THERE will be no double chance for top-four teams in the TAC Cup next season after the Victorian under-18 competition unveiled a revamped finals series.

The shortened September series will run for three weeks next season, with four elimination finals in the opening week.

The minor premiers will face the eighth-placed side, second will play seventh, third will meet sixth and fourth will play the fifth-placed team.

The winners will progress to the following week's preliminary finals to compete to make the TAC Cup Grand Final the week after.

The competition had previously played the finals series under the same format as the AFL, where winners in the qualifying final have a week off and go straight through to the preliminary final weekend.

After a brilliant finals campaign the Sandringham Dragons claimed this year's TAC Cup flag by beating the Murray Bushrangers by 17 points at Etihad Stadium.

Essendon's No.1 draft pick Andrew McGrath was judged best afield after gathering 38 disposals and eight clearances in his side's win.

The TAC Cup season will start on March 24 next year when the Calder Cannons host the Eastern Ranges under lights at Rams Arena.

The AFL has also set its under-18 championships fixture, with division one games to start on June 10 and run through to July 5. There will be five rounds of games in the important national carnival.