AFL 2026 wildcard finals schedule and matchups
Consensus Summary
The AFL is finalizing the schedule for its inaugural wildcard weekend, with the Western Bulldogs set to face Collingwood on Friday, September 4, and Melbourne playing Carlton on Saturday, September 5. Both articles confirm these matchups and highlight the uncertainty surrounding Hawthorn’s position, as their game against West Coast could alter the ladder. Adelaide, currently fifth on 60 points, and Geelong, fourth on 60 points, are key teams in the wildcard round, with Geelong facing the lowest-ranked advancing team. The wildcard announcement was delayed until after the Hawthorn-West Coast game, with the official fixtures for the full finals series released on Monday, August 25. The Age notes that a Hawthorn win could shift the ladder significantly, while 7NEWS emphasizes the challenges ahead for wildcard teams, who would need to win five consecutive games to claim the premiership. Additionally, the AFLW match between Brisbane and GWS was rescheduled to 6:35pm AEST to accommodate fans watching both men’s and women’s games.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Western Bulldogs will play Collingwood on Friday, September 4, at the MCG in the wildcard round
- Melbourne will play Carlton on Saturday, September 5, at the MCG in the wildcard round
- Adelaide are currently fifth on 60 points in the AFL ladder
- Geelong are currently fourth on 60 points in the AFL ladder
- Hawthorn are sixth on 60 points but have a game in hand against West Coast
- The wildcard announcement was delayed until after Hawthorn’s match against West Coast
- The official wildcard announcement is expected late on Sunday, August 24
- The AFL released the fixtures for next week’s full-blown finals on Monday, August 25
- The AFLW match between Brisbane and GWS at Brighton Homes Arena was pushed back to 6:35pm AEST
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The Bulldogs-Collingwood match and Melbourne-Carlton match are part of the AFL’s inaugural wildcard weekend
- Adelaide’s thumping of the Giants confirmed the matchups for the wildcard round
- A Hawthorn win could mean the Hawks finish fourth with the Cats fifth and Adelaide sixth
- The Hawks could even finish in third above the Brisbane Lions on percentage if they thump the Eagles by close to 100 points
- All wildcard teams are Victorian, meaning one team would have to travel to Adelaide if Hawthorn win
- The AFL is working through potential fixturing for the next week of the finals series due to travel implications
- Minor premiers Fremantle will start their bid for a maiden AFL flag with a Thursday night qualifying final against Hawthorn at Optus Stadium on September 3 at 8:10pm
- Fremantle completed a thrilling comeback to beat Hawthorn earlier in the season
- Fifth-placed Geelong will play the lowest-ranked team to progress through the wildcard round, meaning the Cats cannot play Melbourne and will face the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, or Carlton
- Sydney (second) will host reigning premiers Brisbane on Saturday, September 5, at 3:15pm at the SCG
- Adelaide will take on the highest-ranked wildcard winner in an Adelaide Oval elimination final on Saturday, September 5, at 7:35pm
- Sixth-placed Adelaide avoid in-form Carlton, instead drawing the Demons, Bulldogs, or Magpies
- The four wildcard teams need to win five games in a row to claim the premiership
- Star midfielder Ed Richards of the Bulldogs said: 'I guess we’ll find out in the coming weeks. Hopefully, we can put some good footy together. I think we’ve finished the year strongly, so that’s always good to be able to go into the finals with some form.'
- The AFL can avoid a Sunday game after the NFL takes over the MCG on Friday, September 11
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Age says the wildcard announcement is expected late on Sunday, August 23, while 7NEWS does not mention this specific date but implies it is after the Hawthorn-West Coast game, which is on Sunday, August 24
- The Age states Adelaide are fifth and Geelong fourth on 60 points, while 7NEWS does not explicitly mention Adelaide’s points but confirms Geelong’s fifth-place wildcard matchup
- The Age mentions Adelaide’s thumping of the Giants as confirming matchups, but 7NEWS does not reference this specific game in its article
Source Articles
How clubs expect wildcard weekend schedule to look and why it hasn’t been announced yet
Clubs are planning for a Bulldogs-Collingwood match on Friday and Melbourne to take on Carlton on Saturday night in the AFL’s inaugural wildcard weekend.
AFL qualifying and elimination finals fixture set early ahead of wildcard games
A Thursday night blockbuster will kick off the finals proper, with a Saturday double-header also locked in.
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