# 2002 VFL season

The 2002 Victorian Football League season was the 121st season of the Australian rules football competition.
The premiership was won by the Geelong Football Club reserves team, after defeating Port Melbourne by 22 points in the Grand Final on 22 September.

## Premiership season
### Round 1

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Date | Time |
| Tasmania | 12.4 (76) | Geelong reserves | 12.15 (87) | York Park | Friday, 5 April | 6pm |
| Carlton reserves | 6.6 (42) | Port Melbourne | 13.18 (96) | Optus Oval | Saturday, 6 April | 10:50am |
| Bendigo Diggers | 15.8 (98) | Springvale | 21.14 (140) | Queen Elizabeth Oval | Saturday, 6 April | 2pm |
| Coburg Tigers | 20.12 (132) | Essendon reserves | 14.10 (94) | Coburg City Oval | Saturday, 6 April | 1:10pm |
| Frankston | 12.10 (82) | Sandringham | 20.12 (132) | Frankston Park | Saturday, 6 April | 2pm |
| North Ballarat | 12.8 (80) | Williamstown | 17.12 (114) | Northern Oval | Sunday, 7 April | 2pm |
| Werribee | 11.13 (79) | Murray Kangaroos | 22.7 (139) | Chirnside Park | Sunday, 7 April | 2pm |
| Northern Bullants | 13.6 (84) | Box Hill Hawks | 23.16 (154) | Preston City Oval | Sunday, 7 April | 2pm |

### Round 2

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Date | Time |
| Box Hill Hawks | 20.17 (137) | Bendigo Diggers | 9.6 (60) | Box Hill City Oval | Saturday, 13 April | 2pm |
| Werribee | 15.10 (100) | North Ballarat | 12.11 (83) | Chirnside Park | Saturday, 13 April | 1:10pm |
| Springvale | 14.16 (100) | Frankston | 7.6 (48) | Moorabbin | Saturday, 13 April | 2pm |
| Williamstown | 19.10 (124) | Carlton reserves | 18.15 (123) | W.C.G. | Saturday, 13 April | 2pm |
| Sandringham | 13.10 (88) | Coburg Tigers | 10.11 (71) | Trevor Barker Beach Oval | Sunday, 14 April | 2pm |
| Port Melbourne | 12.10 (82) | Tasmania | 14.13 (97) | TEAC Oval | Sunday, 14 April | 2pm |
| Murray Kangaroos | 14.12 (96) | Geelong reserves | 12.15 (87) | Coburg City Oval | Sunday, 14 April | 2pm |
| Northern Bullants | 14.11 (95) | Essendon reserves | 13.11 (89) | Preston City Oval | Sunday, 14 April | 2pm |

### Round 3

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Date | Time |
| Frankston | 9.8 (62) | Carlton reserves | 15.15 (105) | Frankston Oval | Saturday, 20 April | 1:10pm |
| Tasmania | 22.10 (142) | Essendon reserves | 17.11 (113) | North Hobart Oval | Saturday, 20 April | 1:10pm |
| Geelong reserves | 21.17 (143) | Springvale | 7.10 (52) | Skilled Stadium | Sunday, 21 April | 10:50am |
| Box Hill Hawks | 18.17 (125) | Williamstown | 13.4 (82) | Box Hill City Oval | Sunday, 21 April | 2pm |
| North Ballarat | 9.10 (64) | Sandringham | 14.13 (97) | Northern Oval | Sunday, 21 April | 2pm |
| Northern Bullants | 10.10 (70) | Werribee | 18.16 (124) | Preston City Oval | Sunday, 21 April | 2pm |
| Murray Kangaroos | 13.14 (92) | Port Melbourne | 12.10 (82) | Coburg City Oval | Sunday, 21 April | 2pm |
| Bendigo Diggers | 15.6 (96) | Coburg Tigers | 17.11 (113) | Queen Elizabeth Oval | Sunday, 21 April | 2pm |

### Round 4

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Date | Time |
| Tasmania | 11.12 (78) | Frankston | 11.6 (72) | North Hobart Oval | Thursday, 25 April | 12:30pm |
| Murray Kangaroos | 10.9 (69) | Carlton reserves | 15.9 (99) | Coburg City Oval | Saturday, 27 April | 2pm |
| Williamstown | 13.4 (82) | Essendon reserves | 12.11 (83) | W.C.G. | Saturday, 27 April | 1:10pm |
| Geelong reserves | 31.17 (203) | Bendigo Diggers | 6.6 (42) | Skilled Stadium | Saturday, 27 April | 2pm |
| Northern Bullants | 11.8 (74) | North Ballarat | 14.6 (90) | Preston City Oval | Sunday, 28 April | 2pm |
| Coburg Tigers | 16.9 (105) | Box Hill Hawks | 13.14 (92) | Coburg City Oval | Sunday, 28 April | 2pm |
| Port Melbourne | 14.15 (99) | Springvale | 11.15 (81) | TEAC Oval | Sunday, 28 April | 2pm |
| Sandringham | 11.14 (80) | Werribee | 11.17 (83) | Trevor Barker Beach Oval | Sunday, 28 April | 2pm |

### Round 5

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Date | Time |
| Tasmania | 12.7 (79) | Coburg Tigers | 19.15 (129) | North Hobart Oval | Saturday, 4 May | 2pm |
| Williamstown | 10.17 (77) | Springvale | 11.15 (81) | W.C.G. | Saturday, 4 May | 1:10pm |
| Box Hill Hawks | 22.13 (145) | Murray Kangaroos | 17.14 (116) | Box Hill City Oval | Sunday, 5 May | 2pm |
| North Ballarat | 15.8 (98) | Frankston | 13.11 (89) | Northern Oval | Sunday, 5 May | 2pm |
| Bendigo Diggers | 11.10 (76) | Essendon reserves | 27.17 (179) | Queen Elizabeth Oval | Sunday, 5 May | 2pm |
| Geelong reserves | 14.11 (95) | Northern Bullants | 11.13 (79) | Skilled Stadium | Sunday, 5 May | 2pm |
| Sandringham | 18.24 (132) | Port Melbourne | 13.10 (88) | Trevor Barker Beach Oval | Sunday, 5 May | 2pm |
| Werribee | 15.14 (104) | Carlton reserves | 8.7 (55) | Chirnside Park | Sunday, 5 May | 2pm |

### Round 6

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Date | Time |
| Bendigo Diggers | 11.7 (73) | Tasmania | 23.12 (150) | Queen Elizabeth Oval | Saturday, 11 May | 1pm |
| Frankston | 11.12 (78) | Northern Bullants | 20.12 (132) | Frankston Oval | Saturday, 11 May | 2pm |
| Sandringham | 12.8 (80) | Springvale | 11.15 (81) | Trevor Barker Beach Oval | Saturday, 11 May | 2pm |
| Williamstown | 11.9 (75) | Werribee | 16.14 (110) | W.C.G. | Saturday, 11 May | 2pm |
| Carlton reserves | 18.12 (120) | Essendon reserves | 14.9 (93) | Optus Oval | Saturday, 11 May | 2pm |
| Murray Kangaroos | 18.19 (127) | North Ballarat | 15.5 (95) | Coburg City Oval | Sunday, 12 May | 2pm |
| Box Hill Hawks | 18.11 (119) | Geelong reserves | 15.10 (100) | Box Hill City Oval | Sunday, 12 May | 2pm |
| Port Melbourne | 14.15 (99) | Coburg Tigers | 8.10 (58) | TEAC Oval | Sunday, 12 May | 2pm |

### Round 7

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Date | Time |
| Port Melbourne | 13.12 (90) | Werribee | 12.8 (80) | TEAC Oval | Saturday, 18 May | 2pm |
| Springvale | 7.10 (52) | Essendon reserves | 15.13 (103) | Shepley Oval | Saturday, 18 May | 2pm |
| Carlton reserves | 9.10 (64) | Box Hill Hawks | 18.15 (123) | Princes Park | Saturday, 18 May | 2pm |
| Tasmania | 10.8 (68) | Murray Kangaroos | 14.15 (99) | York Park | Saturday, 18 May | 6pm |
| North Ballarat | 7.10 (52) | Coburg Tigers | 12.4 (76) | Northern Oval | Sunday, 19 May | 2pm |
| Geelong reserves | 22.8 (140) | Frankston | 11.8 (74) | Skilled Stadium | Sunday, 19 May | 2pm |
| Sandringham | 20.22 (142) | Bendigo Diggers | 5.8 (38) | Trevor Barker Beach Oval | Sunday, 19 May | 2pm |
| Northern Bullants | 12.8 (80) | Williamstown | 18.12 (120) | Preston City Oval | Sunday, 19 May | 2pm |

### Round 8

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Date | Time |
| Geelong reserves | 13.8 (86) | Werribee | 10.7 (67) | Skilled Stadium | Saturday, 25 May | 10:50am |
| Tasmania | 13.16 (94) | Carlton reserves | 19.15 (129) | North Hobart Oval | Saturday, 25 May | 1:10pm |
| Box Hill Hawks | 22.15 (147) | North Ballarat | 8.8 (56) | Box Hill City Oval | Saturday, 25 May | 2pm |
| Williamstown | 22.19 (151) | Frankston | 12.7 (79) | W.C.G. | Saturday, 25 May | 2pm |
| Murray Kangaroos | 18.6 (114) | Sandringham | 14.18 (102) | Lavington Sports Ground | Sunday, 26 May | 2pm |
| Coburg Tigers | 20.8 (128) | Springvale | 11.7 (73) | Coburg City Oval | Sunday, 26 May | 2pm |
| Essendon reserves | 18.3 (111) | Port Melbourne | 16.13 (109) | Windy Hill | Sunday, 26 May | 2pm |
| Bendigo Diggers | 8.9 (57) | Northern Bullants | 30.19 (199) | Queen Elizabeth Oval | Sunday, 26 May | 2pm |

### Round 9

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Date | Time |
| Frankston | 7.9 (51) | Box Hill Hawks | 30.13 (193) | Frankston Oval | Saturday, 1 June | 2pm |
| Carlton reserves | 24.20 (164) | Bendigo Diggers | 6.5 (41) | Optus Oval | Saturday, 1 June | 2pm |
| North Ballarat | 6.6 (42) | Springvale | 17.20 (122) | Northern Oval | Saturday, 1 June | 2pm |
| Essendon reserves | 11.12 (78) | Murray Kangaroos | 26.18 (174) | Windy Hill | Saturday, 1 June | 2pm |
| Sandringham | 9.9 (63) | Geelong reserves | 16.12 (108) | Trevor Barker Beach Oval | Sunday, 2 June | 2pm |
| Werribee | 12.11 (83) | Coburg Tigers | 14.11 (95) | Chirnside Park | Sunday, 2 June | 2pm |
| Port Melbourne | 20.10 (130) | Williamstown | 16.19 (115) | TEAC Oval | Sunday, 2 June | 2pm |
| Northern Bullants | 24.15 (159) | Tasmania | 9.5 (59) | Preston City Oval | Sunday, 2 June | 2pm |

### Round 10

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Date | Time |
| Springvale | 6.13 (49) | Northern Bullants | 9.10 (64) | Moorabbin Oval | Saturday, 8 June | 1:10pm |
| Coburg Tigers | 10.6 (66) | Murray Kangaroos | 16.13 (109) | Coburg City Oval | Saturday, 8 June | 2pm |
| Carlton reserves | 6.10 46 | Geelong reserves | 24.16 (160) | Optus Oval | Saturday, 8 June | 2pm |
| Port Melbourne | 25.15 (163) | North Ballarat | 13.8 (86) | TEAC Oval | Saturday, 8 June | 2pm |
| Bendigo Diggers | 7.10 (52) | Werribee | 17.16 (116) | Queen Elizabeth Oval | Sunday, 9 June | 2pm |
| Tasmania | 11.8 (74) | Box Hill Hawks | 11.8 (74) | Fairway Park, Ulverstone | Sunday, 9 June | 2pm |
| Williamstown | 12.13 (85) | Sandringham | 13.14 (92) | W.C.G. | Sunday, 9 June | 2pm |
| Essendon reserves | 18.12 (120) | Frankston | 17.10 (112) | Northern Oval | Sunday, 9 June | 2pm |

### Round 11

2002 VFL season :
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Date | Time |
| Springvale | 14.14 (98) Ladder 2002 VFL season Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts 1 Geelong reserves (P) 20 17 3 0 2171 1377 157.7 68 Finals 2 Werribee 20 16 4 0 2233 1450 154.0 64 3 Coburg 20 16 4 0 2019 1466 137.7 64 4 Port Melbourne 20 14 6 0 2097 1780 117.8 56 5 Box Hill 20 12 7 1 2235 1758 127.1 50 6 Williamstown 20 11 9 0 1997 1821 109.7 44 7 Murray Kangaroos 20 10 9 1 2018 1949 103.5 42 8 Sandringham 20 10 10 0 1831 1768 103.6 40 9 Carlton reserves 20 10 10 0 1785 1807 98.8 40 10 Essendon reserves 20 10 10 0 2091 2144 97.5 40 11 Springvale 20 9 11 0 1654 1748 94.6 36 12 Tasmania 20 8 11 1 1730 1942 89.1 34 13 Northern Bullants 20 6 14 0 1824 2121 86.0 24 14 North Ballarat 20 5 15 0 1485 2024 73.4 20 15 Frankston 20 4 16 0 1530 2258 67.8 16 16 Bendigo 20 0 19 1 1266 2553 49.6 2 Source: Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. (P) Premiers Finals Series Qualifying and elimination finalsSemi-finalsPreliminary finalsGrand final31 August, North Port Oval1Geelong16.14 (110)4Port Melbourne18.9 (117)September 8, North Port OvalGeelong18.15 (123)August 31, Box Hill City OvalSandringham4.9 (33)September 14, North Port Oval5Box Hill9.7 (61)Port Melbourne13.10 (88)8Sandringham8.15 (63)Coburg12.13 (85)September 22, Optus OvalPort Melbourne12.11 (83)September 1, W.C.G.September 15, North Port OvalGeelong15.15 (105)6Williamstown14.14 (98)Werribee9.11 (65)7Murray Kangaroos18.18 (126)September 7, North Port OvalGeelong12.20 (92)Coburg14.15 (99)September 1, North Port OvalMurray Kangaroos11.8 (74)2Werribee13.13 (91)3Coburg14.6 (90) Grand Final 2002 VFL Grand Final Sunday 22 September (2:10 pm) Port Melbourne def. by Geelong Optus Oval (crowd: 11,500) 2.3 (15) 7.5 (47) 12.8 (80) 12.11 (83) Q1 Q2 Q3 Final 3.2 (20) 7.6 (48) 9.12 (66) 15.15 (105) Norm Goss Memorial Medal: James Rahilly (Geelong) Television broadcast: ABC Stevens 2, Gill 2, Ablett, Buchanan, Evans, O'Keefe, Phibbs, Rix, Robertson, Schneider Goals Mensch 3, S. Johnson 2, Ablett, Chapman, Chatfield, Gardiner, Hunt, McCarthy, McGrath, O'Brien, Slade, White Brockman, Obst, Rose, R O'Loughlin, McMahon, O'Keefe Best Rahilly, Slade, Mensch, Bartel, Chapman, McGrath Awards The Jim 'Frosty' Miller Medal was won for the fourth consecutive year by Nick Sautner (Frankston), who kicked 93 goals. The J. J. Liston Trophy was won by Sam Mitchell (Box Hill). In the most dominant Liston Trophy performance in history, Mitchell polled 31 votes in only eleven games, including ten best-on-ground performances. Dean Talbot (Coburg) was second with 19 votes, and Mark Bradley (Bendigo) was third with 18 votes. The Fothergill–Round Medal was won by Michael Firrito (Box Hill). Williamstown won the reserves premiership. Williamstown 11.15 (81) defeated Werribee 10.14 (74) in the Grand Final, held as a curtain-raiser to the Seniors Grand Final on 22 September. Notable events In Round 13, Port Melbourne 11.5 (71) trailed Box Hill 18.14 (122) by 51 points at three-quarter time, before kicking nine goals to no score in the final quarter to win the game by nine points, 20.11 (131) d. 18.14 (122). See also List of VFA/VFL premiers Australian Rules Football Victorian Football League Australian Football League 2002 AFL season References 1 2 Jon Ralph (23 September 2002). "Mensch spurs Cats to break drought". Herald Sun. Melbourne, VIC. p. 61. ↑ Amy, Paul (29 August 2022). "How a stacked 2002 VFL grand final between Geelong and Port Melbourne launched Cats dynasty". Code Sports. News Corporation Australia. Retrieved 29 August 2022. ↑ "Frosty Miller Medallists". Fox Sports Pulse. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016. ↑ Gordon Oldham (17 September 2002). "Box Hill midfielder wins Liston Trophy". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. Retrieved 4 August 2016. ↑ "Fothergill–Round Medallists". Sportingpulse. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014. ↑ "2001 VFL Premiership Season". AustralianFootball.com. Retrieved 6 June 2022. ↑ Brendan Rhodes (8 May 2022). "VFL Rd7: Dolphins produce a Saturday night stunner". Australian Football League. Retrieved 6 June 2022. External links 2002 VFL Premiership Season – Australian Football vteVFA/VFL seasonsPre-VFA 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 VFA seasons 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 VFA seasons (post-VFL formation) 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 VFL seasons 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 |