Wildcard weekend confirmed as AFL shakes up finals format
The AFL has confirmed a major shake-up to the finals format, with a wildcard weekend confirmed for the 2026 season. Jay Clark has the details.
The AFL has introduced a wildcard round for next season in a major shake-up to its finals format.
The Herald Sun can reveal the league will effectively move from a top-eight to a top-10 system when the 2026 AFL fixture is released on Thursday.
On the weekend normally reserved for the pre-finals bye, seventh will host 10th and eighth will play ninth, while the top-six teams will have the weekend off.
The winners of the two wildcard games will progress as part of a steeper five-week passage to the premiership for the teams who finish seventh and eighth.
It represents the biggest change to the AFL finals system in 25 years and is a bold call from league bosses who received broad support for the move when it was discussed with club chiefs mid-year.
The shift is a big win for broadcasters Fox Footy and Channel 7 who are confident the two extra finals eliminators will draw bumper audiences and crowds.
Based on this year’s ladder, a wildcard round would have seen Gold Coast host the fast-finishing Sydney Swans and Hawthorn battle Western Bulldogs.
The new format means each of the top-eight ranked teams will all host a final next season.
And there will be a considerable incentive to finish sixth instead of seventh as the top-six sides will enjoy a break rather than play an extra final.
While the wildcard weekend will add two more exciting cutthroat finals matches, the move is certain to draw criticism about rewarding mediocrity.
The ninth and 10th-placed teams are unlikely to be seen as legitimate premiership contenders.
There was a significant class difference between the top-nine and bottom-nine sides this year, with the Swans finishing two wins short of the ninth-placed Dogs after a terrible start to the season.
But the AFL has shown a preparedness to innovate and make change in recent months, including a raft of rule tweaks a fortnight ago including scrapping the centre bounce.
State of Origin will also return with a Western Australia versus Victoria match on February 14 in Perth.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said the knockout wildcard round would add another exciting edge to the finals series.
“We’re thrilled to deliver fans an extra weekend of finals footy, while giving more clubs and players the opportunity to play finals footy and win a Premiership,” Dillon said.
“The Wildcard Finals Round reflects our ongoing commitment to evolve our competition structure building on recent additions like Gather Round and AFL Origin, ensuring our game continues to grow.
“This also means that all teams who finish in the top eight of ten will host a home final, giving fans a chance to see their club play at home in September.”
The highest-ranked winner of the two wildcard finals will secure seventh place and play sixth the following week, while fifth plays eighth in the elimination finals as per normal.
AFL Players Association boss James Gallagher welcomed the decision, saying it would “ensure more games of consequence through the season”.
“Playing in finals is what all players dedicate themselves to, so having that opportunity for more players and clubs each year is exciting,” Gallagher said.
“The players will share in the commercial benefits Wildcard Round generates through their revenue share agreement with the AFL and the timing of the concept means the length of the season remains as is.
“As partners in the game, players support finding ways to innovate and grow the game.”
The AFL has resisted calls to introduce a wildcard round for about a decade but has made the call with Tasmania’s 2028 entry in mind.
The Devils will become the AFL’s 19th team in two years if the new stadium at Macquarie Point is ticked-off.
The league could also move to a 20-team competition with a task force currently assessing a potential Northern Territory side.
The AFL last changed its finals format in 2000 when the league replaced the McIntyre final-eight system.
It moved from a top-six to a top-eight system in 1994 when there were 15 clubs.
Originally published as Wildcard weekend confirmed as AFL shakes up finals format
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