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The AFL will implement a wildcard weekend for the 2026 finals, featuring the top 10 teams from the home-and-away season. This weekend will see seventh play tenth and eighth play ninth for a chance at elimination finals, with support from club bosses and broadcasters. While top six teams will retain a bye, teams outside this group must win five games to claim the premiership, raising concerns about the legitimacy of ninth and tenth place teams. AFL CEO Andrew Dillon emphasized that this change enhances fan engagement and provides more clubs with finals opportunities.
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