The details for the 2026 Smithy’s VFL and VFLW Grand Finals have been confirmed.
Sunday, September 20
2026 VFLW Grand Final: Williamstown vs North Melbourne Werribee
IKON Park, 11:00am AEST
Broadcaster: AFL.com.au and AFL Live Official App
2026 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final: Geelong Cats vs Box Hill Hawks
IKON Park, 2:05pm AEST
Broadcaster: ABC (ABC in Victoria, ABC iview nationally) + AFL.com.au and AFL Live Official App
The Smithy’s VFL and VFLW Grand Finals will be played as a double-header at IKON Park on Sunday, September 20.
It will be the first time since 2019 that both premiership deciders will be played at the same venue on the same day.
The VFLW Grand Final will commence at 11:00am featuring minor premier Williamstown and two-time reigning premier North Melbourne Werribee.
It will be Williamstown’s first appearance in a VFLW Grand Final following a first-place finish on the ladder. The Seagulls produced a 14-2 record during the home and away season, before downing Port Melbourne by two points in the first preliminary final.
North Melbourne Werribee is aiming to create history as the first team to win three-consecutive VFLW premierships. The Kangaroos defeated Collingwood by six points in the 2025 Grand Final and the Western Bulldogs by 20 points in the 2024 decider.
The Smithy’s VFL Grand Final will follow at 2:05pm where the Geelong Cats and Box Hill Hawks meet in another premiership decider.
The two sides last faced off in a VFL Grand Final back in 2013, which the Hawks won by 21 points.
Geelong was the dominant side of the 2026 home and away season, finishing the regular campaign with a 16-2 record to claim the minor premiership.
The Cats then defeated Tasmania by 23 points in the first qualifying final, before accounting for Port Melbourne by 47 points in the first preliminary final.
Geelong last won the VFL premiership in 2012 and has not played a VFL Grand Final since the 2013 loss to the Hawks.
Box Hill Hawks finished the home and away season in third place. The Hawks defeated Werribee by 13 points in the second qualifying final and Essendon by seven points in the second preliminary final.
The Hawks will be making their fifth Grand Final appearance in 13 years. They won the premiership in 2013 and 2018 but lost the decider in 2014 and 2015.
Both head coaches will be looking to etch their name into folklore by winning a premiership as both a player and coach with their respective club.
Geelong coach Mark Corrigan was a member of Geelong’s 2012 premiership team before coaching the Casey Demons to the 2022 flag.
Meanwhile, Box Hill Hawks coach David Mirra was a two-time premiership player with the Hawks and won the Norm Goss Medal as best afield in the 2018 Grand Final win over the Casey Demons.
TICKETING
Admission prices for the 2026 Smithy’s VFL and VFLW Grand Finals are adults $20, concession/pensioners $15 and children under 15 free, which includes entry to both matches.
Tickets can be purchased from midday Tuesday at www.intix.com.au/org/vfl
BROADCAST
The 2026 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final will be broadcast live and free by ABC TV VIC, the network’s main channel in Victoria, and ABC iview nationally, with a stream available on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
The 2026 VFLW Grand Final will be broadcast live and free on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
2026 VFLW FINALS SERIES RESULTS
Elimination Finals
Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6
First Elimination Final: Collingwood 6.2 (38) def Western Bulldogs 5.7 (37)
Second Elimination Final: Carlton 5.5 (35) def by Port Melbourne 6.9 (45)
Preliminary Finals
Saturday, September 12
First Preliminary Final: Williamstown 6.4 (40) def Port Melbourne 5.8 (38)
Second Preliminary Final: North Melbourne Werribee 12.5 (77) def Collingwood 2.4 (16)
Grand Final
Sunday, September 20
Grand Final: Williamstown (1st) vs North Melbourne Werribee (2nd)
Please click here to view the 2026 VFLW Finals Series graphic.
2026 SMITHY’S VFL FINALS SERIES RESULTS
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 14.12 (96) def Port Melbourne 6.13 (49)
Second Preliminary Final: Box Hill Hawks 13.17 (95) def Essendon 13.10 (88)
Grand Final
Sunday, September 20
Grand Final: Geelong Cats (1st) vs Box Hill Hawks (3rd)
Please click here to view the 2026 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series graphic.
VFL AND VFLW AWARDS
The star performers from the 2026 Smithy’s VFL and VFLW seasons will be recognised at the VFL and VFLW Awards at The Palladium at Crown on Monday, September 14. The event will commence at 7:15pm, with a live stream available via AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
