Western Bulldogs-Hawthorn Hawks for MCG as Port Adelaide Power-Geelong Cats opens AFL finals
The Western Bulldogs will host a home elimination final against Hawthorn at the MCG in the opening week of a highly-anticipated AFL finals series.
The week-one finals schedule for September 5-7 was confirmed on Monday morning, after the Bulldogs and Carlton claimed the last two spots in the top eight.
The Bulldogs ended Greater Western Sydney’s seven-match winning streak, while the Blues sneaked in the back door despite losing to St Kilda.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Port Adelaide sewed up second spot with their win over Fremantle and in doing so handed Carlton eighth.
The Blues got in ahead of reigning premiers Collingwood on percentage and will face the Brisbane Lions in an elimination final at the Gabba on September 7.
Port host Geelong at Adelaide Oval in a qualifying final on September 5 as the finals series opens on a Thursday night.
The Bulldogs take on MCG tenant club Hawthorn in an elimination final on September 6.
It is the only week-one final in Victoria, with the four games to be played in different states.
Sydney take on cross-town rivals GWS in a qualifying final on September 7 - the fourth finals meeting between the NSW sides - just hours before the Lions-Blues contest.
Carlton return to the Gabba, where their flag hopes were dashed by Brisbane in a see-sawing preliminary final last season, and could be bolstered by the return of key players like Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay from injuries.
“I can tell you what, we’ll be going hard,” Blues coach Michael Voss said.
“We’ll get ourselves prepared and we’ll pick ourselves up and we’ll go again.
“A new season begins and we’ve seen many a time where teams have been able to sneak their way in through different avenues and been able to do something.”
In week two, the loser of Port Adelaide-Geelong will host the winner of the Bulldogs-Hawthorn clash. The loser of Sydney-GWS will host the winner of Brisbane-Carlton. Venues and times for week two will be confirmed at the conclusion of week one.
WEEK ONE FINALS SCHEDULE (All times AEST):
Thursday, September 5
Second qualifying final
Port Adelaide v Geelong, Adelaide Oval, 7.40pm
Friday, September 6
Second elimination final
Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn, MCG, 7.40pm
Saturday, September 7
First qualifying final
Sydney v GWS, SCG, 3.20pm
First elimination final
Brisbane Lions v Carlton, Gabba, 7.30pm
