AFL goes with Thursday night start for finals in 2020
The 2020 finals series will kick off on Thursday October 1 after the AFL opted to stick with the same opening weekend schedule that's been in place since 2016, having toyed with the idea of playing the first final on a Wednesday.
If the Eagles finish fifth they will open the finals series with a match at Optus Stadium under lights against the eighth-placed team who will need to quarantine in Perth for seven days ahead of the elimination final.
Finals will start on Thursday October 1, but the fixture has not yet been finalised.Credit:Getty Images
The other finals will be played in the Friday night, Saturday twilight and Saturday night timeslots. The AFL to determine who plays when once the final eight positions are finalised.
West Coast will only be able to play a home final in the opening week. They will move into a hub to play finals in Adelaide and Queensland if they progress beyond week one.
Port Adelaide will play home finals at Adelaide Oval and the Brisbane Lions will play home finals at the Gabba while any other club that earns a "home" final will be able to work with the AFL to choose their preferred venue at either Adelaide Oval, the Gabba or Metricon Stadium.
Unless circumstances change it means Victorian clubs in the finals who qualify for home finals will have an option to play their opponents at those three venues. Richmond, Geelong, Collingwood and St Kilda have indicated they would be likely to remain in Queensland if they earned a home final.
The Eagles will return to Perth after playing North Melbourne next Thursday night and await results to see whether they play an elimination final at Optus Stadium or whether they travel to either Adelaide or Queensland for a qualifying final.
The results of eight of the nine final round matches will have a bearing on the final eight.