also the region for Geelong. They say they have turned their back on events like this for what could have been in the AFLW finals, and it hasn\u2019t then eventuated.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey had to make this call a number of months ago \u2026 the scenario has played out exactly how no one wanted it to.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s incredibly unfortunate for these women.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve earnt the right to this home final and unfortunately now are missing out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wood confirmed GMHBA Stadium could be available for any further AFLW finals \u2013 but just not next weekend due to the dirt that would be on the surface.<\/p>\n
While it\u2019s not the outcome the Cats had hoped for, the AFLW were proud of the closeness of this season \u2013 given just three wins separated eighth and 14th.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a thrilling finish to the home-and-away season, with the order of the top eight coming right down to the wire,\u201d AFLW executive general manager Laura Kane said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great reflection of how competitive this season has been, and with an exciting mix of teams and storylines, we\u2019re set for an even bigger finals series.\u201d<\/p>\n
Week 1 of the 2026 NAB AFLW Finals Series:<\/p>\n
Second Qualifying Final<\/p>\n
Geelong Cats v Melbourne<\/p>\n
Saturday, 7 November<\/p>\n
IKON Park, 1.05pm AEDT<\/p>\n
First Qualifying Final<\/p>\n
North Melbourne v Carlton<\/p>\n
Saturday, 7 November<\/p>\n
IKON Park, 4.05pm AEDT<\/p>\n
Second Elimination Final<\/p>\n
Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs<\/p>\n
Sunday, 8 November<\/p>\n
Henson Park, 1.05pm AEDT<\/p>\n
First Elimination Final<\/p>\n
Gold Coast Suns v Hawthorn<\/p>\n
Sunday, 8 November<\/p>\n
People First Stadium, 3.05pm AEDT\/ 2.05pm AEST<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 2026 AFLW finals are locked in, with the all-Victorian top four to make history. Watch every match…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":948650,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[560],"tags":[638,64,63,55,639,85],"class_list":["post-948649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-afl","tag-afl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australian-football-league","tag-australianfootballleague","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/948649","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=948649"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/948649\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/948650"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=948649"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=948649"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=948649"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}