2011 AFL finals series

Finals matches of the 2011 Australian Football League August 2017 August 2017 September 2011 AFL finals 2011 9 September – 1 October 2011 8 (9th premiership) (19th minor premiership) 9 99,537 (Grand Final, vs. ) 2010 2012 (41st grand final) The 2011 Australian Football League finals series determined the winner of the 2011 AFL season. The series was scheduled to occur over four weekends in September 2011, culminating with the 115th AFL/VFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 1 October 2011. Traditionally held on the final Saturday in September, the grand final date was pushed to October to accommodate two extra rounds in the home and away season. The finals system AFL final eight system The system is a final eight system. This system is different from the McIntyre final eight system, which was previously used by the AFL, and was used by the National Rugby League until 2011. The top four teams in the eight receive what is popularly known as the "double chance" when they play in week-one qualifying finals. This means that even if a top-four team loses in the first week, it still remains in the finals, playing a semi-final the next week against the winner of an elimination final. The bottom four of the eight play knock-out games, in that only the winners survive and move on to the next week. Home-state advantage goes to the team with the higher seed in the first two weeks, to the qualifying final winners in the third week. Games in Victoria are played at the MCG, regardless of the team's usual home ground, if a crowd larger than the seating capacity of Etihad Stadium (53,359) is expected. In the second week, the winners of the qualifying finals receive a bye to the third week. The losers of the qualifying final plays the elimination finals winners in a semi-final. In the third week, the winners of the semi-finals from week two play the winners of the qualifying finals in the first week. The winners of those matches move on to the Grand Final at the MCG in Melbourne.AFL Finals System Explained (AFL.com.au)} Qualification Ladder Summary of results y 110 70 10 September, MCG 12.10 (82) WC 9.8 (62) 9 September, MCG 14.14 (98) 9.13 (67) 11 September, MCG 21.23 (149) 13.9 (87) 10 September, Etihad Stadium StK 8.9 (57) 12.10 (82) 17 September, Patersons Stadium WC 15.11 (101) 15.8 (98) 16 September, MCG 19.8 (122) 13.8 (86) 23 September, MCG 10.8 (68) 9.11 (65) 24 September, MCG 17.15 (117) WC 10.9 (69) 1 October, MCG 12.9 (81) 18.11 (119) Week one (qualifying & elimination finals) For the first time since the current AFL finals system was introduced in 2000, all four finals were played in Melbourne in the first week of the finals. First qualifying final (Collingwood vs. West Coast) First qualifying final Collingwood 1.1 (7) 7.5 (47) 10.7 (67) 12.10 (82) H West Coast 2.3 (15) 5.4 (34) 6.5 (41) 9.8 (62) MCG Saturday, 10 September 67,379 Report Network Ten Second qualifying final (Geelong vs. Hawthorn) Second qualifying final Geelong 2.0 (12) 7.2 (44) 12.6 (78) 14.14 (98) H Hawthorn 3.5 (23) 4.8 (32) 7.12 (54) 9.13 (67) MCG Friday, 9 September 73,400 Report Seven Network First elimination final (Carlton vs. Essendon) First elimination final Carlton 4.5 (29) 10.12 (72) 17.17 (119) 21.23 (149) H Essendon 3.4 (22) 4.7 (31) 8.9 (57) 13.9 (87) MCG Sunday, 11 September 90,161 Report Seven Network won its first final since the 2001 First Elimination Final.Michael Horan http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/substitutes-named-for-carlton-essendon-final/story-e6frf9k6-1226134130271 Dominant Carlton comfortable winners over Essendon by 62 points Herald Sun 11 Sep 2011 11 Sep 2011 The attendance of 90,161 was a new record for the highest ever for an elimination final. This record stood until 2013.http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-09-08/heartbreak-for-tigers Nick Bowen 8 September 2013 8 September 2013 Blues ensure Tigers' September return ends in heartbreak Australian Football League Second elimination final (St Kilda vs. Sydney) Second elimination final St Kilda 1.3 (9) 3.4 (22) 7.7 (49) 8.9 (57) A Sydney 2.4 (16) 7.6 (48) 8.9 (57) 12.10 (82) Etihad Stadium Saturday, 10 September 39,205 Report Network Ten StK lost its first Saturday night match at Etihad Stadium since Round 9, 2003. Week two (semi-finals) First semi-final (West Coast vs. Carlton) First semi-final West Coast 1.3 (9) 9.3 (57) 11.8 (74) 15.11 (101) H Carlton 4.1 (25) 7.4 (46) 10.5 (65) 15.8 (98) Patersons Stadium Saturday, 17 September 42,803 Report Network Ten This was 's third narrow loss in an interstate final in three years. WC won its first final since the 2006 grand final. Second semi-final (Hawthorn vs. Sydney) Second semi-final Hawthorn 3.5 (23) 10.5 (65) 12.6 (78) 19.8 (122) H Sydney 0.1 (1) 4.1 (25) 9.6 (60) 13.8 (86) MCG Friday, 16 September 55,198 Report Seven Network Week three (preliminary finals) First preliminary final (Collingwood vs. Hawthorn) First preliminary final Collingwood 2.3 (15) 3.5 (23) 5.6 (36) 10.8 (68) H Hawthorn 2.4 (16) 4.7 (31) 7.11 (53) 9.11 (65) MCG Friday, 23, September 7:45 pm AEST 87,112 Report Seven Network Second preliminary final (Geelong vs. West Coast) Second preliminary final Geelong 5.7 (37) 8.11 (59) 15.14 (104) 17.15 (117) H West Coast 2.3 (15) 5.4 (34) 7.6 (48) 10.9 (69) MCG Saturday, 24, September 2:20 pm AEST 59,455 Report Network Ten WC became the first non-Victorian team to make the top four since 2007. Week four (Grand Final) 2011 AFL Grand Final Grand Final Saturday, 1 October 2:30pm 4.2 (26) 9.3 (57) 12.6 (78) 12.9 (81) T Cloke, Krakouer 3 S Sidebottom 2 L Ball, L Brown, B Johnson, S Wellingham 1 S Pendlebury, D Thomas, S Sidebottom, C Tarrant, L Ball, L Brown, T Cloke Nil Nil A 4.3 (27) 8.6 (54) 13.7 (85) 18.11 (119) 4 S Johnson 3 J Bartel, Hawkins, Varcoe 2 Selwood 1 Duncan, Ling, Stokes Bartel, Selwood, Hawkins, Ling, S Johnson, P Chapman, Ottens, Varcoe Podsiadly (shoulder) Nil MCG 99,537 Report Donlon, Rosebury, Ryan Norm Smith Medal Jimmy Bartel () Network Ten Vanessa Amorosi Notes and references External links AFL official website RealFooty by The Age (Melbourne) Online https://web.archive.org/web/20080725045941/http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/ 25 July 2008 SportsAustralia (news and views) Finals Series, 2011