Home-and-away season
edit
Round 1
Thursday, 27 March (7:40 pm)
North Melbourne 7.13 (55)
def. by
Melbourne 10.10 (70)
MCG (crowd: 35,802)
Report
Saturday, 29 March (2:10 pm)
Collingwood 26.10 (166)
def.
Port Adelaide 13.9 (87)
MCG (crowd: 51,883)
Report
Saturday, 29 March (2:10 pm)
Western Bulldogs 11.10 (76)
def. by
Fremantle 10.20 (80)
Optus Oval (crowd: 8,664)
Report
Saturday, 29 March (7:40 pm)
St Kilda 10.11 (71)
def. by
Hawthorn 11.11 (77)
Waverley Park (crowd: 35,732)
Report
Saturday, 29 March (6:40 pm)
West Coast 12.6 (78)
def.
Sydney 5.7 (37)
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 29,965)
Report
Sunday, 30 March (1:40 pm)
Adelaide 20.12 (132)
def.
Brisbane Lions 14.12 (96)
Football Park (crowd: 36,602)
Report
Sunday, 30 March (2:10 pm)
Richmond 15.14 (104)
def.
Geelong 13.17 (95)
MCG (crowd: 48,358)
Report
Monday, 31 March (2:10 pm)
Essendon 16.10 (106)
def.
Carlton 15.9 (99)
MCG (crowd: 82,363)
Report
Port Adelaide endured a disappointing AFL debut at the MCG in front of over 50,000 spectators, with Collingwood jumping out to a 22-point lead at quarter time and extending the lead at each change to run out comfortable 79-point winners. Speedy midfielder Paul Williams was considered best-on-ground with 30 touches and 4 goals, while Nathan Buckley (who won a Magarey with Port in the SANFL) racked up 23 kicks and Saverio Rocca made the most of limited opportunities to kick six goals. For Port, Donald Dickie (26 touches), Fabian Francis (20 touches, 2 goals) and eventual Rising Star winner Michael Wilson were among Port's better players.
The Easter Monday clash between Essendon and Carlton is best remembered not for its close finish but for what happened after the game. The ongoing feud between Sean Denham and Greg Williams (which had stemmed from the 1993 Grand final) had reached a critical point, with both players engaged in a heated argument before umpire Andrew Coates tried to intervene, only to be pushed away by Williams. Despite the innocuous nature of the contact, the AFL Tribunal suspended Williams for nine matches.[ 1] The incident was one of football's major talking points that year, leading to a Supreme Court battle between Carlton and the AFL, and eventually the establishment of the AFL Appeals Board .
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Melbourne
7.14 (56)
Collingwood
24.19 (163)
MCG
61,138
Friday 4, April
Richmond
19.14 (128)
Adelaide
15.10 (100)
MCG
32,880
Saturday 5, April
Geelong
11.12 (78)
West Coast
11.6 (72)
Kardinia Park
17,988
Saturday 5, April
Western Bulldogs
13.12 (90)
Sydney
12.11 (83)
Princes Park
12,604
Saturday 5, April
Brisbane Lions
23.16 (154)
St Kilda
7.15 (57)
Gabba
17,123
Sunday 6, April
Port Adelaide
8.12 (60)
Essendon
14.9 (93)
Football Park
32,747
Sunday 6, April
Fremantle
13.9 (87)
Hawthorn
10.13 (73)
Subiaco Oval
19,057
Sunday 6, April
North Melbourne
12.14 (86)
Carlton
8.12 (60)
MCG
38,170
Monday 7, April
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Sydney
15.9 (99)
Melbourne
14.7 (91)
SCG
23,598
Friday 11, April
Western Bulldogs
16.9 (105)
Richmond
12.14 (86)
MCG
35,438
Saturday 12, April
St Kilda
19.11 (125)
Collingwood
17.16 (118)
Waverley Park
54,699
Saturday 12, April
Port Adelaide
18.21 (129)
Geelong
14.6 (90)
Football Park
32,074
Saturday 12, April
Essendon
18.14 (122)
North Melbourne
12.8 (80)
MCG
57,978
Sunday 13, April
Carlton
15.18 (108)
Adelaide
12.8 (80)
Princes Park
25,966
Sunday 13, April
Hawthorn
12.15 (87)
Brisbane Lions
11.9 (75)
Waverley Park
27,947
Sunday 13, April
West Coast
16.15 (111)
Fremantle
9.17 (71)
Subiaco Oval
39,294
Sunday 13, April
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Melbourne
13.9 (87)
Western Bulldogs
13.11 (89)
MCG
28,043
Friday 18, April
Collingwood
12.12 (84)
Carlton
15.11 (101)
MCG
78,704
Saturday 19, April
Richmond
10.12 (72)
Fremantle
10.7 (67)
Princes Park
15,461
Saturday 19, April
West Coast
17.10 (112)
Hawthorn
13.10 (88)
Subiaco Oval
38,222
Saturday 19, April
St Kilda
12.9 (81)
Sydney
18.19 (127)
Waverley Park
35,061
Saturday 19, April
Brisbane Lions
15.19 (109)
North Melbourne
12.11 (83)
Gabba
18,575
Sunday 20, April
Adelaide
11.6 (72)
Port Adelaide
11.17 (83)
Football Park
47,256
Sunday 20, April
Geelong
11.19 (85)
Essendon
11.12 (78)
MCG
54,922
Sunday 20, April
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Essendon
10.10 (70)
Collingwood
14.15 (99)
MCG
83,271
Friday 25, April
Fremantle
16.11 (107)
St Kilda
15.11 (101)
Subiaco Oval
23,504
Friday 25, April
Melbourne
12.6 (78)
West Coast
19.12 (126)
MCG
19,655
Saturday 26, April
Western Bulldogs
9.17 (71)
Adelaide
19.7 (121)
Princes Park
12,694
Saturday 26, April
Hawthorn
15.9 (99)
Sydney
11.8 (74)
Waverley Park
37,576
Saturday 26, April
Port Adelaide
10.13 (73)
Brisbane Lions
10.11 (71)
Football Park
31,757
Sunday 27, April
North Melbourne
21.15 (141)
Richmond
7.4 (46)
MCG
44,449
Sunday 27, April
Carlton
12.14 (86)
Geelong
13.16 (94)
Princes Park
25,801
Sunday 27, April
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
West Coast
14.15 (99)
Western Bulldogs
17.11 (113)
WACA
29,838
Friday 2, May
Essendon
15.12 (102)
Brisbane Lions
9.17 (71)
MCG
37,642
Saturday 3, May
Collingwood
13.6 (84)
Adelaide
11.17 (83)
Victoria Park
24,663
Saturday 3, May
Geelong
14.13 (97)
Fremantle
6.7 (43)
Kardinia Park
16,467
Saturday 3, May
Hawthorn
14.9 (93)
North Melbourne
16.7 (103)
Waverley Park
38,953
Saturday 3, May
Sydney
21.16 (142)
Carlton
11.17 (83)
SCG
37,933
Sunday 4, May
St Kilda
17.19 (121)
Melbourne
4.11 (35)
Waverley Park
21,104
Sunday 4, May
Port Adelaide
19.8 (122)
Richmond
8.10 (58)
Football Park
36,090
Sunday 4, May
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
North Melbourne
9.14 (68)
Collingwood
17.9 (111)
MCG
54,901
Friday 9, May
Richmond
10.16 (76)
Carlton
14.14 (98)
MCG
48,833
Saturday 10, May
Western Bulldogs
19.19 (133)
Hawthorn
13.10 (88)
Princes Park
18,860
Saturday 10, May
Geelong
11.10 (76)
Sydney
6.8 (44)
Kardinia Park
22,151
Saturday 10, May
Fremantle
17.22 (124)
Melbourne
10.9 (69)
WACA
18,198
Saturday 10, May
St Kilda
20.6 (126)
Port Adelaide
8.13 (61)
Waverley Park
17,752
Saturday 10, May
Brisbane Lions
8.12 (60)
West Coast
21.13 (139)
Gabba
17,524
Sunday 11, May
Adelaide
18.18 (126)
Essendon
11.7 (73)
Football Park
39,275
Sunday 11, May
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Collingwood
19.15 (129)
Western Bulldogs
11.17 (83)
MCG
61,014
Friday 16, May
Melbourne
7.7 (49)
Geelong
19.14 (128)
MCG
28,989
Saturday 17, May
North Melbourne
19.14 (128)
Port Adelaide
15.10 (100)
Princes Park
13,056
Saturday 17, May
Adelaide
22.12 (144)
Sydney
8.7 (55)
Football Park
40,147
Saturday 17, May
Essendon
14.16 (100)
St Kilda
18.16 (124)
MCG
51,928
Sunday 18, May
Carlton
15.16 (106)
Hawthorn
12.9 (81)
Princes Park
29,783
Sunday 18, May
Fremantle
14.14 (98)
Brisbane Lions
15.3 (93)
Subiaco Oval
14,721
Sunday 18, May
Richmond
18.11 (119)
West Coast
9.13 (67)
MCG
26,721
Monday 19, May
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Port Adelaide
10.18 (78)
Melbourne
3.9 (27)
Football Park
32,958
Friday 23, May
Carlton
16.9 (105)
Fremantle
14.4 (88)
Princes Park
18,187
Saturday 24, May
Hawthorn
13.10 (88)
Adelaide
14.18 (102)
Waverley Park
23,463
Saturday 24, May
Sydney
16.15 (111)
Collingwood
11.8 (74)
SCG
39,780
Saturday 24, May
Brisbane Lions
19.12 (126)
Geelong
15.8 (98)
Gabba
19,828
Sunday 25, May
West Coast
16.14 (110)
Essendon
13.7 (85)
Subiaco Oval
38,984
Sunday 25, May
Western Bulldogs
16.7 (103)
North Melbourne
10.11 (71)
MCG
29,307
Sunday 25, May
St Kilda
22.9 (141)
Richmond
14.10 (94)
Waverley Park
52,257
Sunday 25, May
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Port Adelaide
14.9 (93)
Carlton
7.13 (55)
Football Park
40,116
Friday 30, May
North Melbourne
15.13 (103)
West Coast
9.4 (58)
Princes Park
13,614
Saturday 31, May
Hawthorn
16.12 (108)
Collingwood
8.7 (55)
Waverley Park
51,494
Saturday 31, May
Geelong
16.11 (107)
St Kilda
11.13 (79)
Kardinia Park
22,731
Saturday 31, May
Richmond
9.13 (67)
Melbourne
14.8 (92)
MCG
28,879
Saturday 31, May
Essendon
17.12 (114)
Western Bulldogs
20.16 (136)
MCG
50,138
Sunday 1, June
Brisbane Lions
13.14 (92)
Sydney
13.11 (89)
Gabba
20,403
Sunday 1, June
Fremantle
10.12 (72)
Adelaide
16.9 (105)
Subiaco Oval
22,464
Monday 2, June
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Collingwood
10.11 (71)
Richmond
11.11 (77)
MCG
70,350
Friday 6, June
Essendon
13.13 (91)
Hawthorn
17.22 (124)
MCG
60,594
Saturday 7, June
Western Bulldogs
14.12 (96)
Geelong
11.9 (75)
Princes Park
24,897
Saturday 7, June
Port Adelaide
4.17 (41)
Sydney
10.16 (76)
Football Park
35,669
Saturday 7, June
Melbourne
5.15 (45)
Adelaide
14.13 (97)
MCG
27,463
Sunday 8, June
West Coast
11.7 (73)
St Kilda
13.11 (89)
Subiaco Oval
29,390
Sunday 8, June
North Melbourne
15.15 (105)
Fremantle
12.7 (79)
MCG
20,585
Monday 9, June
Carlton
12.12 (84)
Brisbane Lions
9.9 (63)
Princes Park
27,904
Monday 9, June
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Sydney
26.8 (164)
Richmond
16.14 (110)
SCG
35,033
Friday 13, June
Western Bulldogs
12.10 (82)
Port Adelaide
14.10 (94)
Princes Park
14,025
Saturday 14, June
Collingwood
7.13 (55)
West Coast
11.5 (71)
Victoria Park
25,323
Saturday 14, June
Geelong
12.10 (82)
Hawthorn
13.10 (88)
Kardinia Park
22,871
Saturday 14, June
St Kilda
16.20 (116)
Carlton
12.13 (85)
Waverley Park
44,883
Sunday 15, June
Adelaide
12.11 (83)
North Melbourne
16.9 (105)
Football Park
43,345
Sunday 15, June
Melbourne
7.8 (50)
Brisbane Lions
21.9 (135)
MCG
13,392
Sunday 15, June
Fremantle
24.13 (157)
Essendon
9.6 (60)
Subiaco Oval
21,956
Sunday 15, June
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
West Coast
11.13 (79)
Carlton
12.14 (86)
Subiaco Oval
37,854
Friday 27, June
Richmond
4.10 (34)
Essendon
19.13 (127)
MCG
58,812
Saturday 28, June
St Kilda
11.18 (84)
Western Bulldogs
15.11 (101)
Waverley Park
32,370
Saturday 28, June
Geelong
17.8 (110)
Adelaide
7.12 (54)
Kardinia Park
20,236
Saturday 28, June
Brisbane Lions
11.22 (88)
Collingwood
11.7 (73)
Gabba
19,560
Saturday 28, June
Port Adelaide
10.9 (69)
Fremantle
7.12 (54)
Football Park
30,827
Saturday 28, June
Hawthorn
17.16 (118)
Melbourne
7.13 (55)
Waverley Park
31,517
Sunday 29, June
Sydney
8.17 (65)
North Melbourne
7.13 (55)
SCG
30,160
Sunday 29, June
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Adelaide
16.10 (106)
West Coast
4.7 (31)
Football Park
39,221
Friday 4, July
Geelong
9.26 (80)
Collingwood
10.12 (72)
MCG
65,228
Saturday 5, July
Carlton
11.8 (74)
Western Bulldogs
16.14 (110)
Princes Park
32,183
Saturday 5, July
St Kilda
20.13 (133)
North Melbourne
11.13 (79)
Waverley Park
32,635
Saturday 5, July
Fremantle
6.12 (48)
Sydney
3.15 (33)
WACA
19,290
Saturday 5, July
Essendon
18.12 (120)
Melbourne
8.9 (57)
MCG
44,803
Sunday 6, July
Hawthorn
18.16 (124)
Port Adelaide
13.14 (92)
Waverley Park
29,886
Sunday 6, July
Brisbane Lions
7.26 (68)
Richmond
7.8 (50)
Gabba
19,155
Sunday 6, July
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
North Melbourne
14.8 (92)
Geelong
15.12 (102)
MCG
45,120
Friday 11, July
Melbourne
18.11 (119)
Carlton
15.10 (100)
MCG
27,992
Saturday 12, July
Western Bulldogs
11.7 (73)
Brisbane Lions
21.11 (137)
Princes Park
16,430
Saturday 12, July
Collingwood
25.10 (160)
Fremantle
9.6 (60)
Victoria Park
23,433
Saturday 12, July
Adelaide
10.16 (76)
St Kilda
9.12 (66)
Football Park
39,921
Saturday 12, July
Sydney
11.13 (79)
Essendon
11.12 (78)
SCG
36,077
Sunday 13, July
West Coast
12.13 (85)
Port Adelaide
9.13 (67)
Subiaco Oval
29,723
Sunday 13, July
Richmond
22.13 (145)
Hawthorn
10.9 (69)
MCG
49,217
Sunday 13, July
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Brisbane Lions
17.16 (118)
Adelaide
13.9 (87)
Gabba
21,348
Friday 18, July
Carlton
25.15 (165)
Essendon
13.9 (87)
MCG
58,512
Saturday 19, July
Hawthorn
9.8 (62)
St Kilda
20.21 (141)
Waverley Park
43,181
Saturday 19, July
Geelong
16.14 (110)
Richmond
12.6 (78)
Kardinia Park
24,099
Saturday 19, July
Sydney
15.22 (112)
West Coast
11.9 (75)
SCG
39,318
Saturday 19, July
Port Adelaide
17.9 (111)
Collingwood
8.10 (58)
Football Park
37,790
Saturday 19, July
Melbourne
7.16 (58)
North Melbourne
17.12 (114)
MCG
23,309
Sunday 20, July
Fremantle
15.7 (97)
Western Bulldogs
13.13 (91)
Subiaco Oval
18,392
Sunday 20, July
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Essendon
10.12 (72)
Port Adelaide
18.14 (122)
MCG
33,076
Friday 25, July
Carlton
7.16 (58)
North Melbourne
14.12 (96)
Princes Park
27,689
Saturday 26, July
Hawthorn
9.8 (62)
Fremantle
10.11 (71)
Waverley Park
15,939
Saturday 26, July
Sydney
22.17 (149)
Western Bulldogs
7.10 (52)
SCG
32,534
Saturday 26, July
Adelaide
29.11 (185)
Richmond
7.6 (48)
Football Park
36,297
Saturday 26, July
St Kilda
12.20 (92)
Brisbane Lions
5.14 (44)
Waverley Park
34,859
Sunday 27, July
Collingwood
20.14 (134)
Melbourne
12.10 (82)
MCG
37,779
Sunday 27, July
West Coast
20.9 (129)
Geelong
12.10 (82)
Subiaco Oval
34,565
Sunday 27, July
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
North Melbourne
11.17 (83)
Essendon
8.16 (64)
MCG
38,614
Friday 1, August
Melbourne
7.11 (53)
Sydney
25.19 (169)
MCG
26,901
Saturday 2, August
Richmond
17.13 (115)
Western Bulldogs
15.10 (100)
Princes Park
18,373
Saturday 2, August
Geelong
25.9 (159)
Port Adelaide
11.8 (74)
Kardinia Park
21,867
Saturday 2, August
Brisbane Lions
21.15 (141)
Hawthorn
11.5 (71)
Gabba
19,635
Saturday 2, August
Adelaide
18.19 (127)
Carlton
13.8 (86)
Football Park
42,548
Sunday 3, August
Collingwood
12.17 (89)
St Kilda
15.21 (111)
MCG
68,036
Sunday 3, August
Fremantle
7.7 (49)
West Coast
13.4 (82)
Subiaco Oval
39,711
Sunday 3, August
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
North Melbourne
17.14 (116)
Brisbane Lions
9.5 (59)
MCG
27,021
Friday 8, August
Carlton
14.23 (107)
Collingwood
13.13 (91)
MCG
61,650
Saturday 9, August
Western Bulldogs
14.18 (102)
Melbourne
9.10 (64)
Princes Park
13,058
Saturday 9, August
Hawthorn
10.6 (66)
West Coast
13.9 (87)
Waverley Park
20,517
Saturday 9, August
Fremantle
12.13 (85)
Richmond
5.12 (42)
WACA
15,757
Saturday 9, August
Sydney
17.17 (119)
St Kilda
18.20 (128)
SCG
39,287
Sunday 10, August
Essendon
11.7 (73)
Geelong
9.14 (68)
MCG
53,901
Sunday 10, August
Port Adelaide
9.4 (58)
Adelaide
9.11 (65)
Football Park
45,498
Sunday 10, August
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
West Coast
15.7 (97)
Melbourne
7.17 (59)
WACA
21,164
Friday 15, August
Collingwood
13.13 (91)
Essendon
12.9 (81)
MCG
50,944
Saturday 16, August
St Kilda
12.5 (77)
Fremantle
9.10 (64)
Waverley Park
26,201
Saturday 16, August
Geelong
13.17 (95)
Carlton
9.13 (67)
Kardinia Park
23,007
Saturday 16, August
Brisbane Lions
13.15 (93)
Port Adelaide
13.15 (93)
Gabba
20,835
Saturday 16, August
Sydney
20.15 (135)
Hawthorn
11.11 (77)
SCG
34,111
Sunday 17, August
Richmond
14.13 (97)
North Melbourne
14.12 (96)
MCG
29,620
Sunday 17, August
Adelaide
7.18 (60)
Western Bulldogs
16.7 (103)
Football Park
39,632
Sunday 17, August
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Melbourne
8.14 (62)
St Kilda
17.12 (114)
MCG
32,935
Friday 22, August
North Melbourne
10.21 (81)
Hawthorn
6.7 (43)
MCG
26,393
Saturday 23, August
Carlton
11.10 (76)
Sydney
5.11 (41)
Princes Park
27,375
Saturday 23, August
Western Bulldogs
12.14 (86)
West Coast
10.8 (68)
Whitten Oval
26,704
Saturday 23, August
Brisbane Lions
15.12 (102)
Essendon
16.10 (106)
Gabba
21,065
Saturday 23, August
Richmond
22.14 (146)
Port Adelaide
8.13 (61)
MCG
22,516
Sunday 24, August
Fremantle
9.14 (68)
Geelong
14.16 (100)
Subiaco Oval
28,751
Sunday 24, August
Adelaide
6.12 (48)
Collingwood
5.9 (39)
Football Park
37,661
Monday 25, August
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
West Coast
18.12 (120)
Brisbane Lions
11.15 (81)
WACA
29,402
Friday 29, August
Melbourne
18.11 (119)
Fremantle
11.13 (79)
MCG
15,036
Saturday 30, August
Carlton
13.11 (89)
Richmond
13.13 (91)
Princes Park
34,922
Saturday 30, August
Hawthorn
13.9 (87)
Western Bulldogs
15.15 (105)
Waverley Park
35,706
Saturday 30, August
Sydney
13.12 (90)
Geelong
15.10 (100)
SCG
46,168
Saturday 30, August
Collingwood
18.14 (122)
North Melbourne
15.21 (111)
MCG
43,660
Sunday 31, August
Essendon
16.6 (102)
Adelaide
14.14 (98)
Princes Park
25,636
Sunday 31, August
Port Adelaide
12.12 (84)
St Kilda
17.15 (117)
Football Park
38,589
Sunday 31, August
(P)
Premiers
Qualified for finals
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Average score: 90.3 Source: AFL Tables
Progression by round
edit
Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 8.
Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round.
Team ╲ Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 St Kilda 0 0 4 4 4 8 12 16 20 20 24 28 28 32 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 Geelong 0 4 4 8 12 16 20 24 24 28 28 28 32 36 40 44 44 48 48 52 56 60 Western Bulldogs 0 4 8 12 12 16 20 20 24 28 32 32 36 40 40 40 40 40 44 48 52 56 Adelaide 4 4 4 4 8 8 12 16 20 24 28 28 28 32 36 36 40 44 48 48 52 52 West Coast 4 4 8 12 16 16 20 20 24 24 24 28 28 28 32 32 36 40 44 48 48 52 Sydney 0 0 4 8 8 12 12 12 16 16 20 24 28 28 32 36 40 44 44 48 48 48 North Melbourne 0 4 4 4 8 12 12 16 16 20 24 28 28 28 28 32 36 40 44 44 48 48 Brisbane Lions 0 4 4 8 8 8 8 8 12 16 16 20 24 28 32 36 36 40 40 42 42 42 Port Adelaide 0 0 4 8 12 16 16 16 20 24 24 28 32 32 32 36 40 40 40 42 42 42 Collingwood 4 8 8 8 12 16 20 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 28 28 32 32 32 36 36 40 Carlton 0 0 4 8 8 8 12 16 20 20 24 24 28 28 28 32 32 32 36 36 40 40 Fremantle 4 8 8 8 12 12 16 20 20 20 20 24 24 28 28 32 36 36 40 40 40 40 Richmond 4 8 8 12 12 12 12 16 16 16 20 20 20 20 24 24 24 28 28 32 36 40 Essendon 4 8 12 12 12 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 20 24 24 24 24 24 28 28 32 36 Hawthorn 4 4 8 8 12 12 12 12 12 16 20 24 28 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 Melbourne 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 8 8 8 8 8 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 16
Semi-finals
SF1: Saturday, 13 September (2:30 pm)
North Melbourne 15.8 (98)
def.
West Coast 12.13 (85)
MCG (crowd: 55,781)
Report
SF2: Saturday, 13 September (7:45 pm)
Adelaide 11.10 (76)
def.
Geelong 9.14 (68)
Football Park (crowd: 46,319)
Report
The Adelaide versus Geelong semi final was notable due to an incident in the third quarter, when a clear forward 50 mark to Geelong's Leigh Colbert was not awarded by field umpire Grant Vernon, denying Geelong a crucial shot at goal. This incident was later confirmed as a significant error by the AFL umpiring association, and Grant Vernon was not selected to umpire in any remaining 1997 finals matches as a result. [ 2]
Grand final
Saturday, 27 September (2:45 pm)
St Kilda 13.16 (94)
def. by
Adelaide 19.11 (125)
MCG (crowd: 99,645)
Report
This was the first appearance in a grand final for Adelaide .
Team
Hosted
Average
Highest
Lowest
Total
Last Season
+/-
Essendon
11
52,848
83,271
25,636
581,330
49,526
+ 3322
Collingwood
11
48,708
78,704
23,433
535,789
44,723
+ 3985
Adelaide
11
40,173
47,256
36,297
441,905
39,428
+ 745
Port Adelaide
11
35,829
45,498
31,757
394,115
11,017*
+ 24812*
Sydney
11
35,818
46,168
23,598
393,999
24,574
+ 11244
St Kilda
11
35,232
54,699
17,752
387,553
27,137
+ 8095
Richmond
11
34,515
58,812
15,461
379,670
38,624
- 4109
Carlton
11
33,634
61,650
18,187
369,972
35,891
- 2257
West Coast
11
32,582
39,294
21,164
358,401
32,448
+ 134
North Melbourne
11
32,520
54,901
13,056
357,725
34,627
- 2107
Hawthorn
11
32,380
51,494
15,939
356,179
23,624
+ 8756
Geelong
11
28,324
65,228
16,467
311,567
25,161
+ 3163
Melbourne
11
27,714
61,138
13,392
304,853
30,315
- 2601
Fremantle
11
21,982
39,711
14,721
241,801
22,473
- 491
Brisbane Lions
11
19,550
21,348
17,123
215,051
N/A
N/A
Western Bulldogs
11
19,335
35,438
8664
212,681
18,073
+ 1262
Totals
176
33,197
83,271
8664
5842,591
29,637
+ 3560
Venue
Hosted
Average
Highest
Lowest
Total
Last Season
+/-
MCG
53
43,488
83,271
13,392
2,304,865
46,114
- 2626
Football Park
22
38,001
47,256
31,757
836,020
39,428
- 1427
SCG
11
35,818
46,168
23,598
393,999
24,574
+ 11,244
Waverley Park
22
33,806
54,699
15,939
743,732
25,545
+ 8261
Subiaco Oval
17
28,371
39,711
14,721
482,310
28,289
+ 82
Whitten Oval
1
26,704
26,704
26,704
26,704
10,482
+ 16,222
Victoria Park
3
24,473
25,323
23,433
73,419
23,581
+ 892
WACA
5
23,578
29,838
18,198
117,892
25,253
- 1675
Kardinia Park
9
21,269
24,099
16,467
191,417
22,670
- 1401
Optus Oval
22
20,781
34,922
8664
457,182
15,641
+ 5140
Gabba
11
19,550
21,348
17,123
215,051
18,088
+ 1462
Totals
176
33,197
83,271
8664
5842,591
29,637
+ 3560
The last AFL game at Whitten Oval was played.
St Kilda finished on top of the ladder (prior to the finals) to claim the minor premiership , despite losing 7 matches in the home and away season. No team before or since has finished on top with that many losses, which highlights the evenness of the 1997 season. St Kilda would also play in their first preliminary final since 1972 and reach their first grand final since 1971 .
The first qualifying final between Adelaide and West Coast was rescheduled from Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon to allow the Seven Network to screen the funeral of Princess Diana live across Australia.[ 3] This meant that it was played at the same time as the fourth qualifying final between minor premiers St Kilda and the Brisbane Lions , who were competing in their first season as a merged entity. The game is also notable for being the first ever final between two non-Victorian teams.
Gary Ablett Sr. , arguably one of the games best and most well known players, officially announced his retirement during the Preliminary Final weekend. Ablett failed to play a game in 1997 due to a knee injury.