AFL Introduces Wildcard Round for 2026 Finals

The AFL finals will undergo a significant format change in 2026, introducing a Wildcard Round for the first time in over two decades. This new round will feature two additional games involving the teams that finish in seventh through tenth place at the end of the home and away season.

The matchups will see the seventh-placed team host the tenth-placed team, while the eighth-placed team will host the ninth-placed team. Following these games, the finals will return to the traditional format, with the fifth and sixth-placed teams facing the Wildcard winners, and the top four teams competing in qualifying finals.

This change replaces the pre-finals bye that was implemented in 2016 and aims to keep more teams in contention for the finals longer. AFL CEO Andrew Dillon expressed excitement about providing fans with an extra weekend of finals football and ensuring that all teams in the top ten have the opportunity to play at home in September. The Wildcard Round matchups were confirmed after the conclusion of Round 24.