HAWTHORN will face West Coast Eagles at Domain Stadium in the second qualifying final on Friday night at 6.20pm (AWST).
Fremantle, as the minor premier, advised the AFL they wished for consideration to be given to being scheduled on Saturday, to ensure a seven-day break leading into their first final.
Both the Hawks and Eagles will enter the match off a six-day break.
The match was placed on Friday night as West Coast had been at home in Perth in round 23 while Hawthorn had also been at home in Melbourne for its final game of the regular season.
“The AFL has again continued its position that the two qualifying finals between the top four teams should be played as the opening two matches of the finals series, so that the losers of these matches will then have the longer breaks leading into week two of the finals series than their prospective opponents,” Simon Lethlean, the AFL Executive Team Member responsible for the fixture, said.
Finals week one - fixture
Friday September 11
Second Qualifying Final, West Coast v Hawthorn at Domain Stadium, 6.20pm
Saturday September 12
First Qualifying Final, Fremantle v Sydney Swans at Domain Stadium, 1.20pm
Second Elimination Final, Western Bulldogs v Adelaide Crows at the MCG, 7.20pm
Sunday September 13
First Elimination Final, Richmond v North Melbourne at the MCG, 3.20pm