# 1989 VFL season

The 1989 VFL season was the 93rd season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition and administrative body in Victoria and, by reason of it featuring clubs from New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, the de facto highest level senior competition in Australia. It was the last season under the Victorian Football League name, before being renamed the Australian Football League in 1990. The season featured fourteen clubs, ran from 31 March until 30 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top five clubs.
The premiership was won by the Hawthorn Football Club for the eighth time and second time consecutively, after it defeated Geelong by six points in the 1989 VFL Grand Final.

## Night series

| 1989 Night Series Grand Final | 1989 Night Series Grand Final | 1989 Night Series Grand Final |
| Geelong | def. by | Melbourne |
| 3.2 (20) 6.6 (42) 9.7 (61) 9.13 (67) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 2.5 (17) 4.7 (31) 5.11 (41) 10.16 (76) |

## Home-and-away season
### Round 1

| Home team | Home score | Away team | Away score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| West Coast | 14.12 (96) | Essendon | 17.10 (112) | WACA Ground | 25,664 | 31 March 1989 |
| Carlton | 10.13 (73) | Footscray | 19.18 (132) | Princes Park | 22,000 | 1 April 1989 |
| Melbourne | 18.8 (116) | Fitzroy | 16.15 (111) | MCG | 25,792 | 1 April 1989 |
| St Kilda | 20.16 (136) | Brisbane Bears | 15.7 (97) | Moorabbin Oval | 17,236 | 1 April 1989 |
| Collingwood | 13.15 (93) | Hawthorn | 11.17 (83) | VFL Park | 50,287 | 1 April 1989 |
| Sydney | 12.17 (89) | Richmond | 11.7 (73) | SCG | 8,611 | 2 April 1989 |
| North Melbourne | 18.17 (125) | Geelong | 17.21 (123) | MCG | 24,383 | 2 April 1989 |

### Round 2

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 14.10 (94) | Melbourne | 9.14 (68) | Windy Hill | 20,123 | 8 April 1989 |
| Richmond | 24.12 (156) | Footscray | 13.10 (88) | MCG | 22,835 | 8 April 1989 |
| Fitzroy | 20.12 (132) | Collingwood | 16.11 (107) | Princes Park | 23,837 | 8 April 1989 |
| St Kilda | 13.18 (96) | Carlton | 13.14 (92) | Moorabbin Oval | 27,796 | 8 April 1989 |
| North Melbourne | 11.6 (72) | Hawthorn | 21.15 (141) | VFL Park | 18,939 | 8 April 1989 |
| Geelong | 26.19 (175) | West Coast | 11.14 (80) | Kardinia Park | 19,926 | 9 April 1989 |
| Brisbane Bears | 18.15 (123) | Sydney | 8.17 (65) | Carrara Stadium | 11,405 | 9 April 1989 |

### Round 3

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 8.18 (66) | North Melbourne | 12.12 (84) | Western Oval | 14,926 | 15 April 1989 |
| Richmond | 8.13 (61) | Melbourne | 18.14 (122) | MCG | 32,580 | 15 April 1989 |
| Hawthorn | 20.15 (135) | Essendon | 13.13 (91) | Princes Park | 23,618 | 15 April 1989 |
| Collingwood | 19.21 (135) | Brisbane Bears | 11.9 (75) | Victoria Park | 18,240 | 15 April 1989 |
| St Kilda | 19.8 (122) | Fitzroy | 19.18 (132) | VFL Park | 31,780 | 15 April 1989 |
| Sydney | 20.14 (134) | West Coast | 11.17 (83) | SCG | 11,298 | 16 April 1989 |
| Geelong | 16.21 (117) | Carlton | 9.10 (64) | Kardinia Park | 27,475 | 16 April 1989 |

### Round 4

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 11.13 (79) | Brisbane Bears | 7.11 (53) | MCG | 17,560 | 21 April 1989 |
| Fitzroy | 11.13 (79) | Sydney | 23.15 (153) | Princes Park | 13,027 | 22 April 1989 |
| Collingwood | 23.21 (159) | St Kilda | 14.11 (95) | Victoria Park | 27,304 | 22 April 1989 |
| Footscray | 12.15 (87) | Geelong | 14.15 (99) | Western Oval | 22,844 | 23 April 1989 |
| West Coast | 10.12 (72) | North Melbourne | 18.7 (115) | WACA Ground | 18,546 | 23 April 1989 |
| Carlton | 15.20 (110) | Essendon | 21.12 (138) | Princes Park | 31,492 | 25 April 1989 |
| Richmond | 9.12 (66) | Hawthorn | 15.20 (110) | VFL Park | 41,347 | 25 April 1989 |

### Round 5

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Fitzroy | 16.17 (113) | Geelong | 16.16 (112) | Princes Park | 13,377 | 29 April 1989 |
| Essendon | 20.18 (138) | St Kilda | 12.12 (84) | Windy Hill | 18,694 | 29 April 1989 |
| Melbourne | 11.16 (82) | Footscray | 10.11 (71) | MCG | 25,273 | 29 April 1989 |
| Hawthorn | 18.17 (125) | Carlton | 10.11 (71) | VFL Park | 31,827 | 29 April 1989 |
| North Melbourne | 20.14 (134) | Richmond | 26.15 (171) | MCG | 19,691 | 30 April 1989 |
| Brisbane Bears | 10.13 (73) | West Coast | 19.11 (125) | Carrara Stadium | 9,694 | 30 April 1989 |
| Sydney | 10.17 (77) | Collingwood | 9.12 (66) | SCG | 22,490 | 30 April 1989 |

### Round 6

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| West Coast | 12.9 (81) | Fitzroy | 12.17 (89) | WACA Ground | 21,268 | 5 May 1989 |
| St Kilda | 13.17 (95) | Sydney | 9.13 (67) | Moorabbin Oval | 20,285 | 6 May 1989 |
| Hawthorn | 26.15 (171) | Geelong | 25.13 (163) | Princes Park | 17,645 | 6 May 1989 |
| Melbourne | 9.10 (64) | Collingwood | 18.16 (124) | MCG | 67,239 | 6 May 1989 |
| Carlton | 15.12 (102) | Richmond | 9.12 (66) | VFL Park | 31,287 | 6 May 1989 |
| Brisbane Bears | 8.11 (59) | Footscray | 6.15 (51) | Carrara Stadium | 5,134 | 7 May 1989 |
| North Melbourne | 17.19 (121) | Essendon | 16.9 (105) | MCG | 34,379 | 7 May 1989 |

### Round 7

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Sydney | 7.16 (58) | North Melbourne | 9.13 (67) | SCG | 13,875 | 12 May 1989 |
| Geelong | 35.18 (228) | St Kilda | 16.13 (109) | Kardinia Park | 21,294 | 13 May 1989 |
| Collingwood | 16.10 (106) | Footscray | 11.12 (78) | Victoria Park | 23,523 | 13 May 1989 |
| Hawthorn | 25.15 (165) | Fitzroy | 13.6 (84) | Princes Park | 16,644 | 13 May 1989 |
| Melbourne | 12.14 (86) | Carlton | 11.14 (80) | MCG | 35,199 | 13 May 1989 |
| Richmond | 13.14 (92) | West Coast | 13.12 (90) | VFL Park | 11,745 | 13 May 1989 |
| Brisbane Bears | 12.9 (81) | Essendon | 17.10 (112) | Carrara Stadium | 12,034 | 14 May 1989 |

### Round 8

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 22.25 (157) | Sydney | 12.11 (83) | Princes Park | 14,388 | 20 May 1989 |
| Essendon | 21.19 (145) | Richmond | 12.15 (87) | Windy Hill | 18,047 | 20 May 1989 |
| St Kilda | 18.7 (115) | North Melbourne | 17.10 (112) | Moorabbin Oval | 19,193 | 20 May 1989 |
| Footscray | 8.16 (64) | Fitzroy | 9.9 (63) | Western Oval | 11,926 | 20 May 1989 |
| Geelong | 26.23 (179) | Brisbane Bears | 6.14 (50) | Kardinia Park | 17,236 | 20 May 1989 |
| Carlton | 12.8 (80) | Collingwood | 16.13 (109) | VFL Park | 61,237 | 20 May 1989 |
| West Coast | 12.21 (93) | Melbourne | 13.17 (95) | Subiaco Oval | 16,017 | 21 May 1989 |

### Round 9

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 25.15 (165) | Brisbane Bears | 10.11 (71) | MCG | 8,634 | 26 May 1989 |
| St Kilda | 18.10 (118) | West Coast | 12.11 (83) | Moorabbin Oval | 15,768 | 27 May 1989 |
| Carlton | 24.15 (159) | Fitzroy | 18.14 (122) | Princes Park | 19,520 | 27 May 1989 |
| Richmond | 10.17 (77) | Geelong | 32.19 (211) | MCG | 24,321 | 27 May 1989 |
| Essendon | 19.11 (125) | Collingwood | 7.16 (58) | VFL Park | 71,390 | 27 May 1989 |
| Footscray | 10.13 (73) | Hawthorn | 17.15 (117) | Western Oval | 16,437 | 28 May 1989 |
| Sydney | 6.7 (43) | Melbourne | 6.16 (52) | SCG | 13,475 | 28 May 1989 |

### Round 10

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 12.11 (83) | Melbourne | 16.17 (113) | MCG | 27,159 | 2 June 1989 |
| Footscray | 14.14 (98) | Sydney | 10.6 (66) | Western Oval | 10,170 | 3 June 1989 |
| Essendon | 18.14 (122) | Fitzroy | 10.9 (69) | Windy Hill | 15,684 | 3 June 1989 |
| Carlton | 17.13 (115) | Brisbane Bears | 18.10 (118) | Princes Park | 12,247 | 3 June 1989 |
| St Kilda | 13.21 (99) | Richmond | 13.14 (92) | VFL Park | 24,839 | 3 June 1989 |
| Geelong | 23.16 (154) | Collingwood | 13.10 (88) | MCG | 65,187 | 3 June 1989 |
| West Coast | 15.15 (105) | Hawthorn | 16.14 (110) | Subiaco Oval | 20,213 | 4 June 1989 |

### Round 11

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Sydney | 8.9 (57) | Carlton | 12.13 (85) | SCG | 13,703 | 9 June 1989 |
| Fitzroy | 1.8 (14) | North Melbourne | 6.13 (49) | Princes Park | 7,921 | 10 June 1989 |
| Richmond | 5.15 (45) | Brisbane Bears | 3.8 (26) | MCG | 7,966 | 10 June 1989 |
| Footscray | 9.8 (62) | St Kilda | 7.12 (54) | VFL Park | 17,060 | 10 June 1989 |
| West Coast | 11.15 (81) | Collingwood | 17.14 (116) | Subiaco Oval | 20,233 | 11 June 1989 |
| Hawthorn | 8.6 (54) | Melbourne | 10.9 (69) | Princes Park | 21,716 | 12 June 1989 |
| Geelong | 12.17 (89) | Essendon | 4.11 (35) | MCG | 87,653 | 12 June 1989 |

### Round 12

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| West Coast | 16.9 (105) | Footscray | 11.11 (77) | WACA Ground | 13,783 | 16 June 1989 |
| Essendon | 7.8 (50) | Sydney | 7.13 (55) | Windy Hill | 13,398 | 17 June 1989 |
| Carlton | 7.9 (51) | North Melbourne | 5.10 (40) | Princes Park | 16,111 | 17 June 1989 |
| St Kilda | 8.6 (54) | Hawthorn | 10.12 (72) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,124 | 17 June 1989 |
| Melbourne | 2.8 (20) | Geelong | 13.11 (89) | MCG | 38,128 | 17 June 1989 |
| Collingwood | 18.15 (123) | Richmond | 9.15 (69) | VFL Park | 26,557 | 17 June 1989 |
| Brisbane Bears | 18.6 (114) | Fitzroy | 19.14 (128) | Carrara Stadium | 10,008 | 18 June 1989 |

### Round 13

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 15.16 (106) | Brisbane Bears | 4.11 (35) | VFL Park | 6,292 | 23 June 1989 |
| Essendon | 3.10 (28) | Footscray | 3.5 (23) | Windy Hill | 13,559 | 24 June 1989 |
| Collingwood | 14.24 (108) | North Melbourne | 8.8 (56) | Victoria Park | 21,210 | 24 June 1989 |
| Carlton | 9.10 (64) | West Coast | 5.11 (41) | Princes Park | 11,995 | 24 June 1989 |
| St Kilda | 8.8 (56) | Melbourne | 10.4 (64) | Moorabbin Oval | 19,040 | 24 June 1989 |
| Fitzroy | 15.5 (95) | Richmond | 9.13 (67) | VFL Park | 12,424 | 24 June 1989 |
| Sydney | 14.19 (103) | Geelong | 16.15 (111) | SCG | 12,967 | 25 June 1989 |

### Round 14

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 18.19 (127) | St Kilda | 9.13 (67) | MCG | 19,354 | 7 July 1989 |
| Richmond | 10.15 (75) | Sydney | 7.8 (50) | MCG | 12,601 | 8 July 1989 |
| Hawthorn | 19.27 (141) | West Coast | 6.14 (50) | Princes Park | 8,028 | 8 July 1989 |
| Geelong | 11.16 (82) | Fitzroy | 8.10 (58) | Kardinia Park | 18,231 | 8 July 1989 |
| Essendon | 9.7 (61) | Carlton | 8.10 (58) | VFL Park | 34,617 | 8 July 1989 |
| Brisbane Bears | 14.15 (99) | Melbourne | 17.11 (113) | Carrara Stadium | 8,799 | 9 July 1989 |
| Footscray | 15.15 (105) | Collingwood | 7.15 (57) | Western Oval | 18,775 | 9 July 1989 |

### Round 15

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 17.15 (117) | North Melbourne | 11.15 (81) | MCG | 23,764 | 15 July 1989 |
| Fitzroy | 12.20 (92) | St Kilda | 13.8 (86) | Princes Park | 11,017 | 15 July 1989 |
| Essendon | 25.10 (160) | West Coast | 1.12 (18) | Windy Hill | 11,503 | 15 July 1989 |
| Brisbane Bears | 11.11 (77) | Geelong | 22.19 (151) | Carrara Stadium | 18,198 | 15 July 1989 |
| Collingwood | 12.18 (90) | Carlton | 15.6 (96) | VFL Park | 44,548 | 15 July 1989 |
| Richmond | 15.14 (104) | Hawthorn | 22.10 (142) | MCG | 17,894 | 16 July 1989 |
| Sydney | 16.21 (117) | Footscray | 10.17 (77) | SCG | 8,010 | 16 July 1989 |

### Round 16

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Brisbane Bears | 14.10 (94) | St Kilda | 12.18 (90) | Carrara Stadium | 11,004 | 22 July 1989 |
| Richmond | 9.12 (66) | Essendon | 14.15 (99) | MCG | 23,964 | 22 July 1989 |
| Hawthorn | 21.11 (137) | Collingwood | 11.11 (77) | Princes Park | 20,367 | 22 July 1989 |
| Footscray | 6.10 (46) | Carlton | 6.10 (46) | Western Oval | 15,089 | 22 July 1989 |
| Geelong | 17.7 (109) | Melbourne | 16.16 (112) | VFL Park | 38,865 | 22 July 1989 |
| West Coast | 16.16 (112) | Sydney | 9.16 (70) | Subiaco Oval | 13,299 | 23 July 1989 |
| North Melbourne | 8.18 (66) | Fitzroy | 16.11 (107) | MCG | 13,173 | 23 July 1989 |

### Round 17

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Richmond | 6.15 (51) | Fitzroy | 18.15 (123) | MCG | 15,045 | 28 July 1989 |
| Carlton | 15.16 (106) | Melbourne | 10.19 (79) | Princes Park | 20,277 | 29 July 1989 |
| St Kilda | 16.10 (106) | Essendon | 20.13 (133) | Moorabbin Oval | 17,000 | 29 July 1989 |
| North Melbourne | 9.24 (78) | Hawthorn | 23.16 (154) | VFL Park | 15,523 | 29 July 1989 |
| Collingwood | 19.11 (125) | Geelong | 14.20 (104) | MCG | 35,217 | 29 July 1989 |
| Footscray | 10.12 (72) | West Coast | 16.13 (109) | Western Oval | 9,467 | 30 July 1989 |
| Sydney | 12.23 (95) | Brisbane Bears | 9.16 (70) | SCG | 7,437 | 30 July 1989 |

### Round 18

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Fitzroy | 23.13 (151) | Melbourne | 15.13 (103) | Princes Park | 11,236 | 5 August 1989 |
| Collingwood | 11.15 (81) | Sydney | 12.13 (85) | Victoria Park | 17,621 | 5 August 1989 |
| Brisbane Bears | 25.17 (167) | North Melbourne | 12.12 (84) | Carrara Stadium | 9,606 | 5 August 1989 |
| St Kilda | 13.12 (90) | Geelong | 17.11 (113) | Moorabbin Oval | 14,243 | 5 August 1989 |
| Carlton | 14.6 (90) | Hawthorn | 14.11 (95) | VFL Park | 33,615 | 5 August 1989 |
| West Coast | 19.16 (130) | Richmond | 10.19 (79) | Subiaco Oval | 17,660 | 6 August 1989 |
| Footscray | 3.5 (23) | Essendon | 7.9 (51) | Western Oval | 16,005 | 6 August 1989 |

### Round 19

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Richmond | 11.10 (76) | Carlton | 15.14 (104) | VFL Park | 14,783 | 11 August 1989 |
| Fitzroy | 11.6 (72) | West Coast | 5.10 (40) | Princes Park | 6,920 | 12 August 1989 |
| Essendon | 15.11 (101) | Brisbane Bears | 7.5 (47) | Windy Hill | 11,878 | 12 August 1989 |
| Melbourne | 9.9 (63) | Hawthorn | 12.15 (87) | VFL Park | 28,117 | 12 August 1989 |
| Geelong | 18.16 (124) | Footscray | 10.14 (74) | Kardinia Park | 17,977 | 12 August 1989 |
| North Melbourne | 11.14 (80) | Collingwood | 11.12 (78) | VFL Park | 21,027 | 13 August 1989 |
| Sydney | 25.9 (159) | St Kilda | 16.13 (109) | SCG | 11,583 | 13 August 1989 |

### Round 20

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| West Coast | 18.18 (126) | Geelong | 12.10 (82) | WACA Ground | 15,721 | 18 August 1989 |
| Melbourne | 14.14 (98) | Sydney | 12.15 (87) | MCG | 16,304 | 19 August 1989 |
| Footscray | 15.17 (107) | Richmond | 3.11 (29) | Western Oval | 8,673 | 19 August 1989 |
| Essendon | 19.14 (128) | North Melbourne | 17.10 (112) | Windy Hill | 15,912 | 19 August 1989 |
| Carlton | 20.13 (133) | St Kilda | 20.12 (132) | Princes Park | 15,227 | 19 August 1989 |
| Fitzroy | 10.11 (71) | Collingwood | 14.20 (104) | VFL Park | 42,111 | 19 August 1989 |
| Brisbane Bears | 12.5 (77) | Hawthorn | 9.7 (61) | Carrara Stadium | 9,093 | 20 August 1989 |

### Round 21

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Sydney | 15.20 (110) | Essendon | 15.14 (104) | SCG | 12,042 | 25 August 1989 |
| Melbourne | 10.12 (72) | St Kilda | 16.8 (104) | MCG | 19,645 | 26 August 1989 |
| Geelong | 20.19 (139) | North Melbourne | 17.15 (117) | Kardinia Park | 16,940 | 26 August 1989 |
| Collingwood | 12.11 (83) | Richmond | 4.13 (37) | Victoria Park | 16,657 | 26 August 1989 |
| Hawthorn | 19.20 (134) | Footscray | 8.11 (59) | Princes Park | 10,178 | 26 August 1989 |
| Fitzroy | 10.8 (68) | Brisbane Bears | 12.9 (81) | VFL Park | 6,622 | 26 August 1989 |
| West Coast | 21.22 (148) | Carlton | 10.12 (72) | Subiaco Oval | 23,781 | 27 August 1989 |

### Round 22

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 13.15 (93) | Sydney | 21.10 (136) | MCG | 9,235 | 1 September 1989 |
| Geelong | 23.24 (162) | Richmond | 12.14 (86) | Kardinia Park | 20,743 | 2 September 1989 |
| Fitzroy | 13.18 (96) | Footscray | 12.9 (81) | Princes Park | 8,961 | 2 September 1989 |
| Collingwood | 20.9 (129) | West Coast | 11.14 (80) | Victoria Park | 18,118 | 2 September 1989 |
| Melbourne | 13.11 (89) | Essendon | 16.12 (108) | MCG | 41,080 | 2 September 1989 |
| Hawthorn | 28.13 (181) | St Kilda | 13.13 (91) | VFL Park | 25,532 | 2 September 1989 |
| Brisbane Bears | 15.15 (105) | Carlton | 10.10 (70) | Carrara Stadium | 15,409 | 3 September 1989 |

## Ladder

| (P) | Premiers |
| | Qualified for finals |
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
| 1 | Hawthorn (P) | 22 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 2678 | 1748 | 153.2 | 76 |
| 2 | Essendon | 22 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 2240 | 1705 | 131.4 | 68 |
| 3 | Geelong | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2916 | 1987 | 146.8 | 64 |
| 4 | Melbourne | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 1876 | 1944 | 96.5 | 56 |
| 5 | Collingwood | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 2216 | 1964 | 112.8 | 52 |
| 6 | Fitzroy | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2069 | 2125 | 97.4 | 48 |
| 7 | Sydney | 22 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 1959 | 1958 | 100.1 | 44 |
| 8 | Carlton | 22 | 9 | 12 | 1 | 1921 | 2079 | 92.4 | 38 |
| 9 | North Melbourne | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 2061 | 2301 | 89.6 | 36 |
| 10 | Brisbane Bears | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1792 | 2274 | 78.8 | 32 |
| 11 | West Coast | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 1948 | 2247 | 86.7 | 28 |
| 12 | St Kilda | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 2108 | 2502 | 84.3 | 28 |
| 13 | Footscray | 22 | 6 | 15 | 1 | 1614 | 1855 | 87.0 | 26 |
| 14 | Richmond | 22 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 1725 | 2434 | 70.9 | 20 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Average score: 94.6 Source: AFL Tables

## Finals series
### Finals week 1

| | Elimination Final | Elimination Final | Elimination Final | | |
| Saturday, 9 September (2:30 pm) | Melbourne 17.9 (111) | def. | Collingwood 13.10 (88) | VFL Park (crowd: 63062) | Report |
| | Qualifying Final | Qualifying Final | Qualifying Final | | |
| Sunday, 10 September (2:30 pm) | Essendon 24.13 (157) | def. | Geelong 11.15 (81) | MCG (crowd: 75861) | Report |

### Finals week 2

| | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | |
| SF1: Sunday, 17 September (2:30 pm) | Geelong 22.21 (153) | def. | Melbourne 12.18 (90) | MCG (crowd: 69082) | Report |
| SF2: Saturday, 16 September (2:30 pm) | Hawthorn 16.16 (112) | def. | Essendon 11.10 (76) | VFL Park (crowd: 66003) | Report |

### Preliminary final

| | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | | |
| Saturday, 23 September (2:30 pm) | Essendon 10.10 (70) | def. by | Geelong 24.20 (164) | VFL Park (crowd: 67,892) | Report |

### Grand final

| | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final | | |
| Saturday, 30 September (2:50 pm) | Hawthorn 21.18 (144) | def. | Geelong 21.12 (138) | MCG (crowd: 94,796) | Report |
| Hawthorn won their 8th VFL premiership and first back-to-back set. Allan Jeans won his fourth Jock McHale Medal. ||||||

## Foster's Cup

In addition, four of the clubs also played in an international exhibition offseason tournament in October with games in Toronto, Miami Gardens and London.
| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| 12 October, SkyDome | 12 October, SkyDome |
| Geelong | 13.12 (90) |
| Geelong | 13.12 (90) | 22 October, The Oval | 22 October, The Oval |
| Melbourne | 14.19 (103) | 22 October, The Oval | 22 October, The Oval |
| Melbourne | 14.19 (103) | Melbourne | 12.10 (82) |
| 14 October, Joe Robbie Stadium | 14 October, Joe Robbie Stadium | | Melbourne | 12.10 (82) |
| 14 October, Joe Robbie Stadium | 14 October, Joe Robbie Stadium | Essendon | 6.10 (46) |
| Hawthorn | 15.20 (110) | Essendon | 6.10 (46) |
| Essendon | 18.16 (124) | | |

## Season notes

* In round 6, Hawthorn 26.15 (171) defeated Geelong 25.13 (163). As of 2024, Geelong's score holds the record for the highest losing score in a VFL/AFL match. Hawthorn trailed by as much as 56 points during the match before coming from behind to win.
* The Tribunal was given extra authority when trial by video was introduced in Round 6. Fitzroy's Michael Conlan and Collingwood's Doug Barwick became the first League players charged by the Commission on video evidence and both were suspended by the Tribunal.
* The wettest Melbourne winter since 1952 saw horrible conditions between Rounds 11 and 13 that produced several unusually low scores:
* in round 11 on the Saturday before the Queen's Birthday, Fitzroy's score of 1.8 (14) was the lowest since Footscray kicked 1.8 (14) against Geelong in 1965, and the first single goal score since Carlton's 1.11 (17) on Anzac Day of 1968.
* on the same day, Brad Hardie kicked 3.4 (22) – with all three goals coming in the first fifteen minutes – of only 3.8 (26) scored by Brisbane, this being the first time a player had kicked all his team's goals (based on a qualification of a team total of three or more goals) since Alex Ruscuklic in 1967.
* in Round 13, Essendon and Footscray played the lowest scoring game since the 1927 grand final, with the teams combining for only 6.15 (51) on a muddy Windy Hill.
* Geelong set a record for the most points scored in the home-and-away season, 2916. Footscray's season aggregate score of 1614 points was the lowest since 1972.

## Awards

* The Leigh Matthews Trophy was awarded to Tim Watson of Essendon.
* The Norm Smith Medal was awarded to Gary Ablett of Geelong.
* The under 19's grand final won by Richmond against North Melbourne. Due to a draw in the earlier rounds of the finals, the grand final was a standalone match played at VFL Park one week after the senior grand final.
* The reserves grand final won by Fitzroy against Geelong (main: 1989 VFL reserves season).
* The seniors grand final won by Hawthorn against Geelong.