IT is that time of the year again – the VFLW Finals are upon us.

Williamstown, the Western Bulldogs, Box Hill, North Melbourne, Essendon and Port Melbourne are about to battle it out for the 2024 VFLW Premiership, which will be awarded in a month’s time at ETU Stadium.

The VFLW uses a finals series known as the McIntyre final six system, which was utilised in the men’s AFL competition between 1991-1993.

In this article, we explain the system for readers to better understand how it works and clear up any potential confusion.

WEEK 1

Week one of the finals system sees three matches – one Qualifying Final and two elimination finals.

The qualifying final is between the top two teams on the ladder who have earned the right to a double chance, while the elimination finals are between the remaining four teams – 3th vs 6th and 4th vs 5th.

The losers of the elimination finals get eliminated, while everyone else progresses onto week two.

Week 1 Finals Match Ups

First Elimination Final: Box Hill Hawks vs. Port Melbourne

Second Elimination Final: North Melbourne vs. Essendon

Qualifying Final: Williamstown vs. Western Bulldogs

WEEK 2

There are two matches in week two – a Qualifying Semi Final and an Elimination Semi-Final.

The Qualifying Semi-Final is between the winner of the week one Qualifying Final, and the higher ranked of the Elimination Final winners, with the Elimination Semi-Final being between the loser of that week one Qualifying Final and the lower ranked of the Elimination Final winners.

The winner of the Qualifying Semi-Final moves on to the Grand Final and gets a week off, while the loser moves onto the Preliminary Final in week three. Meanwhile the winner of the Elimination Semi moves onto the Preliminary Final while the loser goes home.

Those rankings are based on where the teams ended on the ladder at the end of the home and away season.

If Box Hill wins, the Hawks will automatically be the highest ranked winner as they finished third, while North Melbourne (fourth) will slot into that role if Port Melbourne gets up. If both Port Melbourne Essendon win, then the Bombers move into the double-chance semi-final, with the Borough – being the lowest ranked finalist – destined for the knockout semi-final regardless of the other match’s result.

WEEKS 3 & 4

Week three of the finals is the Preliminary Final, which will be played by the loser of the week two qualifying final and the winner of the week two elimination final.

Week four is the Grand Final, which will be contested by the winner of the week two qualifying final and the winner of the Preliminary Final.