Gold Coast Suns and Werribee will meet in the 2023 Smithy's VFL Grand Final at IKON Park on Sunday, September 24.
Sunday, September 24
2023 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final
Gold Coast Suns (1st) vs. Werribee (2nd)
IKON Park
3:10pm AEST
Broadcast: The 2023 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network via Channel 7 in Victoria and 7plus nationally. The match will also be streamed live and free on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
Ticketing: For the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final admission prices will be adults $20, concession/pensioners $15 and children under 15 free. Tickets can be pre-purchased at www.intix.com.au/org/vfl from midday on Monday, September 18. Spectators purchasing at the gate are advised the payment method is EFTPOS only.
The Gold Coast Suns claimed the minor premiership by finishing the home-and-away season in first spot on the ladder with a 16-2 record. They advanced to the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final by defeating the Brisbane Lions by 43 points in the qualifying final and the Box Hill Hawks by 15 points in the preliminary final.
Werribee has won 17 consecutive games to reach the premiership decider. The Tigers finished the regular season in second position, percentage behind the Suns, before beating the Box Hill Hawks by 20 points in the qualifying final and the Brisbane Lions by 30 points in the preliminary final.
It will be the Gold Coast Suns’ first Grand Final appearance in any competition. The Suns last year reached the Smithy’s VFL preliminary final, where they fell to the Southport Sharks by 28 points.
Werribee will be looking to secure its second premiership and end a drought dating back to 1993. The Tigers last played in a Grand Final in 2005.
AFL Head of State League Competitions Jennie Loughnan congratulated both clubs on reaching the premiership decider.
“The Gold Coast Suns and Werribee have been the standout sides this year and are very deserving grand finalists,” Loughnan said.
“199 games have been played so far in the 2023 Smithy’s VFL season and it is fitting the top two teams on the ladder from the home-and-away season will feature in the biggest game of the year.
“On behalf of the AFL, I would like to thank all clubs, players, umpires, venues and our broadcast and commercial partners for their tremendous support of the Smithy’s VFL in 2023 and wish the Gold Coast Suns and Werribee the best of luck for the Grand Final.”
The 2023 Smithy’s VFL season featured 21 teams who each played 18 matches across a 22-round fixture. A Wildcard Round featuring the teams who finished seventh to 10th on the ladder preceded the finals.
Casey Demons are the reigning premiers after defeating the Southport Sharks by 32 points in the 2022 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final.
Selected teams for the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final will be announced on Friday, September 22.
The Norm Goss Medal will be awarded to the best player on the ground.
2023 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series and Wildcard Round Structure
(Please click here for 2023 Smithy's VFL Finals Series and Wildcard Round explainer)
Wildcard Round
Sunday, August 27
Wildcard Round Game One: Casey Demons (7th) 20.14 (134) def North Melbourne (10th) 5.3 (33)
Wildcard Round Game Two: Collingwood (8th) 21.9 (135) def Richmond (9th) 8.12 (60)
Qualifying and Elimination Finals
Saturday, September 2
First Qualifying Final: Gold Coast Suns (1st) 19.13 (127) def Brisbane Lions (4th) 12.12 (84)
Second Qualifying Final: Werribee (2nd) 11.14 (80) def Box Hill Hawks (3rd) 8.12 (60)
First Elimination Final: Williamstown (5th) 12.10 (82) def Collingwood (8th) 3.9 (27)
Second Elimination Final: Footscray Bulldogs (6th) 22.16 (148) def Casey Demons (7th) 10.9 (69)
Semi Finals
Saturday, September 9
First Semi Final: Brisbane Lions (4th) 12.16 (88) def Williamstown (5th) 7.6 (48)
Second Semi Final: Box Hill Hawks (3rd) 14.11 (95) def Footscray Bulldogs (6th) 10.15 (75)
Preliminary Finals
Saturday, September 16
First Preliminary Final: Gold Coast Suns (1st) 12.16 (88) def Box Hill Hawks (3rd) 11.7 (73)
Second Preliminary Final: Werribee (2nd) 14.10 (94) vs. Brisbane Lions (4th) 9.10 (64)
Grand Final
Sunday, September 24
Gold Coast Suns (1st) vs. Werribee (2nd)
IKON Park, 3:10pm AEST
2023 Coates Talent League Boys Grand Final
The 2023 Coates Talent League Boys Grand Final between the Sandringham Dragons and Eastern Ranges will be played prior to the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final. The match will commence at 11:15am.
