The AFL Finals system involves the top eight teams from the regular season in a four-week knockout tournament. It starts with qualifying finals for the top four teams (1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd) and elimination finals for the lower four teams (5th vs 8th and 6th vs 7th). Winners of the qualifying finals advance directly to the preliminary finals (week three), while losers play the winners of the elimination finals in the semi-finals (week two). The winners of the semi-finals move on to the preliminary finals. The winners of the two preliminary finals then face off in the Grand Final, which decides the premiership. This system rewards the top four teams with a "double chance," meaning they can lose their first match and still remain in the finals, whereas teams ranked 5th to 8th face immediate elimination if they lose their first match. The finals culminate in the Grand Final held in the fourth week, typically at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The 2025 AFL Finals schedule is:

• Week 1: Qualifying and Elimination Finals (Sept 4-7)
• Week 2: Semi Finals (Sept 12-13)
• Week 3: Preliminary Finals (Sept 19-20)
• Week 4: Grand Final (Sept 27)

This format emphasizes performance, resilience, and strategic play over the four weeks to determine the season champion.