2022 AFL finals series

2022 premiership season
2022 premiership season
Date	1 September – 24 September
Teams	8
Premiers	Geelong
Runners-up	Sydney; (12th runners-up)
Minor premiers	Geelong; (15th minor premiership)
Attendance
Matches played	9
Total attendance	639,980 (71,109 per match)
Highest	100,024 (Grand Final, Geelong vs Sydney)
	← 2021 2023 →

The 2022 Australian Football League finals series was the 126th annual edition of the VFL/AFL finals series, the Australian rules football tournament staged to determine the winner of the 2022 AFL premiership season. The series was played over four weeks in September and culminated in the 2022 AFL Grand Final.

The top eight teams from the premiership season qualify for the finals series. AFL finals series have been played under the current format since 2000.

Qualification

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	PP	Pts	Qualification
1	Geelong (P)	22	18	4	0	2146	1488	144.2	72	Finals series
2	Melbourne	22	16	6	0	1936	1483	130.5	64
3	Sydney	22	16	6	0	2067	1616	127.9	64
4	Collingwood	22	16	6	0	1839	1763	104.3	64
5	Fremantle	22	15	6	1	1739	1486	117.0	62
6	Brisbane Lions	22	15	7	0	2147	1799	119.3	60
7	Richmond	22	13	8	1	2165	1780	121.6	54
8	Western Bulldogs	22	12	10	0	1973	1812	108.9	48
9	Carlton	22	12	10	0	1857	1714	108.3	48
10	St Kilda	22	11	11	0	1703	1715	99.3	44
11	Port Adelaide	22	10	12	0	1806	1638	110.3	40
12	Gold Coast	22	10	12	0	1871	1820	102.8	40
13	Hawthorn	22	8	14	0	1787	1991	89.8	32
14	Adelaide	22	8	14	0	1721	1986	86.7	32
15	Essendon	22	7	15	0	1737	2087	83.2	28
16	Greater Western Sydney	22	6	16	0	1631	1927	84.6	24
17	West Coast	22	2	20	0	1429	2389	59.8	8
18	North Melbourne	22	2	20	0	1337	2397	55.8	8

Source: afl.com.au
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Venues

The matches of the 2022 AFL finals series were contested at four venues around the country.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground hosted finals for the first year since 2019 (after the 2020 and 2021 finals series were played interstate due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and hosted six finals: both qualifying finals, both semi-finals, the first preliminary final, and the 2022 AFL Grand Final. Perth Stadium and the Brisbane Cricket Ground each hosted one elimination final, and the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney hosted a preliminary final for the first time since 1996.

Perth		Sydney
Melbourne	Sydney Brisbane Perth Melbourne	Brisbane
Melbourne Cricket Ground		The Gabba
Capacity: 100,024		Capacity: 36,700

Optus Stadium		Sydney Cricket Ground
Capacity: 60,000		Capacity: 48,000

Matches

The system used for the 2022 AFL finals series is a final eight system. The top four teams in the eight receive the "double chance" when they play in week-one qualifying finals, such that if a top-four team loses in the first week it still remains in the finals, playing a semi-final the next week against the winner of an elimination final. The bottom four of the eight play knock-out games – only the winners survive and move on to the next week. Home-state advantage goes to the team with the higher ladder position in the first two weeks, and to the qualifying final winners in the third week.

In the second week, the winners of the qualifying finals receive a bye to the third week. The losers of the qualifying final plays the elimination finals winners in a semi-final. In the third week, the winners of the semi-finals from week two play the winners of the qualifying finals in from week one. The winners of those matches move on to the grand final. ^[1]

Qualifying and elimination finals

Semi-finals

Preliminary finals

Grand final

3 Sep, MCG

1

Geelong

11.12 (78)

4

Collingwood

10.12 (72)

10 Sep, MCG

Collingwood

11.13 (79)

3 Sep, Optus Stadium

Fremantle

9.5 (59)

16 Sep, MCG

5

Fremantle

11.7 (73)

Geelong

18.12 (120)

8

Western Bulldogs

8.12 (60)

Brisbane Lions

7.7 (49)

24 Sep, MCG

Geelong

20.13 (133)

1 Sep, The Gabba

17 Sep, SCG

Sydney

8.4 (52)

6

Brisbane Lions

16.10 (106)

Sydney

14.11 (95)

7

Richmond

16.8 (104)

9 Sep, MCG

Collingwood

14.10 (94)

Melbourne

11.13 (79)

2 Sep, MCG

Brisbane Lions

14.8 (92)

2

Melbourne

10.9 (69)

3

Sydney

14.7 (91)

Week one (qualifying and elimination finals)

Second elimination final (Brisbane Lions vs Richmond)

The Second elimination final saw the sixth-placed Brisbane Lions face the seventh-placed Richmond, their fourth finals meeting and their third in four seasons, following qualifying finals in both 2019 and 2020. The two sides also met in a preliminary final in 2001.^[2]

Scorecard


	Second elimination final
Thursday, 1 September (7:20 pm)	Brisbane Lions	def.	Richmond	The Gabba (crowd: 35,103)	Report
	4.3 (27) 8.5 (53) 13.7 (85) 16.10 (106)	Q1 Q2 Q3 Final	4.3 (27) 9.5 (59) 14.6 (90) 16.8 (104)	Umpires: Meredith, Findlay, Mollison Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast)


Cameron 3, Daniher 3, Hipwood 3, Ah Chee, Bailey, McCarthy, McCluggage, McStay, Robertson, Wilmot		Goals	Lynch 3, Riewoldt 3, Bolton 2, Cotchin, Cumberland, Martin, McIntosh, M Rioli Jr., D Rioli, Ross, Sonsie
Neale, McCluggage, Bailey, Robertson, McStay, Starcevich		Best	Nankervis, Pickett, Vlastuin, Ross, Lynch
McInerney (concussion)		Injuries	Prestia (hamstring)
Nil		Reports	Nil

Second qualifying final (Melbourne vs Sydney)

The Second qualifying final saw second-placed Melbourne face third-placed Sydney. This was the third finals meeting between the sides, with South Melbourne (now known as Sydney) defeating Melbourne in a 1936 preliminary final, and Melbourne beating Sydney in a semi-final in 1987.^[3]

Scorecard


	Second Qualifying final
Friday, 2 September (7:50 pm)	Melbourne	def. by	Sydney	MCG (crowd: 78,377)	Report
	4.1 (25) 5.4 (34) 10.5 (65) 10.9 (69)	Q1 Q2 Q3 Final	2.3 (15) 6.4 (40) 12.5 (77) 14.7 (91)	Umpires: Stevic, Stephens, Fleer Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast)


Fritsch 3, Oliver 2, B Brown, Gawn, Pickett, Spargo, Sparrow		Goals	Hayward 2, Lloyd 2, Papley 2, Reid 2, Heeney, Hickey, Mills, Parker, Rowbottom, Stephens
May, Oliver, Fritsch, Viney, Petracca, Langdon		Best	Parker, Lloyd, Rowbottom, Mills, Papley, Fox
Petracca (leg)		Injuries	Florent (ankle)
Harmes (rough conduct)		Reports	Nil

First qualifying final (Geelong vs Collingwood)

The First qualifying final saw minor premiers Geelong face fourth-placed Collingwood. Geelong and Collingwood met for the 26th time, the most common finals match-up in VFL/AFL history, having met in six grand finals in 1925, 1930, 1937, 1952, 1953 and 2011; qualifying finals in 1981 and 2019; semi-finals in 1901, 1927, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1967, and 2020; and preliminary finals in 1930, 1938, 1955, 1964, 1980, 2007, 2009 and 2010.^[4]

Scorecard


	First qualifying final
Saturday, 3 September (4:35 pm)	Geelong	def.	Collingwood	MCG (crowd: 91,525)	Report
	1.3 (9) 4.7 (31) 7.10 (52) 11.12 (78)	Q1 Q2 Q3 Final	3.5 (23) 4.8 (32) 8.11 (59) 10.12 (72)	Umpires: Rosebury, Gavine, Hosking Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast)


Cameron 3, Rohan 3, Close 2, Hawkins, Duncan, Holmes		Goals	De Goey 2, Johnson 2, Crisp, J Daicos, Elliott, Hoskin-Elliott, Lipinski, Mihocek
Cameron, Stewart, Atkins, Dangerfield, Rohan, C Guthrie, Duncan		Best	Moore, Pendlebury, De Goey, J Daicos, Sidebottom, Crisp, Noble
Kolodjashnij (knee)		Injuries	Adams (groin), Johnson (thigh)
Nil		Reports	Nil

First elimination final (Fremantle vs Western Bulldogs)

The First elimination final saw the fifth-placed Fremantle face the eighth-placed Western Bulldogs. This was the first finals meeting between the two sides.^[5]

Scorecard


	First elimination final
Saturday, 3 September (6:10 pm)	Fremantle	def.	Western Bulldogs	Optus Stadium (crowd: 58,982)	Report
	0.1 (1) 4.3 (27) 7.5 (47) 11.7 (73)	Q1 Q2 Q3 Final	5.5 (35) 6.6 (42) 7.11 (53) 8.12 (60)	Umpires: Donlon, Justin Power, Williamson Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast)


Walters 3, Lobb 2, Amiss 2, Brayshaw, Serong, Logue, O'Driscoll		Goals	Bontempelli 2, Johannisen 2, Sam Darcy, Dunkley, Weightman, R Smith
Serong, Brayshaw, Walters, Young, Pearce, Ryan, Clark, Darcy		Best	Bontempelli, Macrae, Gardner, Dunkley, Treloar, Daniel, McLean
O'Driscoll (left ankle)		Injuries	Johannisen (hamstring)
Nil		Reports	Nil

The crowd of 58,982 for the first elimination final between Fremantle and Western Bulldogs is the highest crowd for a Fremantle home game, surpassing Round 6, 2018.^[6]

Week two (semi-finals)

Second semi-final (Melbourne vs Brisbane Lions)

The Second semi-final saw the losers of the second qualifying final, Melbourne, host the winners of the second elimination final, Brisbane Lions.
This was the second finals meeting between the two teams in as many years; they previously contested a qualifying final in 2021.

Prior to the game, the MCG, along with numerous other landmarks around Australia and the world, was lit in purple as a mark of respect to Elizabeth II and the Royal Family after her death less than 24 hours earlier.
The Indigenous Welcome to Country was then followed by a minute of silence and the playing of both "God Save the King" and "Advance Australia Fair" to pay respects, remember and reflect on "her grit, humility and devotion to the Commonwealth."^[7]^[8]

Scorecard


	Second semi-final
Friday, 9 September (7:50 pm)	Melbourne	def. by	Brisbane Lions	MCG (crowd: 62,162)	Report
	3.6 (24) 6.8 (44) 8.11 (59) 11.13 (79)	Q1 Q2 Q3 Final	1.3 (9) 3.4 (22) 9.5 (59) 14.8 (92)	Umpires: Gavine, Hosking, Meredith Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast)


Pickett 2, Fritsch 2, Neal-Bullen 2, Langdon 2, Melksham, Brayshaw, Petty		Goals	Hipwood 4, Cameron 3, Bailey 2, McStay 2, Ah Chee, McCluggage, Fort
Harmes, Petracca, Petty, Langdon, Oliver, Neal-Bullen		Best	Hipwood, Neale, McCluggage, Rich, Berry, Coleman, Zorko, Cameron
Nil		Injuries	Nil
Nil		Reports	Nil

First semi-final (Collingwood vs Fremantle)

The First semi-final saw First qualifying final losers Collingwood face First elimination final winners Fremantle in what was the first finals encounter between the two sides.^[9]

Scorecard


	First semi-final
Saturday, 10 September (7:25 pm)	Collingwood	def.	Fremantle	MCG (crowd: 90,612)	Report
	4.0 (24) 6.6 (42) 8.12 (60) 11.13 (79)	Q1 Q2 Q3 Final	0.1 (1) 2.2 (14) 4.4 (28) 9.5 (59)	Umpires: Rosebury, Stevic, Stephens Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast)


Ginnivan 3, Elliott 2, Crisp 2, Mihocek 2, Cox, De Goey		Goals	Logue 2, Schultz 2, Walters 2, Frederick 2, Mundy
Crisp, De Goey, Pendlebury, N. Daicos, Howe, Ginnivan		Best	Serong, Brayshaw, Ryan, Schultz, Acres
Nil		Injuries	Acres (Knee)
Nil		Reports	Nil

Week three

First preliminary final (Geelong vs Brisbane Lions)

This was the third preliminary final clash between the Lions and the Cats since 2004.
The Lions won in 2004 at the MCG, with the Cats winning in 2020 at the Gabba.

Scorecard


	First preliminary final
Friday, 16 September (7:50 pm)	Geelong	def.	Brisbane Lions	MCG (crowd: 77,677)	Report
	4.2 (26) 7.7 (49) 14.11 (95) 18.12 (120)	Q1 Q2 Q3 Final	2.0 (12) 3.1 (19) 5.2 (32) 7.7 (49)	Umpires: Rosebury, Gavine, Hosking Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast)


Hawkins 4, Stengle 3, Dangerfield 2, Miers 2, Rohan 2, Cameron, Close, Z. Guthrie, Holmes, Selwood		Goals	Hipwood 2, Ah Chee, Bailey, Berry, Cameron, McCarthy
Dangerfield, Miers, Hawkins, Stengle, Kolodjashnij, Close		Best	Gardiner, Rich, Neale, Bailey
Holmes (hamstring)		Injuries	Rayner (ankle)
Nil		Reports	Nil

Second preliminary final (Sydney vs Collingwood)

This was the sixteenth finals meeting between these two clubs, with Collingwood having won eight of the previous fifteen, and with South Melbourne/Sydney winning the other eight. Given the struggles of South Melbourne/Sydney in the second half of the 20th Century, most of the finals played against each other were in the first half of it. Their previous finals meetings occurring in: 1907 (semi-finals), 1909 (semi-finals), 1910 (preliminary final), 1911 (semi-finals), 1917 (semi-finals), 1918 (grand final), 1932 (semi-finals), 1943 (semi-finals),1935 (semi-finals and grand final), 1936 (semi finals and grand final), 1945 (semi finals), 2007 (elimination finals), 2012 (preliminary finals). The Swans won the most recent final between the two: the 2012 preliminary final on the way to winning the 2012 premiership.

The Swans hosted their first preliminary final at the Sydney Cricket Ground since 1996 when Tony Lockett kicked "Plugger's Point", a famous behind scored after the siren to beat Essendon and send Sydney to their first Grand Final since 1945.^[10] Coincidentally, this match also resulted in a 1-point victory for the Swans.

Collingwood's only losses after Round 9 came at the hands of the two grand finalists.

Scorecard


	Second preliminary final
Saturday, 17 September (4:45 pm)	Sydney	def.	Collingwood	SCG (crowd: 45,608)	Report
	6.3 (39) 11.7 (73) 13.10 (88) 14.11 (95)	Q1 Q2 Q3 Final	3.0 (18) 7.1 (43) 10.5 (65) 14.10 (94)	Umpires: Stevic, Stephens, Meredith Television broadcast: Seven Network, Fox Footy (simulcast)


Papley 3, Franklin 2, Clarke, Heeney, McDonald, McInerney, Parker, Reid, Rowbottom, Stephens, Warner		Goals	Elliott 2, Hoskin-Elliott 2, McCreery 2, Bianco, Cameron, Crisp, N. Daicos, J. Daicos, Ginnivan, Mihocek, Sidebottom
Mills, Papley, Warner, Gulden, Parker, Blakey, Rowbottom		Best	Crisp, Pendlebury, Moore, Sidebottom, N. Daicos, Lipinski, Quaynor
Reid (groin)		Injuries	Cox (groin)
Nil		Reports	Nil

Week four (Grand Final)


	Grand Final
Saturday, 24 September (2:30 pm)	Geelong	def.	Sydney	MCG (crowd: 100,024)	Report
	6.5 (41) 9.8 (62) 15.11 (101) 20.13 (133)	Q1 Q2 Q3 Final	1.0 (6) 4.2 (26) 4.3 (27) 8.4 (52)	Umpires: Stevic, Hosking, Meredith Norm Smith Medal: Isaac Smith Television broadcast: Seven Network National anthem: Katie Noonan


Stengle 4, Hawkins 3, Smith 3, Cameron 2, Close 2, Blicavs, De Koning, Duncan, C. Guthrie, Parfitt, Selwood		Goals	Warner 2, Hayward, McLean, P. McCartin, Mills, Heeney, Papley
Smith, Dangerfield, Hawkins, Stengle, Selwood, Close		Best	Warner, Fox, Rowbottom, Papley, Lloyd
C. Guthrie (hamstring)		Injuries	Reid (groin)
Nil		Reports	Nil