AFL announces fixture for first week of 2016 finals series
A BLOCKBUSTER qualifying final between the Hawks and Cats headlines the four matches that will kick off the 2016 AFL finals series. FULL DATES AND TIMES
A BLOCKBUSTER qualifying final between the Hawks and Cats headlines the four matches that will kick off the 2016 AFL finals series.
The Hawks upset Geelong in the 2008 Grand Final and this year the Cats will be trying to stop Hawthorn’s bid for a historic fourth straight premiership.
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The finals series kicks off with a Thursday night elimination final on September 8 in Perth between West Coast and the Western Bulldogs.
The Dogs will be thankful for the new pre-finals bye, allowing them time to fly home from WA after their Round 23 loss to Fremantle and recuperate before a return trip in 10 days.
The Cats and Hawks face off at the MCG on Friday night, September 9, in front of a likely full house for the second qualifying final.
The next day the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants will host a first-ever Sydney finals derby in the first qualifying final.
Fifth-placed Adelaide hosts eighth-placed North Melbourne in the first elimination final on Saturday night.
The qualifying final winners earn a week off and progression through to a preliminary final.
The loser of the Sydney derby will play the winner of Adelaide v North Melbourne, while the loser of Geelong v Hawthorn will play the winner of West Coast v Western Bulldogs.
The two elimination final losers bow out of the finals.
2016 FINALS WEEK ONE
West Coast v Western Bulldogs
Thursday 8th September, 8.10pm EST, Domain Stadium
Geelong v Hawthorn
Friday 9th September, 7.50pm EST, MCG
Sydney v GWS Giants
Saturday 10th September, 3.20pm EST, ANZ Stadium
Adelaide v North Melbourne
Saturday 10th September, 7.40pm EST, Adelaide Oval
Originally published as AFL announces fixture for first week of 2016 finals series