MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Hawthorn plays Sydney to open the Australian Football League playoffs on Friday while second-place Geelong takes on Fremantle with a chance to also advance straight to the semifinals with a victory.
The Hawthorn-Sydney loser will get a second chance, playing the winner of the elimination match between Richmond and Carlton, who play Sunday.
The loser of the Geelong-Fremantle match Saturday will play the winner of Saturday's other elimination match between Collingwood and Port Adelaide.
The winner of the Hawthorn-Sydney and Geelong-Fremantle qualifying finals advance direct to the Sept. 20 or 21 semifinals.
The AFL's grand final, scheduled for Sept. 28, usually attracts about 100,000 spectators to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.