<h2>Gold Coast’s Do-or-die Night in AFL Finals Race - Quick Hands Summary:&nbsp;</h2> <p>-Gold Coast Suns must defeat Essendon on Wednesday night to make their inaugural AFL finals appearance after failing to defeat Port Adelaide on Friday night.</p> <p>-Fremantle secured its finals berth with a commanding 25-point victory over the Western Bulldogs on Sunday</p> <p>-Brisbane Lions claimed the final top-four position by beating Hawthorn, setting up qualifying finals matchups</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The AFL finals race reaches its climax this Wednesday night when Gold Coast faces Essendon at People First Stadium, with their place in a first-ever finals series hanging in the balance.</p> <p>After missing a chance to lock in finals footy and potentially push for a top-four spot when they lost to Port Adelaide, the Suns must now beat Essendon to play finals football for the first time in club history.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Wednesday Night Showdown Decides Final Spot</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>All eyes turn to People First Stadium on Wednesday night, where Gold Coast's clash with Essendon will determine the last finals berth. The Suns' shock four-point loss to Port Adelaide on Friday night cost them a potential top-four finish and left their finals hopes in jeopardy.</p> <p>The Gold Coast needs a victory by any margin over the struggling Bombers to secure its maiden AFL finals appearance. However, the margin of victory will determine their final ladder position - they require a five-goal win to leapfrog Hawthorn on percentage and claim seventh position.</p> <p>Should the Suns prevail, they'll face either Fremantle or GWS Giants in an elimination final. A loss would complete one of the season's biggest collapses and hand Western Bulldogs an unlikely finals berth.</p> <p>The elimination finals picture shows GWS hosting either Hawthorn or the Western Bulldogs (if Gold Coast loses), while Fremantle will welcome either the Suns or Hawks to Optus Stadium. Wednesday night's result will finalise these matchups and complete the most dramatic finals race in recent memory.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Finals Picture Nearly Complete</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The 2025 AFL finals series is almost set, with just one match remaining to determine the final composition of the top eight and the configurations of the two Elimination Finals.</p> <p>Fremantle's impressive second-quarter surge against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon secured their place in September, leaving the Bulldogs' season hanging by a thread.</p> <p>The Dockers' 25-point victory was built on a devastating seven-goal second quarter that stunned the favourites and booked their ticket to finals football for the second time under coach Justin Longmuir. This result means Western Bulldogs now face an agonising wait, needing Gold Coast to lose to Essendon on Wednesday night to sneak into eighth position.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Top Four Finalised After Sunday Drama</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Brisbane Lions sealed their place in the top four with a crucial 10-point victory over Hawthorn on Sunday night, creating the final piece of the qualifying finals puzzle. The Lions' win pushed them into third position and condemned the Hawks to an elimination final, regardless of Wednesday's outcome.</p> <p>Adelaide Crows claimed the minor premiership with an 18-5 record, completing the greatest year-to-year improvement in AFL history after finishing 15th in 2024. Geelong secured second position, while Collingwood rounded out the top four following their narrow six-point victory over Melbourne on Friday night.</p> <p>The qualifying finals are now set: Adelaide will host Collingwood at Adelaide Oval, while Geelong faces Brisbane at the MCG in what promises to be blockbuster matchups.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Will the Gold Coast Suns make the 2025 AFL Finals?</h2>