The opening week of the inaugural 10-team AFL Finals Series delivered everything September football promises.
Fremantle and Brisbane look vulnerable
A fortnight ago, Fremantle and Brisbane looked like two of the safest bets in the premiership race. Now, both are one loss away from a straight-sets exit.
Week 1 of the 2026 AFL Finals didn’t just produce two qualifying final upsets. It completely changed the shape of September, with Hawthorn and Sydney booking home preliminary finals while Geelong and Adelaide took care of business in their respective elimination finals.
Hawthorn were better prepared than the minor premiers
For much of the season, Fremantle looked like a side built for September. They finished on top of the ladder, owned one of the best defensive records in the competition and earned the right to host a qualifying final at Optus Stadium. None of that mattered on Thursday night.
From the opening bounce, Hawthorn looked sharper, cleaner and more desperate. The Hawks’ pressure around the contest never allowed Fremantle to play the game on their terms, and as the night wore on, the contrast between the two sides became more obvious. Hawthorn looked settled. Fremantle looked frustrated.
Beattie with the pressure, Moore with the finish and the Hawks have SIX in a row 😤#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/CnKoooUBJa
— AFL (@AFL) September 3, 2026
The 72-40 result doesn’t even tell the full story. This wasn’t a smash-and-grab finals win. Hawthorn controlled the game for long periods and exposed a Fremantle side that struggled to generate meaningful attacking opportunities. James Sicily led a defence that continually repelled Dockers forward entries, while the Hawks’ system held up across all four quarters.
The reward is enormous. Instead of facing another high-pressure final next week, Hawthorn now gets a week off and a preliminary final at the MCG. Fremantle, meanwhile, suddenly finds itself in a sudden-death semi-final despite finishing the season as the competition’s number one side.
Swans fire a massive warning shot
If Hawthorn made a statement, Sydney sent a warning. The Swans’ 53-point demolition of Brisbane was the most complete performance of the opening weekend and arguably one of the best finals displays the club has produced in recent years.
Brisbane arrived at the SCG as a genuine flag contender. By the end of the afternoon, they looked completely overwhelmed.
Sydney’s midfield dominated territory, their ball movement was aggressive and efficient, and every time Brisbane threatened to build momentum, the Swans found another answer. The final score of 21.15 (141) to 13.10 (88) reflected just how one-sided large parts of the contest became.
Tom Papley was the highest rated player across the four games this weekend, and while he was rewarded on the scoreboard with 5 goals, his high-effort plays off the ball exemplified why Sydney was able to dismantle the back-to-back champs.
Tom Papley has FIVE 😤#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/yfCBw6111s
— AFL (@AFL) September 5, 2026
The only concern for the Swans is the injury cloud hanging over captain Callum Mills after he suffered a serious knee injury during the match. For Brisbane, there are bigger concerns. A side that spent most of the year looking like a premiership threat now has no margin for error.
Geelong reminded everyone why September suits them
Every finals series seems to feature a moment where Geelong reminds the competition that experience matters. Carlton entered the finals full of momentum after navigating the new wildcard format, but the Cats quickly showed the difference between simply making September and knowing how to win in it.
PATRICK DANGERFIELD 🤯
Five goals in a final for the first time in his career.#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/P1hVZMQFHV
— AFL (@AFL) September 4, 2026
Geelong’s 33-point victory was built on control. The Cats generated scoring opportunities throughout the night and, despite some inaccurate kicking in front of goal, never looked in serious danger of losing the match. Their ball use was cleaner, their decision-making was better and they repeatedly punished Carlton’s mistakes.
For Carlton, the loss shouldn’t overshadow a season that turned the club around completely.
But Geelong now shapes as one of the most dangerous teams left in the finals. They head west next week to face Fremantle, and after what both sides produced in Week 1, there may be more confidence inside the Cats camp than many expected a month ago.
Adelaide’s belief continues to grow
The emotional result of the weekend belonged to Adelaide. The Crows have spent years trying to re-establish themselves as a genuine finals side, and on Saturday night they delivered one of their most important wins in recent memory.
The Western Bulldogs pushed them hard. There was a period during the second half where it felt like the visitors had wrestled momentum away from the home side. But good teams find a way to respond under pressure, and Adelaide’s response was emphatic. The Crows kicked five unanswered goals late in the contest to secure a 90-68 victory and send a packed Adelaide Oval into celebration mode.
The scenes after the final siren said plenty. For veteran Taylor Walker, it was his first finals victory in nearly a decade, and you could sense how much the result meant to both the playing group and the club’s supporters, as shown by their support of Matty Nicks at the end of the match.
Thumbs up if they can’t sack you 👍
Adelaide was reportedly planning to axe coach Matthew Nicks if they lost their elimination final.
So with just a minute left and the win secured, the Crows fans showed their support for Nicks… who gave it right back! pic.twitter.com/DVzXogSR3J
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) September 5, 2026
The task becomes significantly harder from here. Adelaide now travels to Brisbane, but unlike a lot of lower-ranked finalists in previous years, the Crows won’t be entering the semi-final hoping to compete. They’ll be entering thinking they can take down the premiers.