View source for 2006 AFL finals series

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox Australian rules football season
| competition     = afl
| year            = 2006
| image           = 2006AFLFinalsSeries.png
| imagesize       = 320px
| caption         = 
| date = 8–30 September 2006
| teams           = 8
| premiers        = [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]]
| count           = 3
| minor premiers  = [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]]
| mpcount         = 3
| pre-season cup  = 
| pscount         = 
| matches         = 9
| attendance      = 532178
| highattend      = 97,431 <small>([[2006 AFL Grand Final|Grand Final]], {{AFL Syd}} vs. {{AFL|WC}}</small>)
| top goal scorer = 
| brownlow medal  = 
| prevseason      = [[2005 AFL finals series|2005]]
| nextseason      = [[2007 AFL finals series|2007]]
|runners-up={{AFL Syd}} <small>(14th grand final)</small>}}

The [[Australian Football League]]'s '''2006 [[AFL finals series|finals series]]''' took place between the teams that finished in the top eight in the [[2006 AFL season]]. It began on the weekend of 8 September 2006 and ended with the 110th [[AFL Grand Final]] at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] on 30 September 2006.  The winner, [[West Coast Eagles]], was crowned champion of the AFL after defeating [[Sydney Swans|Sydney]] by one point.

Eight teams qualified for the finals by finishing in the top eight of the [[2006 AFL finals series#Ladder|premiership ladder]].

With the top eight race effectively ending several rounds before the end of the season, the push for the final two positions in the top four heated up as all six teams below West Coast and [[Adelaide Crows|Adelaide]] were vying for the crucial [[2006 AFL finals series#The finals system|"double chance"]] with only a few rounds left. With wins in the final round, [[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle]] and Sydney secured the "double chance" making it the first time in the game's history where the top four positions did not consist of a single Victorian team.

==Ladder==
{{:2006 AFL season|transcludesection=Ladder}}

== Summary of results ==
{{8TeamBracket-PagePlayoff|RD2-RD3-cross=y
|team-width=150
|score-width=70
|RD1-text1=Sep 9, [[Subiaco Oval]]
|RD1-team1={{AFL WC}}
|RD1-score1=12.12 (84)
|RD1-team2='''{{AFL Syd}}'''
|RD1-score2='''13.7 (85)'''
|RD1-text2=Sep 10, [[Melbourne Cricket Ground|MCG]]
|RD1-team3={{AFL Col}}
|RD1-score3=11.14 (80)
|RD1-team4='''{{AFL WB}}'''
|RD1-score4='''18.13 (121)'''
|RD1-text4=Sep 9, [[AAMI Stadium]]
|RD1-team7='''{{AFL Ade}}'''
|RD1-score7='''10.16 (76)'''
|RD1-team8={{AFL Fre}}
|RD1-score8=7.4 (46)
|RD1-text3=Sep 8, [[Melbourne Cricket Ground|MCG]]
|RD1-team5={{AFL StK}}
|RD1-score5=10.12 (72)
|RD1-team6='''{{AFL Mel}}'''
|RD1-score6='''13.12 (90)'''
|RD2-text1=Sep 16, [[Subiaco Oval]]
|RD2-team1='''{{AFL WC}}'''
|RD2-score1='''16.17 (113)'''
|RD2-team2={{AFL WB}}
|RD2-score2=5.9 (39)
|RD2-text2=Sep 15, [[Subiaco Oval]]
|RD2-team3='''{{AFL Fre}}'''
|RD2-score3='''14.18 (102)'''
|RD2-team4={{AFL Mel}}
|RD2-score4=11.8 (74)
|RD3-text1=Sep 22, [[Telstra Stadium]]
|RD3-team1='''{{AFL Syd}}'''
|RD3-score1='''19.13 (127)'''
|RD3-team2={{AFL Fre}}
|RD3-score2=14.8 (92)
|RD3-text2=Sep 23, [[AAMI Stadium]]
|RD3-team3={{AFL Ade}}
|RD3-score3=11.9 (75)
|RD3-team4='''{{AFL WC}}'''
|RD3-score4='''11.19 (85)'''
|RD4-text1=Sep 30, [[Melbourne Cricket Ground|MCG]]
|RD4-team1={{AFL Syd}}
|RD4-score1=12.12 (84)
|RD4-team2='''{{AFL WC}}'''
|RD4-score2='''12.13 (85)'''

}}

== The finals system ==
{{main|AFL final eight system}}

The system is a [[AFL final eight system|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 [[AFL Grand Final|Grand Final]] at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://afl.com.au/?pg=final8explained&spg=default |title=8TeamBracket-PagePlayoff Explained (AFL.com.au) |access-date=21 August 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926221125/http://afl.com.au/?pg=final8explained&spg=default}}</ref>

==Week One==
The first week of the finals series would have significantly been different had {{AFL Fre}} not been successful in its appeal regarding the result of their [[AFL siren controversy|controversially drawn match]] against {{AFL StK}} in [[2006 AFL season#Round 5|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

<small>[https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-sirengate-feature-st-kilda-vs-fremantle-2006-siren-wasnt-heard-lookback-draw-overturned-on-appeal/news-story/39d2e2a4999b17de13ea770469fe9257 Source]</small>

===First Qualifying Final (West Coast vs. Sydney)===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:65%; margin:1em auto;"
|-
! colspan="5"|{{AFL WC}} vs {{AFL Syd}}
|-
! colspan="5"|
|-
!width=25%| Team
!width=10%| Q1
!width=10%| Q2
!width=10%| Q3
!width=10%| Final
|-
|{{AFL WC}}
|2.3 (15)
|4.6 (30)
|9.9 (63)
|12.12 (84)
|-
|{{AFL Syd}}
|3.2 (20)
|7.3 (45)
|10.6 (66)
|13.7 (85)
|-
! colspan="5"|
|-
! colspan="2"|Venue:
| colspan="3"|[[Subiaco Oval]], [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Date and time:
| colspan="3"|9 September 2006 – 5:30PM [[Australian Western Standard Time|AWST]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Attendance:
| colspan="3"|43,116
|-
! colspan="2"|Umpires:
| colspan="3"|[[Michael Vozzo|Vozzo]], [[Stephen McBurney|McBurney]], [[Shaun Ryan|Ryan]]
|-
! rowspan="2"|Goal scorers:
| [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]]
| colspan="3"|'''2:''' Lynch, Hunter, Waters, Judd<br />'''1:''' Staker, Stenglein, Cousins, Armstrong
|-
| [[Sydney Swans|Sydney]]
| colspan="3"|'''5:''' Hall<br />'''4:''' O'Loughlin<br />'''2:''' Schneider<br />'''1:''' Kirk, Goodes
|-
! rowspan="2"|Best:
| [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]]
| colspan="3"|Judd, R. Jones, Selwood, Wirrpanda, Hunter, B. Jones, Cox
|-
| [[Sydney Swans|Sydney]]
| colspan="3"|Hall, Kirk, McVeigh, O'Loughlin, O'Keefe, Richards, Goodes
|-
! colspan="2"|Reports:
| colspan="3"|'''West Coast:''' Chick (rough conduct, charge withdrawn by match review)
|-
! colspan="2"|Injuries:
| colspan="3"|'''West Coast:''' Chick (shin)
|-
|}

===Second Qualifying Final (Adelaide vs. Fremantle)===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:65%; margin:1em auto;"
|-
! colspan="5"|{{AFL Ade}} vs {{AFL Fre}}
|-
! colspan="5"|
|-
!width=25%| Team
!width=10%| Q1
!width=10%| Q2
!width=10%| Q3
!width=10%| Final
|-
|{{AFL Ade}}
|1.3 (9)
|3.8 (26)
|5.12 (42)
|10.16 (76)
|-
|{{AFL Fre}}
|4.2 (26)
|5.2 (32)
|7.4 (46)
|7.4 (46)
|-
! colspan="5"|
|-
! colspan="2"|Venue:
| colspan="3"|[[AAMI Stadium]], [[Adelaide]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Date and time:
| colspan="3"|9 September 2006 – 2:30PM [[Time in Australia|ACST]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Attendance:
| colspan="3"|42,208
|-
! colspan="2"|Umpires:
| colspan="3"|[[Ray Chamberlain (umpire)|Chamberlain]], [[Martin Ellis (umpire)|Ellis]], [[Shane McInerney|McInery]]
|-
! rowspan="2"|Goal scorers:
| [[Adelaide Crows|Adelaide]]
| colspan="3"|'''2:''' Bock, Torney, Biglands<br />'''1:''' Clarke, Reilly, Welsh, Perrie
|-
| [[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle]]
| colspan="3"|'''2:''' Pavlich, Farmer<br />'''1:''' Crowley, Black, Cook
|-
! rowspan="2"|Best:
| [[Adelaide Crows|Adelaide]]
| colspan="3"|Doughty, Reilly, Torney, Thompson, Edwards, Bassett, Stevens, Bock, Johncock, Bode
|-
| [[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle]]
| colspan="3"|Black, Bell, Johnson, J. Carr, McPharlin
|-
! colspan="2"|Reports:
| colspan="3"|—
|-
! colspan="2"|Injuries:
| colspan="3"|'''Fremantle:''' Grover (back)
|-
|}

=== First Elimination Final (Collingwood vs. Western Bulldogs) ===

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:65%; margin:1em auto;"
|-
! colspan="5"|{{AFL Col}} vs {{AFL WB}}
|-
! colspan="5"|
|-
!width=25%| Team
!width=10%| Q1
!width=10%| Q2
!width=10%| Q3
!width=10%| Final
|-
|{{AFL Col}}
|5.6 (36)
|6.9 (45)
|6.13 (49)
|11.14 (80)
|-
|{{AFL WB}}
|4.2 (26)
|8.7 (55)
|14.10 (94)
|18.13 (121)
|-
! colspan="5"|
|-
! colspan="2"|Venue:
| colspan="3"|[[Melbourne Cricket Ground]], [[Melbourne]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Date and time:
| colspan="3"|10 September 2006 – 2:30PM [[AEST]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Attendance:
| colspan="3"|84,284
|-
! colspan="2"|Umpires:
| colspan="3"|[[Hayden Kennedy|Kennedy]], [[Brett Allen (umpire)|Allen]], [[Scott Jeffery|Jeffery]]
|-
! rowspan="2"|Goal scorers:
| [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]]
| colspan="3"|'''3:''' Tarrant<br />'''2:''' Holland<br />'''1:''' Fraser, Egan, Rusling, Lockyer, Rocca, Licuria
|-
| [[Western Bulldogs|W. Bulldogs]]
| colspan="3"|'''4:''' Montgomery<br />'''3:''' Cooney, Robbins<br />'''2:''' Gilbee, Ray<br />'''1:''' Johnson, Giansiracusa, Minson, Smith
|-
! rowspan="2"|Best:
| [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]]
| colspan="3"|R. Shaw, Johnson, Clement, Fraser, H. Shaw, Buckley
|-
| [[Western Bulldogs|W. Bulldogs]]
| colspan="3"|West, Cross, Ray, Cooney, Morris, Montgomery, Johnson, Giansiracusa, Grant
|-
! colspan="2"|Reports:
| colspan="3"|'''Collingwood:''' Holland (charging, received six-week suspension)
|-
! colspan="2"|Injuries:
| colspan="3"|'''W. Bulldogs:''' Gilbee (ankle)
|-
|}

=== Second Elimination Final (St Kilda vs. Melbourne) ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:65%; margin:1em auto;"
|-
! colspan="5"|{{AFL StK}} vs {{AFL Mel}}
|-
! colspan="5"|
|-
!width=25%| Team
!width=10%| Q1
!width=10%| Q2
!width=10%| Q3
!width=10%| Final
|-
|{{AFL StK}}
|5.4 (34)
|6.6 (42)
|9.8 (62)
|10.12 (72)
|-
|{{AFL Mel}}
|2.2 (14)
|3.4 (22)
|8.5 (53)
|13.12 (90)
|-
! colspan="5"|
|-
! colspan="2"|Venue:
| colspan="3"|[[Melbourne Cricket Ground]], [[Melbourne]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Date and time:
| colspan="3"|8 September 2006 – 7:30PM [[AEST]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Attendance:
| colspan="3"|67,528
|-
! colspan="2"|Umpires:
| colspan="3"|[[Brett Rosebury|Rosebury]], [[Justin Schmitt|Schmitt]], [[Darren Goldspink|Goldspink]]
|-
! rowspan="2"|Goal scorers:
| [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]]
| colspan="3"|'''3:''' Gehrig<br />'''2:''' Milne, Riewoldt<br />'''1:''' Koschitzke, Peckett, Baker
|-
| [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]]
| colspan="3"|'''4:''' Neitz<br />'''2:''' McLean<br />'''1:''' Miller, McDonald, Bruce, Robertson, Pickett, Bate, Yze
|-
! rowspan="2"|Best:
| [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]]
| colspan="3"|Riewoldt, Harvey, Baker, S. Fisher, Milne, Ball, Gehrig
|-
| [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]]
| colspan="3"|McLean, Neitz, Bruce, Green, McDonald, White, Carroll
|-
! colspan="2"|Reports:
| colspan="3"|'''St Kilda:''' A. Thompson (rough conduct, received reprimand)
|-
! colspan="2"|Injuries:
| colspan="3"|'''St Kilda:''' R. Clarke (hamstring), Gehrig (ankle), X. Clarke (back), Harvey (hamstring)<br />'''Melbourne:''' Whelan (shoulder)
|-
|}

== Week Two ==
=== First Semi-final (West Coast vs. Western Bulldogs)===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:65%; margin:1em auto;"
|-
! colspan="5"|[[West Coast Eagles]] vs [[Western Bulldogs]]
|-
! colspan="5"|
|-
!width=25%| Team
!width=10%| Q1
!width=10%| Q2
!width=10%| Q3
!width=10%| Final
|-
|[[West Coast Eagles]]
|4.3 (27)
|8.7 (55)
|9.12 (66)
|16.17 (113)
|-
|[[Western Bulldogs]]
|3.4 (22)
|4.6 (30)
|4.9 (33)
|5.9 (39)
|-
! colspan="5"|
|-
! colspan="2"|Venue:
| colspan="3"|[[Subiaco Oval]], [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Date and time:
| colspan="3"|16 September 2006 – 5:30PM [[Australian Western Standard Time|AWST]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Attendance:
| colspan="3"|43,219
|-
! colspan="2"|Umpires:
| colspan="3"|[[Hayden Kennedy|Kennedy]], [[Brett Allen (umpire)|Allen]], [[Justin Schmitt|Schmitt]]
|-
! rowspan="2"|Goal scorers:
| [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]]
| colspan="3"|'''6:''' Lynch<br />'''4:''' Hunter<br />'''1:''' Waters, Hansen, Judd, Embley, Cousins, Cox
|-
| [[Western Bulldogs|W. Bulldogs]]
| colspan="3"|'''3:''' Johnson<br />'''1:''' Grant, Robbins
|-
! rowspan="2"|Best:
| [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]]
| colspan="3"|Hunter, Judd, Lynch, Hansen, Kerr, Chick, Cousins, Selwood, Butler
|-
| [[Western Bulldogs|W. Bulldogs]]
| colspan="3"|West, Johnson, Morris, Smith
|-
! colspan="2"|Reports:
| colspan="3"|'''W. Bulldogs:''' Harris (striking, received two-week suspension)
|-
! colspan="2"|Injuries:
| colspan="3"|'''West Coast:''' Wirrpanda (hamstring)
|-
|}

=== Second Semi-final (Fremantle vs. Melbourne) ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:65%; margin:1em auto;"
|-
! colspan="5"|{{AFL Fre}} vs {{AFL Mel}}
|-
! colspan="5"|
|-
!width=25%| Team
!width=10%| Q1
!width=10%| Q2
!width=10%| Q3
!width=10%| Final
|-
|{{AFL Fre}}
|3.3 (21)
|7.9 (51)
|11.15 (81)
|14.18 (102)
|-
|{{AFL Mel}}
|3.0 (18)
|7.3 (45)
|10.4 (64)
|11.8 (74)
|-
! colspan="5"|
|-
! colspan="2"|Venue:
| colspan="3"|[[Subiaco Oval]], [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Date and time:
| colspan="3"|15 September 2006 – 6:30PM [[Australian Western Standard Time|AWST]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Attendance:
| colspan="3"|42,505
|-
! colspan="2"|Umpires:
| colspan="3"|[[Michael Vozzo|Vozzo]], [[Shane McInerney|McInerney]], [[Darren Goldspink|Goldspink]]
|-
! rowspan="2"|Goal scorers:
| [[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle]]
| colspan="3"|'''2:''' Murphy, Farmer, M. Carr, Pavlich<br />'''1:''' Cook, Webster, Schammer, Mundy, Longmuir, Headland
|-
| [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]]
| colspan="3"|'''3:''' Neitz, Robertson<br />'''2:''' Davey<br />'''1:''' McLean, Yze, Miller
|-
! rowspan="2"|Best:
| [[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle]]
| colspan="3"|Black, J. Carr, Schammer, Bell, Parker, M. Carr, Sandilands
|-
| [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]]
| colspan="3"|Miller, Carroll, Brown, Green, McLean, Ward, Johnstone
|-
! colspan="2"|Reports:
| colspan="3"|—
|-
! colspan="2"|Injuries:
| colspan="3"|'''Fremantle:''' McPharlin (ankle)
|-
|}

== Week Three ==
=== First Preliminary Final (Sydney vs. Fremantle)===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:65%; margin:1em auto;"
|-
! colspan="5"|[[Sydney Swans]] vs [[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle Dockers]]
|-
! colspan="5"|
|-
!width=25%| Team
!width=10%| Q1
!width=10%| Q2
!width=10%| Q3
!width=10%| Final
|-
|[[Sydney Swans]]
|3.6 (24)
|8.7 (55)
|14.8 (92)
|19.13 (127)
|-
|[[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle Dockers]]
|3.2 (20)
|6.2 (38)
|11.6 (72)
|14.8 (92)
|-
! colspan="5"|
|-
! colspan="2"|Venue:
| colspan="3"|[[Telstra Stadium]], [[Sydney]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Date and time:
| colspan="3"|22 September 2006 – 8:00PM [[AEST]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Attendance:
| colspan="3"|61,373
|-
! colspan="2"|Umpires:
| colspan="3"|[[Michael Vozzo|Vozzo]], [[Stephen McBurney|McBurney]], [[Brett Allen (umpire)|Allen]]
|-
! rowspan="2"|Goal scorers:
| [[Sydney Swans|Sydney]]
| colspan="3"|'''6:''' Hall<br />'''4:''' O'Keefe, O'Loughlin<br />'''2:''' Bolton<br />'''1:''' Davis, Dempster, Goodes
|-
| [[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle]]
| colspan="3"|'''4:''' Pavlich 4<br />'''3:''' Bell<br />'''2:''' Cook, Crowley<br />'''1:''' Farmer, Murphy, Peake
|-
! rowspan="2"|Best:
| [[Sydney Swans|Sydney]]
| colspan="3"|Hall, Kirk, O'Keefe, O'Loughlin, C. Bolton, J. Bolton, Goodes
|-
| [[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle]]
| colspan="3"|Pavlich, Bell, J. Carr, Crowley, Hayden, Sandilands
|-
! colspan="2"|Reports:
| colspan="3"|'''Fremantle:''' Jeff Farmer (Fre) for striking Craig Bolton (Syd), reprimand with 95.85 carryover points; Justin Longmuir (Fre) for striking Barry Hall (Syd), reprimand with 42.18 carryover points.
|-
! colspan="2"|Injuries:
| colspan="3"|'''Fremantle:''' Farmer (leg), M.Carr (knee)
|-
|}

=== Second Preliminary Final (Adelaide vs. West Coast)===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:65%; margin:1em auto;"
|-
! colspan="5"|{{AFL Ade}} vs {{AFL WC}}
|-
! colspan="5"|
|-
!width=25%| Team
!width=10%| Q1
!width=10%| Q2
!width=10%| Q3
!width=10%| Final
|-
|{{AFL Ade}}
|3.3 (21)
|6.5 (41)
|8.8 (56)
|11.9 (75)
|-
|{{AFL WC}}
|0.4 (4)
|2.7 (19)
|6.12 (48)
|11.19 (85)
|-
! colspan="5"|
|-
! colspan="2"|Venue:
| colspan="3"|[[AAMI Stadium]], [[Adelaide]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Date and time:
| colspan="3"|23 September 2006 – 3:00PM [[Time in Australia|ACST]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Attendance:
| colspan="3"|50,514
|-
! colspan="2"|Umpires:
| colspan="3"|[[Martin Ellis (umpire)|Ellis]], [[Shaun Ryan|Ryan]], [[Darren Goldspink|Goldspink]]
|-
! rowspan="2"|Goal scorers:
| [[Adelaide Crows|Adelaide]]
| colspan="3"|'''3:''' Bock<br />'''2:''' Bode, Burton<br />'''1:''' Edwards, Welsh, Clarke, McLeod
|-
| [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]]
| colspan="3"|'''4:''' Hunter<br />'''2:''' Embley<br />'''1:''' Lynch, Kerr, Cousins, Butler, Hansen
|-
! rowspan="2"|Best:
| [[Adelaide Crows|Adelaide]]
| colspan="3"|Johncock, Goodwin, McLeod, Edwards, Reilly, Burton, Thompson
|-
| [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]]
| colspan="3"|Cox, Judd, Cousins, Embley, Hunter, Butler, Kerr
|-
! colspan="2"|Reports:
| colspan="3"|—
|-
! colspan="2"|Injuries:
| colspan="3"|'''Adelaide:''' Biglands (knee)
|-
|}

== Week Four ==
{{main|2006 AFL Grand Final}}

=== Grand Final (Sydney vs. West Coast) ===
 {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan="5"|{{AFL Syd}} vs {{AFL WC}}
|-
!Team
! Q1
! Q2
! Q3
! Final
|-
|{{AFL Syd}}
|1.4 (10)
|4.6 (30)
|8.11 (59)
|12.12 (84)
|-
|{{AFL WC}}
|4.2 (26)
|8.7 (55)
|10.10 (70)
|12.13 (85)
|-
! colspan="5"|
|-
! colspan="2"|Venue:
| colspan="3"|[[Melbourne Cricket Ground]], [[Melbourne]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Date:
| colspan="3"|30 September 2006 – 2:30PM [[AEST]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Attendance:
| colspan="3"|97,431
|-
! colspan="2"|Umpires:
| colspan="3"|[[Michael Vozzo|Vozzo]], [[Brett Allen (umpire)|Allen]], [[Darren Goldspink|Goldspink]]
|-
! rowspan="2"|Goal scorers:
| [[Sydney Swans|Sydney]]
| colspan="3"|'''3:''' O'Loughlin, Davis<br />'''1:''' Mathews, Roberts-Thomson, Goodes, Schneider, O'Keefe, Malceski
|-
| [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]]
| colspan="3"|'''3:''' Lynch<br />'''2:''' Embley, Hansen, Cousins<br />'''1:''' Judd, Armstrong, Hunter
|-
! rowspan="2"|Best:
| [[Sydney Swans|Sydney]]
| colspan="3"|Fosdike, Richards, Kennelly, O'Loughlin, McVeigh, Kirk, Goodes
|-
| [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]]
| colspan="3"|Embley, Chick, Judd, Glass, Lynch, Selwood, Braun, Cox, Cousins, Kerr
|-
! colspan="2"|Reports:
| colspan="3"|—
|-
! colspan="2"|Injuries:
| colspan="3"|'''Sydney:''' Ablett (shoulder)
|-
! colspan="5"|
|-
! colspan="2"|Coin toss winner: 	
| colspan="3"|West Coast Eagles
|-
! colspan="2"|[[Norm Smith Medal]]:
| colspan="3"|[[Andrew Embley]]
|-
! colspan="2"|Australian television broadcaster:
| colspan="3"|[[Network Ten]]
|-
! colspan="2"|[[Advance Australia Fair|National Anthem]]:
| colspan="3"|[[Brian Mannix]], [[John Paul Young]], [[Daryl Braithwaite]] and [[Goanna (band)|Shane Howard]]
|-
|}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
===Week One===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
<div style="font-size: 85%">
* {{cite news
  | last = Burgan
  | first = Matt
  | title = Demons chase down Saints
  | publisher = afl.com.au (official AFL website)
  | date = 8 September 2006
  | url = http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=296393
  | accessdate = 10 September 2006
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060509164408/http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news
  | archive-date = 9 May 2006
  | url-status = dead
  | df = dmy-all
  }}

* {{cite news
  | last = Phelan
  | first = Jason
  | title = Crows overrun Dockers
  | publisher = afl.com.au (official AFL website)
  | date = 9 September 2006
  | url = http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=296491
  | accessdate = 10 September 2006
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060509164408/http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news
  | archive-date = 9 May 2006
  | url-status = dead
  | df = dmy-all
  }}
</div>
{{col-2}}
<div style="font-size: 85%">
* {{cite news
  | last = Paul
  | first = Gough
  | title = Super Swans by one point
  | publisher = afl.com.au (official AFL website)
  | date = 9 September 2006
  | url = http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=296517
  | accessdate = 10 September 2006
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060509164408/http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news
  | archive-date = 9 May 2006
  | url-status = dead
  | df = dmy-all
  }}

* {{cite news
  | last = Burgan
  | first = Matt
  | title = Dogs make a mess of Pies
  | publisher = afl.com.au (official AFL website)
  | date = 10 September 2006
  | url = http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=296599
  | accessdate = 10 September 2006
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060509164408/http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news
  | archive-date = 9 May 2006
  | url-status = dead
  | df = dmy-all
  }}
</div>
{{col-end}}

===Week Two===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
<div style="font-size: 85%">
* {{cite news
  | last = Gough
  | first = Paul
  | title = Freo's finals breakthrough
  | publisher = afl.com.au (official AFL website)
  | date = 15 September 2006
  | url = http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=298178
  | accessdate = 15 September 2006
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060509164408/http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news
  | archive-date = 9 May 2006
  | url-status = dead
  | df = dmy-all
  }}
</div>
{{col-2}}
<div style="font-size: 85%">
* {{cite news
  | last = Gough
  | first = Paul
  | title = Eagles back to their best
  | publisher = afl.com.au (official AFL website)
  | date = 16 September 2006
  | url = http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=298264
  | accessdate = 16 September 2006
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060509164408/http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news
  | archive-date = 9 May 2006
  | url-status = dead
  | df = dmy-all
  }}
</div>
{{col-end}}

===Week Three===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
<div style="font-size: 85%">
* {{cite news
  | last = Gough
  | first = Paul
  | title = Swans earn right to defend
  | publisher = afl.com.au (official AFL website)
  | date = 22 September 2006
  | url = http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=299545
  | accessdate = 23 September 2006
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060509164408/http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news
  | archive-date = 9 May 2006
  | url-status = dead
  | df = dmy-all
  }}

</div>
{{col-2}}
<div style="font-size: 85%">
* {{cite news
  | last = Shiell
  | first = Alan
  | title = Eagles surge to victory
  | publisher = afl.com.au (official AFL website)
  | date = 23 September 2006
  | url = http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=299636
  | accessdate = 23 September 2006
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060509164408/http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news
  | archive-date = 9 May 2006
  | url-status = dead
  | df = dmy-all
  }}

</div>
{{col-end}}

==External links==
* [http://www.afl.com.au AFL official website]
* [http://realfooty.theage.com.au RealFooty by The Age (Melbourne) Online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725045941/http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/ |date=25 July 2008 }}
* [http://www.sportsaustralia.com SportsAustralia (news and views)]

{{2006 AFL season}}
{{AFL finals series}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2006 Afl Finals Series}}
[[Category:2006 Australian Football League season|Finals Series]]