Remove this Banner Ad

Unofficial Preview First week of finals

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Nov 23, 2015
15,089
23,799
AFL Club
GWS
Until we know our opponent for the first week of finals, we can use this thread to discuss our thoughts.

Starting with this article:


GWS senior coach Adam Kingsley did not shy away from the fact that he and the Giants' selection committee have a difficult task ahead of them after securing a place in September on Sunday. The Giants, led by superstar forward Toby Greene's four goals and his pivotal marks in the final minute of the match, held on to defeat a valiant St Kilda side by 11 points at ENGIE Stadium, but Kingsley seems to have immediately turned his attention to week one of Finals.

Kingsley addressed the club's pending dilemma post-game, as a plethora of talent looks to become available for selection fresh off injury recovery stints. Barring any further setbacks, star forwards Jake Stringer (hamstring) and Jesse Hogan (foot) could make a return, as well as key veterans Brent Daniels (adductor) and Josh Kelly (calf). Kingsley also suggested that Jack Buckley's latest calf setback that was reported on Saturday is likely to only be minor, keeping him in the frame for a September comeback too.

"It'll be an interesting match committee that will probably last the next fortnight," Kingsley said. "Do we bring in five guys who haven't played, some in a couple weeks, some a couple of months? That'll be the discussion point. How many is enough, how many is too many, are we making the right changes, do we back in the guys who are already in the team? We could have all those guys, and I expect all those guys to be available. It'll then come down to the matter of how many is too many. Either way, people are going to be unlucky, I think, so it's a good position for us to be in. We now need to capitalise."

The Giants may be required to make at least one change for the first week of Finals, however. Veteran leader Stephen Coniglio suffered a concussion after copping an accidental knock to the head while tackling during the second quarter and was medically substituted from the contest following a Head Injury Assessment. With the AFL's concussion protocols requiring Coniglio to sit out for a minimum of 12 days, if GWS are scheduled on the Thursday night fixture in week one, he will be unable to take the field.


And this one, too: https://www.afl.com.au/news/1396354...heir-oscar-allen-replacement-already-and-more

4) The Giants need this young star firing in finals​

Finn Callaghan has taken his game to a new level this season, averaging career-highs for disposals (28.1) and clearances (4.8), but the Giants need the midfielder to hit even greater heights over the next month. The 22-year-old again showed his importance to getting the Giants' engine room humming as he gathered eight disposals in the opening term while his side booted the first four goals against St Kilda on Sunday, before they had to bounce back to snatch victory late at Engie Stadium. It was no coincidence that the Giants lost their way in the middle stages as Marcus Windhager clamped down on Callaghan and left the likes of Tom Green with too much to do. The former No.3 pick can expect more of the same attention through the finals as his line-breaking runs and sublime kicking add a touch of class that the Giants' robust midfield can otherwise lack. - Martin Pegan
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

  • Thread starter
  • Moderator
  • #8

Here’s what we know about the 2025 AFL finals fixture right now, plus see how the AFL finals system works below. All times AEST.
AFL 2025 FINALS FIXTURE

Full fixture to be revealed night of Wednesday August 27
WEEK 1 - QUALIFYING AND ELIMINATION FINALS - SEPTEMBER 4-6


First Qualifying Final: [1st] Adelaide Crows vs [4th] Collingwood

Date and time TBC at Adelaide Oval

First Elimination Final: [5th] GWS Giants vs [8th] Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs or Gold Coast Suns

Date and time TBC at ENGIE Stadium

Second Elimination Final: [6th] Fremantle vs [7th] Hawthorn or Gold Coast Suns

Date and time TBC at Optus Stadium

Second Qualifying Final: [2nd] Geelong vs [3rd] Brisbane Lions

Date and time TBC at the MCG

WEEK 2 - SEMI FINALS - SEPTEMBER 12-13


First Semi Final: First Qualifying Final loser (Adelaide Crows or Collingwood) vs First Elimination Final winner (GWS Giants, Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs or Gold Coast Suns)

Date and time TBC at either Adelaide Oval or the MCG

Second Semi Final: Second Qualifying Final loser (Geelong or Brisbane Lions) vs Second Elimination Final winner (Fremantle, Hawthorn or Gold Coast Suns)

Date and time TBC at either the MCG or the Gabba
WEEK 3 - PRELIMINARY FINALS - SEPTEMBER 19-20


First Preliminary Final: First Qualifying Final winner (Adelaide Crows or Collingwood) vs Second Semi Final winner (Geelong, Brisbane Lions, Fremantle, Hawthorn or Gold Coast Suns)

Date and time TBC at either Adelaide Oval or the MCG

Second Preliminary Final: Second Qualifying Final winner (Geelong or Brisbane Lions) vs First Semi Final winner (Adelaide Crows, Collingwood, GWS Giants, Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs or Gold Coast Suns)

Date and time TBC at either the MCG or the Gabba
 
An interesting point was made on one of the shows tonight that gold coast would dread the longest flight in football over to Perth for a first final.

Do they therefore put the game to bed by 3 quarter time, then take the foot off the pedal in the last quarter to keep it under 30 points and get a much shorter trip to Sydney?
 
  • Thread starter
  • Moderator
  • #11
An interesting point was made on one of the shows tonight that gold coast would dread the longest flight in football over to Perth for a first final.

Do they therefore put the game to bed by 3 quarter time, then take the foot off the pedal in the last quarter to keep it under 30 points and get a much shorter trip to Sydney?
Plus a less hostile crowd at Engie than Optus.

If I was them, yes, I'd manipulate the final score to get the easier finals game if I could.
 
Maybe if we play Hawthorn, but if we play Gold Coast will AFL schedule us for the Sunday as unlike otter finalists GC had to play Wednesday and may require a longer break?
I think the 9 or 10 day break would be sufficient for a Saturday tilt, as the break will be even shorter for whoever moves on to SF.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Plus a less hostile crowd at Engie than Optus.

If I was them, yes, I'd manipulate the final score to get the easier finals game if I could.
They've never made finals before.

They're going to keep the foot down and try to build momentum rather than stuff around with who they're playing the week after.
 
Maybe if we play Hawthorn, but if we play Gold Coast will AFL schedule us for the Sunday as unlike otter finalists GC had to play Wednesday and may require a longer break?
Last year’s FW1 had games on Thursday night, Friday night and then two on Saturday. I think it’s unlikely they’d schedule a Sunday game where the winner would then have a short turnaround for FW2.
 
An interesting point was made on one of the shows tonight that gold coast would dread the longest flight in football over to Perth for a first final.

Do they therefore put the game to bed by 3 quarter time, then take the foot off the pedal in the last quarter to keep it under 30 points and get a much shorter trip to Sydney?
I think this is what the Suns will do.

Just keep Essendon at arms length all game and wait till the last 5 minutes and let them get close.
 

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

  • Thread starter
  • Moderator
  • #21
Looks like that is now confirmed.


WEEK ONE FINALS FIXTURE, 2025​

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

First qualifying final
Adelaide v Collingwood at Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm ACST


Tickets on sale on Thursday, August 28, timing TBC

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

Second qualifying final
Geelong v Brisbane at the MCG, 7.40pm AEST


Tickets on sale on Thursday, August 28, timing TBC

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

First elimination final
Greater Western Sydney v Hawthorn/Gold Coast/Western Bulldogs at Engie Stadium, time TBC

Second elimination final
Fremantle v Hawthorn/Gold Coast at Optus Stadium, time TBC


The final schedule for the two elimination finals will be confirmed after Wednesday night's match between Gold Coast and Essendon

The AFL has confirmed Adelaide's qualifying final against Collingwood will be played on Thursday, September 4 at Adelaide Oval before Geelong will host Brisbane in the other qualifying final at the MCG on Friday, September 5. Tickets for both qualifying finals will go on sale this Thursday, August 28, with the timing of on-sale times to be confirmed later on Monday.

Both elimination finals will be held on Saturday, September 6, but the schedule will not be announced until after Wednesday night's match between Gold Coast and Essendon, which will determine the finishing positions of the bottom half of the eight.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Unofficial Preview First week of finals

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top