The Australian Football League (AFL) home and away season is poised for an exhilarating finish. What’s next Round 24 will feature a super round of four great matchups that will determine the finals’ lineup. Needless to say, the stakes couldn’t be higher! Nine teams competing for eight coveted spots in the finals are ensuring a dramatic finish, promising to thrill fans from coast-to-coast.
According to Mark Evans, the chief executive of the Gold Coast Suns, the opening matches have generated a lot of excitement. Chris Jones, the director of sport at Seven, tells me he’s excited for it, too. The final round will commence with Essendon facing Carlton on Thursday, August 21, at 7:30 PM AEST. For teams competing for playoff spots, like Seattle and Chicago, this game will be the start of a vital stretch.
On Friday, August 22nd, two major matches will occur at the same time. Collingwood will take on Melbourne at 7:10 PM AEST, while Port Adelaide faces Gold Coast at 7:40 PM ACST. These matches will be critical in determining what the race to the finals looks like. The weekend will see further excitement as the Western Bulldogs clash with Fremantle on Sunday, August 24, at 3:15 PM AEST, followed by Brisbane’s match against Hawthorn later that evening at 7:20 PM AEST.
Right now, Adelaide sits atop the ladder, while GWS is in eighth place. The Western Bulldogs are only one win behind GWS, so their match against Fremantle is key to their finals hopes. Of those ten fixtures in the closing week, eight have similarly significant implications for the finals lineup. With their bowl fate hanging in the balance, these games became all the more important.
Chris Jones highlighted the significance of this final round, stating, “Having the final three matches on free to air, that look certain to determine the makeup of the top eight is a dream result and it sets up a thrilling finish for footy fans right across the country.”
Additionally, the game between Gold Coast and Essendon on Wednesday, August 27, at 7:20 PM AEST is expected to be pivotal in determining the exact finishing positions of the top eight teams. As the competitive scene blooms, esports fans everywhere can’t wait to see how these showdowns play out.
In a further testament to Seven’s commitment to AFL coverage, Jones remarked, “In every decision taken together with the AFL, the fans remain at the forefront of everything we do. The passion and loyalty shown by the fans in every corner of the country is what makes the game so great and we are stoked to deliver an exceptional final round fixture for the fans.”
With the completion of the regular season rapidly approaching, anticipation is high. The adoring patrons eagerly anticipate the once-in-a-century finish to this most dramatic of AFL seasons. With every match featuring live coverage on Seven and 7plus, fans can expect to stay fully engaged as their favorite teams battle for a chance at finals glory.
“Jones went one step further in his excitement over the final games. We’re thrilled with the games we’ve secured in Round 24 and the way they set up a blockbuster climax to what’s been an unbelievable AFL season.”
