# 2002 AFL season

The 2002 AFL season was the 106th 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 sixteen clubs, ran from 28 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 Brisbane Lions for the second time and second time consecutively, after it defeated Collingwood by nine points in the AFL Grand Final.

## AFL Draft

See 2002 AFL Draft.

## Wizard Home Loans Cup

Port Adelaide defeated Richmond 10.11 (71) to 9.8 (62) in the final.

## Premiership season
### Round 1

| | Round 1 (Easter and Season Launch) | Round 1 (Easter and Season Launch) | Round 1 (Easter and Season Launch) | |
| Thursday 28 March (7:45 pm) | Richmond 24.11 (155) | def. | Collingwood 18.10 (118) | MCG (crowd: 65,316) |
| Saturday 30 March (2:10 pm) | St Kilda 14.5 (89) | def. | Carlton 10.5 (65) | Colonial Stadium (crowd: 33,359) |
| Saturday 30 March (7:10 pm) | Geelong 11.10 (76) | def. by | Essendon 18.18 (126) | MCG (crowd: 42,746) |
| Saturday 30 March (7:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 11.7 (73) | def. by | Kangaroos 12.11 (83) | Football Park (crowd: 28,578) |
| Sunday 31 March (1:10 pm) | Sydney 12.15 (87) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 17.8 (110) | SCG (crowd: 24,052) |
| Sunday 31 March (2:10 pm) | Western Bulldogs 12.21 (93) | def. by | Adelaide 16.16 (112) | Colonial Stadium (crowd: 18,475) |
| Sunday 31 March (1:40 pm) | West Coast 21.11 (137) | def. | Fremantle 18.10 (118) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 39,467) |
| Monday 1 April (2:10 pm) | Hawthorn 15.13 (103) | def. by | Melbourne 20.9 (129) | MCG (crowd: 43,484) |

### Round 2

| | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | |
| Friday 5 April (7:45 pm) | Essendon 16.16 (112) | def. | Richmond 8.12 (60) | MCG (crowd: 67,453) |
| Saturday 6 April (2:10 pm) | Carlton 4.9 (33) | def. by | Sydney 17.9 (111) | Optus Oval (crowd: 22,435) |
| Saturday 6 April (2:10 pm) | Collingwood 17.18 (120) | def. | West Coast 18.11 (119) | MCG (crowd: 29,348) |
| Saturday 6 April (7:10 pm) | Kangaroos 16.14 (110) | def. | Western Bulldogs 14.13 (97) | Colonial Stadium (crowd: 25,985) |
| Saturday 6 April (7:10 pm) | Adelaide 16.14 (110) | def. | Geelong 12.7 (79) | Football Park (crowd: 44,386) |
| Sunday 7 April (1:10 pm) | Brisbane Lions 21.22 (148) | def. | Hawthorn 6.10 (46) | The Gabba (crowd: 25,660) |
| Sunday 7 April (2:10 pm) | Melbourne 16.13 (109) | def. | Port Adelaide 11.16 (82) | MCG (crowd: 19,611) |
| Sunday 7 April (1:40 pm) | Fremantle 10.16 (76) | def. | St Kilda 11.7 (73) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 21,138) |

### Round 3

| | Round 3 | Round 3 | Round 3 | |
| Friday 12 April (7:45 pm) | Carlton 11.9 (75) | def. | Collingwood 7.13 (55) | MCG (crowd: 63,864) |
| Saturday 13 April (2:10 pm) | Richmond 13.18 (96) | def. | Melbourne 11.10 (76) | MCG (crowd: 37,154) |
| Saturday 13 April (2:10 pm) | Adelaide 17.12 (114) | def. | Sydney 13.6 (84) | Football Park (crowd: 42,246) |
| Saturday 13 April (7:10 pm) | Brisbane Lions 17.15 (117) | def. | Essendon 9.13 (67) | The Gabba (crowd: 35,898) |
| Saturday 13 April (7:10 pm) | Kangaroos 10.7 (67) | def. by | Geelong 11.9 (75) | Colonial Stadium (crowd: 27,286) |
| Sunday 14 April (1:10 pm) | Hawthorn 13.11 (89) | def. | Fremantle 11.13 (79) | York Park (crowd: 15,066) |
| Sunday 14 April (2:10 pm) | St Kilda 8.8 (56) | def. by | Port Adelaide 20.19 (139) | Colonial Stadium (crowd: 17,641) |
| Sunday 14 April (1:40 pm) | West Coast 17.11 (113) | def. | Western Bulldogs 11.15 (81) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 31,854) |
| Kevin Sheedy coached his 500th AFL game. ||||||

### Round 4

| | Round 4 | Round 4 | Round 4 | |
| Friday 19 April (7:45 pm) | Essendon 19.8 (122) | def. | Adelaide 11.15 (81) | Colonial Stadium (crowd: 40,322) |
| Saturday 20 April (2:10 pm) | Collingwood 15.14 (104) | def. | Hawthorn 9.9 (63) | MCG (crowd: 48,476) |
| Saturday 20 April (2:10 pm) | Melbourne 21.11 (137) | def. | West Coast 15.13 (103) | Optus Oval (crowd: 9,421) |
| Saturday 20 April (7:10 pm) | Sydney 15.13 (103) | def. | Kangaroos 14.16 (100) | SCG (crowd: 23,775) |
| Saturday 20 April (7:10 pm) | Western Bulldogs 12.6 (78) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 14.10 (94) | Colonial Stadium (crowd: 23,928) |
| Sunday 21 April (12:40 pm) | Port Adelaide 23.10 (148) | def. | Carlton 14.11 (95) | Football Park (crowd: 29,486) |
| Sunday 21 April (2:10 pm) | Geelong 26.10 (166) | def. | St Kilda 6.8 (44) | Skilled Stadium (crowd: 23,563) |
| Sunday 21 April (1:40 pm) | Fremantle 21.12 (138) | def. | Richmond 11.6 (72) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 23,571) |

### Round 5

| | Round 5 (ANZAC Day) | Round 5 (ANZAC Day) | Round 5 (ANZAC Day) | |
| Thursday 25 April (2:15 pm) | Collingwood 9.12 (66) | def. | Essendon 4.9 (33) | MCG (crowd: 84,894) |
| Friday 26 April (7:45 pm) | Western Bulldogs 10.21 (81) | def. by | Melbourne 15.14 (104) | Colonial Stadium (crowd: 30,789) |
| Saturday 27 April (2:10 pm) | Hawthorn 19.11 (125) | def. | Richmond 12.11 (83) | MCG (crowd: 39,694) |
| Saturday 27 April (1:40 pm) | West Coast 18.13 (121) | def. | Brisbane Lions 10.15 (75) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 33,313) |
| Saturday 27 April (7:10 pm) | St Kilda 8.8 (56) | drew with | Sydney 8.8 (56) | Colonial Stadium (crowd: 21,007) |
| Saturday 27 April (7:10 pm) | Adelaide 12.10 (82) | def. by | Port Adelaide 14.6 (90) | Football Park (crowd: 49,513) |
| Sunday 28 April (1:10 pm) | Geelong 17.9 (111) | def. | Fremantle 6.13 (49) | Skilled Stadium (crowd: 20,075) |
| Sunday 28 April (2:10 pm) | Carlton 17.10 (112) | def. by | Kangaroos 19.17 (131) | Colonial Stadium (crowd: 35,138) |
| Brisbane lost its first match since round 9, 2001, ending a 20-match winning streak. The streak equalled with Essendon's in 2000 and Collingwood's in 1928-29 as the second-longest winning streak in VFL/AFL history. ||||||

### Round 6

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| St Kilda | 3.10 (28) | Collingwood | 16.15 (111) | Colonial Stadium | 46,089 | Friday, 3 May |
| Fremantle | 13.11 (89) | Essendon | 9.8 (62) | Subiaco Oval | 25,319 | Saturday, 4 May |
| Kangaroos | 13.9 (87) | Hawthorn | 24.11 (155) | MCG | 33,345 | Saturday, 4 May |
| Carlton | 9.14 (68) | Western Bulldogs | 14.12 (96) | Colonial Stadium | 29,783 | Saturday, 4 May |
| Brisbane Lions | 21.20 (146) | Geelong | 13.11 (89) | The Gabba | 27,015 | Saturday, 4 May |
| Sydney | 15.9 (99) | Melbourne | 10.11 (71) | SCG | 23,578 | Sunday, 5 May |
| Port Adelaide | 20.13 (133) | West Coast | 11.13 (79) | Football Park | 27,056 | Sunday, 5 May |
| Richmond | 11.7 (73) | Adelaide | 14.21 (105) | Colonial Stadium | 23,355 | Sunday, 5 May |

### Round 7

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Essendon | 12.15 (87) | Carlton | 9.8 (62) | MCG | 55,633 | Friday, 10 May |
| West Coast | 21.13 (139) | Kangaroos | 13.12 (90) | Subiaco Oval | 32,815 | Saturday, 11 May |
| Hawthorn | 20.10 (130) | Geelong | 11.12 (78) | MCG | 38,709 | Saturday, 11 May |
| Richmond | 13.10 (88) | Sydney | 12.10 (82) | Colonial Stadium | 29,303 | Saturday, 11 May |
| Adelaide | 18.10 (118) | Fremantle | 13.11 (89) | Football Park | 44,058 | Saturday, 11 May |
| Brisbane Lions | 19.15 (129) | Port Adelaide | 11.6 (72) | The Gabba | 24,538 | Sunday, 12 May |
| Melbourne | 15.15 (105) | St Kilda | 15.12 (102) | MCG | 20,892 | Sunday, 12 May |
| Western Bulldogs | 8.15 (63) | Collingwood | 11.7 (73) | Colonial Stadium | 34,400 | Sunday, 12 May |

### Round 8

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Hawthorn | 12.17 (89) | Carlton | 12.8 (80) | MCG | 39,142 | Friday, 17 May |
| Richmond | 13.16 (94) | West Coast | 10.13 (73) | MCG | 22,647 | Saturday, 18 May |
| Port Adelaide | 20.9 (129) | Geelong | 7.12 (54) | Football Park | 18,193 | Saturday, 18 May |
| Fremantle | 14.10 (94) | Melbourne | 13.11 (89) | Subiaco Oval | 25,027 | Saturday, 18 May |
| Collingwood | 17.12 (114) | Brisbane Lions | 16.15 (111) | Colonial Stadium | 46,279 | Saturday, 18 May |
| Kangaroos | 16.14 (110) | Adelaide | 14.9 (93) | Manuka Oval | 7,671 | Sunday, 19 May |
| Western Bulldogs | 24.15 (159) | Sydney | 11.24 (90) | SCG | 20,934 | Sunday, 19 May |
| Essendon | 26.15 (171) | St Kilda | 11.6 (72) | Colonial Stadium | 34,262 | Sunday, 19 May |

### Round 9

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Port Adelaide | 14.7 (91) | Collingwood | 12.14 (86) | Football Park | 35,834 | Friday, 24 May |
| Geelong | 17.3 (105) | Western Bulldogs | 18.9 (117) | Skilled Stadium | 22,033 | Saturday, 25 May |
| Melbourne | 17.9 (111) | Kangaroos | 15.17 (107) | MCG | 28,625 | Saturday, 25 May |
| St Kilda | 10.12 (72) | Richmond | 9.9 (63) | Colonial Stadium | 30,336 | Saturday, 25 May |
| Sydney | 11.17 (83) | Essendon | 12.13 (85) | Stadium Australia | 54,129 | Saturday, 25 May |
| Brisbane Lions | 16.13 (109) | Fremantle | 11.13 (79) | The Gabba | 21,709 | Sunday, 26 May |
| West Coast | 19.12 (126) | Hawthorn | 14.4 (88) | Subiaco Oval | 38,646 | Sunday, 26 May |
| Carlton | 11.9 (75) | Adelaide | 20.11 (131) | Optus Oval | 19,305 | Sunday, 26 May |

### Round 10

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Kangaroos | 12.20 (92) | Essendon | 12.12 (84) | MCG | 34,352 | Friday, 31 May |
| Geelong | 12.17 (89) | Melbourne | 9.9 (63) | Skilled Stadium | 20,031 | Saturday, 1 June |
| Richmond | 14.14 (98) | Western Bulldogs | 17.15 (117) | MCG | 31,586 | Saturday, 1 June |
| Collingwood | 14.11 (95) | Sydney | 12.12 (84) | Colonial Stadium | 45,269 | Saturday, 1 June |
| Adelaide | 15.11 (101) | Brisbane Lions | 14.10 (94) | Football Park | 47,279 | Saturday, 1 June |
| Hawthorn | 12.5 (77) | Port Adelaide | 17.15 (117) | York Park | 18,112 | Sunday, 2 June |
| Fremantle | 14.12 (96) | Carlton | 10.8 (68) | Subiaco Oval | 27,277 | Sunday, 2 June |
| St Kilda | 20.7 (127) | West Coast | 11.11 (77) | Colonial Stadium | 18,876 | Sunday, 2 June |

### Round 11

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Kangaroos | 14.11 (95) | Richmond | 11.18 (84) | Colonial Stadium | 30,889 | Friday, 7 June |
| Adelaide | 14.18 (102) | Hawthorn | 8.10 (58) | Football Park | 42,162 | Saturday, 8 June |
| West Coast | 15.12 (102) | Sydney | 13.11 (89) | Subiaco Oval | 35,014 | Saturday, 8 June |
| Essendon | 7.7 (49) | Port Adelaide | 16.12 (108) | Colonial Stadium | 40,044 | Saturday, 8 June |
| Brisbane Lions | 16.17 (113) | St Kilda | 7.10 (52) | The Gabba | 23,157 | Sunday, 9 June |
| Geelong | 15.10 (100) | Carlton | 14.12 (96) | Colonial Stadium | 37,294 | Sunday, 9 June |
| Western Bulldogs | 22.13 (145) | Fremantle | 12.8 (80) | Optus Oval | 11,539 | Sunday, 9 June |
| Melbourne | 10.15 (75) | Collingwood | 19.12 (126) | MCG | 65,860 | Monday, 10 June |

### Round 12

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Essendon | 10.12 (72) | Hawthorn | 10.5 (65) | MCG | 40,470 | Friday, 14 June |
| Carlton | 12.16 (88) | West Coast | 12.17 (89) | Optus Oval | 16,353 | Saturday, 15 June |
| Sydney | 15.9 (99) | Geelong | 15.11 (101) | SCG | 21,767 | Saturday, 15 June |
| Fremantle | 12.18 (90) | Collingwood | 12.7 (79) | Subiaco Oval | 33,088 | Sunday, 16 June |
| Western Bulldogs | 19.19 (133) | St Kilda | 13.8 (86) | Colonial Stadium | 29,453 | Friday, 21 June |
| Melbourne | 14.14 (98) | Adelaide | 10.13 (73) | Optus Oval | 12,210 | Saturday, 22 June |
| Brisbane Lions | 20.18 (138) | Kangaroos | 19.9 (123) | The Gabba | 27,940 | Saturday, 22 June |
| Port Adelaide | 23.16 (154) | Richmond | 10.10 (70) | Football Park | 25,770 | Sunday, 23 June |

### Round 13

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Essendon | 18.12 (120) | Melbourne | 16.12 (108) | Colonial Stadium | 41,817 | Friday, 28 June |
| Richmond | 7.12 (54) | Geelong | 14.12 (96) | MCG | 30,197 | Saturday, 29 June |
| Port Adelaide | 25.11 (161) | Western Bulldogs | 18.7 (115) | Football Park | 24,751 | Saturday, 29 June |
| Collingwood | 13.15 (93) | Kangaroos | 8.12 (60) | Colonial Stadium | 48,288 | Saturday, 29 June |
| Brisbane Lions | 19.10 (124) | Carlton | 16.13 (109) | The Gabba | 27,324 | Saturday, 29 June |
| Sydney | 20.19 (139) | Fremantle | 9.8 (62) | SCG | 16,844 | Sunday, 30 June |
| West Coast | 20.15 (135) | Adelaide | 18.9 (117) | Subiaco Oval | 34,937 | Sunday, 30 June |
| St Kilda | 11.12 (78) | Hawthorn | 13.9 (87) | Colonial Stadium | 28,928 | Sunday, 30 June |

### Round 14

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Carlton | 13.8 (86) | Richmond | 12.13 (85) | MCG | 36,941 | Friday, 5 July |
| Geelong | 8.17 (65) | West Coast | 4.9 (33) | Skilled Stadium | 18,608 | Saturday, 6 July |
| Hawthorn | 11.8 (74) | Sydney | 9.10 (64) | MCG | 25,079 | Saturday, 6 July |
| Fremantle | 9.9 (63) | Port Adelaide | 22.15 (147) | Subiaco Oval | 24,193 | Saturday, 6 July |
| Western Bulldogs | 18.10 (118) | Essendon | 17.16 (118) | Colonial Stadium | 44,864 | Saturday, 6 July |
| Melbourne | 20.11 (131) | Brisbane Lions | 16.14 (110) | The Gabba | 25,166 | Sunday, 7 July |
| Adelaide | 17.14 (116) | Collingwood | 21.12 (138) | Football Park | 46,368 | Sunday, 7 July |
| St Kilda | 13.6 (84) | Kangaroos | 20.8 (128) | Colonial Stadium | 23,864 | Sunday, 7 July |

### Round 15

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Hawthorn | 17.14 (116) | Western Bulldogs | 14.9 (93) | Colonial Stadium | 35,434 | Friday, 12 July |
| Kangaroos | 12.11 (83) | Fremantle | 12.10 (82) | Manuka Oval | 9,242 | Saturday, 13 July |
| Collingwood | 15.9 (99) | Geelong | 19.13 (127) | MCG | 65,331 | Saturday, 13 July |
| Richmond | 7.13 (55) | Brisbane Lions | 18.10 (118) | Colonial Stadium | 22,642 | Saturday, 13 July |
| Adelaide | 15.9 (99) | St Kilda | 12.9 (81) | Football Park | 29,895 | Saturday, 13 July |
| Sydney | 13.14 (92) | Port Adelaide | 14.10 (94) | SCG | 18,974 | Sunday, 14 July |
| West Coast | 13.12 (90) | Essendon | 8.15 (63) | Subiaco Oval | 37,600 | Sunday, 14 July |
| Carlton | 14.11 (95) | Melbourne | 21.13 (139) | Colonial Stadium | 37,915 | Sunday, 14 July |

### Round 16

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Collingwood | 13.11 (89) | Richmond | 7.7 (49) | MCG | 48,620 | Friday, 19 July |
| Melbourne | 9.13 (67) | Hawthorn | 14.9 (93) | MCG | 37,442 | Saturday, 20 July |
| Kangaroos | 14.15 (99) | Port Adelaide | 10.10 (70) | Optus Oval | 9,398 | Saturday, 20 July |
| Fremantle | 15.10 (100) | West Coast | 11.4 (70) | Subiaco Oval | 41,779 | Saturday, 20 July |
| Essendon | 8.8 (56) | Geelong | 14.11 (95) | Colonial Stadium | 47,778 | Saturday, 20 July |
| Brisbane Lions | 17.15 (117) | Sydney | 12.7 (79) | The Gabba | 25,720 | Sunday, 21 July |
| Adelaide | 21.12 (138) | Western Bulldogs | 14.11 (95) | AAMI Stadium | 41,247 | Sunday, 21 July |
| Carlton | 14.13 (97) | St Kilda | 22.8 (140) | Colonial Stadium | 33,813 | Sunday, 21 July |

### Round 17

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Richmond | 7.11 (53) | Essendon | 7.12 (54) | MCG | 39,650 | Friday, 26 July |
| Hawthorn | 10.8 (68) | Brisbane Lions | 18.16 (124) | MCG | 35,202 | Saturday, 27 July |
| West Coast | 17.12 (114) | Collingwood | 8.8 (56) | Subiaco Oval | 38,877 | Saturday, 27 July |
| Port Adelaide | 17.14 (116) | Melbourne | 17.10 (112) | AAMI Stadium | 25,283 | Saturday, 27 July |
| Sydney | 13.14 (92) | Carlton | 10.9 (69) | Stadium Australia | 34,404 | Saturday, 27 July |
| Geelong | 12.18 (90) | Adelaide | 15.3 (93) | Skilled Stadium | 24,325 | Sunday, 28 July |
| St Kilda | 18.10 (118) | Fremantle | 11.13 (79) | Optus Oval | 8,078 | Sunday, 28 July |
| Western Bulldogs | 21.13 (139) | Kangaroos | 16.9 (105) | Colonial Stadium | 31,576 | Sunday, 28 July |

### Round 18

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Collingwood | 21.15 (141) | Carlton | 4.9 (33) | MCG | 54,233 | Friday, 2 August |
| Geelong | 7.9 (51) | Kangaroos | 17.13 (115) | Skilled Stadium | 23,163 | Saturday, 3 August |
| Fremantle | 14.12 (96) | Hawthorn | 4.11 (35) | Subiaco Oval | 24,332 | Saturday, 3 August |
| Essendon | 11.5 (71) | Brisbane Lions | 16.12 (108) | Colonial Stadium | 43,036 | Saturday, 3 August |
| Port Adelaide | 16.9 (105) | St Kilda | 9.9 (63) | AAMI Stadium | 22,885 | Saturday, 3 August |
| Sydney | 15.8 (98) | Adelaide | 17.14 (116) | SCG | 18,766 | Sunday, 4 August |
| Melbourne | 14.10 (94) | Richmond | 14.15 (99) | MCG | 28,815 | Sunday, 4 August |
| Western Bulldogs | 22.10 (142) | West Coast | 14.7 (91) | Optus Oval | 11,809 | Sunday, 4 August |

### Round 19

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Hawthorn | 15.15 (105) | Collingwood | 14.13 (97) | MCG | 53,750 | Friday, 9 August |
| Carlton | 5.15 (45) | Port Adelaide | 7.12 (54) | Optus Oval | 14,115 | Saturday, 10 August |
| Richmond | 18.14 (122) | Fremantle | 10.12 (72) | MCG | 19,519 | Saturday, 10 August |
| Brisbane Lions | 14.21 (105) | Western Bulldogs | 9.13 (67) | The Gabba | 27,443 | Saturday, 10 August |
| Kangaroos | 15.7 (97) | Sydney | 22.12 (144) | SCG | 14,776 | Saturday, 10 August |
| Adelaide | 18.16 (124) | Essendon | 11.10 (76) | AAMI Stadium | 43,720 | Sunday, 11 August |
| West Coast | 15.10 (100) | Melbourne | 15.16 (106) | Subiaco Oval | 36,195 | Sunday, 11 August |
| St Kilda | 15.11 (101) | Geelong | 16.6 (102) | Colonial Stadium | 25,552 | Sunday, 11 August |

### Round 20

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Richmond | 16.11 (107) | Hawthorn | 13.15 (93) | MCG | 39,391 | Friday, 16 August |
| Fremantle | 17.15 (117) | Geelong | 11.6 (72) | Subiaco Oval | 22,610 | Saturday, 17 August |
| Kangaroos | 17.12 (114) | Carlton | 15.5 (95) | Colonial Stadium | 23,532 | Saturday, 17 August |
| Essendon | 19.12 (126) | Collingwood | 10.11 (71) | MCG | 69,613 | Saturday, 17 August |
| Brisbane Lions | 20.16 (136) | West Coast | 13.11 (89) | The Gabba | 29,436 | Saturday, 17 August |
| Port Adelaide | 12.12 (84) | Adelaide | 11.10 (76) | AAMI Stadium | 50,275 | Sunday, 18 August |
| Sydney | 12.15 (87) | St Kilda | 12.8 (80) | SCG | 16,079 | Sunday, 18 August |
| Melbourne | 15.17 (107) | Western Bulldogs | 14.11 (95) | MCG | 29,225 | Sunday, 18 August |

### Round 21

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Hawthorn | 16.8 (104) | Kangaroos | 17.17 (119) | MCG | 32,393 | Friday, 23 August |
| Geelong | 7.13 (55) | Brisbane Lions | 16.14 (110) | Skilled Stadium | 24,003 | Saturday, 24 August |
| Melbourne | 11.11 (77) | Sydney | 23.7 (145) | MCG | 27,146 | Saturday, 24 August |
| West Coast | 10.5 (65) | Port Adelaide | 14.19 (103) | Subiaco Oval | 36,502 | Saturday, 24 August |
| Western Bulldogs | 14.13 (97) | Carlton | 15.9 (99) | Colonial Stadium | 22,938 | Saturday, 24 August |
| Adelaide | 13.9 (87) | Richmond | 9.11 (65) | AAMI Stadium | 42,878 | Sunday, 25 August |
| Collingwood | 11.11 (77) | St Kilda | 9.12 (66) | MCG | 42,056 | Sunday, 25 August |
| Essendon | 13.15 (93) | Fremantle | 10.12 (72) | Colonial Stadium | 32,667 | Sunday, 25 August |

### Round 22

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Geelong | 8.9 (57) | Hawthorn | 11.9 (75) | Colonial Stadium | 41,600 | Friday, 30 August |
| Collingwood | 10.13 (73) | Western Bulldogs | 17.12 (114) | MCG | 43,894 | Saturday, 31 August |
| Port Adelaide | 13.12 (90) | Brisbane Lions | 13.6 (84) | AAMI Stadium | 46,439 | Saturday, 31 August |
| St Kilda | 18.9 (117) | Melbourne | 20.15 (135) | Colonial Stadium | 34,185 | Saturday, 31 August |
| Sydney | 17.14 (116) | Richmond | 11.10 (76) | Telstra Stadium | 40,386 | Saturday, 31 August |
| Kangaroos | 18.18 (126) | West Coast | 22.11 (143) | Manuka Oval | 11,613 | Sunday, 1 September |
| Fremantle | 12.8 (80) | Adelaide | 17.18 (120) | Subiaco Oval | 21,610 | Sunday, 1 September |
| Carlton | 5.7 (37) | Essendon | 12.20 (92) | MCG | 46,649 | Sunday, 1 September |

## Ladder

All teams played 22 games during the home and away season, for a total of 176. An additional 9 games were played during the finals series.
2002 AFL ladder :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | |
| 1 | Port Adelaide | 22 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 2360 | 1783 | 132.4 | 72 | Finals series |
| 2 | Brisbane Lions (P) | 22 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 2520 | 1843 | 136.7 | 68 | Finals series |
| 3 | Adelaide | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2308 | 2007 | 115.0 | 60 | Finals series |
| 4 | Collingwood | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 2081 | 1897 | 109.7 | 52 | Finals series |
| 5 | Essendon | 22 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 1939 | 1847 | 105.0 | 50 | Finals series |
| 6 | Melbourne | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2243 | 2245 | 99.9 | 48 | Finals series |
| 7 | Kangaroos | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2241 | 2269 | 98.8 | 48 | Finals series |
| 8 | West Coast | 22 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 2208 | 2254 | 98.0 | 44 | Finals series |
| 9 | Geelong | 22 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 1933 | 2029 | 95.3 | 44 | |
| 10 | Hawthorn | 22 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 1938 | 2107 | 92.0 | 44 | |
| 11 | Sydney | 22 | 9 | 12 | 1 | 2123 | 1976 | 107.4 | 38 | |
| 12 | Western Bulldogs | 22 | 9 | 12 | 1 | 2335 | 2246 | 104.0 | 38 | |
| 13 | Fremantle | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 1900 | 2151 | 88.3 | 36 | |
| 14 | Richmond | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 1801 | 2172 | 82.9 | 28 | |
| 15 | St Kilda | 22 | 5 | 16 | 1 | 1785 | 2271 | 78.6 | 22 | |
| 16 | Carlton | 22 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 1682 | 2300 | 73.1 | 12 | |

### 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 |
| Port Adelaide | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 |
| Brisbane Lions | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 68 |
| Adelaide | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 52 | 56 | 60 |
| Collingwood | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 44 | 44 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 52 | 52 |
| Essendon | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 42 | 46 | 50 |
| Melbourne | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 44 | 48 |
| Kangaroos | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 48 |
| West Coast | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 44 |
| Geelong | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 44 |
| Hawthorn | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 44 |
| Sydney | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 26 | 30 | 34 | 38 |
| Western Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 30 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 38 |
| Fremantle | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| Richmond | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| St Kilda | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Carlton | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 |

## 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 |
| 6 Sep, AAMI Stadium | 6 Sep, AAMI Stadium | 6 Sep, AAMI Stadium | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Port Adelaide | 14.11 (95) | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Collingwood | 16.12 (108) | 13 Sep, AAMI Stadium | 13 Sep, AAMI Stadium | 13 Sep, AAMI Stadium | | | | |
| | | | Port Adelaide | Port Adelaide | 11.17 (83) | | | | |
| 7 Sep, Colonial Stadium | 7 Sep, Colonial Stadium | 7 Sep, Colonial Stadium | Essendon | Essendon | 8.11 (59) | 21 Sep, MCG | 21 Sep, MCG | 21 Sep, MCG | | | |
| 5 | Essendon | 17.9 (111) | | | | Collingwood | Collingwood | 13.13 (91) | |
| 8 | West Coast | 11.12 (78) | | | | Adelaide | Adelaide | 9.9 (63) | 28 Sep, MCG | 28 Sep, MCG | 28 Sep, MCG |
| | | | | | | | | | Collingwood | Collingwood | 9.12 (66) |
| 8 Sep, MCG | 8 Sep, MCG | 8 Sep, MCG | | | | 21 Sep, The Gabba | 21 Sep, The Gabba | 21 Sep, The Gabba | Brisbane Lions | Brisbane Lions | 10.15 (75) |
| 6 | Melbourne | 18.14 (122) | | | | Brisbane Lions | Brisbane Lions | 21.12 (138) | | |
| 7 | Kangaroos | 11.18 (84) | 14 Sep, MCG | 14 Sep, MCG | 14 Sep, MCG | Port Adelaide | Port Adelaide | 12.10 (82) | | |
| | | | Adelaide | Adelaide | 20.10 (130) | | | | | | |
| 7 Sep, The Gabba | 7 Sep, The Gabba | 7 Sep, The Gabba | Melbourne | Melbourne | 17.16 (118) | | | | | |
| 2 | Brisbane Lions | 17.13 (115) | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Adelaide | 5.14 (44) | | | | | | | | |

### Week one

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Port Adelaide | 14.11 (95) | Collingwood | 16.12 (108) | AAMI Stadium | 33,131 | Friday, 6 September |
| Essendon | 17.9 (111) | West Coast | 11.12 (78) | Colonial Stadium | 37,475 | Saturday, 7 September |
| Brisbane Lions | 17.13 (115) | Adelaide | 5.14 (44) | The Gabba | 31,854 | Saturday, 7 September |
| Melbourne | 18.14 (122) | Kangaroos | 11.18 (84) | MCG | 53,967 | Sunday, 8 September |

### Week two

| Home Team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Port Adelaide | 11.17 (83) | Essendon | 8.11 (59) | AAMI Stadium | 27,661 | Friday, 13 September |
| Adelaide | 20.10 (130) | Melbourne | 17.16 (118) | MCG | 51,533 | Saturday, 14 September |
Note: Adelaide played its "home" final at the MCG despite being ranked above Melbourne due to the agreement then in place with the Melbourne Cricket Club that at least one game each week of the finals be played at the MCG.

### Week three

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Collingwood | 13.13 (91) | Adelaide | 9.9 (63) | MCG | 88,960 | Saturday, 21 September |
| Brisbane Lions | 21.12 (138) | Port Adelaide | 12.10 (82) | The Gabba | 33,047 | Saturday, 21 September |

### Week four

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Collingwood | 9.12 (66) | Brisbane Lions | 10.15 (75) | MCG | 91,817 | Saturday, 28 September |

## Match attendance

Total match attendance for all games was 5,643,908 people. Attendance at the Grand Final was 91,817 people. The largest non-finals attendance was 84,894 people for the Collingwood v Essendon game in round 5.

## Awards

* The Brownlow Medal was awarded to Simon Black of the Brisbane Lions.
* The Leigh Matthews Trophy was awarded to Luke Darcy of the Western Bulldogs and Michael Voss of the Brisbane Lions.
** This was the first year for this award under this name. Previously, it was the AFL Players Association MVP Award.
* The Coleman Medal was awarded to David Neitz of Melbourne.
* The Norm Smith Medal was awarded to Nathan Buckley of Collingwood.
* The AFL Rising Star award was awarded to Nick Riewoldt of St Kilda.

## Notable events

* For the first time since 1965, no player kicked ten goals or more in a match.
* Collingwood would appear in the finals for the first time since 1994, breaking an eight year drought, the longest in club history. They would also win their first final in twelve years since their last premiership in 1990, also the longest drought of finals wins in club history.
* Carlton won the wooden spoon for the first time. Carlton was the last of the twelve traditional Victorian clubs to win the wooden spoon in the VFL/AFL.
* Carlton played only four home games at Optus Oval, after arranging a deal to play four home games at Colonial Stadium. In order for the AFL to meet its contractual obligation to stage nine games per year at Optus Oval, six neutral games between a low-drawing Victorian team and an interstate team were staged at the venue. The unpopular venture was not repeated, as all of the home teams in these neutral games lost money due to poor crowds and, in many cases, conflicting sponsorship deals.
* Even though Adelaide was entitled to a home Semi-Final after losing its Qualifying Final to Brisbane, the game was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground due to a licence agreement which required at least one game to be played at the ground during each week of the finals.
* At the end of the season, the Carlton Football Club was found to have systematically breached the salary cap in 2000 and 2001. The club was fined and stripped of draft picks in the following two drafts, hampering their on-field results and long-term playing list rebuild in subsequent seasons.
* Sydney coach Rodney Eade resigned following round 12, after the Swans slumped to 14th on the ladder. He was eventually replaced by Paul Roos on a full-time basis, despite the board pushing for Terry Wallace, who resigned as coach of the Western Bulldogs with one round to play in the regular season, to be appointed. Roos would later coach the side to the premiership in 2005 before stepping down at the end of the 2010 season.