# 2013 AFL season

The 2013 AFL season was the 117th season of the Australian Football League (AFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Australia, which was known as the Victorian Football League until 1989. The season featured eighteen clubs, ran from 22 March until 28 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs.
The premiership was won by the Hawthorn Football Club for the eleventh time, after it defeated Fremantle by 15 points in the 2013 AFL Grand Final.
The season was marred by a series of off-field controversies, with three clubs penalised in 2013 for separate infractions which had taken place over previous years: Essendon, following an Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigation into the club's supplements program; Adelaide, after illegal payments and draft-tampering charges relating to Kurt Tippett's 2009 contract extension; and Melbourne, after an investigation into allegations that the club had intentionally lost matches towards the end of the 2009 season.

## Pre-season
### All Stars game

The biennial All Star game played in the Northern Territory, featuring an AFL team and the Indigenous All Stars team, made up of some of the best Indigenous players in the game, returned for the 2013 pre-season. Richmond were selected as the AFL team to partake in the game, which was played at Traeger Park in Alice Springs.
| | 2013 Indigenous All Stars Game | 2013 Indigenous All Stars Game | 2013 Indigenous All Stars Game | | |
| Friday, 8 February 7:45pm (ACST) | Indigenous All Stars | def. | Richmond | Traeger Park, Alice Springs (crowd: 8,350) | Report |
| | 5.0 (30) 8.1 (49) 12.4 (76) 14.6 (90) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 1.1 (7) 2.1 (13) 3.1 (19) 6.4 (40) | Polly Farmer Medal: Harley Bennell Television broadcast: afl.com.au | Polly Farmer Medal: Harley Bennell Television broadcast: afl.com.au |
| Johncock 3, Jones 2, Betts 2, Leroy Jetta, Ryder, Ugle, Thomas, Anderson, Bennell, Newman | Johncock 3, Jones 2, Betts 2, Leroy Jetta, Ryder, Ugle, Thomas, Anderson, Bennell, Newman | Goals | McGuane 2, Stephenson 2, McDonough, A.Edwards | McGuane 2, Stephenson 2, McDonough, A.Edwards |
| Bennell, Jones, Alwyn Davey, Johncock, Betts | Bennell, Jones, Alwyn Davey, Johncock, Betts | Best | Martin, S.Edwards, Conca, Grigg, Elton | Martin, S.Edwards, Conca, Grigg, Elton |
| Nil | Nil | Injuries | Nil | Nil |
| Nil | Nil | Reports | Nil | Nil |

### NAB Cup

The 2013 NAB Cup was won by the Brisbane Lions, their first ever win preseason competition win, when they defeated Carlton by 40 points.
| | 2013 NAB Cup Grand Final | 2013 NAB Cup Grand Final | 2013 NAB Cup Grand Final | | |
| Friday, 15 March 7:45pm (AEDT) | Carlton | def. by | Brisbane Lions | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 24,884) | Report |
| | 1.2.0 (21) 2.6.6 (60) 2.7.7 (67) 2.7.9 (69) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 0.5.3 (33) 0.7.5 (47) 0.12.10 (82) 0.16.13 (109) | Umpires: Bannister, Margetts, Jeffery Michael Tuck Medal: Daniel Rich Television broadcast: Seven Network / Fox Footy | Umpires: Bannister, Margetts, Jeffery Michael Tuck Medal: Daniel Rich Television broadcast: Seven Network / Fox Footy |
| Bryce Gibbs, Zach Tuohy | Bryce Gibbs, Zach Tuohy | Super Goals | N/A | N/A |
| Betts, Casboult, Duigan, Kreuzer, Robinson, Rowe, White | Betts, Casboult, Duigan, Kreuzer, Robinson, Rowe, White | Goals | Brown 5, Green 3, Zorko 2, Bewick, Karnezis, McGrath, Polkinghorne, Redden, Rich | Brown 5, Green 3, Zorko 2, Bewick, Karnezis, McGrath, Polkinghorne, Redden, Rich |
| Gibbs, Simpson, Yarran, Kreuzer, Murphy | Gibbs, Simpson, Yarran, Kreuzer, Murphy | Best | Rich, Zorko, Hanley, Brown, Karnezis, Moloney, Merrett, Green | Rich, Zorko, Hanley, Brown, Karnezis, Moloney, Merrett, Green |
| N/A | N/A | Injuries | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | Reports | N/A | N/A |
| Due to the unavailability of the Gabba because of cricket commitments, the AFL chose to schedule the match at Etihad Stadium rather than Metricon Stadium in Queensland, citing that the largest possible crowd would be drawn in Melbourne ahead of any potential game on the Gold Coast. ||||||

## Premiership season

The full fixture was released on Wednesday 31 October 2012.
* For the second consecutive year, the AFL's opening round was spread across two weekends.
* Due to concern over one-sided matches, each of the top four teams from 2012 (Sydney, Hawthorn, Adelaide and Collingwood) played each of the bottom four teams (the Western Bulldogs, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney) only once each – except that Sydney played local rival Greater Western Sydney twice, and that the Western Bulldogs played Adelaide twice.
* None of the bottom five teams from 2012 (Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney) featured in a Friday night match during the home-and-away season. This is due to the AFL's policy of awarding Friday night matches only to teams that perform consistently throughout the season.
* This season was the last in which AFL football was played at AAMI Stadium, with both Adelaide and Port Adelaide moving to a redeveloped Adelaide Oval from the 2014 season.
* Match starting times are local.

### Round 1

| | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | | |
| Friday, 22 March (8:10 pm) | Adelaide 11.16 (82) | def. by | Essendon 18.9 (117) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 42,218) | Match report |
| Saturday, 23 March (4:40 pm) | Fremantle 16.12 (108) | def. | West Coast 11.14 (80) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 39,629) | Match report |
| Thursday, 28 March (7:45 pm) | Carlton 14.17 (101) | def. by | Richmond 14.22 (106) | MCG (crowd: 80,971) | Match report |
| Saturday, 30 March (1:40 pm) | Western Bulldogs 19.13 (127) | def. | Brisbane Lions 7.17 (59) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 25,263) | Match report |
| Saturday, 30 March (4:40 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 11.10 (76) | def. by | Sydney 16.10 (106) | ANZ Stadium (crowd: 23,690) | Match report |
| Saturday, 30 March (6:45 pm) | Gold Coast 13.12 (90) | def. | St Kilda 10.17 (77) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 13,832) | Match report |
| Sunday, 31 March (1:10 pm) | Melbourne 8.6 (54) | def. by | Port Adelaide 19.19 (133) | MCG (crowd: 22,924) | Match report |
| Sunday, 31 March (4:40 pm) | North Melbourne 13.9 (87) | def. by | Collingwood 15.13 (103) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 41,040) | Match report |
| Monday, 1 April (3:20 pm) | Hawthorn 12.14 (86) | def. by | Geelong 13.15 (93) | MCG (crowd: 76,300) | Match report |

### Round 2

| | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | | |
| Friday, 5 April (7:50 pm) | St Kilda 12.10 (82) | def. by | Richmond 14.15 (99) | MCG (crowd: 56,783) | Match report |
| Saturday, 6 April (1:45 pm) | Sydney 17.12 (114) | def. | Gold Coast 11.7 (73) | SCG (crowd: 20,372) | Match report |
| Saturday, 6 April (2:10 pm) | Western Bulldogs 11.12 (78) | def. by | Fremantle 16.10 (106) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 19,210) | Match report |
| Saturday, 6 April (3:40 pm) | Brisbane Lions 10.17 (77) | def. by | Adelaide 14.12 (96) | Gabba (crowd: 21,308) | Match report |
| Saturday, 6 April (7:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 19.20 (134) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 11.12 (78) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 25,122) | Match report |
| Saturday, 6 April (7:40 pm) | Essendon 28.16 (184) | def. | Melbourne 5.6 (36) | MCG (crowd: 51,153) | Match report |
| Sunday, 7 April (1:10 pm) | Geelong 16.16 (112) | def. | North Melbourne 17.6 (108) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 34,152) | Match report |
| Sunday, 7 April (3:20 pm) | Collingwood 17.15 (117) | def. | Carlton 15.10 (100) | MCG (crowd: 84,247) | Match report |
| Sunday, 7 April (2:40 pm) | West Coast 15.8 (98) | def. by | Hawthorn 23.10 (148) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 38,389) | Match report |
| Essendon broke the record for its highest winning margin against Melbourne, winning by 148 points. Geelong defeated North Melbourne after trailing by 41 points late in the second quarter. ||||||

### Round 3

| | Round 3 | Round 3 | Round 3 | | |
| Friday, 12 April (6:40 pm) | Fremantle 9.14 (68) | def. by | Essendon 10.12 (72) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 35,963) | Match report |
| Saturday, 13 April (1:45 pm) | North Melbourne 13.14 (92) | def. by | Sydney 20.11 (131) | Blundstone Arena (crowd: 13,221) | Match report |
| Saturday, 13 April (2:10 pm) | Melbourne 13.5 (83) | def. by | West Coast 27.15 (177) | MCG (crowd: 18,571) | Match report |
| Saturday, 13 April (4:40 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 10.8 (68) | def. by | St Kilda 21.14 (140) | StarTrack Oval Canberra (crowd: 11,092) | Match report |
| Saturday, 13 April (7:40 pm) | Geelong 18.11 (119) | def. | Carlton 15.13 (103) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 43,241) | Match report |
| Saturday, 13 April (7:40 pm) | Gold Coast 13.14 (92) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 13.16 (94) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 12,961) | Match report |
| Sunday, 14 April (1:10 pm) | Richmond 20.15 (135) | def. | Western Bulldogs 10.8 (68) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 44,045) | Match report |
| Sunday, 14 April (3:20 pm) | Collingwood 13.12 (90) | def. by | Hawthorn 22.13 (145) | MCG (crowd: 72,254) | Match report |
| Sunday, 14 April (4:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 17.16 (118) | def. | Adelaide 16.13 (109) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 40,707) | Match report |

### Round 4

| | Round 4 | Round 4 | Round 4 | | |
| Friday, 19 April (7:50 pm) | Sydney 16.7 (103) | def. by | Geelong 19.10 (124) | SCG (crowd: 31,060) | Match report |
| Saturday, 20 April (1:45 pm) | Hawthorn 18.10 (118) | def. | Fremantle 11.10 (76) | Aurora Stadium (crowd: 12,619) | Match report |
| Saturday, 20 April (2:10 pm) | Richmond 11.13 (79) | def. by | Collingwood 16.17 (113) | MCG (crowd: 81,950) | Match report |
| Saturday, 20 April (4:40 pm) | St Kilda 13.13 (91) | def. by | Essendon 19.14 (128) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 46,965) | Match report |
| Saturday, 20 April (5:40 pm) | West Coast 7.23 (65) | def. by | Carlton 12.17 (89) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 38,674) | Match report |
| Saturday, 20 April (7:40 pm) | Gold Coast 9.12 (66) | def. by | Port Adelaide 16.8 (104) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 11,332) | Match report |
| Sunday, 21 April (1:10 pm) | Melbourne 22.12 (144) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 15.13 (103) | MCG (crowd: 20,018) | Match report |
| Sunday, 21 April (2:50 pm) | Adelaide 12.8 (80) | def. | Western Bulldogs 4.4 (28) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 24,684) | Match report |
| Sunday, 21 April (4:40 pm) | North Melbourne 18.17 (125) | def. | Brisbane Lions 9.8 (62) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 22,776) | Match report |
| Melbourne scored 12.2 (74) in the final quarter against Greater Western Sydney, setting a new record for its highest score in any quarter in its history. The Western Bulldogs' final score of 4.4 (28) was its lowest in any game since round 16, 1996. North Melbourne's Majak Daw became the first Sudanese player to play in the AFL. ||||||

### Round 5

| | Round 5 | Round 5 | Round 5 | | |
| Thursday, 25 April (2:40 pm) | Essendon 18.13 (121) | def. | Collingwood 10.15 (75) | MCG (crowd: 93,373) | Match report |
| Thursday, 25 April (7:50 pm) | St Kilda 9.9 (63) | def. by | Sydney 11.13 (79) | Westpac Stadium (crowd: 22,546) | Match report |
| Friday, 26 April (6:45 pm) | Fremantle 12.9 (81) | def. | Richmond 12.8 (80) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 36,365) | Match report |
| Saturday, 27 April (1:45 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 16.8 (104) | def. by | Gold Coast 21.22 (148) | StarTrack Oval Canberra (crowd: 6,832) | Match report |
| Saturday, 27 April (4:40 pm) | Carlton 17.13 (115) | def. | Adelaide 12.11 (83) | MCG (crowd: 44,711) | Match report |
| Saturday, 27 April (7:15 pm) | Port Adelaide 12.12 (84) | def. | West Coast 10.19 (79) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 26,132) | Match report |
| Saturday, 27 April (7:40 pm) | Western Bulldogs 13.8 (86) | def. by | Geelong 15.17 (107) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 26,153) | Match report |
| Sunday, 28 April (3:20 pm) | Brisbane Lions 17.20 (122) | def. | Melbourne 14.10 (94) | Gabba (crowd: 19,018) | Match report |
| Sunday, 28 April (4:40 pm) | Hawthorn 14.15 (99) | def. | North Melbourne 13.18 (96) | MCG (crowd: 42,103) | Match report |
| The St Kilda vs Sydney match was the first AFL premiership match played outside Australia. ||||||

### Round 6

| | Round 6 | Round 6 | Round 6 | | |
| Friday, 3 May (7:50 pm) | Collingwood 15.13 (103) | def. | St Kilda 11.11 (77) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 40,071) | Match report |
| Saturday, 4 May (1:45 pm) | Essendon 17.18 (120) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 12.9 (81) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 30,143) | Match report |
| Saturday, 4 May (2:10 pm) | North Melbourne 14.9 (93) | def. | Port Adelaide 12.11 (83) | Blundstone Arena (crowd: 10,265) | Match report |
| Saturday, 4 May (4:10 pm) | Adelaide 11.12 (78) | def. by | Hawthorn 13.11 (89) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 37,324) | Match report |
| Saturday, 4 May (7:40 pm) | Gold Coast 7.12 (54) | def. by | Fremantle 15.9 (99) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 10,552) | Match report |
| Saturday, 4 May (7:40 pm) | Richmond 13.9 (87) | def. by | Geelong 20.11 (131) | MCG (crowd: 55,625) | Match report |
| Sunday, 5 May (1:10 pm) | Sydney 17.13 (115) | def. | Brisbane Lions 8.7 (55) | SCG (crowd: 23,315) | Match report |
| Sunday, 5 May (3:20 pm) | Carlton 18.13 (121) | def. | Melbourne 8.12 (60) | MCG (crowd: 35,286) | Match report |
| Sunday, 5 May (2:40 pm) | West Coast 21.11 (137) | def. | Western Bulldogs 10.7 (67) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 36,163) | Match report |

### Round 7

| | Round 7 | Round 7 | Round 7 | | |
| Friday, 10 May (7:50 pm) | Geelong 17.11 (113) | def. | Essendon 11.19 (85) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 53,014) | Match report |
| Saturday, 11 May (1:15 pm) | Port Adelaide 10.13 (73) | def. by | Richmond 18.6 (114) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 25,372) | Match report |
| Saturday, 11 May (2:10 pm) | Brisbane Lions 12.10 (82) | def. by | West Coast 17.6 (108) | Gabba (crowd: 17,615) | Match report |
| Saturday, 11 May (4:40 pm) | Western Bulldogs 15.7 (97) | def. by | North Melbourne 22.19 (151) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 23,690) | Match report |
| Saturday, 11 May (5:40 pm) | Fremantle 15.10 (100) | def. | Collingwood 10.13 (73) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 37,214) | Match report |
| Saturday, 11 May (7:40 pm) | Hawthorn 18.11 (119) | def. | Sydney 12.10 (82) | MCG (crowd: 54,725) | Match report |
| Sunday, 12 May (1:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 7.10 (52) | def. by | Adelaide 29.13 (187) | Škoda Stadium (crowd: 5,830) | Match report |
| Sunday, 12 May (4:40 pm) | Melbourne 7.12 (54) | def. by | Gold Coast 16.18 (114) | MCG (crowd: 13,304) | Match report |
| Monday, 13 May (7:40 pm) | St Kilda 11.11 (77) | def. | Carlton 9.14 (68) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 34,054) | Match report |
| The crowd of 5,830 for the Greater Western Sydney vs Adelaide match was the lowest for a premiership match since 1996. Tom Lynch (Adelaide) kicked ten goals in his team's win against Greater Western Sydney. ||||||

### Round 8

| | Round 8 | Round 8 | Round 8 | | |
| Friday, 17 May (6:40 pm) | West Coast 12.18 (90) | def. | North Melbourne 13.10 (88) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 38,146) | Match report |
| Saturday, 18 May (1:45 pm) | Essendon 12.14 (86) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 14.12 (96) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 33,915) | Match report |
| Saturday, 18 May (2:10 pm) | Hawthorn 21.14 (140) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 9.3 (57) | Aurora Stadium (crowd: 10,513) | Match report |
| Saturday, 18 May (4:40 pm) | Gold Coast 13.15 (93) | def. | Western Bulldogs 8.13 (61) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 13,520) | Match report |
| Saturday, 18 May (7:40 pm) | Sydney 11.4 (70) | drew with | Fremantle 9.16 (70) | SCG (crowd: 22,546) | Match report |
| Saturday, 18 May (7:40 pm) | Collingwood 15.12 (102) | def. | Geelong 14.12 (96) | MCG (crowd: 66,768) | Match report |
| Sunday, 19 May (1:10 pm) | Carlton 16.13 (109) | def. | Port Adelaide 14.7 (91) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 29,936) | Match report |
| Sunday, 19 May (3:20 pm) | Richmond 15.16 (106) | def. | Melbourne 11.6 (72) | MCG (crowd: 39,148) | Match report |
| Sunday, 19 May (4:10 pm) | Adelaide 12.15 (87) | def. | St Kilda 6.11 (47) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 34,605) | Match report |
| West Coast defeated North Melbourne after Nic Naitanui kicked a goal after the final siren. Gold Coast recorded consecutive victories for the first time in its history. ||||||

### Round 9

| | Round 9 | Round 9 | Round 9 | | |
| Friday, 24 May (7:50 pm) | Collingwood 8.7 (55) | def. by | Sydney 15.12 (102) | MCG (crowd: 65,306) | Match report |
| Saturday, 25 May (1:15 pm) | Port Adelaide 9.14 (68) | def. by | Geelong 18.8 (116) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 21,309) | Match report |
| Saturday, 25 May (2:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 8.7 (55) | def. by | West Coast 23.17 (155) | Škoda Stadium (crowd: 6,324) | Match report |
| Saturday, 25 May (4:40 pm) | St Kilda 15.11 (101) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 17.8 (110) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 25,982) | Match report |
| Saturday, 25 May (7:40 pm) | Brisbane Lions 12.13 (85) | def. by | Carlton 13.20 (98) | Gabba (crowd: 24,037) | Match report |
| Saturday, 25 May (7:45 pm) | Richmond 9.8 (62) | def. by | Essendon 13.13 (91) | MCG (crowd: 84,234) | Match report |
| Sunday, 26 May (1:10 pm) | Hawthorn 18.10 (118) | def. | Gold Coast 14.8 (92) | MCG (crowd: 28,112) | Match report |
| Sunday, 26 May (3:20 pm) | North Melbourne 19.10 (124) | def. by | Adelaide 18.17 (125) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 23,033) | Match report |
| Sunday, 26 May (2:40 pm) | Fremantle 19.16 (130) | def. | Melbourne 6.4 (40) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 32,950) | Match report |

### Round 10

| | Round 10 | Round 10 | Round 10 | | |
| Friday, 31 May (7:50 pm) | Brisbane Lions 7.9 (51) | def. by | Collingwood 14.16 (100) | Gabba (crowd: 26,626) | Match report |
| Saturday, 1 June (1:45 pm) | Carlton 22.16 (148) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 8.6 (54) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 25,008) | Match report |
| Saturday, 1 June (1:40 pm) | Adelaide 8.11 (59) | def. by | Fremantle 10.6 (66) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 27,684) | Match report |
| Saturday, 1 June (4:40 pm) | Sydney 17.13 (115) | def. | Essendon 10.11 (71) | SCG (crowd: 29,792) | Match report |
| Saturday, 1 June (7:40 pm) | Geelong 18.15 (123) | def. | Gold Coast 10.11 (71) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 30,082) | Match report |
| Saturday, 1 June (7:10 pm) | Western Bulldogs 10.7 (67) | def. | Port Adelaide 8.10 (58) | TIO Stadium (crowd: 7,850) | Match report |
| Sunday, 2 June (3:20 pm) | Melbourne 6.12 (48) | def. by | Hawthorn 21.17 (143) | MCG (crowd: 28,546) | Match report |
| Sunday, 2 June (4:40 pm) | North Melbourne 19.19 (133) | def. | St Kilda 10.5 (65) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 25,658) | Match report |
| Monday, 3 June (5:40 pm) | West Coast 8.14 (62) | def. by | Richmond 16.7 (103) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 37,781) | Match report |
| For the first time, Geelong played a night match at Simonds Stadium, their home stadium. ||||||

### Round 11

| | Round 11 | Round 11 | Round 11 | | |
| Friday, 7 June (7:50 pm) | Essendon 11.11 (77) | def. | Carlton 10.12 (72) | MCG (crowd: 82,639) | Match report |
| Saturday, 8 June (1:40 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 15.8 (98) | def. by | Geelong 24.13 (157) | Škoda Stadium (crowd: 7,809) | Match report |
| Saturday, 8 June (4:10 pm) | Adelaide 6.14 (50) | def. by | Sydney 19.13 (127) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 38,374) | Match report |
| Saturday, 8 June (7:40 pm) | Gold Coast 9.12 (66) | def. | North Melbourne 8.3 (51) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 10,891) | Match report |
| Sunday, 9 June (4:40 pm) | St Kilda 11.14 (80) | def. by | West Coast 12.12 (84) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 23,795) | Match report |
| Monday, 10 June (3:15 pm) | Melbourne 5.9 (39) | def. by | Collingwood 17.20 (122) | MCG (crowd: 50,835) | Match report |
| | Bye Brisbane Lions, Fremantle, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Richmond, Western Bulldogs | Bye Brisbane Lions, Fremantle, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Richmond, Western Bulldogs | Bye Brisbane Lions, Fremantle, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Richmond, Western Bulldogs | | |

### Round 12

| | Round 12 | Round 12 | Round 12 | | |
| Friday, 14 June (7:50 pm) | Carlton 13.9 (87) | def. by | Hawthorn 15.12 (102) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 45,670) | Match report |
| Saturday, 15 June (1:40 pm) | Richmond 16.14 (110) | def. | Adelaide 10.12 (72) | MCG (crowd: 43,615) | Match report |
| Saturday, 15 June (2:40 pm) | Fremantle 12.14 (86) | def. | Brisbane Lions 6.10 (46) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 33,384) | Match report |
| Saturday, 15 June (7:40 pm) | Essendon 17.13 (115) | def. | Gold Coast 11.6 (72) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 31,452) | Match report |
| Sunday, 16 June (1:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 6.14 (50) | def. by | Port Adelaide 19.11 (125) | Škoda Stadium (crowd: 6,601) | Match report |
| Sunday, 16 June (4:40 pm) | Collingwood 15.9 (99) | def. | Western Bulldogs 9.11 (65) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 32,253) | Match report |
| | Bye Geelong, Melbourne, North Melbourne, St Kilda, Sydney, West Coast | Bye Geelong, Melbourne, North Melbourne, St Kilda, Sydney, West Coast | Bye Geelong, Melbourne, North Melbourne, St Kilda, Sydney, West Coast | | |

### Round 13

| | Round 13 | Round 13 | Round 13 | | |
| Friday, 21 June (7:50 pm) | Hawthorn 19.9 (123) | def. | West Coast 16.7 (103) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 32,567) | Match report |
| Saturday, 22 June (1:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 10.12 (72) | def. | Sydney 8.6 (54) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 16,096) | Match report |
| Saturday, 22 June (4:40 pm) | St Kilda 16.8 (104) | def. | Melbourne 10.9 (69) | MCG (crowd: 28,751) | Match report |
| Saturday, 22 June (7:40 pm) | Western Bulldogs 8.13 (61) | def. by | Richmond 17.19 (121) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 29,788) | Match report |
| Sunday, 23 June (1:20 pm) | Fremantle 10.7 (67) | def. | North Melbourne 4.5 (29) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 31,637) | Match report |
| Sunday, 23 June (4:40 pm) | Brisbane Lions 15.13 (103) | def. | Geelong 14.14 (98) | Gabba (crowd: 24,164) | Match report |
| | Bye Adelaide, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Gold Coast, Greater Western Sydney | Bye Adelaide, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Gold Coast, Greater Western Sydney | Bye Adelaide, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Gold Coast, Greater Western Sydney | | |
| The Brisbane Lions staged the largest successful come-from-behind victory in the club's history, recovering from a 52-point third quarter deficit to defeat Geelong by five points. The victory was completed with a goal after the final siren by Ash McGrath. ||||||

### Round 14

| | Round 14 | Round 14 | Round 14 | | |
| Thursday, 27 June (6:10 pm) | West Coast 13.13 (91) | def. by | Essendon 15.8 (98) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 36,451) | Match report |
| Friday, 28 June (7:50 pm) | Sydney 8.17 (65) | def. | Carlton 5.13 (43) | SCG (crowd: 25,349) | Match report |
| Saturday, 29 June (1:40 pm) | Gold Coast 11.17 (83) | def. by | Adelaide 16.15 (111) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 13,791) | Match report |
| Saturday, 29 June (4:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 13.8 (86) | def. | Collingwood 7.9 (51) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 31,121) | Match report |
| Saturday, 29 June (7:40 pm) | Melbourne 15.13 (103) | def. | Western Bulldogs 15.10 (100) | MCG (crowd: 21,217) | Match report |
| Saturday, 29 June (7:40 pm) | Geelong 11.19 (85) | def. | Fremantle 7.2 (44) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 26,743) | Match report |
| Sunday, 30 June (1:10 pm) | Hawthorn 21.17 (143) | def. | Brisbane Lions 12.13 (85) | Aurora Stadium (crowd: 15,796) | Match report |
| Sunday, 30 June (3:20 pm) | North Melbourne 19.16 (130) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 6.8 (44) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 15,438) | Match report |
| Sunday, 30 June (4:40 pm) | Richmond 17.17 (119) | def. | St Kilda 8.7 (55) | MCG (crowd: 52,184) | Match report |

### Round 15

| | Round 15 | Round 15 | Round 15 | | |
| Friday, 5 July (7:50 pm) | Carlton 12.5 (77) | def. by | Collingwood 17.16 (118) | MCG (crowd: 78,224) | Match report |
| Saturday, 6 July (1:45 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 12.11 (83) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 13.9 (87) | StarTrack Oval Canberra (crowd: 7,132) | Match report |
| Saturday, 6 July (2:10 pm) | North Melbourne 19.14 (128) | def. | Richmond 8.18 (66) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 45,966) | Match report |
| Saturday, 6 July (4:40 pm) | Brisbane Lions 17.14 (116) | def. | Gold Coast 12.11 (83) | Gabba (crowd: 27,170) | Match report |
| Saturday, 6 July (7:10 pm) | Adelaide 9.15 (69) | def. by | West Coast 11.9 (75) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 26,426) | Match report |
| Saturday, 6 July (7:40 pm) | Geelong 11.16 (82) | def. | Hawthorn 10.12 (72) | MCG (crowd: 85,197) | Match report |
| Sunday, 7 July (1:10 pm) | Melbourne 13.7 (85) | def. by | Sydney 16.20 (116) | MCG (crowd: 26,216) | Match report |
| Sunday, 7 July (1:20 pm) | Fremantle 15.10 (100) | def. | St Kilda 11.4 (70) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 34,064) | Match report |
| Sunday, 7 July (4:40 pm) | Essendon 18.10 (118) | def. | Port Adelaide 12.16 (88) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 40,817) | Match report |
| Hawthorn's loss ended a twelve-game winning streak, equalling its 1961 winning streak as the longest in club history. ||||||

### Round 16

| | Round 16 | Round 16 | Round 16 | | |
| Friday, 12 July (7:50 pm) | Collingwood 17.9 (111) | def. | Adelaide 12.12 (84) | MCG (crowd: 54,790) | Match report |
| Saturday, 13 July (1:15 pm) | Port Adelaide 12.7 (79) | def. by | Hawthorn 19.10 (124) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 23,748) | Match report |
| Saturday, 13 July (2:10 pm) | Geelong 13.20 (98) | def. | Melbourne 4.6 (30) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 23,172) | Match report |
| Saturday, 13 July (4:40 pm) | Richmond 6.17 (53) | def. | Gold Coast 6.8 (44) | Cazaly's Stadium (crowd: 11,197) | Match report |
| Saturday, 13 July (7:40 pm) | Brisbane Lions 18.9 (117) | def. | North Melbourne 17.3 (105) | Gabba (crowd: 18,131) | Match report |
| Saturday, 13 July (7:40 pm) | Carlton 16.14 (110) | def. | St Kilda 10.14 (74) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 30,949) | Match report |
| Sunday, 14 July (1:10 pm) | Sydney 24.27 (171) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 5.12 (42) | SCG (crowd: 21,757) | Match report |
| Sunday, 14 July (3:20 pm) | Western Bulldogs 14.6 (90) | def. by | Essendon 18.13 (121) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 32,500) | Match report |
| Sunday, 14 July (2:40 pm) | West Coast 14.9 (93) | def. by | Fremantle 19.7 (121) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 39,839) | Match report |
| Melbourne recorded only 19 inside-50s in its loss to Geelong, an AFL-record low since the statistic was first recorded in 1999. ||||||

### Round 17

| | Round 17 | Round 17 | Round 17 | | |
| Friday, 19 July (7:50 pm) | North Melbourne 16.12 (108) | def. by | Carlton 16.13 (109) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 37,443) | Match report |
| Saturday, 20 July (1:45 pm) | Hawthorn 13.17 (95) | def. | Western Bulldogs 11.10 (76) | Aurora Stadium (crowd: 14,022) | Match report |
| Saturday, 20 July (2:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 11.11 (77) | def. by | Essendon 18.8 (116) | Škoda Stadium (crowd: 10,783) | Match report |
| Saturday, 20 July (4:40 pm) | Gold Coast 13.7 (85) | def. | Collingwood 11.12 (78) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 19,721) | Match report |
| Saturday, 20 July (7:10 pm) | Melbourne 11.9 (75) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 13.16 (94) | TIO Stadium (crowd: 7,615) | Match report |
| Saturday, 20 July (7:40 pm) | St Kilda 13.14 (92) | def. by | Port Adelaide 14.13 (97) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 14,878) | Match report |
| Sunday, 21 July (1:10 pm) | Richmond 12.12 (84) | def. | Fremantle 8.9 (57) | MCG (crowd: 40,125) | Match report |
| Sunday, 21 July (2:50 pm) | Adelaide 14.10 (94) | def. | Geelong 14.8 (92) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 28,603) | Match report |
| Sunday, 21 July (2:40 pm) | West Coast 11.13 (79) | def. by | Sydney 17.11 (113) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 35,166) | Match report |

### Round 18

| | Round 18 | Round 18 | Round 18 | | |
| Friday, 26 July (7:50 pm) | Essendon 13.9 (87) | def. by | Hawthorn 22.11 (143) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 49,505) | Match report |
| Saturday, 27 July (1:45 pm) | Gold Coast 11.11 (77) | def. by | Carlton 16.24 (120) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 19,460) | Match report |
| Saturday, 27 July (2:10 pm) | Melbourne 4.4 (28) | def. by | North Melbourne 22.18 (150) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 16,959) | Match report |
| Saturday, 27 July (4:40 pm) | Collingwood 15.16 (106) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 10.6 (66) | MCG (crowd: 32,691) | Match report |
| Saturday, 27 July (5:40 pm) | Fremantle 11.9 (75) | def. | Adelaide 7.11 (53) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 28,765) | Match report |
| Saturday, 27 July (7:40 pm) | Geelong 21.11 (137) | def. | St Kilda 5.6 (36) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 27,200) | Match report |
| Sunday, 28 July (12:40 pm) | Port Adelaide 9.17 (71) | def. | Brisbane Lions 9.8 (62) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 22,631) | Match report |
| Sunday, 28 July (3:20 pm) | Western Bulldogs 16.15 (111) | def. | West Coast 13.11 (89) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 17,019) | Match report |
| Sunday, 28 July (4:40 pm) | Sydney 16.14 (110) | def. | Richmond 9.9 (63) | SCG (crowd: 29,738) | Match report |

### Round 19

| | Round 19 | Round 19 | Round 19 | | |
| Friday, 2 August (7:50 pm) | North Melbourne 15.6 (96) | def. | Geelong 13.8 (86) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 33,584) | Match report |
| Saturday, 3 August (1:45 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 19.10 (124) | def. | Melbourne 12.15 (87) | Škoda Stadium (crowd: 8,308) | Match report |
| Saturday, 3 August (2:10 pm) | Hawthorn 9.12 (66) | def. by | Richmond 16.11 (107) | MCG (crowd: 64,324) | Match report |
| Saturday, 3 August (2:40 pm) | West Coast 20.10 (130) | def. | Gold Coast 17.11 (113) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 32,140) | Match report |
| Saturday, 3 August (7:40 pm) | Brisbane Lions 16.12 (108) | def. | St Kilda 11.11 (77) | Gabba (crowd: 19,856) | Match report |
| Saturday, 3 August (7:40 pm) | Carlton 12.8 (80) | def. by | Fremantle 17.14 (116) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 30,457) | Match report |
| Sunday, 4 August (1:10 pm) | Western Bulldogs 15.9 (99) | def. by | Sydney 21.8 (134) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 22,647) | Match report |
| Sunday, 4 August (2:50 pm) | Adelaide 15.13 (103) | def. by | Port Adelaide 17.5 (107) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 43,368) | Match report |
| Sunday, 4 August (4:40 pm) | Collingwood 20.13 (133) | def. | Essendon 7.12 (54) | MCG (crowd: 69,821) | Match report |
| Greater Western Sydney ended a 21-match losing streak with its win against Melbourne. ||||||

### Round 20

| | Round 20 | Round 20 | Round 20 | | |
| Friday, 9 August (7:50 pm) | St Kilda 7.14 (56) | def. by | Hawthorn 14.18 (102) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 24,765) | Match report |
| Saturday, 10 August (1:45 pm) | Richmond 14.13 (97) | def. | Brisbane Lions 11.8 (74) | MCG (crowd: 46,961) | Match report |
| Saturday, 10 August (2:10 pm) | Geelong 20.9 (129) | def. | Port Adelaide 16.8 (104) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 24,784) | Match report |
| Saturday, 10 August (4:40 pm) | Carlton 13.11 (89) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 16.21 (117) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 31,126) | Match report |
| Saturday, 10 August (7:40 pm) | Gold Coast 13.12 (90) | def. | Melbourne 10.17 (77) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 13,840) | Match report |
| Saturday, 10 August (7:40 pm) | Sydney 10.11 (71) | def. by | Collingwood 14.16 (100) | ANZ Stadium (crowd: 42,627) | Match report |
| Sunday, 11 August (1:10 pm) | Essendon 9.13 (67) | def. by | West Coast 18.12 (120) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 32,595) | Match report |
| Sunday, 11 August (2:50 pm) | Adelaide 11.13 (79) | def. | North Melbourne 10.10 (70) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 31,801) | Match report |
| Sunday, 11 August (2:40 pm) | Fremantle 24.13 (157) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 6.8 (44) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 31,390) | Match report |
| Richmond secured a finals berth for the first time since 2001, ending a drought of 11 years without playing finals. Fremantle's 113-point win against Greater Western Sydney stands as of 2023 as the greatest winning margin in club history. ||||||

### Round 21

| | Round 21 | Round 21 | Round 21 | | |
| Friday, 16 August (7:50 pm) | Hawthorn 18.11 (119) | def. | Collingwood 12.12 (84) | MCG (crowd: 71,533) | Match report |
| Saturday, 17 August (1:45 pm) | Richmond 14.12 (96) | def. by | Carlton 16.10 (106) | MCG (crowd: 63,825) | Match report |
| Saturday, 17 August (1:40 pm) | Port Adelaide 16.17 (113) | def. | Gold Coast 14.12 (96) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 18,703) | Match report |
| Saturday, 17 August (4:40 pm) | Essendon 9.16 (70) | def. by | North Melbourne 17.13 (115) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 34,102) | Match report |
| Saturday, 17 August (5:40 pm) | West Coast 6.5 (41) | def. by | Geelong 16.11 (107) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 34,394) | Match report |
| Saturday, 17 August (7:40 pm) | Brisbane Lions 18.15 (123) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 9.9 (63) | Gabba (crowd: 13,855) | Match report |
| Sunday, 18 August (1:10 pm) | Melbourne 5.8 (38) | def. by | Fremantle 20.13 (133) | MCG (crowd: 13,768) | Match report |
| Sunday, 18 August (3:20 pm) | Sydney 18.10 (118) | def. | St Kilda 8.11 (59) | SCG (crowd: 26,730) | Match report |
| Sunday, 18 August (4:40 pm) | Western Bulldogs 20.11 (131) | def. | Adelaide 17.12 (114) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 17,159) | Match report |

### Round 22

| | Round 22 | Round 22 | Round 22 | | |
| Friday, 23 August (7:50 pm) | Collingwood 15.11 (101) | def. | West Coast 5.9 (39) | MCG (crowd: 41,198) | Match report |
| Saturday, 24 August (1:15 pm) | Adelaide 18.12 (120) | def. | Melbourne 7.10 (52) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 35,643) | Match report |
| Saturday, 24 August (2:10 pm) | North Melbourne 15.13 (103) | def. by | Hawthorn 17.15 (117) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 33,039) | Match report |
| Saturday, 24 August (4:40 pm) | Geelong 13.14 (92) | def. | Sydney 7.6 (48) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 28,459) | Match report |
| Saturday, 24 August (5:40 pm) | Fremantle 21.8 (134) | def. | Port Adelaide 9.6 (60) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 35,565) | Match report |
| Saturday, 24 August (7:40 pm) | Carlton 9.22 (76) | def. by | Essendon 12.10 (82) | MCG (crowd: 53,630) | Match report |
| Sunday, 25 August (1:10 pm) | St Kilda 17.14 (116) | def. | Gold Coast 10.10 (70) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 17,622) | Match report |
| Sunday, 25 August (3:20 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 6.6 (42) | def. by | Richmond 25.13 (163) | Škoda Stadium (crowd: 12,314) | Match report |
| Sunday, 25 August (4:40 pm) | Brisbane Lions 15.10 (100) | def. | Western Bulldogs 13.15 (93) | Gabba (crowd: 20,130) | Match report |
| West Coast's score of 5.9 (39) was its lowest ever at the MCG. ||||||

### Round 23

| | Round 23 | Round 23 | Round 23 | | |
| Friday, 30 August (7:50 pm) | Sydney 16.4 (100) | def. by | Hawthorn 17.10 (112) | ANZ Stadium (crowd: 37,980) | Match report |
| Saturday, 31 August (1:45 pm) | St Kilda 16.16 (112) | def. | Fremantle 6.5 (41) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 22,476) | Match report |
| Saturday, 31 August (2:10 pm) | Geelong 15.22 (112) | def. | Brisbane Lions 17.9 (111) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 27,467) | Match report |
| Saturday, 31 August (4:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 15.13 (103) | def. by | Carlton 15.14 (104) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 45,127) | Match report |
| Saturday, 31 August (6:10 pm) | West Coast 5.13 (43) | def. by | Adelaide 19.15 (129) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 29,416) | Match report |
| Saturday, 31 August (7:40 pm) | Essendon 9.11 (65) | def. by | Richmond 15.14 (104) | MCG (crowd: 60,979) | Match report |
| Sunday, 1 September (1:10 pm) | Gold Coast 22.14 (146) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 9.9 (63) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 13,080) | Match report |
| Sunday, 1 September (3:20 pm) | Collingwood 17.12 (114) | def. by | North Melbourne 19.11 (125) | MCG (crowd: 50,958) | Match report |
| Sunday, 1 September (4:40 pm) | Western Bulldogs 16.11 (107) | def. | Melbourne 13.9 (87) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 22,176) | Match report |
| Carlton's one point victory over Port Adelaide meant they finished the home and away season in 9th and subsequently replaced disqualified Essendon in the finals. Assured of its third placed finish, Fremantle omitted eleven senior players to manage their fatigue for the finals, and consequently lost to sixteenth-placed St Kilda by 71 points. Following the season, the AFL formally clarified its integrity rules relating to such events: clubs could obtain permission on request to rest senior players at the end of the season, but the league would need to rule on a case-by-case basis that the club was not attempting to manipulate its finals draw. ||||||

## Win/loss table

| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF | Ladder |
| Adelaide | Ess -35 | BL +19 | PA -9 | WB +52 | Carl -32 | Haw -11 | GWS +135 | StK +40 | NM +1 | Frem -7 | Syd -77 | Rich -38 | X | GCS +28 | WCE -6 | Coll -27 | Geel +2 | Frem -22 | PA -4 | NM +9 | WB -17 | Melb +68 | WCE +86 | X | X | X | X | 11 |
| Brisbane Lions | WB -68 | Adel -19 | GCS +2 | NM -63 | Melb +28 | Syd -60 | WCE -26 | Ess +10 | Carl -13 | Coll -49 | X | Frem -40 | Geel +5 | Haw -58 | GCS +33 | NM +12 | Melb +19 | PA -9 | StK +31 | Rich -23 | GWS +60 | WB +7 | Geel -1 | X | X | X | X | 12 |
| Carlton | Rich -5 | Coll -17 | Geel -16 | WCE +24 | Adel +32 | Melb +61 | StK -9 | PA +18 | BL +13 | GWS +94 | Ess -5 | Haw -16 | X | Syd -22 | Coll -41 | StK +36 | NM +1 | GCS +43 | Frem -36 | WB -28 | Rich +10 | Ess -6 | PA +1 | Rich +20 | Syd -24 | X | X | 8 |
| Collingwood | NM +16 | Carl +17 | Haw -55 | Rich +34 | Ess -46 | StK +26 | Frem -27 | Geel +6 | Syd -47 | BL +49 | Melb +83 | WB +34 | X | PA -35 | Carl +41 | Adel +27 | GCS -7 | GWS +40 | Ess +79 | Syd +29 | Haw -35 | WCE +62 | NM -11 | PA -24 | X | X | X | 6 |
| Essendon | Adel +35 | Melb +148 | Frem +4 | StK +37 | Coll +46 | GWS +39 | Geel -28 | BL -10 | Rich +29 | Syd -44 | Carl +5 | GCS +43 | X | WCE +7 | PA +30 | WB +31 | GWS +39 | Haw -56 | Coll -79 | WCE -53 | NM -45 | Carl +6 | Rich -39 | X | X | X | X | 9 |
| Fremantle | WCE +28 | WB +28 | Ess -4 | Haw -42 | Rich +1 | GCS +45 | Coll +27 | Syd 0 | Melb +90 | Adel +7 | X | BL +40 | NM +38 | Geel -41 | StK +30 | WCE +28 | Rich -27 | Adel +22 | Carl +36 | GWS +113 | Melb +95 | PA +74 | StK -71 | Geel +15 | X | Syd +25 | Haw -15 | 3 |
| Geelong | Haw +7 | NM +4 | Carl +16 | Syd +21 | WB +21 | Rich +44 | Ess +28 | Coll -6 | PA +48 | GCS +52 | GWS +59 | X | BL -5 | Frem +41 | Haw +10 | Melb +68 | Adel -2 | StK +101 | NM -10 | PA +25 | WCE +66 | Syd +44 | BL +1 | Frem -15 | PA +16 | Haw -5 | X | 2 |
| Gold Coast | StK +13 | Syd -41 | BL -2 | PA -38 | GWS +44 | Frem -45 | Melb +60 | WB +32 | Haw -26 | Geel -52 | NM +15 | Ess -43 | X | Adel -28 | BL -33 | Rich -9 | Coll +7 | Carl -43 | WCE -17 | Melb +13 | PA -17 | StK -46 | GWS +83 | X | X | X | X | 14 |
| Greater Western Sydney | Syd -30 | PA -56 | StK -72 | Melb -41 | GCS -44 | Ess -39 | Adel -135 | Haw -83 | WCE -100 | Carl -94 | Geel -59 | PA -75 | X | NM -86 | WB -4 | Syd -129 | Ess -39 | Coll -40 | Melb +37 | Frem -113 | BL -60 | Rich -121 | GCS -83 | X | X | X | X | 18 |
| Hawthorn | Geel -7 | WCE +50 | Coll +55 | Frem +42 | NM +3 | Adel +11 | Syd +37 | GWS +83 | GCS +26 | Melb +95 | X | Carl +16 | WCE +20 | BL +58 | Geel -10 | PA +45 | WB +19 | Ess +56 | Rich -41 | StK +46 | Coll +35 | NM +14 | Syd +12 | Syd +54 | X | Geel +5 | Frem +15 | 1 |
| Melbourne | PA -79 | Ess -148 | WCE -94 | GWS +41 | BL -28 | Carl -61 | GCS -60 | Rich -34 | Frem -90 | Haw -95 | Coll -83 | X | StK -35 | WB +3 | Syd -31 | Geel -68 | BL -19 | NM -122 | GWS -37 | GCS -13 | Frem -95 | Adel -68 | WB -20 | X | X | X | X | 17 |
| North Melbourne | Coll -16 | Geel -4 | Syd -39 | BL +63 | Haw -3 | PA +10 | WB +54 | WCE -2 | Adel -1 | StK +68 | GCS -15 | X | Frem -38 | GWS +86 | Rich +62 | BL -12 | Carl -1 | Melb +122 | Geel +10 | Adel -9 | Ess +45 | Haw -14 | Coll +11 | X | X | X | X | 10 |
| Port Adelaide | Melb +79 | GWS +56 | Adel +9 | GCS +38 | WCE +5 | NM -10 | Rich -41 | Carl -18 | Geel -48 | WB -9 | X | GWS +75 | Syd +18 | Coll +35 | Ess -30 | Haw -45 | StK +5 | BL +9 | Adel +4 | Geel -25 | GCS +17 | Frem -74 | Carl -1 | Coll +24 | Geel -16 | X | X | 7 |
| Richmond | Carl +5 | StK +17 | WB +67 | Coll -35 | Frem -1 | Geel -44 | PA +41 | Melb +34 | Ess -29 | WCE +41 | X | Adel +38 | WB +60 | StK +64 | NM -62 | GCS +9 | Frem +27 | Syd -47 | Haw +41 | BL +23 | Carl -10 | GWS +121 | Ess +39 | Carl -20 | X | X | X | 5 |
| St Kilda | GCS -13 | Rich -17 | GWS +72 | Ess -37 | Syd -16 | Coll -26 | Carl +9 | Adel -40 | WB -9 | NM -68 | WCE -4 | X | Melb +35 | Rich -64 | Frem -30 | Carl -36 | PA -5 | Geel -101 | BL -31 | Haw -46 | Syd -59 | GCS +46 | Frem +71 | X | X | X | X | 16 |
| Sydney | GWS +30 | GCS +41 | NM +39 | Geel -21 | StK +16 | BL +60 | Haw -37 | Frem 0 | Coll +47 | Ess +44 | Adel +77 | X | PA -18 | Carl +22 | Melb +31 | GWS +129 | WCE +34 | Rich +47 | WB +35 | Coll -29 | StK +59 | Geel -44 | Haw -12 | Haw -54 | Carl +24 | Frem -25 | X | 4 |
| West Coast | Frem -28 | Haw -50 | Mel +94 | Carl -24 | PA -5 | WB +70 | BL +26 | NM +2 | GWS +100 | Rich -41 | StK +4 | X | Haw -20 | Ess -7 | Adel +6 | Frem -28 | Syd -34 | WB -22 | GCS +17 | Ess +53 | Geel -66 | Coll -62 | Adel -86 | X | X | X | X | 13 |
| Western Bulldogs | BL +68 | Frem -28 | Rich -67 | Adel -52 | Geel -21 | WCE -70 | NM -54 | GCS -32 | StK +9 | PA +9 | X | Coll -34 | Rich -60 | Melb -3 | GWS +4 | Ess -31 | Haw -19 | WCE +22 | Syd -35 | Carl +28 | Adel +17 | BL -7 | Melb +20 | X | X | X | X | 15 |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF | Ladder |
| + | Win | | Qualified for finals |
| - | Loss | X | Bye |
| | Draw | | Eliminated |
Bold – Home game X – Bye Opponent for round listed above margin

## Ladder

2013 AFL ladder :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | |
| 1 | Hawthorn (P) | 22 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 2523 | 1859 | 135.7 | 76 | Finals series |
| 2 | Geelong | 22 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 2409 | 1776 | 135.6 | 72 | Finals series |
| 3 | Fremantle | 22 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 2035 | 1518 | 134.1 | 66 | Finals series |
| 4 | Sydney | 22 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 2244 | 1694 | 132.5 | 62 | Finals series |
| 5 | Richmond | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2154 | 1754 | 122.8 | 60 | Finals series |
| 6 | Collingwood | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 2148 | 1868 | 115.0 | 56 | Finals series |
| 7 | Port Adelaide | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2051 | 2002 | 102.4 | 48 | Finals series |
| 8 | Carlton | 22 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 2125 | 1992 | 106.7 | 44 | Finals series |
| 9 | Essendon | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 2145 | 2000 | 107.3 | 56 | |
| 10 | North Melbourne | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 2307 | 1930 | 119.5 | 40 | |
| 11 | Adelaide | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 2064 | 1909 | 108.1 | 40 | |
| 12 | Brisbane Lions | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 1922 | 2144 | 89.6 | 40 | |
| 13 | West Coast | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 2038 | 2139 | 95.3 | 36 | |
| 14 | Gold Coast | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1918 | 2091 | 91.7 | 32 | |
| 15 | Western Bulldogs | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1926 | 2262 | 85.1 | 32 | |
| 16 | St Kilda | 22 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 1751 | 2120 | 82.6 | 20 | |
| 17 | Melbourne | 22 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 1455 | 2691 | 54.1 | 8 | |
| 18 | Greater Western Sydney | 22 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 1524 | 2990 | 51.0 | 4 | |
* ↑ Carlton finished 9th initially, but were promoted to 8th following the Essendon drug scandal.
* ↑ Essendon finished 7th initially, but were relegated to 9th following the drug scandal.
* ↑ Port Adelaide finished 8th initially, but were promoted to 7th following the Essendon drug scandal.
* ↑ Essendon was relegated to ninth due to irregularities in its supplements program during the 2012 season.

### Ladder progression

| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| Hawthorn | 0 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 |
| Geelong | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 52 | 56 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 |
| Fremantle | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 22 | 26 | 30 | 30 | 34 | 38 | 38 | 42 | 46 | 46 | 50 | 54 | 58 | 62 | 66 | 66 |
| Sydney | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 26 | 30 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 38 | 42 | 46 | 50 | 54 | 58 | 58 | 62 | 62 | 62 |
| Richmond | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 52 | 56 | 60 |
| Collingwood | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 52 | 56 | 56 |
| Port Adelaide | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 44 | 48 | 48 | 48 |
| Carlton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 44 |
| Essendon | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 56 | 56 |
| North Melbourne | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 40 |
| Adelaide | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 40 |
| Brisbane Lions | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 40 |
| West Coast | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| Gold Coast | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 32 |
| Western Bulldogs | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 32 |
| St Kilda | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
| Melbourne | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |

## Finals series

| Qualifying and elimination finals | Qualifying and elimination finals | Qualifying and elimination finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Preliminary finals | Preliminary finals | Preliminary finals | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final |
| Sep 6, MCG | Sep 6, MCG | Sep 6, MCG | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Hawthorn | 15.15 (105) | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Sydney | 7.9 (51) | Sep 14, ANZ Stadium | Sep 14, ANZ Stadium | Sep 14, ANZ Stadium | | | | |
| | | | Sydney | Sydney | 13.8 (86) | | | | |
| Sep 8, MCG | Sep 8, MCG | Sep 8, MCG | Carlton | Carlton | 8.14 (62) | Sep 20, MCG | Sep 20, MCG | Sep 20, MCG | | | |
| 5 | Richmond | 14.12 (96) | | | | Hawthorn | Hawthorn | 14.18 (102) | |
| 8 | Carlton | 18.8 (116) | | | | Geelong | Geelong | 15.7 (97) | Sep 28, MCG | Sep 28, MCG | Sep 28, MCG |
| | | | | | | | | | Hawthorn | Hawthorn | 11.11 (77) |
| Sep 7, MCG | Sep 7, MCG | Sep 7, MCG | | | | Sep 21, Patersons Stadium | Sep 21, Patersons Stadium | Sep 21, Patersons Stadium | Fremantle | Fremantle | 8.14 (62) |
| 6 | Collingwood | 9.9 (63) | | | | Fremantle | Fremantle | 14.15 (99) | | |
| 7 | Port Adelaide | 12.15 (87) | Sep 13, MCG | Sep 13, MCG | Sep 13, MCG | Sydney | Sydney | 11.8 (74) | | |
| | | | Geelong | Geelong | 13.18 (96) | | | | | | |
| Sep 7, Simonds Stadium | Sep 7, Simonds Stadium | Sep 7, Simonds Stadium | Port Adelaide | Port Adelaide | 12.8 (80) | | | | | |
| 2 | Geelong | 9.18 (72) | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Fremantle | 12.15 (87) | | | | | | | | |

### Week one

| | Qualifying Finals | Qualifying Finals | Qualifying Finals | | |
| QF1: Friday, 6 September (7:50 pm) | Hawthorn 15.15 (105) | def. | Sydney 7.9 (51) | MCG (crowd: 59,615) | Match report |
| QF2: Saturday, 7 September (2:20 pm) | Geelong 9.18 (72) | def. by | Fremantle 12.15 (87) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 32,815) | Match report |
| | Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | | |
| EF2: Saturday, 7 September (7:45 pm) | Collingwood 9.9 (63) | def. by | Port Adelaide 12.15 (87) | MCG (crowd: 51,722) | Match report |
| EF1: Sunday, 8 September (3:20 pm) | Richmond 14.12 (96) | def. by | Carlton 18.8 (116) | MCG (crowd: 94,690) | Match report |
| The qualifying final between Geelong and Fremantle was just the second final to ever be played in Geelong in AFL/VFL history, with the previous final occurring in 1897 at Corio Oval. ||||||

### Week two

| | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | |
| SF2: Friday, 13 September (7:50 pm) | Geelong 13.18 (96) | def. | Port Adelaide 12.8 (80) | MCG (crowd: 52,744) | Match report |
| SF1: Saturday, 14 September (7:45 pm) | Sydney 13.8 (86) | def. | Carlton 8.14 (62) | ANZ Stadium (crowd: 37,980) | Match report |

### Week three

| | Preliminary Finals | Preliminary Finals | Preliminary Finals | | |
| PF1: Friday, 20 September (7:50 pm) | Hawthorn 14.18 (102) | def. | Geelong 15.7 (97) | MCG (crowd: 85,569) | Match report |
| PF2: Saturday, 21 September (5:45 pm) | Fremantle 14.15 (99) | def. | Sydney 11.8 (74) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 43,249) | Match report |
| Hawthorn defeated Geelong for the first time since the 2008 AFL Grand Final to end the 'Kennett curse'. ||||||

### Week four

| | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | | |
| GF: Saturday, 28 September (2:30 pm) | Hawthorn 11.11 (77) | def. | Fremantle 8.14 (62) | MCG (crowd: 100,007) | Match report |
| This was Fremantle's first, and so far only, grand final appearance. ||||||

## Attendances
### By club

2013 AFL attendances :
| Club | Total | Games | Avg. Per Game |
| Adelaide | 693,855 | 22 | 31,539 |
| Brisbane Lions | 503,994 | 22 | 22,909 |
| Carlton | 1,116,734 | 24 | 46,531 |
| Collingwood | 1,236,343 | 23 | 53,754 |
| Essendon | 1,036,044 | 22 | 47,093 |
| Fremantle | 819,016 | 25 | 32,761 |
| Geelong | 980,408 | 25 | 39,216 |
| Gold Coast | 389,966 | 22 | 17,726 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 345,730 | 22 | 15,715 |
| Hawthorn | 1,144,222 | 25 | 45,769 |
| Melbourne | 549,418 | 22 | 24,974 |
| North Melbourne | 634,033 | 22 | 28,820 |
| Port Adelaide | 648,854 | 24 | 27,036 |
| Richmond | 1,137,980 | 23 | 49,477 |
| St Kilda | 634,858 | 22 | 28,857 |
| Sydney | 798,556 | 25 | 31,942 |
| West Coast | 678,430 | 22 | 30,838 |
| Western Bulldogs | 513,729 | 22 | 23,351 |

### By ground

2013 H&A ground attendances :
| Ground | Total | Games | Avg. Per Game |
| AAMI Stadium | 665,808 | 22 | 30,264 |
| ANZ Stadium | 104,297 | 3 | 32,347 |
| Aurora Stadium | 52,950 | 4 | 13,238 |
| Blundstone Arena | 23,488 | 2 | 11,744 |
| Cazaly's Stadium | 11,197 | 1 | 11,197 |
| Etihad Stadium | 1,466,099 | 48 | 30,544 |
| Gabba | 231,909 | 11 | 21,083 |
| MCG | 2,346,893 | 45 | 52,153 |
| Metricon Stadium | 152,980 | 11 | 13,907 |
| Patersons Stadium | 773,485 | 22 | 35,158 |
| Simonds Stadium | 187,545 | 7 | 26,792 |
| Škoda Stadium | 57,969 | 7 | 8,281 |
| StarTrack Oval | 25,056 | 3 | 8,352 |
| Sydney Cricket Ground | 230,659 | 9 | 25,629 |
| TIO Stadium | 15,465 | 2 | 7,733 |
| Westpac Stadium | 22,546 | 1 | 22,546 |

## Awards

* The Norm Smith Medal was awarded to Brian Lake of Hawthorn.
* The Brownlow Medal was awarded to Gary Ablett Jr. of Gold Coast, who received 28 votes.
* The AFL Rising Star was awarded to Jaeger O'Meara of Gold Coast, who received 44 votes.
* The Coleman Medal was awarded to Jarryd Roughead of Hawthorn, who kicked 68 goals during the home and away season.
* The McClelland Trophy was awarded to Hawthorn for the second year in a row.
* The Wooden Spoon was "awarded" to Greater Western Sydney for the second year in a row.
* The AFL Players Association awards
** The Leigh Matthews Trophy was awarded to Gary Ablett Jr. of Gold Coast for a record fifth time.
** The Robert Rose Award was awarded to Joel Selwood of Geelong for the second year in a row and third time overall.
** The Best Captain was awarded to Joel Selwood of Geelong.
** The Best First-Year Player was awarded to Jaeger O'Meara of Gold Coast.
* The AFL Coaches Association Awards were as follows:
** The Player of the Year Award was given to Scott Pendlebury of Collingwood, who received 96 votes.
** The Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year Award was awarded to Ken Hinkley of Port Adelaide
** The Assistant Coach of the Year Award was awarded to Robert Harvey of Collingwood.
** The Development Coach of the Year Award was awarded to Chris Maple of Western Bulldogs.
** The Support Staff Leadership Award was awarded to Stephen Wells of Geelong.
** The Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to George Stone.
** The Best Young Player Award was awarded to Jeremy Cameron of Greater Western Sydney.
* The Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award was awarded to Zac Smith of Gold Coast.

### Coleman Medal

* Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the player led the Coleman that round.
* Underlined numbers indicates the player did not play that round.
| | Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | Total |
| 1 | Jarryd Roughead | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 68 |
| 2 | Travis Cloke | 4 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 66 |
| 3 | Jeremy Cameron | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 62 |
| 4 | Josh J. Kennedy | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 |
| 5 | Lance Franklin | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 58 |
| 6 | Jack Riewoldt | 0 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 57 |
| 7 | Lindsay Thomas | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 53 |
| 8 | Nick Riewoldt | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 50 |
| 9 | Tom Hawkins | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 46 |
| 10 | Jay Schulz | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 44 |

### Best and fairest

| Club | Award name | Player |
| Adelaide | Malcolm Blight Medal | Rory Sloane |
| Brisbane Lions | Merrett–Murray Medal | Joel Patfull |
| Carlton | John Nicholls Medal | Kade Simpson |
| Collingwood | Copeland Trophy | Scott Pendlebury |
| Essendon | Crichton Medal | Brendon Goddard |
| Fremantle | Doig Medal | Nathan Fyfe |
| Geelong | Carji Greeves Medal | Joel Selwood |
| Gold Coast | Club Champion | Gary Ablett Jr. |
| Greater Western Sydney | Kevin Sheedy Medal | Jeremy Cameron |
| Hawthorn | Peter Crimmins Medal | Josh Gibson |
| Melbourne | Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal | Nathan Jones |
| North Melbourne | Syd Barker Medal | Scott Thompson Daniel Wells |
| Port Adelaide | John Cahill Medal | Chad Wingard |
| Richmond | Jack Dyer Medal | Daniel Jackson |
| St Kilda | Trevor Barker Award | Jack Steven |
| Sydney | Bob Skilton Medal | Jarrad McVeigh |
| West Coast | John Worsfold Medal | Matt Priddis |
| Western Bulldogs | Charles Sutton Medal | Ryan Griffen |

## Club leadership

| Club | Coach | Captain(s) | Vice-captain(s) | Leadership group |
| Adelaide | Brenton Sanderson | Nathan van Berlo | Patrick Dangerfield, Scott Thompson | Sam Jacobs, Jason Porplyzia, Rory Sloane |
| Brisbane Lions | Michael Voss (Rds 1–20); Mark Harvey (Rds 21–23) | Jed Adcock, Jonathan Brown | Daniel Rich, Tom Rockliff | |
| Carlton | Mick Malthouse | Marc Murphy | Andrew Carrazzo, Kade Simpson | Nick Duigan, Jarrad Waite |
| Collingwood | Nathan Buckley | Nick Maxwell | Scott Pendlebury | Luke Ball, Dayne Beams, Harry O'Brien |
| Essendon | James Hird (Rds 1–22) Simon Goodwin (Rd 23) | Jobe Watson | | Brendon Goddard, Dyson Heppell, Heath Hocking, Michael Hurley, Brent Stanton, Jason Winderlich, David Zaharakis |
| Fremantle | Ross Lyon | Matthew Pavlich | | Hayden Ballantyne, Matt de Boer, Chris Mayne, David Mundy, Luke McPharlin, Aaron Sandilands |
| Gold Coast | Guy McKenna | Gary Ablett | Nathan Bock, Michael Rischitelli | Karmichael Hunt, Zac Smith, David Swallow |
| Greater Western Sydney | Kevin Sheedy | Phil Davis, Callan Ward | Tom Scully | |
| Geelong | Chris Scott | Joel Selwood | Jimmy Bartel | Tom Hawkins, Steve Johnson, James Kelly, Andrew Mackie, Harry Taylor |
| Hawthorn | Alastair Clarkson | Luke Hodge | Jordan Lewis, Jarryd Roughead | Lance Franklin, Sam Mitchell |
| Melbourne | Mark Neeld (Rds 1–12) Neil Craig (Rds 13–23) | Jack Grimes, Jack Trengove | Nathan Jones | Shannon Byrnes, Mitch Clark, Chris Dawes, James Frawley, Colin Garland, Jordie McKenzie |
| North Melbourne | Brad Scott | Andrew Swallow | Drew Petrie, Jack Ziebell | Brent Harvey, Scott Thompson, Daniel Wells |
| Port Adelaide | Ken Hinkley | Travis Boak | Brad Ebert | Robbie Gray, Hamish Hartlett, Jay Schulz, Jackson Trengove |
| Richmond | Damien Hardwick | Trent Cotchin | Brett Deledio, Daniel Jackson, Jack Riewoldt | Dylan Grimes, Ivan Maric |
| St Kilda | Scott Watters | Nick Riewoldt | | David Armitage, Nick Dal Santo, Sean Dempster, Ben McEvoy, Jarryn Geary, James Gwilt, Leigh Montagna, |
| Sydney | John Longmire | Kieren Jack, Jarrad McVeigh | | Jude Bolton, Adam Goodes, Josh Kennedy, Ryan O'Keefe, Ted Richards, Rhyce Shaw, Nick Smith |
| West Coast | John Worsfold | Darren Glass | Beau Waters | Dean Cox, Andrew Embley, Shannon Hurn, Josh Kennedy, Mark LeCras, Matt Priddis, Matt Rosa, Adam Selwood, Scott Selwood |
| Western Bulldogs | Brendan McCartney | Matthew Boyd | | No official leadership group |

## Club membership

2013 AFL membership figures :
| Club | Members | Change from 2012 | % Change from 2012 |
| Adelaide | 46,405 | 1,300 | 2.80% |
| Brisbane Lions | 24,130 | 3,368 | 16.22% |
| Carlton | 50,564 | 4,764 | 10.40% |
| Collingwood | 78,427 | 5,739 | 7.90% |
| Essendon | 56,173 | 8,465 | 17.74% |
| Fremantle | 43,880 | 962 | 2.24% |
| Geelong | 42,884 | 2,679 | 6.66% |
| Gold Coast | 12,502 | 1,298 | 11.59% |
| Greater Western Sydney | 12,681 | 2,440 | 23.83% |
| Hawthorn | 63,353 | 2,512 | 4.13% |
| Melbourne | 33,177 | 2,282 | 6.44% |
| North Melbourne | 34,607 | 1,184 | 3.54% |
| Port Adelaide | 39,838 | 4,295 | 12.08% |
| Richmond | 60,321 | 7,294 | 13.76% |
| St Kilda | 32,707 | 2,733 | 7.71% |
| Sydney | 36,358 | 6,485 | 21.71% |
| West Coast | 58,501 | 1,124 | 1.96% |
| Western Bulldogs | 30,209 | 202 | 0.67% |
| Total | 756,717 | 49,096 | 6.94% |

## Coach changes

| Coach | Club | Date | Notes | Caretaker | New coach |
| Mark Neeld | Melbourne | 17 June 2013 | Sacked after a mid-season club review following a string of bad losses, including just five wins from 33 games. | Neil Craig | Paul Roos |
| Michael Voss | Brisbane Lions | 13 August 2013 | Stepped down following the club's decision not to renew his contract at the end of the season. | Mark Harvey | Justin Leppitsch |
| James Hird | Essendon | 27 August 2013 | Suspended by the AFL for twelve months for his involvement in the 2012 Essendon supplements scandal, effective immediately | Simon Goodwin | Mark Thompson |
| John Worsfold | West Coast Eagles | 5 September 2013 | Stepped down | None (end of regular season) | Adam Simpson |
| Kevin Sheedy | Greater Western Sydney | 13 September 2013 | Retired as part of a succession plan | None (end of regular season) | Leon Cameron |
| Scott Watters | St Kilda | 1 November 2013 | Sacked | None (end of regular season) | Alan Richardson |

## Post-season
### International Rules Series

The International Rules Series was played between Australia and Ireland for the first time since 2011. For the first time, the Australian team was represented by the Indigenous All Stars. As in previous years, two test matches were played, and the series was decided on aggregate. The series was held in Ireland, and was won by Ireland 2-0 and on an aggregate margin of 173-72 points.
| | 2013 International Rules Series | 2013 International Rules Series | 2013 International Rules Series | | |
| Saturday, 19 October (7:00pm) | Ireland 2.12.9 (57) | def. | Australia 1.7.8 (35) | Breffni Park, Cavan (crowd: 17,657) | Match report |
| Saturday, 26 October (7:00pm) | Ireland 6.22.14 (116) | def. | Australia 2.7.4 (37) | Croke Park, Dublin (crowd: 28,525) | Match report |

## Notable events and controversies
### Adelaide Crows–Kurt Tippett contract scandal

During the trade period leading up to the 2013 season, Adelaide Crows forward Kurt Tippett sought to be traded. During trade negotiations, information was uncovered which brought into question the legality under AFL rules of Tippett's 2009 contract extension with Adelaide. The AFL investigated Tippett's contract during October and November, and charged Tippett and Adelaide with a total of eleven charges relating to draft tampering and breaching the total player payments, including:
* Arranging a secret deal in which Tippett would be traded to a club of his choice at the end of 2012
* Direct payments of $100,000 outside the salary cap in each of 2011 and 2012
* Illegally arranging third-party deals in 2011 and 2012, resulting in Tippett receiving further money outside the salary cap in those years.
Adelaide was considered likely to incur a loss of draft picks, among other penalties, if found guilty, but the AFL Commission was yet to complete its hearing into the matter when the National Draft was held on 22 November 2012, so the club was permitted to participate in the draft as normal. However, on the day before the draft, the club voluntarily relinquished its highest two remaining selections (No. 20 and 54) as a "gesture of goodwill" ahead of the hearing.
The final hearing took place on 30 November, and Adelaide and Tippett pleaded guilty to all charges. Adelaide was stripped of its first and second round draft picks, and banned from taking any father-son selections, in the 2013 National Draft, and received a $300,000 fine. Tippett was suspended for the 2013 NAB Cup and 11 premiership matches, with a further suspended sentence of 11 matches, and received a $50,000 fine. Several senior Adelaide personnel were also punished by the league: chief executive Steven Trigg and former football manager John Reid were each fined $50,000 and banned from AFL functions for six months (with a further suspended sentence of six months), and current football manager Phil Harper was banned from AFL functions for two months with a four-month suspended sentence. In a separate hearing in January 2013, the AFL Players' Association revoked the accreditation of Tippett's manager, Peter Blucher, for at least one year.

### Melbourne Football Club tanking scandal

Throughout the 2012/13 offseason, the league investigated the Melbourne Football Club over allegations that it had tanked during the latter part of the 2009 season – that is, that it had intentionally lost matches near the end of the season so that it would finish with no more than four wins, and therefore receive a priority draft pick. The league released its findings in February 2013, and found the club not guilty of tanking.
However, it did find two of Melbourne's then-senior staff members – senior coach Dean Bailey and general manager of football operations Chris Connolly – guilty of "acting in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the competition". This related most specifically to a meeting in July 2009, which became known colloquially as "the vault", in which Connolly allegedly openly discussed the potential benefits to the club of tanking. The guilty parties received the following penalties:
* Connolly, who was still at the club in 2013 but serving in a role outside the football department, was suspended outright from serving in any position at any club until 1 February 2014. Connolly was sacked by Melbourne in October 2013.
* Bailey, serving in 2013 as an assistant coach at the Adelaide Crows, was suspended from his position for the first sixteen weeks of the 2013 season, preventing him from having any contact with the Crows' playing group during that time.
* The Melbourne Football Club, which was complicit to the infraction in its capacity as Connolly's and Bailey's employer, was fined $500,000.
None of Melbourne, Connolly or Bailey contested these penalties.

### Essendon Football Club supplements controversy

On 5 February the Essendon Football Club asked the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) to investigate the concerns over the clubs possible use of un-approved supplements during the 2012 season.
An internal independent review conducted by Dr. Ziggy Switkowski regarding the Essendon Football Club governance processes was released to the public on 6 May.
While ASADA investigated the legality of the supplements, the AFL separately investigated the administration of the club's supplements program, and charged the club and senior staff with bringing the game into disrepute. The charges focussed on the poor business practices within the program, including allowing "a culture of frequent, uninformed and unregulated use of the injection of supplements" at the club, incomplete record keeping which had made it impossible to determine with certainty whether or not players had been administered banned supplements, and for failing to guarantee the health and safety of its players in its program. On 27 August, five days before round 23 and after two days of discussions between the club and the league, the following penalties were imposed relating to these charges:
* Essendon was fined $2 million (staggered over three years); this was the largest fine imposed on a club in the history of Australian sport.
* Essendon was ruled ineligible to participate in the 2013 AFL finals series, achieved by relegating it to ninth position on the ladder.
* Essendon was stripped of draft picks in the following two drafts: in 2013, its first and second round draft picks were stripped; in 2014, it was stripped of the first and second round draft picks it would have received based on its finishing position, but was granted the last draft pick in the first round.
* Senior coach James Hird was suspended from any involvement in any football club for twelve months, effective immediately.
* Football operations manager Danny Corcoran was suspended from involvement in any football club for four months, with a further two-month suspended sentence, effective 1 October 2013.
* Senior assistant coach Mark Thompson was fined $30,000.
* Club doctor Bruce Reid had contested his charge at a hearing from the AFL Commission, which was on Thursday 29 August, 10:30pm EST.
The scandal was investigated over the following years, and ended with 34 players who were on the 2012 Essendon list being suspended for the entire 2016 AFL season as part of a partially offset two-year suspensions for using thymosin beta-4 during the scandal.

### Adam Goodes–Eddie McGuire racism controversy

Late in the final quarter of the round 9 match between Collingwood and Sydney, Adam Goodes became the target of racial abuse in which a 13-year-old Collingwood supporter called him an "ape". Goodes pointed the supporter out to security following the incident, who subsequently evicted her from the ground; after the match, Collingwood president Eddie McGuire visited the Swans' rooms to apologise "on behalf of football", and stamped out that racism would not be tolerated by the Collingwood Football Club.
Five days later, McGuire was involved in another controversy involving Goodes on his Triple M Melbourne breakfast show, when he joked that Goodes could be used to promote the King Kong musical that was to be held in Melbourne, quickly apologising on air after making the reference. McGuire initially defended his comments by saying that the remark was simply "a slip of the tongue", but admitted to vilifying Goodes in an interview later in the day, albeit unintentionally.