The AFL has added a Wildcard Round to the competition layout. The league updated postseason incentives and announced cash payouts for these extra games. The AFL outlined the rules of the Wildcard Round to explain how the matches work.

The status of the Wildcard games has drawn criticism across the football community. Coach Ross Lyon challenged whether the Wildcard games ought to be categorized as "Finals" in a last-ditch attempt to challenge the system. The trend was published Fri, 21 Aug 2026 04:50 -0700. Reports from afl.com.au, Herald Sun, and SEN reported on the structure, prize money, and the coach's challenge.