2026 AFL Finals Series
AFL
Preliminary Finals
Four teams remain and just two places are left in the 2026 AFL Grand Final as the finals series reaches Preliminary Final weekend.
Two games. Two Grand Final spots.
The 2026 AFL Preliminary Finals are set, with Sydney, Fremantle, Hawthorn and Brisbane the last four teams standing in the race for the premiership.
Friday night sees Sydney host Fremantle at the SCG, with the Swans returning after their week off while the Dockers arrive off a thrilling Semi Final win over Geelong.
On Saturday, Hawthorn face Brisbane at the MCG in a twilight Preliminary Final. The Hawks earned direct passage through from their Qualifying Final win, while the Lions kept their season alive with a strong Semi Final victory over Adelaide.
There is no second chance from here. The winners will advance to the 2026 AFL Grand Final, while the losing teams will see their seasons come to an end.
2026 AFL Preliminary Finals at a glance
- - Sydney v Fremantle – Friday night at the SCG.
- - Hawthorn v Brisbane – Saturday twilight at the MCG.
- - Both Preliminary Finals are sudden-death matches.
- - The two winners progress to the 2026 AFL Grand Final.
- - The losing teams are eliminated.
Second Preliminary Final
Sydney VS Fremantle
FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER • 7:40PM AEST • SCG
Sydney vs Fremantle
Head to Head
SYD ($2.44) vs FREM ($1.56)
Line
Fremantle -10.5 ($1.90)
Total Points
186.5 points ($1.90)
Preliminary Final weekend begins on Friday night as Sydney host Fremantle at the SCG with a place in the 2026 AFL Grand Final on the line.
The Swans return after earning the week off through their Qualifying Final victory, while Fremantle have had to take the longer route. The Dockers kept their premiership hopes alive with a dramatic Semi Final win over Geelong and now face another major test on the road.
Sydney will have the advantage of home ground and extra recovery, but Fremantle arrive with momentum and the confidence of surviving a high-pressure knockout contest.
The winner advances to the 2026 AFL Grand Final. For the loser, the season is over.
Sydney vs Fremantle Tips →
First Preliminary Final
Hawthorn VS Brisbane
SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER • 5:15PM AEST • MCG
Hawthorn vs Brisbane
Head to Head
HAW ($2.00) vs BRIS ($1.80)
Line
Brisbane -2.5 ($1.90)
Total Points
185.5 points ($1.90)
Saturday's second Preliminary Final sees Hawthorn take on Brisbane at the MCG, with the winner claiming the final place in the 2026 AFL Grand Final.
Hawthorn earned a direct path through to the Preliminary Final and the benefit of a week's rest. Brisbane, meanwhile, were forced into a sudden-death Semi Final after losing to Sydney before responding with an impressive win over Adelaide.
The Hawks will have home-ground advantage at the MCG, while Brisbane bring significant finals experience into another high-pressure September contest.
One of these teams will be playing for the premiership the following Saturday. The other will see its 2026 campaign come to an end.
Hawthorn vs Brisbane Tips →
What Happens After the AFL Preliminary Finals?
The winners of the two Preliminary Finals will advance to the biggest game of the season — the 2026 AFL Grand Final.
The winner of Sydney vs Fremantle will meet the winner of Hawthorn vs Brisbane at the MCG.
With no double chance remaining, both Preliminary Finals are genuine knockout contests: win and play for the premiership, lose and the season is finished.
2026 AFL Preliminary Finals Betting Tips
Before You Bet will provide full betting previews and tips for both matches across AFL Preliminary Final weekend.
We'll analyse the latest head-to-head odds, line betting, total points markets, team selections, injuries and key match-ups before providing our best bets for Sydney vs Fremantle and Hawthorn vs Brisbane.
You can also visit our AFL Tips page for all of our latest finals coverage, or check the latest 2026 AFL Premiership Odds as the race for the flag reaches its final weekend.
