AFL's first wildcard round kicks off as NRL Round 25 reorders the finals race

The AFL wildcard round features two sudden-death matches to open the finals series. On Friday night the Western Bulldogs host Collingwood, followed by Melbourne taking on Carlton on Saturday night. The winners advance to the next finals round; the losers are eliminated.

Under the restructured system, only the top six teams receive a week off after the regular season. Teams ranked seventh to tenth play off — seventh against tenth, and eighth against ninth — in what is often called a play-in tournament. The concept has long been used in the United States' Major League Baseball and National Basketball Association, and was introduced to Australian leagues such as the NBL and VFL in 2023.

The AFL announced the change last November, highlighting benefits including greater reward for finishing in the top six and more teams involved in the finals. Writing for The Conversation, academics Tom Hartley and Vaughan Cruickshank note initial reactions were mostly negative.

Across the NRL, Round 25 delivered significant finals-shaping action. The Dragons faced the Bulldogs under lights at Allianz Stadium, with Dean Young's side chasing a third consecutive win, while the Roosters and Wests Tigers closed the round in a high-flying attacking thriller at the same venue. According to The Age's Dan Walsh, the Roosters fell to the biggest upset of the season, leaving the Warriors able to remain based in New Zealand until grand final week.

Why This Matters

The AFL wildcard round changes the stakes of the back end of the regular season: sides finishing seventh to tenth now face sudden-death matches just to reach the traditional finals.
In the NRL, the Warriors' ability to stay in New Zealand through the finals could hand them a major home-ground advantage and reshape the premiership path.
Both codes are introducing late-season uncertainty that affects how teams manage workloads, travel and form.

Background

The AFL's top-eight finals format had gone unchanged for 25 years until this season, making the wildcard round a significant departure. Play-in tournaments are well established in North American sport and have been used in Australia's NBL and VFL since 2023. The NRL's traditional top-eight system remains intact, but late-season results such as the Roosters' upset loss can dramatically alter clubs' chances and travel plans.

Key Perspectives

AFL administrators: The league says the new format gives greater reward for finishing in the top six and creates more finals involvement for clubs. Fans and critics: Initial reactions to the wildcard round were mostly negative, according to The Conversation, reflecting skepticism about changing a long-standing finals structure. NRL contenders: Rival clubs are wary of the Warriors' position — remaining based in New Zealand until grand final week could give them a significant edge over travelling opposition.

What to Watch

The two AFL wildcard matches: the winners progress, the losers are eliminated.
The final NRL ladder positions after Round 25, and whether the Warriors indeed stay home for the finals.
How fans and clubs respond to the AFL wildcard round once it is tested on the field.

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