AFL Preliminary Finals draw record crowds and viewership in 2026

AFL • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 20, 2026, 8:30 AM

Last updated Sep 20, 2026

AFL Preliminary Finals draw record crowds and viewership in 2026

Summary

The 2026 Toyota AFL Preliminary Finals weekend featured sell-out crowds and record viewership. The Sydney Swans vs Fremantle match attracted 5.4 million viewers, the highest for a Friday night preliminary final. Simultaneously, 97,835 fans attended the Hawthorn vs Brisbane Lions game at the MCG. Over 142,000 spectators attended both matches, contributing to the largest AFL Finals Series attendance in history, with total attendance surpassing 656,000. The CEO of AFL, Andrew Dillon, highlighted the weekend's success and looked forward to the upcoming Grand Final matchup between Brisbane and Fremantle.

Source Links

AFL

Key Details

•Sydney Swans vs Fremantle reached 5.4 million viewers.
•Attendance for the finals weekend exceeded 142,000 fans.
•Hawthorn vs Brisbane Lions match had 97,835 spectators.
•Total attendance for the AFL Finals Series is 656,241.
•AFL Finals Series viewership surpassed 41 million Australians.

Latest Updates

8:30 AMAFL — Huge Preliminary Finals weekend delivers record Friday night audience and bumper crowds

What they're saying

"
The 2026 Toyota AFL Finals Series has delivered another standout weekend, with fans turning out in droves and tuning in to watch two all-time classic Preliminary Finals matches
— AFL

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