Your guide to 2024's footy finals

Katie Cunningham | Presented by Accor

Finals are fast approaching, bringing with them the thrills, excitement, and show-stopping moments footy fans have been holding out all season long for.

In 2024, the AFL is set to hold its Grand Final on September 28 in Melbourne, while the NRL stages its Grand Final on October 6 in Sydney.

But it's not just the final showdowns worth attending – there's a whole fixture in the lead up, with games played across the country. And seasoned footy heads know that the semi-finals and prelims can pack just as many magic moments.

Whichever your code, one thing is certain: you've got to get to at least one of the games this season to experience the atmosphere live. Picture bearing witness to another iconic moment in sporting history, like the 2010 AFL Grand Final draw between Collingwood and St Kilda – or the 2015 NRL Grand Final where North Queensland Cowboys clinched victory in the final seconds against Brisbane Broncos.

Best of all, ALL.com – the official accommodation partner of both the AFL and NRL – ensures you're close to all the action.

Hit the early rounds

With seasons well underway, there's no time like the present to start hitting the stands. The NRL has announced its fixtures through until September, so it's just a matter of selecting which games you want to go to and securing the tickets – which is always an easier undertaking in the earlier rounds.

While there's plenty of action to see, one match on your radar should be when reigning champions, the Penrith Panthers play on home soil at BlueBet Stadium on September 7. Here, they'll face off against the Gold Coast Titans. If you're lucky, you might just witness a performance as electrifying as their 2021 Grand Final victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

To save yourself driving an hour back from Penrith into the city after the match, make it a staycation – the Pullman Sydney Penrith is right across the road.

Planning ahead for the AFL is a little trickier. Individual clubs have announced some early fixture matches but later dates are still TBC, so keep an eye out.

Do the prelims and semi-finals

For both the NRL and AFL, the qualifying finals get underway in early September. The AFL has slated its qualifying and elimination finals for September 5-8, before the semi-finals on September 13 and 14, and finally the prelims on September 20 and 21. It's similar dates for the NRL, whose semi-finals start September 20.

The semis and prelims are a great way to experience show-stopping moments live in-person. Recall the AFL Preliminary Final in 2016 when the Western Bulldogs broke their 55-year Grand Final drought – or the 2019 NRL Preliminary Final where the Raiders defeated the Rabbitohs to reach their first Grand Final in 25 years.

You'll have to wait to see who qualifies to find out where the games are happening – but the MCG is, of course, a given for the AFL. If you plan on hitting a September final, it's never too early to start thinking about accommodation, as it can book up fast. For an unbeatable option, look at Pullman Melbourne on The Park – it puts you within strolling distance of the stadium.

And staying at the Pullman offers other perks. Join ALL — Accor's Lifestyle Loyalty Programme and you'll accrue points every time you stay at an Accor property, which can be redeemed to access AFL and NRL tickets.

Go for the Grand Finals

The AFL Grand Final is slated for September 28 at Melbourne's MCG, while the NRL holds its Grand Final on October 6 at Accor Stadium in Sydney.

To get in on the action for either code, you'll have to keep an eye out for when tickets go on sale. Tickets to the AFL are available from the week before, and you'll need to be a member of a qualifying club for the best chance of snagging some seats.  

Tickets to the NRL Grand Final go on sale in stages, with NRL club members getting first dibs, before further tickets become available to the general public through Ticketek.

If you plan on being there for the NRL showdown, now's the time to start looking at accommodation to avoid the dreaded commute back to the city after the game. The ibis Sydney Olympic Park, Novotel Sydney Olympic Park and Pullman Sydney Olympic Park are all a short walk from the stadium. 

Being in the stands of a Grand Final is as good as it gets. Just picture the roar of the crowd during the 2018 AFL Grand Final when West Coast Eagles edged out Collingwood, or the sheer excitement of the 2016 NRL Grand Final where Cronulla Sharks clinched their first-ever premiership.

So why not get in on the action and tick it off your bucket list in 2024?

Find your perfect stay. Book now on ALL.com