There will be no second chances when the AFL Semi Finals explode into action on Seven this weekend, with fans set to enjoy a mouth-watering contest between defending premier Richmond and an in-form St Kilda on Friday night, before two of the game’s biggest rivals Geelong and Collingwood square off in a high-stakes grudge match on Saturday night.
The 2020 finals series got off to a spectacular start with Seven’s broadcast reaching 5.2 million viewers in week one, while the average metro audience (868,000) was up 24 per cent year on year. The four finals were decided by an average margin of less than nine points a game – and with this weekend’s matches poised to be just as thrilling, the 2020 finals are on track to be the biggest ever.
On Friday night, Richmond will look to superstars Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and Dylan Grimes to keep its premiership defence alive when it takes on St Kilda at Metricon Stadium, with Seven’s LIVE and FREE coverage starting at 7.00pm AEDT on Channel 7 and 7mate.
The Saints are riding high, however, after notching their first finals win in 10 years last Saturday against the Western Bulldogs and, with the likes of Jack Steele, Jack Billings and Bradley Hill, they have more than enough star power to send the Tigers packing.
The atmosphere at the Gabba on Saturday night will be electric as AFL powerhouses Geelong and Collingwood continue their storied rivalry from 7.00pm AEDT on Channel 7 and 7mate. The Cats will be desperate to avoid a straight-sets finals exit, but the Magpies believe they can go all the way after their shock one-point elimination final win over West Coast.
And some of the game’s biggest superstars are set to collide with Cats Patrick Dangerfield, Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins in one corner, and Pies Scott Pendlebury, Brodie Grundy, Jordan De Goey and Darcy Moore in the other.
Semi Finals week will get off to early start when everyone’s favourite footy show The Front Bar returns to Thursday night, when Port Adelaide premiership coach Mark Williams will join Mick Molloy, Sam Pang and Andy Maher to celebrate football’s lighter side at 8.30pm AEDT on Channel 7 and 7plus.
Managing Director Seven Melbourne and Head of Network Sport Lewis Martin commented:
“The finals could not have got off to a better start last week, and this weekend’s cut-throat match-ups look just as good – if not better – on paper. On Friday night we’ve got the defending premier Richmond striving to keep its season alive against one of the AFL’s most exciting rising contenders, St Kilda. And Saturday night’s Geelong-Collingwood blockbuster looms as the biggest game of the year to date if their epic finals battles of recent times are any guide. It’s shaping up as the most thrilling finals series ever – and the only place to catch all the action LIVE and FREE is Seven.”
Post-match on Friday night, Adam Cooney and Cam Luke will settle in on the Armchair Experts sofa, offering viewers their unique take on the big match between the Tigers and Saints, while looking ahead to the latest instalment of the fierce Cats-Pies rivalry.
TV Broadcast times on Seven:
AFL 2020 – Finals
Thursday October 8
The Front Bar
Sydney 11.30pm on Channel 7
Melbourne 8.30pm on Channel 7
Brisbane 11.30pm on Channel 7
Adelaide 8.30pm on Channel 7
Perth 8.30pm on Channel 7
Friday October 9
2nd Semi Final
Richmond v St Kilda, Metricon Stadium
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Armchair Experts
Sydney 11.00pm on 7mate
Melbourne 11.00pm on Channel 7
Brisbane 10.00pm on 7mate
Adelaide 10.30pm on Channel 7
Perth 11.00pm on 7mate
Saturday October 10
1st Semi Final
Geelong v Collingwood, Gabba
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate