Seven’s AFL finals coverage topped Thursday’s TV Ratings, with the opening qualifying final between Fremantle and Hawthorn delivering the biggest audience of the night as the 2026 finals series kicked into gear.
The clash at Optus Stadium saw Hawthorn pull off one of the season’s biggest upsets, dismantling minor premiers Fremantle 72-40 to book a home preliminary final. The 32-point result was particularly brutal for the Dockers, who suffered their first home defeat of the season and were held to their lowest score of 2026. It had a Total TV National Reach of 2,549,ooo and a Total TV National Average Audience of 1,088,000.
Hawthorn’s victory was more than just a ratings-friendly finals upset. The Dockers now face a sudden-death semi-final to keep their premiership hopes alive.
Nine meanwhile had plenty of skin in the game, with Tipping Point Australia proving the strongest non-sport entertainment offering. The quiz show recorded a national reach of 1,448,000 and an average audience of 774,000, continuing the format’s consistent run.
The network’s NRL coverage also cracked the top ten, with Thursday Night NRL Live boasting a national reach of 1,436,000 and an average audience of 596,000.
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ season ended at Accor Stadium with a 34-20 loss to Brisbane, although both their finals hopes had already evaporated before kick-off. Not only did it end their season but the loss also marked the final game for four of its players as they plan moves to rival clubs. It also marked Payne Haas’ last game for the Broncos as he moves to the South Sydney Rabbitohs for the 2027 season.
Seven’s The Chase Australia came in eighth with a national reach of 1,223,000 and an average audience of 592,000.
ABC’s Hard Quiz which featured trivia on mountain gorillas, How I Met Your Mother, Edith Head and the general theory of relativity pulled in a national reach of 713,000 and an average audience of 435,000 to round out the tip fifteen.
