2006 AFL finals series

The system is a final eight system. This system is different from the McIntyre final eight system, which was previously used by the AFL. The top four teams in the eight receive what is popularly known as the "double chance", meaning that they cannot be eliminated from the finals in the first week match, the qualifying final. In contrast the bottom four of the eight play elimination finals in the first week, where only the winners move on to week two. In the second week, the winners of the qualifying finals receive a bye (rest), while qualifying finals losers play the winners of the elimination finals. Home ground advantage goes to the team with the higher final 8 position. In the third week, the winners of the semi-finals play the winners of the qualifying finals in the first week, with the latter receiving home-ground advantage. The winners of those matches move on to the Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. ==Week One==

The first week of the finals series would have significantly been different had not been successful in its appeal regarding the result of their controversially drawn match against in round five of the premiership season. Had the draw stood, St Kilda would have finished third, Fremantle fourth, defending premiers Sydney fifth and Collingwood sixth. Thus, instead of the below fixture, the week one finals fixture would have been: ;Qualifying finals • West Coast vs Fremantle at Subiaco Oval • Adelaide vs St Kilda at AAMI Stadium ;Elimination finals • Sydney vs Western Bulldogs at Telstra Stadium • Collingwood vs Melbourne at MCG Source First Qualifying Final (West Coast vs. Sydney) Second Qualifying Final (Adelaide vs. Fremantle) First Elimination Final (Collingwood vs. Western Bulldogs) Second Elimination Final (St Kilda vs. Melbourne) == Week Two ==

First Semi-final (West Coast vs. Western Bulldogs) Second Semi-final (Fremantle vs. Melbourne) == Week Three ==

First Preliminary Final (Sydney vs. Fremantle) Second Preliminary Final (Adelaide vs. West Coast) == Week Four ==

Grand Final (Sydney vs. West Coast) ==Notes==