AFL Finals continue on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport this Thursday night – AFL Finals action continues live and free on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport from Thursday night, with Fremantle hosting Hawthorn at Optus Stadium.
The Qualifying Final begins a packed weekend across Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. It follows the Four’N Twenty Legends Game for Prostate Cancer and the AFL Wildcard Finals.
For Australian viewers, this is the first full finals weekend of the 2026 AFL season. It is also a major week for Channel 7, with AFL, AFLW and football programming across Channel 7, 7mate, 7two and 7plus Sport.
Finals weekend
Fremantle enter the opening final undefeated at home in 2026 and on top of the ladder. Hawthorn will be chasing revenge after Fremantle’s Round 9 comeback win.
Channel 7’s Thursday night team will be live from Optus Stadium from 7.00pm AEST. Hamish McLachlan and Rebecca Maddern will host. Brian Taylor, Luke Hodge, Kane Cornes, Nick Riewoldt and 7NEWS Perth reporter Ryan Daniels will also feature.
Friday Night Footy then moves to the MCG as Geelong hosts Carlton. James Brayshaw and Alister Nicholson will call the match, with Abbey Holmes hosting. Dale Thomas, Matthew Richardson and Xander McGuire will also be part of the coverage.
Saturday brings Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions in the afternoon. Adelaide Crows v Western Bulldogs then closes the night at Adelaide Oval.
Seven Network Head of AFL and Sport Innovation Gary O’Keeffe said the finals would continue a major week of football across the network.
“This is the best time of the year to be a footy fan and we can’t wait to see what unfolds in 2026 after two unbelievable Wildcard Finals over the weekend,” O’Keeffe said.
AFL Finals broadcast times
| Date | Match | Market broadcast details |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 3 September | Fremantle v Hawthorn | Sydney and Brisbane: 7.00pm on 7mate, then 7.30pm on Channel 7. Melbourne: 7.00pm on Channel 7. Adelaide: 6.30pm on 7mate, then 7.00pm on Channel 7. Perth: 5.00pm on 7mate, then 6.10pm on Channel 7. All coverage is also on 7plus Sport. |
| Friday, 4 September | Geelong Cats v Carlton | Sydney and Brisbane: 7.00pm on 7mate, then 7.30pm on Channel 7. Melbourne: 7.00pm on Channel 7. Adelaide: 6.30pm on 7mate, then 7.00pm on Channel 7. Perth: 5.00pm on 7mate. All coverage is also on 7plus Sport. |
| Saturday, 5 September | Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions | Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane: 2.30pm on Channel 7. Adelaide: 2.00pm on Channel 7. Perth: 12.30pm on Channel 7. All coverage is also on 7plus Sport. |
| Saturday, 5 September | Adelaide Crows v Western Bulldogs | Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane: 7.00pm on Channel 7. Adelaide: 6.30pm on 7mate, then 7.00pm on Channel 7. Perth: 5.00pm on 7mate, then 5.30pm on Channel 7. All coverage is also on 7plus Sport. |
Football programming
| Date | Program | Broadcast details |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, 31 August | The Agenda Setters | Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth: 7.30pm on 7mate and 7plus Sport. Sydney and Brisbane encore: 11.00pm on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport. Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth encore: 12.00am on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport. |
| Tuesday, 1 September | The Agenda Setters | Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth: 7.30pm on 7mate and 7plus Sport. National encore: 11.00pm on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport. |
| Tuesday, 1 September | Kings of the Big Game | Episodes one and two screen in Perth at 8.30pm on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport. |
| Wednesday, 2 September | The Agenda Setters | Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth: 7.30pm on 7mate and 7plus Sport. National encore: 10.00pm on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport. |
| Wednesday, 2 September | The Front Bar | National: 8.30pm on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport. |
| Wednesday, 2 September | Unfiltered: Ben Graham | National: 9.30pm on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport. |
| Thursday, 3 September | Hear The Mighty Roar: Brisbane Lions | Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne: 12.00am. Adelaide: 11.30pm. Perth: 10.00pm. All air on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport. |
AFLW broadcast times
| Date | Match | Broadcast details |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 5 September | Western Bulldogs v Sydney Swans | Sydney: 12.30pm on 7mate and 7plus Sport. |
| Saturday, 5 September | Euro-Yroke v Gold Coast Suns | Brisbane: 2.30pm on 7mate and 7plus Sport. Adelaide: 2.00pm on 7mate and 7plus Sport. |
| Saturday, 5 September | Brisbane Lions v GWS Giants | Sydney and Brisbane: 6.30pm on 7two and 7plus Sport. |
| Sunday, 6 September | Richmond v Walyalup | Melbourne: 12.25pm on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport. Perth: 10.25am on 7mate and 7plus Sport. |
| Sunday, 6 September | Hawthorn v Kuwarna | Adelaide: 12.30pm on 7mate and 7plus Sport. |
| Sunday, 6 September | Carlton v Collingwood | Melbourne: 3.00pm on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport. |
| Sunday, 6 September | Waalitj Marawar v Narrm | Perth: 3.00pm on 7mate and 7plus Sport. |
Channel 7 will also broadcast every game of the finals, including the AFL Grand Final and Brownlow Medal, live and free.
For more AFL coverage, visit TV Central’s AFL section. Live and catch-up sport is available through 7plus Sport.
