3 minute read

St Kilda feared they would have to play their elimination final against the Bulldogs in Adelaide, but the AFL have granted their wish to play at the Gabba.

St Kilda's bid to play their elimination final at the Gabba has been granted, while Port Adelaide and Geelong will kick things off with a qualifying final at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.

The Saints, who earned 'hosting' rights for their elimination final against the Bulldogs by finishing sixth, were keen for the game to be played in Brisbane given it's less than two hours drive from their Noosa base.

But with the Lions scheduled to host Richmond in a qualifying final at the Gabba on Friday night, the AFL were considering switching St Kilda's game to Adelaide Oval in order to protect the Gabba surface.

However, the AFL announced on Tuesday the Saints can host the match at the Gabba on Saturday.

Week one of the finals concludes when West Coast and Collingwood lock horns in an elimination final at Perth's Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

The capacity for that match has been lifted from 30,000 to 35,500 after the WA State Government allowed for the 50 per cent capacity rule to be replaced with the two-square-metre rule for the match.

Collingwood will remain in Queensland until this Friday before flying to Perth to complete a seven-day quarantine period prior to the match.

FINALS SCHEDULE

Thursday October 1

First Qualifying Final, Port Adelaide v Geelong Cats at Adelaide Oval, 7.40pm EST / 7:10pm CST

Friday October 2

Second Qualifying Final, Brisbane Lions v Richmond at the Gabba, 7.50pm EST

Saturday October 3

Second Elimination Final, St Kilda v Western Bulldogs at the Gabba, 4.40pm EST

First Elimination Final, West Coast Eagles vs Collingwood at Optus Stadium, 8.10pm EST / 6.10pm WST