The phrase “preliminary final” means a playoff match that decides who reaches the ultimate final, but is not the final itself. In everyday English, it’s literally a “before-the-final final” – a decisive but second‑last step.

Quick meaning

  • “Preliminary” = early, preparatory, not yet the last word.
  • “Final” (in sports) = a knockout match in a finals series or tournament.
  • Put together, “preliminary final” = the high‑stakes game just before the grand final or championship game, usually deciding who qualifies for it.

In leagues like the AFL and NRL, the preliminary finals are played in week three of the finals series, and the winners go on to the grand final.

Where you’ll see it

You’ll most often see “preliminary final” in:

  • Australian rules football (AFL) – 1st and 2nd preliminary finals are the games whose winners advance to the grand final.
  • Rugby league (NRL) – similar structure: week‑three preliminary finals decide the grand final teams.
  • Some other competitions or bylaws may use it to mean a second‑round or penultimate final in a finals series.

A simple way to remember it:

Grand final = for the trophy.
Preliminary final = for the right to play for the trophy.

TL;DR: If you hear “preliminary final,” think “semi‑final that sends the winner into the grand final,” not the actual championship game.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.