2011 AFL finals series

The finals system

Main article: AFL final eight system

The system is a final eight system. This system is different from the McIntyre final eight system, which was previously used by the AFL, and was used by the National Rugby League until 2011.

The top four teams in the eight receive what is popularly known as the "double chance" when they play in week-one qualifying finals. This means that even if a top-four team loses in the first week, it still remains in the finals, playing a semi-final the next week against the winner of an elimination final. The bottom four of the eight play knock-out games, in that only the winners survive and move on to the next week. Home-state advantage goes to the team with the higher seed in the first two weeks, to the qualifying final winners in the third week. Games in Victoria are played at the MCG, regardless of the team's usual home ground, if a crowd larger than the seating capacity of Etihad Stadium (53,359) is expected.

In the second week, the winners of the qualifying finals receive a bye to the third week. The losers of the qualifying final plays the elimination finals winners in a semi-final. In the third week, the winners of the semi-finals from week two play the winners of the qualifying finals in the first week. The winners of those matches move on to the Grand Final at the MCG in Melbourne.

Qualification

Summary of results

|team-width=110 |score-width=70 |RD1-text1= 10 September, MCG |RD1-team1=**** |RD1-score1=12.10 (82) |RD1-team2= |RD1-score2=9.8 (62) |RD1-text4= 9 September, MCG |RD1-team7=**** |RD1-score7= 14.14 (98) |RD1-team8= |RD1-score8= 9.13 (67) |RD1-text2= 11 September, MCG |RD1-team3=**** |RD1-score3= 21.23 (149) |RD1-team4= |RD1-score4= 13.9 (87) |RD1-text3= 10 September, Etihad Stadium |RD1-team5= |RD1-score5=8.9 (57) |RD1-team6=**** |RD1-score6=12.10 (82) |RD2-text1= 17 September, Patersons Stadium |RD2-team1=**** |RD2-score1=15.11 (101) |RD2-team2= |RD2-score2=15.8 (98) |RD2-text2= 16 September, MCG |RD2-team3=**** |RD2-score3=19.8 (122) |RD2-team4= |RD2-score4=13.8 (86) |RD3-text1= 23 September, MCG |RD3-team1=**** |RD3-score1=10.8 (68) |RD3-team2= |RD3-score2=9.11 (65) |RD3-text2= 24 September, MCG |RD3-team3=**** |RD3-score3=17.15 (117) |RD3-team4= |RD3-score4=10.9 (69) |RD4-text1= 1 October, MCG |RD4-team1= |RD4-score1=12.9 (81) |RD4-team2=**** |RD4-score2=18.11 (119)

Week one (qualifying & elimination finals)

For the first time since the current AFL finals system was introduced in 2000, all four finals were played in Melbourne in the first week of the finals.

First qualifying final (Collingwood vs. West Coast)

Second qualifying final (Geelong vs. Hawthorn)

First elimination final (Carlton vs. Essendon)

• won its first final since the 2001 First Elimination Final.
• The attendance of 90,161 was a new record for the highest ever for an elimination final. This record stood until 2013.

Second elimination final (St Kilda vs. Sydney)

• lost its first Saturday night match at Etihad Stadium since Round 9, 2003.

Week two (semi-finals)

First semi-final (West Coast vs. Carlton)

• This was 's third narrow loss in an interstate final in three years.
• won its first final since the 2006 grand final.

Second semi-final (Hawthorn vs. Sydney)

Week three (preliminary finals)

First preliminary final (Collingwood vs. Hawthorn)

Second preliminary final (Geelong vs. West Coast)

• became the first non-Victorian team to make the top four since 2007.

Week four (Grand Final)

Main article: 2011 AFL Grand Final

S Sidebottom 2 L Ball, L Brown, B Johnson, S Wellingham 1 3 J Bartel, Hawkins, Varcoe 2 Selwood 1 Duncan, Ling, Stokes

References

1. [https://www.afl.com.au/news/2010-08-01/the-final-8-system-explained AFL Finals System Explained (AFL.com.au)]}
2. Horan, Michael. (11 Sep 2011). "Dominant Carlton comfortable winners over Essendon by 62 points". Herald Sun.
3. Nick Bowen. (8 September 2013). "Blues ensure Tigers' September return ends in heartbreak". Australian Football League.