Preliminary final weekend in the AFL also means it is grand final weekend in state league competitions, lest their showpiece fixtures lose their lustre by competing with the top flight's decider.
After long and arduous campaigns, the 2026 VFL, SANFL and WAFL seasons will come to their respective climaxes this weekend.
This year, in a rare treat, the three major state league grand finals are comprised of spiteful rivalries.
VFL: Box Hill Hawks v Geelong Cats
When: 2:05pm AEST, Sunday, September 20th.
Where: IKON Park, Melbourne
Geelong's twos stormed to the VFL minor premiership on the back of the breathtaking 12-match winning streak they mustered in the middle of the year. The Cats finished the season with a 16-2 record, and a percentage of 167%, showcasing their complete dominance of the field.
The Cats' AFL program boasts significant depth, which spills over into their reserves side - a catalyst for this season's dominance.
Geelong defeated surprise packets Tasmania by 23 points in their qualifying final, before accounting for Port Melbourne by 47 points in the weekend's preliminary final.
Jesse Mellor has led the way for the Cats this season, booting 42 majors from 18 games, while the AFL-listed George Stevens has been the side's most prolific ball winner.
For Box Hill, Brody McLaughlin has been in sublime touch, with his 50 majors from 19 outings enough for second-most in the competition. Aidan Schubert - who debuted for Sam Mitchell's AFL side this season - has booted 31 majors, too, while former Collingwood cult hero Trent Bianco has touched the Sherrin most frequently for David Mirra's side.
The Hawks finished the home and away season third on the ladder, with a record of 12-6, and a percentage of 114. These Hawks have survived two thrillers in September, overturning a final-change deficit to knock off Werribee by 13 points in their qualifying final, before outlasting another AFL rival, Essendon, by seven points in the weekend's preliminary final.
The AFL-listed Calsher Dear, in the middle of intense contract speculation, has shone this September, kicking seven goals in his two finals.
Geelong, with its AFL program now concluded, have selection decisions to make. Oliver Wiltshire played six VFL games before July 1st, rendering him eligible for a grand final call-up. In an ironic twist, former Hawk, James Worpel is also eligible for a grand final guernsey.
The same cannot be said for Jay Polkinghorne, whose final two VFL games for the year came on July 4th and 11th, respectively.'
Both teams are seeking a fourth VFL premiership.
SANFL: Norwood Redlegs v Sturt Double Blues
When: 3:00pm ACST / 3:30pm AEST, Sunday, September 20th
Where: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
For the first time since the fabled decider of 1978, rivals Norwood and Sturt will meet in a SANFL Grand Final.
The Redlegs finished the season minor premiers, with a record of 15-3, and a percentage (in the backwards way the Crow-eaters do it) of 63.28. Sturt finished third, with a record of 13-5, and a healthier percentage than second-placed Glenelg.
For the Redlegs, Nik Rokahr has been in sublime form, averaging 31 disposals en route to his coronation as the season's Magarey Medallist.
Former Collingwood forward Ash Johnson enters the grand final having re-discovered his best, booting six goals in the weekend's preliminary final victory over Woodville-West Torrens. Former Bomber Will Snelling got his hands dirty, notching 10 tackles in the victory.
The two sides, courtesy of the SANFL's five-team finals series, met in a semi-final on September 6th. Did either side withhold certain tactics on that day, in case of this very scenario? Only time will tell.
Sturt are seeking their 17th premiership, and second consecutive title. Norwood is circling a 32nd premiership, and first since 2022.
WAFL: Peel Thunder v Claremont Tigers
When: 1:10pm AWST / 3:10pm AEST, Sunday, September 20th
Where: Optus Stadium, Perth
First plays second in the WAFL Grand Final, as minor premiers, the Fremantle-aligned Peel Thunder face the Claremont Tigers, in the latest edition of their fierce rivalry.
While this is not a rivalry that goes back centuries, owing to Peel's relatively recent entry into the WAFL, it is one that has been characterised by plenty of consequential match-ups. It's Claremont's almost regal standing in the competition, against Peel's modern, AFL-tied power, once again.
Adam Read's Peel outfit finished this season with a record of 13-5, and a percentage a whisker below 150%.
Ashley Prescott's Claremont were hot on their heels, finishing 12-6.
The two sides fought out a classic in July, with young Peel ruckman Aiden Riddle marking and kicking truly after the siren to stamp a club-record eighth consecutive win for Peel.
They met more recently, in the finals, with Peel's more comfortable victory forcing Claremont to go the long way around in order to progress to the grand final.
That they did, defeating East Perth by eight points in a ripping contest.
Bailey Banfield looms as a player to watch for Peel, having played for, and being drafted by Fremantle from Claremont as a younger man. The fringe Docker has yielded less than 20 disposals just once in his 10 matches at WAFL level this season.
No doubt frustrated by AFL coach Justin Longmuir's September selections, ruckman Sean Darcy has been on a tear in the twos, averaging 35 hitouts per game in his last two outings.
Tigers Callan England and Samuel Alvarez have been prolific this season, averaging 26.2 disposals per game. Claremont have to be commended for the way in which they have covered for star forward Jaiden Hunter, who tore his ACL in late July. Hunter still sits equal fourth for goals in the league this season, despite playing just 13 games.
Claremont is seeking its first premiership since going back-to-back in 2011 and 2012. Peel are chasing their fourth premiership, and second in three years.
