Sydney's AFL home semi-final against Geelong on Friday night has been switched from Telstra Stadium to the smaller-capacity SCG following a booking clash with rugby league.

NRL team Wests Tigers finished fourth overall on the ladder, ensuring it would host fifth-placed North Queensland at Telstra Stadium in a qualifying final on Friday night.

That set up a direct clash with the Swans who were also locked in to host their semi-final against the Cats at the 80,000-capacity venue on the same night.

After the AFL blocked a move by Telstra Stadium to move the Swans' match to Saturday night, the venue management agreed to give the AFL "a release from its contractual obligation" allowing the game to go to the 43,386 capacity SCG.

"The results on the footy field produced a set of circumstances that caused an intractable fixture clash," Telstra Stadium CEO Ken Edwards said.

"Just like players, coaches and fans we have to accept the sporting outcome."

Edwards said the lack of flexibility in the McIntyre finals system used by the NRL and AFL's requirement for a Friday night final in Sydney created the fixture clash.

"Our desire was to host the two big games back to back on Friday and Saturday night, giving sports fans a wonderful weekend of finals footy," he said.

"Changing the order of the finals under the McIntyre system would undermine the integrity of the NRL finals.

"To keep faith with the players and coaches who have worked so hard for 26 rounds and out of respect to the fans who follow their fortunes, Telstra Stadium was loathe to go down this path.

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