The Wildcard Round of finals was a picture-perfect opening to the 2026 AFL finals series; now the remaining eight teams will battle it out in four high-octane blockbusters.

Fremantle and Hawthorn will open the second week of finals action with a Qualifying Final in Perth on Thursday night.

Geelong will then host a red-hot Carlton at the MCG on Friday night in the first Elimination Final, followed by a Saturday afternoon Qualifying Final between Sydney and Brisbane at the SCG and the second Elimination Final between Adelaide and Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval in the night time.

As with the Wildcard Round, here at Zero Hanger we have decided to give an early prediction as to how the eight sides will line up for the weekend's action.

Fremantle

There are confirmed to be at least four changes to Fremantle's side from the Dockers outfit that lost to Carlton in Round 24.

Fresh off his maiden All-Australian, Murphy Reid will return to the team after recovering from his groin injury.

All-Australian squad member Jye Amiss (ankle) will also come back into the senior side along with Sam Switkowski and Heath Chapman, who were both managed.

Debutant Tobyn Murray, Bailey Banfield and Chris Scerri are the most likely to make way for the returning four Dockers.

Key defender Brennan Cox is a guaranteed out after he sustained a calf injury during the match against the Blues. He is expected to miss this and possibly next weekend as he recovers.

FB: Oscar McDonald, Alex Pearce, Karl Worner
HB: Jordan Clark, Heath Chapman, Luke Ryan
C: Nathan O'Driscoll, Caleb Serong, Neil Erasmus
HF: Michael Frederick, Josh Treacy, Murphy Reid
FF: Isaiah Dudley, Jye Amiss, Patrick Voss
R: Luke Jackson, Andrew Brayshaw, Shai Bolton
INT: Judd McVee, Hayden Young, Sam Switkowski, Matthew Johnson, Mason Cox

Ins: Heath Chapman, Murphy Reid, Jye Amiss, Sam Switkowski
Outs: Brennan Cox (injured), Tobyn Murray, Bailey Banfield, Chris Scerri

Hawthorn

The Hawks were nearly at full strength for their final home-and-away game against West Coast.

Currently, Hawthorn has two players on its injury list, with Conor Nash (season) and Cody Anderson (TBC) the only injured Hawks.

Half forward Jack Ginnivan was managed for the final round of the season with back soreness and should come straight into the starting 23.

Key forward Calsher Dear produced an impressive performance in the VFL at the weekend, booting 4.2 in Box Hill's Qualifying Final victory over Werribee.

Midfielder Sam Butler also impressed, kicking 3.2 from his 23 disposals to make his case for a recall.

Hawthorn will be unlikely to change its squad too much for the trip west.

FB: Blake Hardwick, Tom Barrass, James Sicily
HB: Jarman Impey, Josh Battle, Karl Amon
C: Massimo D'Ambrosio, Will Day, Harry Morrison
HF: Jack Ginnivan, Mabior Chol, Dylan Moore
FF: Mitchell Lewis, Jack Gunston, Nick Watson
R: Lloyd Meek, Jai Newcombe, Josh Ward
INT: Bailey MacDonald, Josh Weddle, Cameron Mackenzie, Connor MacDonald, Max Beattie

 

Ins: Jack Ginnivan
Outs: Jack Dalton

Geelong

The biggest watch for Geelong heading into Friday night's Elimination Final with Carlton will be the availability of star midfielder Max Holmes.

Geelong's gut-running speedster injured his ankle during the Cats' Round 19 victory over St Kilda.

Holmes' injury is still listed as one to three weeks away, but the Cats have a history of keeping the health of their players a mystery.

Utility Mark Blicavs would be a near guarantee to return to the side after he was managed in Round 24.

Midfielder Mitch Knevitt (two goals, 30 disposals) was in roaring form in the VFL side's Qualifying Final victory over Tasmania and could return to the senior team.

The Cats are coming off the back of a nine-goal win against Richmond in Round 24, and are expected to keep a very similar side, pending Holmes' availability, for Friday's match.

FB: Tom Stewart, Connor O'Sullivan, Mark O'Connor
HB: Lawson Humphries, Jack Henry, Tanner Bruhn
C: Oliver Dempsey, Bailey Smith, Jhye Clark
HF: Gryan Miers, Jeremy Cameron, Shaun Mannagh
FF: Oliver Henry, Shannon Neale, Jay Polkinghorne
R: Mitchell Edwards, Tom Atkins, Oisin Mullin
INT: Patrick Dangerfield, Zach Guthrie, Sam De Koning, Jack Martin, Mark Blicavs

Ins: Mark Blicavs
Outs: Bradley Close

Carlton

It would be hard to pluck any Blues out of this rampant Carlton side at the moment.

Josh Fraser's Blues are the in-form team of the competition and famously, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

There are some injury clouds hovering over star personnel at Ikon Park, however, with Patrick Cripps' availability a big watch this week after copping a knock during Saturday night's win over Melbourne.

Defender Nick Haynes will also be on limited minutes throughout the week after his ankle looked sore for the full four quarters against the Dees.

Carlton could welcome back forward-winger Will Hayward from an ankle injury, but he remains a test and is no certainty to suit up for Carlton.

Young forward Talor Byrne was shaky at times in his first final, but Fraser seems the kind of coach to back in the first year player to respond in his next.

FB: Oliver Hollands, Jacob Weitering, Lachlan Cowan
HB: Oliver Florent, Harry Dean, Nick Haynes
C: Adam Cerra, Patrick Cripps, Blake Acres
HF: Ben Ainsworth, Mitch McGovern, Will Hayward
FF: Brodie Kemp, Harry McKay, Talor Byrne
R: Marc Pittonet, Sam Walsh, Jagga Smith
INT: Cooper Lord, Billy Wilson, George Hewett, Francis Evans, Matthew Cottrell

Ins: Will Hayward
Outs: Lewis Young

Sydney

The Swans replaced the suspended Pullman five with James Rowbottom, Caiden Cleary, Tom Hanily, Harry Cunningham and Angus Sheldrick for Sydney's last home-and-away round of the season.

All five performed admirably in the resilient victory after being part of a club facing unprecedented circumstances during the week.

Dean Cox could welcome back both Hayden McLean (concussion) and Joel Amartey (Achilles) this Saturday; however, the Swans' forward line was working well against the Roos in the last match.

Sydney had 38 scoring shots from 70 inside 50 entries, and all of the forwards enjoyed a solid day in front of goal, with Charlie Curnow (3.4), Logan McDonald (3.1), Billy Cootee (3), Braeden Campbell, Jesse Dattoli (1.3) and Tom Papley (1.3) busy.

Amartey is no guarantee to return this weekend, so expect the Swans to lean in McLean's favour.

Justin McInerney, who has enjoyed a breakout year, remains a couple of weeks away after another hamstring injury.

Key defender Lewis Melican is listed as a test and could come in for Joel Hamling, who has been used as a swingman this season.

FB: Callum Mills, Lewis Melican, Dane Rampe
HB: Sam Wicks, Tom McCartin, Harry Kyle
C: Matthew Roberts, Errol Gulden, Jai Serong
HF: Jake Lloyd, Logan McDonald, Braeden Campbell
FF: Tom Papley, Charlie Curnow, Hayden McLean
R: Brodie Grundy, James Rowbottom, Angus Sheldrick
INT: Will Green, Jesse Dattoli, Harry Cunningham, Caiden Cleary, Billy Cootee

Ins: Lewis Melican, Hayden McLean
Outs: Joel Hamling, Tom Hanily

Brisbane

The two-time reigning premiers flexed their muscles at the MCG in their last home-and-away match of the season with a 63-point demolition of Collingwood.

Brisbane is set to become even stronger with star midfielder Hugh McCluggage available for a return to the side after recovering from another calf injury setback.

Waiting in the wings, the Lions have the likes of defender Bruce Reville, young midfielder Dan Annable, half-back flanker Keidean Coleman, as well as forwards Linc McCarthy and Will McLachlan if injuries strike.

Chris Fagan's men walk into another September stage hitting form and a near-full-strength side at just the right time for a fourth year running.

FB: Noah Answerth, Harris Andrews, Ryan Lester
HB: Dayne Zorko, Ty Gallop, Darcy Wilmot
C: Jaspa Fletcher, Lachie Neale, Jarrod Berry
HF: Cameron Rayner, Logan Morris, Charlie Cameron
FF: Kai Lohmann, Oscar Allen, Eric Hipwood
R: Sam Draper, Josh Dunkley, Will Ashcroft
INT: Zac Bailey, Hugh McCluggage, Levi Ashcroft, Conor McKenna, Darcy Fort

Ins: Hugh McCluggage
Outs: Darcy Gardiner

Adelaide

The Crows will be desperate to avenge their straight-sets exit last year after finishing the 2025 season as minor premiers.

In 2026, Adelaide will host an in-form Western Bulldogs and will need to be at its best to overcome the Dogs in the Elimination Final.

Veteran key forward Taylor Walker is on injury watch after he left the training track early last week.

Key defender Jordon Butts could return to the side, but does Matthew Nicks prefer Butts to the likes of James Borlase, Max Michalanney or Mark Keane?

The Crows were back to their prolific attacking best in their last match against GWS, kicking 157 points. Four Crows kicked three or more goals.

Callum Ah Chee will likely come in for Zac Taylor (hamstring).

Midfielder James Peatling is in a race against time to recover from a glute/hip injury.

FB: Josh Worrell, James Borlase, Max Michalanney
HB: Wayne Milera, Mark Keane, Rory Laird
C: Brayden Cook, Jordan Dawson, Dan Curtin
HF: Josh Rachele, Riley Thilthorpe, Alex Neal-Bullen
FF: Darcy Fogarty, Taylor Walker, Ben Keays
R: Lachlan McAndrew, Izak Rankine, Sam Berry
INT: Callum Ah Chee, Jake Soligo, Hugo Hall-Kahan, Isaac Cumming

Ins: James Peatling, Callum Ah Chee
Outs: Zac Taylor (hamstring), Luke Nankervis

Western Bulldogs

The Dogs were two metres to the left of being out of the finals race. However, the after-the-siren shot missed and Luke Beveridge's men live on.

There were early concerns for key forward Aaron Naughton after he appeared to be proppy at the end of the game. However, it is believed he will be alright to play on Saturday night.

It will be interesting to see if Beveridge sticks with keeping utility Ryan Gardner in the side after he was effectively used as a substitute to cover ruck Tim English and Naughton if they were not to make it through the match.

Midfielder Matthew Kennedy is a guaranteed out after he sustained a concussion in the fourth quarter.

Veteran Tom Liberatore is pushing but unlikely to return as he recovers from surgery to his knee.

Perhaps the Dogs could bring small forward Lachie McNeil into the side, which would allow Rhylee West to play as a pure on-baller. A role he shone in at times during the win over Collingwood.

FB: Connor Budarick, Buku Khamis, Bailey Williams
HB: Lachie Bramble, James O'Donnell, Bailey Dale
C: Ryley Sanders, Joel Freijah, Cooper Hynes
HF: Cody Weightman, Aaron Naughton, Arthur Jones
FF: Josh Dolan, Rory Lobb, Lachie McNeil
R: Tim English, Marcus Bontempelli, Ed Richards
INT: Michael Sellwood, Sam Davidson, Luke Kennedy, Rhylee West, Jordan Croft

Ins: Lachie McNeil, Jordan Croft
Outs: Matthew Kennedy (concussion), Ryan Gardner