The AFL has added a Wildcard Round to the postseason structure. The league updated postseason incentives and announced cash payouts for the upcoming fixtures. The AFL outlined the rules of the Wildcard Round to clarify how the matches work.

The status of the Wildcard games has drawn criticism across the league landscape. Coach Ross Lyon questioned whether the Wildcard games ought to be categorized as "Finals" in a direct move to question the framework. The trend was released Fri, 21 Aug 2026 04:50 -0700. Reports from afl.com.au, Herald Sun, and SEN reported on the structure, prize money, and his objection.