The AFL 2026 Preliminary Final will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Saturday, September 19, kicking off at 5:15pm AEST (local time in Melbourne). This time corresponds to 12:15am PT (Pacific Time) in the United States, 3:15am ET (Eastern Time) in the U.S., and 8:15am BST (British Summer Time) in the United Kingdom. The game will pit Hawthorn, who last reached the Grand Final in 2015, against Brisbane, the reigning back-to-back premiers. This matchup follows a regular-season victory by Hawthorn over the minor premiers but also highlights their recent struggles, having lost their last three matches against Brisbane. Brisbane has shown strong performance in September matches, including two consecutive wins at the MCG in previous seasons, which has helped them secure their recent premierships. For Hawthorn, there is uncertainty regarding the availability of Noah Answerth, who suffered an ankle injury in a prior match. If Answerth remains unavailable, he may be replaced by either Ryan Lester or Darcy Wilmot, both of whom are expected to step in. In Australia, the match can be viewed on free-to-air Channel 7 and streamed via the 7Plus platform. For international viewers, a virtual private network (VPN) can be used to access the stream as if they were in Australia. NordVPN is one recommended service, currently offering discounts through promotions. In the United States, the game will air on FS1. Those without the channel can access it through streaming services like Fubo, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV, all of which provide free trials for new users. In the United Kingdom, the match will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports 3, which can be added to Sky, Virgin Media, or EE TV packages, or accessed through HBO Max subscriptions starting at £25.99 per month for a yearly plan. In Canada, the game will be shown on TSN2, with a streaming option available through TSN Plus for CA$24.99 per month. Mobile users can watch the match through streaming apps or directly via their phone’s browser, as most broadcasters offer mobile-friendly platforms. For example, 7Plus has a dedicated app for viewing content on mobile devices, making it easier for fans to follow the game on the go.