The AFL will introduce a wildcard weekend in the first week of finals for the 2026 season.

In the latest change-up to the game for 2026, the top 10 teams at the end of the home-and-away season will now feature in September action.

During the weekend that has hosted the pre-finals bye, seventh will host 10th and eighth will host ninth, with a place in an elimination final up for grabs.

The move has been endorsed by club bosses and is a coup for the broadcasters, with two extra finals expected to attract sell-out crowds and added attention.

Had the initiative been activated this year, it would have seen the Suns face Sydney for the right to take on Fremantle the next week, as well as Hawthorn play the Western Bulldogs, who missed the top eight by one game despite claiming 14 wins.

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