The 2026 Smithy’s VFL Wildcard Finals schedule has been confirmed.
Saturday, August 22
First Wildcard Final: Sydney Swans (7th) vs Frankston (10th)
Blacktown International Sports Park,11:05am AEST
Broadcaster: AFL.com.au
Second Wildcard Final: Williamstown (8th) vs Carlton (9th)
DSV Stadium, 11:05am AEST
Broadcaster: ABC
The Smithy’s VFL Wildcard Finals feature two matches between the teams who finished seventh to tenth on the Smithy’s VFL ladder at the conclusion of the home and away season.
The seventh-placed Sydney Swans take on tenth-placed Frankston at Blacktown International Sports Park in the First Wildcard Final, while eighth-placed Williamstown will host ninth-placed Carlton at DSV Stadium in the Second Wildcard Final.
Both matches will be played on Saturday 22 August, commencing at 11:05am AEST.
Broadcast timeslots and travel considerations were determining factors when scheduling both Smithy's VFL Wildcard Finals.
The Williamstown vs Carlton match will be broadcast live and free by ABC TV VIC, the network’s main channel in Victoria, and ABC iview nationally, in the Saturday timeslot allocated for the network's weekly VFL broadcast match.
Meanwhile, the start time of the Sydney vs Frankston match ensures the Dolphins can fly back to Victoria on Saturday evening following the match.
The First Wildcard Final will be Sydney’s first Smithy’s VFL finals appearance since 2022, while Frankston is featuring in the finals for the third-consecutive season.
The Dolphins last year reached the preliminary final and previously played a wildcard final in 2024, where they produced one of the greatest upsets in recent finals history by defeating reigning premier the Gold Coast Suns at People First Stadium.
The Second Wildcard Final marks the third-successive year Williamstown features in a wildcard final, where it will be looking to extend its perfect record having comfortably accounted for Collingwood and Richmond across the past two years.
The match will be Carlton’s first Smithy’s VFL final in four years.
The higher-placed wildcard final winner will continue in the 2026 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series and will take on Port Melbourne in the second elimination final next week.
The lower-placed wildcard final winner will advance to the first elimination final and will play against Essendon.
The top-six teams on the ladder at the completion of the 2026 Smithy’s VFL home and away season will have a bye during the wildcard finals.
AFL Head of State League Competitions Jennie Loughnan said: “The 2026 Smithy’s VFL home and away season was one of the closest in the competition’s history and we now look forward to the Smithy’s VFL Finals Series with great excitement.
“We congratulate all ten clubs featuring in the 2026 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series and wish them good luck as they chase premiership success.
“Given how even the competition has been throughout the regular season, all finalists should be confident they can produce a premiership-winning run across the next month.
“On behalf of the AFL, I would like to thank all clubs, players, umpires, venues and our broadcast and commercial partners for their outstanding support of the Smithy’s VFL in 2026.”
TICKETING
Admission prices for the 2026 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series are as follows:
For matches played in Victoria during wildcard finals through to the preliminary finals, admission prices will be adults $15, concession/pensioners $10 and children under 15 free.
For finals played in Tasmania during wildcard finals through to the preliminary finals, admission prices will be adults $25, concession/pensioners and juniors $12.50 and children under 3 free.
Entry will be free for finals played in New South Wales.
For the 2026 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, admission prices will be adults $20, concession/pensioners $15 and children under 15 free.
Tickets can be purchased from midday Tuesday each week of the 2026 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series via www.intix.com.au/org/vfl.
BROADCAST
The AFL is pleased to confirm that one match each week of the 2026 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series will be broadcast live and free by ABC TV VIC, the network’s main channel in Victoria, and ABC iview nationally.
The Seven Network will broadcast Tasmania Football Club’s home finals via Seven Tasmania and 7plus Sport nationally.
All matches, including the 2026 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, will be streamed live and free on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
FINALS SERIES STRUCTURE
Wildcard Finals
Saturday, August 22
First Wildcard Final: Sydney Swans (7th) vs Frankston (10th)
Second Wildcard Final: Williamstown (8th) vs Carlton (9th)
Qualifying and Elimination Finals
Weekend of August 29-30
First Qualifying Final: Geelong Cats (1st) vs Tasmania (4th)
Second Qualifying Final: Werribee (2nd) vs Box Hill Hawks (3rd)
First Elimination Final: Essendon (5th) vs Lower-placed Wildcard Final winner
Second Elimination Final: Port Melbourne (6th) vs Higher-placed Wildcard Final winner
Semi Finals
Weekend of September 5-6
First Semi Final: Loser of First Qualifying Final vs Winner of First Elimination Final
Second Semi Final: Loser of Second Qualifying Final vs Winner of Second Elimination Final
Preliminary Finals
Weekend of September 12-13
First Preliminary Final: Winner of First Qualifying Final vs Winner of Second Semi Final
Second Preliminary Final: Winner of Second Qualifying Final vs Winner of First Semi Final
Grand Final
Sunday, September 20
Grand Final: Winner of First Preliminary Final vs Winner of Second Preliminary Final
Please click here to view the 2026 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series graphic.
FINALS VENUES
For all matches from the wildcard finals through to the preliminary finals, the higher-placed team on the Smithy’s VFL ladder at the conclusion of the home and away season will have the option to host, subject to meeting venue infrastructure requirements.
The 2026 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final will be played at IKON Park on Sunday, September 20 unless two non-Victorian teams are competing.
In the event of two non-Victorian teams reaching the 2026 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, the match will be played in the state of the higher-placed team.
