The Western Bulldogs are disappointed about a fixture clash that pits their AFL elimination final with Hawthorn against the club’s first home game of the AFLW season.
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.
The Dogs ended Greater Western Sydney’s seven-match winning streak, while the Blues sneaked 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 take on Hawthorn in an elimination final at the MCG on September 6.
It is the only week-one final in Victoria, with the four games to be played in different states.
The Bulldogs felt let down about the fixture being scheduled in opposition to their AFLW side’s home opener against Port Adelaide at Whitten Oval on the same night.
It creates issues with the Bulldogs’ men’s and women’s teams sharing staff, while also taking the gloss off the opening of the club’s redeveloped headquarters.
Some fans will have to choose which team to support, given the games are to be played back-to-back at different venues.
AFL minor premiers 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
