The top four teams of the regular season meet in matches as shown. In theory the winner of this series would be the champion of the season but in an interesting compromise between the Australian tradition of a finals series and the worldwide footballing tradition of crowning the table toppers champions a series was held but not for the title.

West Adelaide v Eastern Suburbs  -----winner-------------------___Grand Final
                               \____loser_______              /
                                                \___winner___/
                                                 /
South Melbourne v Marconi-Fairfield _____winner_/

Grand Final Match Played (17/09/1978) Sydney Sports Ground Referee : Don Campbell, Crowd : 9136
Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Todd Clarke, Kevin Mullen, Ian Souness (Alan Kershaw 85), Steve O’Connor, Mark Trenter, John Stevenson, Murray Barnes, Ernie Campbell, Joe Watson, Terry Smith, Hilton Silva Goals : Smith 25, Watson 38, Trenter 41, Campbell 44 Coach : Gerry Chaldi	4	-	2	Marconi-Fairfield Alan Maher, Paul Degney, John Russell, Ivo Prskalo, Stuart Selvage (Peter Brogan 59), Jim Rooney, Roberto Vieri, Mark Jankovics, Peter Sharne, Peter Ollerton, Bertie Mariani Goals : Ollerton 23, Vieri 60 Coach : Rale Rasic
Preliminary Final, loser eliminated, winner into Grand Final Played (10/09/1978) Marconi Oval Referee : Chris Bambridge, Crowd : 6885
Marconi-Fairfield Alan Maher, Barry Jones (Peter Brogan 46), Mike Berry, John Russell, Ivo Prskalo, Stuart Selvage, Jim Rooney, Roberto Vieri, Bertie Mariani, Peter Ollerton, Peter Sharne Goals : Mariani 61, Sharne 81 Coach : Rale Rasic	2	-	0	West Adelaide Martyn Crook, Barry Reynolds, David Jones, Con Kambas, Vic Bozanic, Peter Boyle, Peter Tymczyszyn, Neil McGachey, Graham Honeyman, Ian McGregor, Dave Pillans Coach : Jim Adam
Major Semi-Final, loser into Preliminary Final, winner into Grand Final Played (3/09/1978) Hindmarsh Stadium Referee : Tony Beazleigh, Crowd : 4800
West Adelaide Martyn Crook, Barry Reynolds, Vic Bozanic, Peter Tymczyszyn, David Jones, Con Kambas, Graham Honeyman, Graham Norris (sent off 105), Alex Zervas (Nick Pantelis 64), George Koulianos (Unknown Anderson 99), Peter Boyle Goals : Koulianos 12, Reynolds 14 Coach : Jim Adam	2aet	-	3aet	Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Todd Clarke, Kevin Mullen, Eddie Thomson, Steve O’Connor, Henry Mowbray (Ernie Campbell 109), John Stevenson, Joe Watson, Ian Souness, Murray Barnes (Mark Trenter 80), Terry Smith, Hilton Silva Goals : Souness 20, Barnes 53, Campbell 117 Coach : Gerry Chaldi
Minor Semi-Final, loser eliminated, winner into Preliminary Final Played (3/09/1978) Middle Park Referee : Graham Neal, Crowd : 6200
South Melbourne Jack Reilly, Kris Kalifatidis, Stuart Baxter, Frank Munro, Margaritis Hagegmanouil (Chris Kent 18), Bertie Lutton, George Christopoulos, Sammy Wright, Billy Rogers, Duncan Cummings, Alun Evans Goals : Cummings 41, Evans 55 Coach : Dave MacLaren	2	-	3	Marconi-Fairfield Alan Maher, Barry Jones, John Russell, Ivo Prskalo, Paul Degney, Stuart Selvage, Roberto Vieri, Jim Rooney, Bertie Mariani, Peter Ollerton, Peter Sharne Goals : Jones 1, Sharne 8, Ollerton 44 Coach : Rale Rasic