The AFL has today confirmed the fixture for the 2026 Smithy’s VFL preliminary finals.
Saturday, September 12
Second Preliminary Final: Box Hill Hawks vs Essendon
Box Hill City Oval, 11:05am AEST
Broadcaster: ABC (ABC in Victoria, ABC iview nationally)
Sunday, September 13
First Preliminary Final: Geelong Cats vs Port Melbourne
GMHBA Stadium, 1:35pm AEST
Broadcaster: ABC (ABC in Victoria, ABC iview nationally)
Box Hill Hawks and Essendon will meet in the second preliminary final at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday, September 12.
It will be the Hawks’ third preliminary final appearance in four years, following defeats to eventual premiers the Footscray Bulldogs and Gold Coast Suns in 2025 and 2023 respectively.
The Hawks earned the right to host the preliminary final by downing Werribee by 13 points in the second qualifying final.
Victory in the preliminary final would see Box Hill advance to the Grand Final for the first time since winning the 2018 premiership.
Essendon has won consecutive finals over Williamstown and Tasmania over the past fortnight to advance to the preliminary final for the first time since 2019. The Bombers are chasing history this week, having never played in a VFA/VFL Grand Final.
Minor premier the Geelong Cats will host Port Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium in the first preliminary final on Sunday, September 13.
The Cats finished the home and away season atop the ladder for the first time since 2013, which was the last year they played in the VFL Grand Final.
They took the direct route to a home preliminary final with a 23-point win over Tasmania in the first qualifying final.
Port Melbourne reached the preliminary final for the first time in seven years with successive finals wins over the Sydney Swans and Werribee across the past two weeks.
A victory over the Cats would secure the Borough’s first Grand Final appearance since winning the 2017 decider against Richmond.
The 2026 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final will be played at IKON Park on Sunday, September 20 from 2:05pm, following the 2026 VFLW Grand Final.
TICKETING
Admission prices for the 2026 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series are as follows:
For the preliminary finals, admission prices will be adults $15, concession/pensioners $10 and children under 15 free.
Tickets can be purchased from midday Tuesday at www.intix.com.au/org/vfl
For the 2026 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, admission prices will be adults $20, concession/pensioners $15 and children under 15 free.
BROADCAST
The 2026 Smithy’s VFL preliminary finals will be broadcast live and free by ABC TV VIC, the network’s main channel in Victoria, and ABC iview 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.
SMITHY’S VFL FINALS SERIES STRUCTURE
Wildcard Finals
Saturday, August 22
First Wildcard Final: Sydney Swans 22.14 (146) def Frankston 11.12 (78)
Second Wildcard Final: Williamstown 19.7 (121) def Carlton 12.11 (83)
Qualifying and Elimination Finals
Saturday, August 29
First Qualifying Final: Geelong Cats 13.11 (89) def Tasmania 9.12 (66)
Second Qualifying Final: Werribee 15.6 (96) def by Box Hill Hawks 16.13 (109)
First Elimination Final: Essendon 14.12 (96) def Williamstown 7.9 (51)
Second Elimination Final: Port Melbourne 17.14 (116) def Sydney Swans 9.7 (61)
Semi Finals
Saturday, September 5
First Semi Final: Tasmania 10.14 (74) def by Essendon 15.11 (101)
Second Semi Final: Werribee 9.15 (69) def by Port Melbourne 12.13 (85)
Preliminary Finals
Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13
First Preliminary Final: Geelong Cats (1st) vs Port Melbourne (6th)
Second Preliminary Final: Box Hill Hawks (3rd) vs Essendon (5th)
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
The higher placed team on the Smithy’s VFL ladder at the conclusion of the home and away season hosted matches from the wildcard finals through to the semi finals.
The preliminary finals will be hosted by the two qualifying final winners.
The 2026 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final will be played at IKON Park on Sunday, September 20 as a double-header with the 2026 VFLW Grand Final.
