The Western Bulldogs will host a home elimination final against Hawthorn at the MCG in the opening week of a highly-anticipated AFL finals series.

The week one finals schedule for September 5-7 was confirmed on Monday morning, after the Bulldogs and Carlton claimed the last two spots in the top eight on an intense day of Sunday action.

The Bulldogs ended Greater Western Sydney’s seven-match winning streak, while the Blues snuck in the back door despite losing to St Kilda.

Port Adelaide sewed up second spot with their win over Fremantle and in doing so handed Carlton eighth.

The Blues got in ahead of reigning premiers Collingwood on percentage and will face the Brisbane Lions in an elimination final at the Gabba on September 7.

Port host Geelong at Adelaide Oval in a qualifying final on September 5 as the finals series opens on a Thursday night.

The Bulldogs host MCG tenant club Hawthorn at the home of AFL in an elimination final on September 6. It will be Hawthorn’s first Friday night match since 2022.

That game is the only week one final in Victoria, with the four games to be played in different states.

Sydney take on cross-town rivals GWS in a qualifying final on September 7 — the fourth finals meeting between the NSW sides — just hours before the Lions-Blues contest.

Carlton return to the Gabba, where their flag hopes were dashed by Brisbane in a see-sawing preliminary final last season, and could be bolstered by the return of key players like Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay from injuries.

“I can tell you what, we’ll be going hard,” Blues coach Michael Voss said.

“We’ll get ourselves prepared and we’ll pick ourselves up and we’ll go again.

“A new season begins and we’ve seen many a time where teams have been able to sneak their way in through different avenues and been able to do something.”

In week two, the loser of Port Adelaide-Geelong will host the winner of the Bulldogs-Hawthorn clash. The loser of Sydney-GWS will host the winner of Brisbane-Carlton. 

Venues and times for week two will be confirmed at the conclusion of week one.

Week one finals schedule (all times AEST)

Thursday, September 5

Second qualifying final: Port Adelaide v Geelong, Adelaide Oval, 7.40pm

Friday, September 6

Second elimination final: Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn, MCG, 7.40pm

Saturday, September 7

First qualifying final: Sydney v GWS, SCG, 3.20pm

First elimination final: Brisbane Lions v Carlton, Gabba, 7.30pm

AAP