The current AFL finals system began to be used in 2000 as its end-of-season championship playoff tournament. The highest-ranked eight teams in the regular season standings participate in a four-week tournament, with two teams eliminated in each of the first three weeks. The seventh team is eliminated in the grand final in the fourth week, with the last remaining team awarded the premiership.
The system is designed to give the top four teams an easier road to the Grand Final than the second four teams. The top four needs to win only two finals to reach the Grand Final, while the second four needs to win three, and two of the top four teams receive a bye in the second week of the playoff and then play at home in the third week, while the other two play at home in the second week.
The AFL introduced the system in 2000 to address several perceived issues with the McIntyre Final Eight System that had been in use from 1994–1999. The system has also been adopted by the Victorian Football League and the National Rugby League. Similar systems are used by Super League, and were previously used by the Australian Rugby League in the 1995 and 1996 seasons.
Read more about AFL Finals System: Venues, Advantages For Ladder Positions
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