The AFL has added a Wildcard Round to the postseason structure. The league revamped finals rewards and announced cash payouts for these extra games. The AFL explained the mechanics of the Wildcard Round to clarify how the matches work.

The status of the Wildcard games has drawn criticism across sporting circles. Coach Ross Lyon challenged whether the Wildcard games ought to be categorized as "Finals" in a direct move to challenge the system. The trend was circulated Fri, 21 Aug 2026 04:50 -0700. Reports from afl.com.au, Herald Sun, and SEN examined the setup, prize money, and his objection.