The AFL has decided to introduce a Wildcard Round for the 2026 finals series, meaning the top 10 placed sides at the end of the home and away season will remain in the race for the premiership.
The VFL introduced a Wildcard Round to its fixture in 2023, seeing the clubs placed seventh through to 10th feature in the first week of the finals, and clubs first through sixth having a week off.
Seventh hosts 10th in an elimination final, while eighth hosts ninth, with the winners of the two finals proceeding to a final eight, which would see the final four weeks of the September series play out in the current format.
Fifth faces the lower-placed winner from the Wildcard Round, and sixth hosts the other winner.
The concept has been considered by the AFL in recent years, with 7 News reporter Mitch Cleary revealing that the league has informed clubs that Wildcard Round will be introduced for next year.
The two Wildcard Round matches will be played in the week that has been a pre-finals bye since 2016.
“We're thrilled to deliver fans an extra weekend of finals footy, while giving more clubs and players the opportunity to play finals footy and win a Premiership,” AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said.
“The Wildcard Finals Round reflects our ongoing commitment to evolve our competition structure, building on recent additions like Gather Round and AFL Origin, ensuring our game continues to grow.
“This also means that all teams who finish in the top eight of ten will host a home final, giving fans a chance to see their club play at home in September.”
Clubs have been informed the AFL is introducing Wildcard Weekend for 2026.
7th v 10th
8th v 9thTo be played on the weekend of the current pre-finals bye.
Essentially the finals is expanding to a 10-team structure @7NewsMelbourne @7AFL
— Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) November 9, 2025
Had a Wildcard Round been introduced in 2025, Gold Coast would have hosted Sydney instead of travelling to play Fremantle, while Hawthorn would have taken on the Western Bulldogs.
The introduction of Wildcard Round comes as the league looks to extend the incentives of lower-placed sides, wanting to keep their campaigns alive for longer.
A Wildcard round would also be the latest addition to the AFL fixture, which has added Gather Round and Opening Round over the past few seasons.
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