THE TOP eight is set after one of the most dramatic finishes to a home and away season on record, with Richmond and Geelong to face off in under a fortnight with a mouth-watering qualifying final.
The finals will take centre stage in Melbourne when the Cats and third-placed Tigers meet in a qualifying final.
The Cats will be hoping to regain skipper Joel Selwood (ankle) during their finals campaign.
The Tigers, whose last finals win came in the 2001 semi-final against Carlton, secured the double chance with a 41-point win over St Kilda on Sunday.
Richmond's VFL side will be in finals action next week, when they face Collingwood VFL in an elimination final on Saturday, September 2, at North Port Oval from 2.40pm.
Week 1 Toyota AFL Finals Series
Thursday September 7
First qualifying final
Adelaide Crows v Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval, 7.20pm ACST
Friday September 8
Second qualifying final
Geelong Cats v Richmond at the MCG, 7.50pm AEST
Saturday September 9
Second elimination final
Sydney Swans v Essendon at SCG, 4.20pm AEST
First elimination final
Port Adelaide v West Coast Eagles at Adelaide Oval, 7.20pm ACST
The Crows secured the minor premiership after the Giants lost to Geelong on Saturday night.
Adelaide ended the regular season ahead of second-placed Geelong on percentage after its 29-point loss to West Coast on Sunday.
The Giants travel to Adelaide having missed an opportunity to secure a top-two spot – and home qualifying final – following their loss to the Cats.
Fifth-placed Port Adelaide returns to September action in an elimination final against eight-placed West Coast.
The Power last made finals in 2014.
The Eagles also have reason to cheer after snatching eighth spot – at the expense of Melbourne – with their win over Adelaide at Domain Stadium.
The Eagles were able to bridge the percentage gap needed to overtake the Demons on the ladder.
The first week of finals will also see sixth-placed Sydney host seven-placed Essendon in a do-or-die elimination final.
Last year's runners up, the Swans become the first team in history to make the finals after losing their first six games of the season, and ended the regular season having won 14 of their last 16 games since round seven.
The Bombers have made significant inroads this season after slumping to last year's wooden spoon, qualifying for their first finals campaign since the end of the supplements saga.
Like Port Adelaide, Essendon last played finals in 2014.
Toyota AFL Finals Series, Week One
Adelaide v Greater Western Sydney
Geelong v Richmond
Port Adelaide v West Coast
Sydney v Essendon
