Following an action-packed opening to the 2023 VFL Finals Series, the second week of finals football for the second-tier competition has been locked in.
Qualifying Final wins for Gold Coast and Werribee over respective opponents Brisbane and Box Hill have seen the league's two highest-finishing sides advance to the penultimate weekend of the season and enjoy another break ahead of the summit.
The pair of results have forced both the Lions and Hawks to take the long route to the grand final, with Box Hill now set to host Victorian rivals Footscray this Saturday after the Bulldogs were able to chalk up a convincing win over the Casey Demons to the tune of 79 points.
That win, coupled with the Hawks' loss to the Tigers, will mean both clubs will do battle at Box Hill City Oval for the first game of the semi-final weekend. The winner of that clash will face minor premiers the Gold Coast Suns at Carrara the week after.
The other semi-final will take place at Brisbane's home venue, Brighton Homes Arena, in Springfield, Queensland later the same day.
After handling Collingwood with some ease at DSV Stadium over the weekend, the Seagulls will head north to take on the fourth-ranked Lions and look to keep their season alive as one of just two remaining standalone sides.
That encounter will take place at 1:15pm (AEST) - less than two hours after the earlier game commences at Middleborough Road - with the winner to face Werribee in week three of the finals.
A win for Brisbane would mean the chance of the VFL Grand Final being hosted in Queensland remains live, with both the Lions and Suns needing to settle a spot in the season decide each for the final match to be played away from Ikon Park.
VFL Week Two Finals
Second Semi Final:
Box Hill Hawks (3rd) vs. Footscray Bulldogs (6th)
Saturday, September 9
Box Hill City Oval, 11:30am (AEST)
First Semi Final:
Brisbane Lions (4th) vs. Williamstown (5th)
Saturday, September 9
Brighton Homes Arena, 1:15pm (AEST)
