# 1997 AFL season

The 1997 AFL season was the 101st 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 ran from 27 March until 27 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs.
Before the season, the Port Adelaide Football Club (SANFL) was admitted to the league, increasing the South Australian membership to two clubs. Foundation club Fitzroy, which had gone into administration in 1996, merged with the Brisbane Bears to form a new Queensland-based team known as the Brisbane Lions. The Footscray Football Club changed its name to the Western Bulldogs. With these changes, the league's size remained at sixteen clubs.
The premiership was won by the Adelaide Football Club for the first time, after it defeated St Kilda by 31 points in the 1997 AFL Grand Final.

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

| | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | | |
| Thursday, 27 March (7:40 pm) | North Melbourne 7.13 (55) | def. by | Melbourne 10.10 (70) | MCG (crowd: 35,802) | Report |
| Saturday, 29 March (2:10 pm) | Collingwood 26.10 (166) | def. | Port Adelaide 13.9 (87) | MCG (crowd: 51,883) | Report |
| Saturday, 29 March (2:10 pm) | Western Bulldogs 11.10 (76) | def. by | Fremantle 10.20 (80) | Optus Oval (crowd: 8,664) | Report |
| Saturday, 29 March (7:40 pm) | St Kilda 10.11 (71) | def. by | Hawthorn 11.11 (77) | Waverley Park (crowd: 35,732) | Report |
| Saturday, 29 March (6:40 pm) | West Coast 12.6 (78) | def. | Sydney 5.7 (37) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 29,965) | Report |
| Sunday, 30 March (1:40 pm) | Adelaide 20.12 (132) | def. | Brisbane Lions 14.12 (96) | Football Park (crowd: 36,602) | Report |
| Sunday, 30 March (2:10 pm) | Richmond 15.14 (104) | def. | Geelong 13.17 (95) | MCG (crowd: 48,358) | Report |
| Monday, 31 March (2:10 pm) | Essendon 16.10 (106) | def. | Carlton 15.9 (99) | MCG (crowd: 82,363) | Report |
| Port Adelaide endured a disappointing AFL debut at the MCG in front of over 50,000 spectators, with Collingwood jumping out to a 22-point lead at quarter time and extending the lead at each change to run out comfortable 79-point winners. Speedy midfielder Paul Williams was considered best-on-ground with 30 touches and 4 goals, while Nathan Buckley (who won a Magarey with Port in the SANFL) racked up 23 kicks and Saverio Rocca made the most of limited opportunities to kick six goals. For Port, Donald Dickie (26 touches), Fabian Francis (20 touches, 2 goals) and eventual Rising Star winner Michael Wilson were among Port's better players. The Easter Monday clash between Essendon and Carlton is best remembered not for its close finish but for what happened after the game. The ongoing feud between Sean Denham and Greg Williams (which had stemmed from the 1993 Grand final) had reached a critical point, with both players engaged in a heated argument before umpire Andrew Coates tried to intervene, only to be pushed away by Williams. Despite the innocuous nature of the contact, the AFL Tribunal suspended Williams for nine matches. The incident was one of football's major talking points that year, leading to a Supreme Court battle between Carlton and the AFL, and eventually the establishment of the AFL Appeals Board. ||||||

### Round 2

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 7.14 (56) | Collingwood | 24.19 (163) | MCG | 61,138 | Friday 4, April |
| Richmond | 19.14 (128) | Adelaide | 15.10 (100) | MCG | 32,880 | Saturday 5, April |
| Geelong | 11.12 (78) | West Coast | 11.6 (72) | Kardinia Park | 17,988 | Saturday 5, April |
| Western Bulldogs | 13.12 (90) | Sydney | 12.11 (83) | Princes Park | 12,604 | Saturday 5, April |
| Brisbane Lions | 23.16 (154) | St Kilda | 7.15 (57) | Gabba | 17,123 | Sunday 6, April |
| Port Adelaide | 8.12 (60) | Essendon | 14.9 (93) | Football Park | 32,747 | Sunday 6, April |
| Fremantle | 13.9 (87) | Hawthorn | 10.13 (73) | Subiaco Oval | 19,057 | Sunday 6, April |
| North Melbourne | 12.14 (86) | Carlton | 8.12 (60) | MCG | 38,170 | Monday 7, April |

### Round 3

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Sydney | 15.9 (99) | Melbourne | 14.7 (91) | SCG | 23,598 | Friday 11, April |
| Western Bulldogs | 16.9 (105) | Richmond | 12.14 (86) | MCG | 35,438 | Saturday 12, April |
| St Kilda | 19.11 (125) | Collingwood | 17.16 (118) | Waverley Park | 54,699 | Saturday 12, April |
| Port Adelaide | 18.21 (129) | Geelong | 14.6 (90) | Football Park | 32,074 | Saturday 12, April |
| Essendon | 18.14 (122) | North Melbourne | 12.8 (80) | MCG | 57,978 | Sunday 13, April |
| Carlton | 15.18 (108) | Adelaide | 12.8 (80) | Princes Park | 25,966 | Sunday 13, April |
| Hawthorn | 12.15 (87) | Brisbane Lions | 11.9 (75) | Waverley Park | 27,947 | Sunday 13, April |
| West Coast | 16.15 (111) | Fremantle | 9.17 (71) | Subiaco Oval | 39,294 | Sunday 13, April |

### Round 4

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 13.9 (87) | Western Bulldogs | 13.11 (89) | MCG | 28,043 | Friday 18, April |
| Collingwood | 12.12 (84) | Carlton | 15.11 (101) | MCG | 78,704 | Saturday 19, April |
| Richmond | 10.12 (72) | Fremantle | 10.7 (67) | Princes Park | 15,461 | Saturday 19, April |
| West Coast | 17.10 (112) | Hawthorn | 13.10 (88) | Subiaco Oval | 38,222 | Saturday 19, April |
| St Kilda | 12.9 (81) | Sydney | 18.19 (127) | Waverley Park | 35,061 | Saturday 19, April |
| Brisbane Lions | 15.19 (109) | North Melbourne | 12.11 (83) | Gabba | 18,575 | Sunday 20, April |
| Adelaide | 11.6 (72) | Port Adelaide | 11.17 (83) | Football Park | 47,256 | Sunday 20, April |
| Geelong | 11.19 (85) | Essendon | 11.12 (78) | MCG | 54,922 | Sunday 20, April |

### Round 5

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 10.10 (70) | Collingwood | 14.15 (99) | MCG | 83,271 | Friday 25, April |
| Fremantle | 16.11 (107) | St Kilda | 15.11 (101) | Subiaco Oval | 23,504 | Friday 25, April |
| Melbourne | 12.6 (78) | West Coast | 19.12 (126) | MCG | 19,655 | Saturday 26, April |
| Western Bulldogs | 9.17 (71) | Adelaide | 19.7 (121) | Princes Park | 12,694 | Saturday 26, April |
| Hawthorn | 15.9 (99) | Sydney | 11.8 (74) | Waverley Park | 37,576 | Saturday 26, April |
| Port Adelaide | 10.13 (73) | Brisbane Lions | 10.11 (71) | Football Park | 31,757 | Sunday 27, April |
| North Melbourne | 21.15 (141) | Richmond | 7.4 (46) | MCG | 44,449 | Sunday 27, April |
| Carlton | 12.14 (86) | Geelong | 13.16 (94) | Princes Park | 25,801 | Sunday 27, April |

### Round 6

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| West Coast | 14.15 (99) | Western Bulldogs | 17.11 (113) | WACA | 29,838 | Friday 2, May |
| Essendon | 15.12 (102) | Brisbane Lions | 9.17 (71) | MCG | 37,642 | Saturday 3, May |
| Collingwood | 13.6 (84) | Adelaide | 11.17 (83) | Victoria Park | 24,663 | Saturday 3, May |
| Geelong | 14.13 (97) | Fremantle | 6.7 (43) | Kardinia Park | 16,467 | Saturday 3, May |
| Hawthorn | 14.9 (93) | North Melbourne | 16.7 (103) | Waverley Park | 38,953 | Saturday 3, May |
| Sydney | 21.16 (142) | Carlton | 11.17 (83) | SCG | 37,933 | Sunday 4, May |
| St Kilda | 17.19 (121) | Melbourne | 4.11 (35) | Waverley Park | 21,104 | Sunday 4, May |
| Port Adelaide | 19.8 (122) | Richmond | 8.10 (58) | Football Park | 36,090 | Sunday 4, May |

### Round 7

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 9.14 (68) | Collingwood | 17.9 (111) | MCG | 54,901 | Friday 9, May |
| Richmond | 10.16 (76) | Carlton | 14.14 (98) | MCG | 48,833 | Saturday 10, May |
| Western Bulldogs | 19.19 (133) | Hawthorn | 13.10 (88) | Princes Park | 18,860 | Saturday 10, May |
| Geelong | 11.10 (76) | Sydney | 6.8 (44) | Kardinia Park | 22,151 | Saturday 10, May |
| Fremantle | 17.22 (124) | Melbourne | 10.9 (69) | WACA | 18,198 | Saturday 10, May |
| St Kilda | 20.6 (126) | Port Adelaide | 8.13 (61) | Waverley Park | 17,752 | Saturday 10, May |
| Brisbane Lions | 8.12 (60) | West Coast | 21.13 (139) | Gabba | 17,524 | Sunday 11, May |
| Adelaide | 18.18 (126) | Essendon | 11.7 (73) | Football Park | 39,275 | Sunday 11, May |

### Round 8

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 19.15 (129) | Western Bulldogs | 11.17 (83) | MCG | 61,014 | Friday 16, May |
| Melbourne | 7.7 (49) | Geelong | 19.14 (128) | MCG | 28,989 | Saturday 17, May |
| North Melbourne | 19.14 (128) | Port Adelaide | 15.10 (100) | Princes Park | 13,056 | Saturday 17, May |
| Adelaide | 22.12 (144) | Sydney | 8.7 (55) | Football Park | 40,147 | Saturday 17, May |
| Essendon | 14.16 (100) | St Kilda | 18.16 (124) | MCG | 51,928 | Sunday 18, May |
| Carlton | 15.16 (106) | Hawthorn | 12.9 (81) | Princes Park | 29,783 | Sunday 18, May |
| Fremantle | 14.14 (98) | Brisbane Lions | 15.3 (93) | Subiaco Oval | 14,721 | Sunday 18, May |
| Richmond | 18.11 (119) | West Coast | 9.13 (67) | MCG | 26,721 | Monday 19, May |

### Round 9

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Port Adelaide | 10.18 (78) | Melbourne | 3.9 (27) | Football Park | 32,958 | Friday 23, May |
| Carlton | 16.9 (105) | Fremantle | 14.4 (88) | Princes Park | 18,187 | Saturday 24, May |
| Hawthorn | 13.10 (88) | Adelaide | 14.18 (102) | Waverley Park | 23,463 | Saturday 24, May |
| Sydney | 16.15 (111) | Collingwood | 11.8 (74) | SCG | 39,780 | Saturday 24, May |
| Brisbane Lions | 19.12 (126) | Geelong | 15.8 (98) | Gabba | 19,828 | Sunday 25, May |
| West Coast | 16.14 (110) | Essendon | 13.7 (85) | Subiaco Oval | 38,984 | Sunday 25, May |
| Western Bulldogs | 16.7 (103) | North Melbourne | 10.11 (71) | MCG | 29,307 | Sunday 25, May |
| St Kilda | 22.9 (141) | Richmond | 14.10 (94) | Waverley Park | 52,257 | Sunday 25, May |

### Round 10

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Port Adelaide | 14.9 (93) | Carlton | 7.13 (55) | Football Park | 40,116 | Friday 30, May |
| North Melbourne | 15.13 (103) | West Coast | 9.4 (58) | Princes Park | 13,614 | Saturday 31, May |
| Hawthorn | 16.12 (108) | Collingwood | 8.7 (55) | Waverley Park | 51,494 | Saturday 31, May |
| Geelong | 16.11 (107) | St Kilda | 11.13 (79) | Kardinia Park | 22,731 | Saturday 31, May |
| Richmond | 9.13 (67) | Melbourne | 14.8 (92) | MCG | 28,879 | Saturday 31, May |
| Essendon | 17.12 (114) | Western Bulldogs | 20.16 (136) | MCG | 50,138 | Sunday 1, June |
| Brisbane Lions | 13.14 (92) | Sydney | 13.11 (89) | Gabba | 20,403 | Sunday 1, June |
| Fremantle | 10.12 (72) | Adelaide | 16.9 (105) | Subiaco Oval | 22,464 | Monday 2, June |

### Round 11

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 10.11 (71) | Richmond | 11.11 (77) | MCG | 70,350 | Friday 6, June |
| Essendon | 13.13 (91) | Hawthorn | 17.22 (124) | MCG | 60,594 | Saturday 7, June |
| Western Bulldogs | 14.12 (96) | Geelong | 11.9 (75) | Princes Park | 24,897 | Saturday 7, June |
| Port Adelaide | 4.17 (41) | Sydney | 10.16 (76) | Football Park | 35,669 | Saturday 7, June |
| Melbourne | 5.15 (45) | Adelaide | 14.13 (97) | MCG | 27,463 | Sunday 8, June |
| West Coast | 11.7 (73) | St Kilda | 13.11 (89) | Subiaco Oval | 29,390 | Sunday 8, June |
| North Melbourne | 15.15 (105) | Fremantle | 12.7 (79) | MCG | 20,585 | Monday 9, June |
| Carlton | 12.12 (84) | Brisbane Lions | 9.9 (63) | Princes Park | 27,904 | Monday 9, June |

### Round 12

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Sydney | 26.8 (164) | Richmond | 16.14 (110) | SCG | 35,033 | Friday 13, June |
| Western Bulldogs | 12.10 (82) | Port Adelaide | 14.10 (94) | Princes Park | 14,025 | Saturday 14, June |
| Collingwood | 7.13 (55) | West Coast | 11.5 (71) | Victoria Park | 25,323 | Saturday 14, June |
| Geelong | 12.10 (82) | Hawthorn | 13.10 (88) | Kardinia Park | 22,871 | Saturday 14, June |
| St Kilda | 16.20 (116) | Carlton | 12.13 (85) | Waverley Park | 44,883 | Sunday 15, June |
| Adelaide | 12.11 (83) | North Melbourne | 16.9 (105) | Football Park | 43,345 | Sunday 15, June |
| Melbourne | 7.8 (50) | Brisbane Lions | 21.9 (135) | MCG | 13,392 | Sunday 15, June |
| Fremantle | 24.13 (157) | Essendon | 9.6 (60) | Subiaco Oval | 21,956 | Sunday 15, June |

### Round 13

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| West Coast | 11.13 (79) | Carlton | 12.14 (86) | Subiaco Oval | 37,854 | Friday 27, June |
| Richmond | 4.10 (34) | Essendon | 19.13 (127) | MCG | 58,812 | Saturday 28, June |
| St Kilda | 11.18 (84) | Western Bulldogs | 15.11 (101) | Waverley Park | 32,370 | Saturday 28, June |
| Geelong | 17.8 (110) | Adelaide | 7.12 (54) | Kardinia Park | 20,236 | Saturday 28, June |
| Brisbane Lions | 11.22 (88) | Collingwood | 11.7 (73) | Gabba | 19,560 | Saturday 28, June |
| Port Adelaide | 10.9 (69) | Fremantle | 7.12 (54) | Football Park | 30,827 | Saturday 28, June |
| Hawthorn | 17.16 (118) | Melbourne | 7.13 (55) | Waverley Park | 31,517 | Sunday 29, June |
| Sydney | 8.17 (65) | North Melbourne | 7.13 (55) | SCG | 30,160 | Sunday 29, June |

### Round 14

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Adelaide | 16.10 (106) | West Coast | 4.7 (31) | Football Park | 39,221 | Friday 4, July |
| Geelong | 9.26 (80) | Collingwood | 10.12 (72) | MCG | 65,228 | Saturday 5, July |
| Carlton | 11.8 (74) | Western Bulldogs | 16.14 (110) | Princes Park | 32,183 | Saturday 5, July |
| St Kilda | 20.13 (133) | North Melbourne | 11.13 (79) | Waverley Park | 32,635 | Saturday 5, July |
| Fremantle | 6.12 (48) | Sydney | 3.15 (33) | WACA | 19,290 | Saturday 5, July |
| Essendon | 18.12 (120) | Melbourne | 8.9 (57) | MCG | 44,803 | Sunday 6, July |
| Hawthorn | 18.16 (124) | Port Adelaide | 13.14 (92) | Waverley Park | 29,886 | Sunday 6, July |
| Brisbane Lions | 7.26 (68) | Richmond | 7.8 (50) | Gabba | 19,155 | Sunday 6, July |

### Round 15

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 14.8 (92) | Geelong | 15.12 (102) | MCG | 45,120 | Friday 11, July |
| Melbourne | 18.11 (119) | Carlton | 15.10 (100) | MCG | 27,992 | Saturday 12, July |
| Western Bulldogs | 11.7 (73) | Brisbane Lions | 21.11 (137) | Princes Park | 16,430 | Saturday 12, July |
| Collingwood | 25.10 (160) | Fremantle | 9.6 (60) | Victoria Park | 23,433 | Saturday 12, July |
| Adelaide | 10.16 (76) | St Kilda | 9.12 (66) | Football Park | 39,921 | Saturday 12, July |
| Sydney | 11.13 (79) | Essendon | 11.12 (78) | SCG | 36,077 | Sunday 13, July |
| West Coast | 12.13 (85) | Port Adelaide | 9.13 (67) | Subiaco Oval | 29,723 | Sunday 13, July |
| Richmond | 22.13 (145) | Hawthorn | 10.9 (69) | MCG | 49,217 | Sunday 13, July |

### Round 16

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Brisbane Lions | 17.16 (118) | Adelaide | 13.9 (87) | Gabba | 21,348 | Friday 18, July |
| Carlton | 25.15 (165) | Essendon | 13.9 (87) | MCG | 58,512 | Saturday 19, July |
| Hawthorn | 9.8 (62) | St Kilda | 20.21 (141) | Waverley Park | 43,181 | Saturday 19, July |
| Geelong | 16.14 (110) | Richmond | 12.6 (78) | Kardinia Park | 24,099 | Saturday 19, July |
| Sydney | 15.22 (112) | West Coast | 11.9 (75) | SCG | 39,318 | Saturday 19, July |
| Port Adelaide | 17.9 (111) | Collingwood | 8.10 (58) | Football Park | 37,790 | Saturday 19, July |
| Melbourne | 7.16 (58) | North Melbourne | 17.12 (114) | MCG | 23,309 | Sunday 20, July |
| Fremantle | 15.7 (97) | Western Bulldogs | 13.13 (91) | Subiaco Oval | 18,392 | Sunday 20, July |

### Round 17

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 10.12 (72) | Port Adelaide | 18.14 (122) | MCG | 33,076 | Friday 25, July |
| Carlton | 7.16 (58) | North Melbourne | 14.12 (96) | Princes Park | 27,689 | Saturday 26, July |
| Hawthorn | 9.8 (62) | Fremantle | 10.11 (71) | Waverley Park | 15,939 | Saturday 26, July |
| Sydney | 22.17 (149) | Western Bulldogs | 7.10 (52) | SCG | 32,534 | Saturday 26, July |
| Adelaide | 29.11 (185) | Richmond | 7.6 (48) | Football Park | 36,297 | Saturday 26, July |
| St Kilda | 12.20 (92) | Brisbane Lions | 5.14 (44) | Waverley Park | 34,859 | Sunday 27, July |
| Collingwood | 20.14 (134) | Melbourne | 12.10 (82) | MCG | 37,779 | Sunday 27, July |
| West Coast | 20.9 (129) | Geelong | 12.10 (82) | Subiaco Oval | 34,565 | Sunday 27, July |

### Round 18

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 11.17 (83) | Essendon | 8.16 (64) | MCG | 38,614 | Friday 1, August |
| Melbourne | 7.11 (53) | Sydney | 25.19 (169) | MCG | 26,901 | Saturday 2, August |
| Richmond | 17.13 (115) | Western Bulldogs | 15.10 (100) | Princes Park | 18,373 | Saturday 2, August |
| Geelong | 25.9 (159) | Port Adelaide | 11.8 (74) | Kardinia Park | 21,867 | Saturday 2, August |
| Brisbane Lions | 21.15 (141) | Hawthorn | 11.5 (71) | Gabba | 19,635 | Saturday 2, August |
| Adelaide | 18.19 (127) | Carlton | 13.8 (86) | Football Park | 42,548 | Sunday 3, August |
| Collingwood | 12.17 (89) | St Kilda | 15.21 (111) | MCG | 68,036 | Sunday 3, August |
| Fremantle | 7.7 (49) | West Coast | 13.4 (82) | Subiaco Oval | 39,711 | Sunday 3, August |

### Round 19

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 17.14 (116) | Brisbane Lions | 9.5 (59) | MCG | 27,021 | Friday 8, August |
| Carlton | 14.23 (107) | Collingwood | 13.13 (91) | MCG | 61,650 | Saturday 9, August |
| Western Bulldogs | 14.18 (102) | Melbourne | 9.10 (64) | Princes Park | 13,058 | Saturday 9, August |
| Hawthorn | 10.6 (66) | West Coast | 13.9 (87) | Waverley Park | 20,517 | Saturday 9, August |
| Fremantle | 12.13 (85) | Richmond | 5.12 (42) | WACA | 15,757 | Saturday 9, August |
| Sydney | 17.17 (119) | St Kilda | 18.20 (128) | SCG | 39,287 | Sunday 10, August |
| Essendon | 11.7 (73) | Geelong | 9.14 (68) | MCG | 53,901 | Sunday 10, August |
| Port Adelaide | 9.4 (58) | Adelaide | 9.11 (65) | Football Park | 45,498 | Sunday 10, August |

### Round 20

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| West Coast | 15.7 (97) | Melbourne | 7.17 (59) | WACA | 21,164 | Friday 15, August |
| Collingwood | 13.13 (91) | Essendon | 12.9 (81) | MCG | 50,944 | Saturday 16, August |
| St Kilda | 12.5 (77) | Fremantle | 9.10 (64) | Waverley Park | 26,201 | Saturday 16, August |
| Geelong | 13.17 (95) | Carlton | 9.13 (67) | Kardinia Park | 23,007 | Saturday 16, August |
| Brisbane Lions | 13.15 (93) | Port Adelaide | 13.15 (93) | Gabba | 20,835 | Saturday 16, August |
| Sydney | 20.15 (135) | Hawthorn | 11.11 (77) | SCG | 34,111 | Sunday 17, August |
| Richmond | 14.13 (97) | North Melbourne | 14.12 (96) | MCG | 29,620 | Sunday 17, August |
| Adelaide | 7.18 (60) | Western Bulldogs | 16.7 (103) | Football Park | 39,632 | Sunday 17, August |

### Round 21

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 8.14 (62) | St Kilda | 17.12 (114) | MCG | 32,935 | Friday 22, August |
| North Melbourne | 10.21 (81) | Hawthorn | 6.7 (43) | MCG | 26,393 | Saturday 23, August |
| Carlton | 11.10 (76) | Sydney | 5.11 (41) | Princes Park | 27,375 | Saturday 23, August |
| Western Bulldogs | 12.14 (86) | West Coast | 10.8 (68) | Whitten Oval | 26,704 | Saturday 23, August |
| Brisbane Lions | 15.12 (102) | Essendon | 16.10 (106) | Gabba | 21,065 | Saturday 23, August |
| Richmond | 22.14 (146) | Port Adelaide | 8.13 (61) | MCG | 22,516 | Sunday 24, August |
| Fremantle | 9.14 (68) | Geelong | 14.16 (100) | Subiaco Oval | 28,751 | Sunday 24, August |
| Adelaide | 6.12 (48) | Collingwood | 5.9 (39) | Football Park | 37,661 | Monday 25, August |

### Round 22

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| West Coast | 18.12 (120) | Brisbane Lions | 11.15 (81) | WACA | 29,402 | Friday 29, August |
| Melbourne | 18.11 (119) | Fremantle | 11.13 (79) | MCG | 15,036 | Saturday 30, August |
| Carlton | 13.11 (89) | Richmond | 13.13 (91) | Princes Park | 34,922 | Saturday 30, August |
| Hawthorn | 13.9 (87) | Western Bulldogs | 15.15 (105) | Waverley Park | 35,706 | Saturday 30, August |
| Sydney | 13.12 (90) | Geelong | 15.10 (100) | SCG | 46,168 | Saturday 30, August |
| Collingwood | 18.14 (122) | North Melbourne | 15.21 (111) | MCG | 43,660 | Sunday 31, August |
| Essendon | 16.6 (102) | Adelaide | 14.14 (98) | Princes Park | 25,636 | Sunday 31, August |
| Port Adelaide | 12.12 (84) | St Kilda | 17.15 (117) | Football Park | 38,589 | Sunday 31, August |

## Ladder

| (P) | Premiers |
| | Qualified for finals |
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
| 1 | St Kilda | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2294 | 1918 | 119.6 | 60 |
| 2 | Geelong | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2111 | 1791 | 117.9 | 60 |
| 3 | Western Bulldogs | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 2100 | 2062 | 101.8 | 56 |
| 4 | Adelaide (P) | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 2151 | 1769 | 121.6 | 52 |
| 5 | West Coast | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 1969 | 1770 | 111.2 | 52 |
| 6 | Sydney | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2093 | 1801 | 116.2 | 48 |
| 7 | North Melbourne | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2051 | 1835 | 111.8 | 48 |
| 8 | Brisbane Lions | 22 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 2076 | 1973 | 105.2 | 42 |
| 9 | Port Adelaide | 22 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 1852 | 2017 | 91.8 | 42 |
| 10 | Collingwood | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 2138 | 1919 | 111.4 | 40 |
| 11 | Carlton | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 1978 | 2045 | 96.7 | 40 |
| 12 | Fremantle | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 1748 | 1902 | 91.9 | 40 |
| 13 | Richmond | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 1883 | 2253 | 83.6 | 40 |
| 14 | Essendon | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 2004 | 2170 | 92.4 | 36 |
| 15 | Hawthorn | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1873 | 2144 | 87.4 | 32 |
| 16 | Melbourne | 22 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 1477 | 2429 | 60.8 | 16 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Average score: 90.3 Source: AFL Tables

## Progression by round

| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| St Kilda | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 |
| Geelong | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 44 | 48 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 |
| Western Bulldogs | 0 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 56 |
| Adelaide | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 48 | 52 | 52 |
| West Coast | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 48 | 52 |
| Sydney | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 44 | 48 | 48 | 48 |
| North Melbourne | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 44 | 48 | 48 |
| Brisbane Lions | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 42 | 42 | 42 |
| Port Adelaide | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 42 | 42 | 42 |
| Collingwood | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 40 |
| Carlton | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 40 | 40 |
| Fremantle | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| Richmond | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 40 |
| Essendon | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 36 |
| Hawthorn | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Melbourne | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 |

## Finals series
### Week one

| | Qualifying finals | Qualifying finals | Qualifying finals | | |
| QF2: Saturday, 6 September (2:30 pm) | Western Bulldogs 18.11 (119) | def. | Sydney 12.12 (84) | MCG (crowd: 62,432) | Report |
| QF1: Sunday, 7 September (2:30 pm) | Adelaide 14.15 (99) | def. | West Coast 9.12 (66) | Football Park (crowd: 43,761) | Report |
| QF4: Sunday, 7 September (2:30 pm) | St Kilda 20.15 (135) | def. | Brisbane Lions 13.11 (89) | Waverley Park (crowd: 50,035) | Report |
| QF3: Sunday, 7 September (7:00 pm) | Geelong 9.7 (61) | def. by | North Melbourne 11.13 (79) | MCG (crowd: 55,561) | Report |
| The St Kilda versus Brisbane Lions finals match was the last ever finals match to be played at Waverley Park. The Adelaide versus West Coast match was originally scheduled as a night match on Saturday, but to avoid a television conflict with the funeral of Princess Diana, the game was rescheduled as a Sunday afternoon fixture. ||||||

### Week two

| | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | |
| SF1: Saturday, 13 September (2:30 pm) | North Melbourne 15.8 (98) | def. | West Coast 12.13 (85) | MCG (crowd: 55,781) | Report |
| SF2: Saturday, 13 September (7:45 pm) | Adelaide 11.10 (76) | def. | Geelong 9.14 (68) | Football Park (crowd: 46,319) | Report |
| The Adelaide versus Geelong semi final was notable due to an incident in the third quarter, when a clear forward 50 mark to Geelong's Leigh Colbert was not awarded by field umpire Grant Vernon, denying Geelong a crucial shot at goal. This incident was later confirmed as a significant error by the AFL umpiring association, and Grant Vernon was not selected to umpire in any remaining 1997 finals matches as a result. ||||||

### Week three

| | Preliminary finals | Preliminary finals | Preliminary finals | | |
| PF2: Friday, 19 September (7:45 pm) | St Kilda 15.14 (104) | def. | North Melbourne 11.7 (73) | MCG (crowd: 77,531) | Report |
| PF1: Saturday, 20 September (2:30 pm) | Western Bulldogs 13.13 (91) | def. by | Adelaide 12.21 (93) | MCG (crowd: 70,088) | Report |

### Week four

| | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final | | |
| Saturday, 27 September (2:45 pm) | St Kilda 13.16 (94) | def. by | Adelaide 19.11 (125) | MCG (crowd: 99,645) | Report |
| This was the first appearance in a grand final for Adelaide. ||||||

## Attendance

| Team | Hosted | Average | Highest | Lowest | Total | Last Season | +/- |
| Essendon | 11 | 52,848 | 83,271 | 25,636 | 581,330 | 49,526 | + 3322 |
| Collingwood | 11 | 48,708 | 78,704 | 23,433 | 535,789 | 44,723 | + 3985 |
| Adelaide | 11 | 40,173 | 47,256 | 36,297 | 441,905 | 39,428 | + 745 |
| Port Adelaide | 11 | 35,829 | 45,498 | 31,757 | 394,115 | 11,017* | + 24812* |
| Sydney | 11 | 35,818 | 46,168 | 23,598 | 393,999 | 24,574 | + 11244 |
| St Kilda | 11 | 35,232 | 54,699 | 17,752 | 387,553 | 27,137 | + 8095 |
| Richmond | 11 | 34,515 | 58,812 | 15,461 | 379,670 | 38,624 | - 4109 |
| Carlton | 11 | 33,634 | 61,650 | 18,187 | 369,972 | 35,891 | - 2257 |
| West Coast | 11 | 32,582 | 39,294 | 21,164 | 358,401 | 32,448 | + 134 |
| North Melbourne | 11 | 32,520 | 54,901 | 13,056 | 357,725 | 34,627 | - 2107 |
| Hawthorn | 11 | 32,380 | 51,494 | 15,939 | 356,179 | 23,624 | + 8756 |
| Geelong | 11 | 28,324 | 65,228 | 16,467 | 311,567 | 25,161 | + 3163 |
| Melbourne | 11 | 27,714 | 61,138 | 13,392 | 304,853 | 30,315 | - 2601 |
| Fremantle | 11 | 21,982 | 39,711 | 14,721 | 241,801 | 22,473 | - 491 |
| Brisbane Lions | 11 | 19,550 | 21,348 | 17,123 | 215,051 | N/A | N/A |
| Western Bulldogs | 11 | 19,335 | 35,438 | 8664 | 212,681 | 18,073 | + 1262 |
| Totals | 176 | 33,197 | 83,271 | 8664 | 5842,591 | 29,637 | + 3560 |
| Venue | Hosted | Average | Highest | Lowest | Total | Last Season | +/- |
| MCG | 53 | 43,488 | 83,271 | 13,392 | 2,304,865 | 46,114 | - 2626 |
| Football Park | 22 | 38,001 | 47,256 | 31,757 | 836,020 | 39,428 | - 1427 |
| SCG | 11 | 35,818 | 46,168 | 23,598 | 393,999 | 24,574 | + 11,244 |
| Waverley Park | 22 | 33,806 | 54,699 | 15,939 | 743,732 | 25,545 | + 8261 |
| Subiaco Oval | 17 | 28,371 | 39,711 | 14,721 | 482,310 | 28,289 | + 82 |
| Whitten Oval | 1 | 26,704 | 26,704 | 26,704 | 26,704 | 10,482 | + 16,222 |
| Victoria Park | 3 | 24,473 | 25,323 | 23,433 | 73,419 | 23,581 | + 892 |
| WACA | 5 | 23,578 | 29,838 | 18,198 | 117,892 | 25,253 | - 1675 |
| Kardinia Park | 9 | 21,269 | 24,099 | 16,467 | 191,417 | 22,670 | - 1401 |
| Optus Oval | 22 | 20,781 | 34,922 | 8664 | 457,182 | 15,641 | + 5140 |
| Gabba | 11 | 19,550 | 21,348 | 17,123 | 215,051 | 18,088 | + 1462 |
| Totals | 176 | 33,197 | 83,271 | 8664 | 5842,591 | 29,637 | + 3560 |

## Notable events

* The last AFL regular season game at Whitten Oval was played in Round 21, with hosts the Western Bulldogs defeating West Coast by 18 points.
* St Kilda finished on top of the ladder (prior to the finals) to claim the minor premiership, despite losing 7 matches in the home and away season. No team before or since has finished on top with that many losses, which highlights the evenness of the 1997 season. St Kilda would also play in their first preliminary final since 1972 and reach their first grand final since 1971.
* The first qualifying final between Adelaide and West Coast was rescheduled from Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon to allow the Seven Network to screen the funeral of Princess Diana live across Australia. This meant that it was played at the same time as the fourth qualifying final between minor premiers St Kilda and the Brisbane Lions, who were competing in their first season as a merged entity. The game is also notable for being the first ever final between two non-Victorian teams.
* Gary Ablett Sr., arguably one of the games best and most well known players, officially announced his retirement during the Preliminary Final weekend. Ablett failed to play a game in 1997 due to a knee injury.