Dogs-Hawks for MCG as Power-Cats opens AFL finals

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Dogs-Hawks for MCG as Power-Cats opens AFL finals

The Western Bulldogs will host a home elimination final against Hawthorn at the MCG in the opening week of a highly-anticipated AFL finals series.

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 Bulldogs 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 MCG tenant club Hawthorn in an elimination final on September 6.

It is the only week-one final in Victoria, with the four games to be played in different states.

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 ****** of Port Adelaide-Geelong will host the winner of the Bulldogs-Hawthorn clash. The ****** 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

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