# 2021 AFL season

The 2021 AFL season was the 125th season of the Australian Football League (AFL), the highest-level senior men's Australian rules football competition in Australia, which was known as the Victorian Football League until 1989. The season featured eighteen clubs, ran from 18 March until 25 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs.
The season was played during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and saw disruptions but to a much lesser extent than the 2020 season. Virus outbreaks resulted in restrictions on crowds and the relocation of forty games outside their originally fixtured states, but the season was played without suspension and with only minor disruptions to the scheduled dates of matches.
The premiership was won by the Melbourne Football Club for the 13th time, after it defeated the Western Bulldogs by 74 points in the 2021 AFL Grand Final, which was played at Optus Stadium in Perth.

## Impact of COVID-19 pandemic

The season was played during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the country's vaccination roll-outs commencing around the beginning of the season. The country had largely settled into a paradigm of most states maintaining zero COVID-19 cases outside of their international travel quarantine systems; and when this was the case, it allowed matches to be played in front of crowds (albeit with reduced capacity) and unhindered interstate travel was permitted without quarantine. However, the different state governments often responded quickly to small numbers or even single virus cases being discovered in the community; this meant that border restrictions or quarantine periods were often re-imposed at short notice, impacting interstate travel for matches; and, in some cases, that city- or state-wide lockdowns were imposed within the impacted states, precluding football activities altogether. Short 'snap lockdowns', lasting between three and seven days in a given city, became a common response to the first few cases in the community as governments adopted 'Zero-COVID' policies.
The impact of the pandemic to the season's scheduled fixture was mostly limited to venue changes and matches being played behind closed doors; the dates of some fixtured games were adjusted, but none by more than a week from its original date. Unlike the 2020 season, the league sought to avoid putting clubs into long-term interstate hubs, and players were instead promised that only medium-term interstate trips would occur, with a maximum duration of three weeks before returning home. This worked across most of the league, but a months-long period of lockdown and border restrictions in Sydney during the latter part of the season meant that Sydney and Greater Western Sydney were unable to return home after Round 15, the latter spending more than ten weeks interstate in more than six different locations between then and its season ending; families and partners were able to join the players interstate after six weeks. The completion of the season was assisted by special "sterile corridor" arrangements made with several state governments, allowing clubs to fly in and out of those states from some hot zones without quarantine if the travelling party was subjected to isolation and testing requirements in their home states in the week leading up to the match. In the end, the biggest impact to the fixtured season was that the pre-finals bye week, which had been conventional since 2016, was dropped at less than two weeks' notice, and the first week of finals was brought forward, as a contingency to allow the league to respond to any unforeseen changes to border or societal restrictions during finals; at the time of the announcement, the grand final remained scheduled for its original date of Saturday 25 September, and the bye week was ultimately scheduled in the week between the preliminary finals and the grand final.
The league saw relatively few impacts through the first half of the season, with only occasional games relocated; but, as more virus cases and outbreaks occurred through winter, the second half of the season was more heavily affected with relocated games. In particular:
* Rounds 11 to 14: an outbreak in Victoria resulted in lockdown and border restrictions on Victorian clubs, precluding free entry to any state except New South Wales. Many clubs shifted games to Sydney and remained there between rounds during that period.
* Rounds 15 and 16: nationwide outbreaks in all states except Tasmania at one stage locked down all capital cities in those states, and precluded most free interstate travel in the country. All non-Victorian clubs relocated their training bases and most matches to Victoria, with only select matches able to be played interstate.
* Round 15 until the end of the season: a long period of restrictions in Sydney saw both clubs based outside New South Wales long term.
* No finals were held in Victoria. The Victorian venues were available despite a smaller outbreak in the state, having hosted home-and-away matches behind closed doors right up to the end of the season while 'sterile corridor' arrangements were in place to enable interstate travel. However, the league preferred to schedule finals which could be attended in a neutral state rather than behind closed doors in a home state.
While most matches in the season saw some level of attendance restrictions, there was a steady return to larger crowds compared to the restrictions imposed in 2020. The openness of Australia's society compared with others around the world in the first half of the season meant that the AFL was on the leading edge of a return to typical sports attendances; and at the time it was played, the attendance of 78,113 for the match between Collingwood and Essendon on Anzac Day was a world record highest attendance for a sporting event since the beginning of the pandemic. This was reversed in the second half of the season, with a return to matches being played with no spectators in many states.

## Rule changes

The following rule changes were made in the 2021 season:
* The maximum number of interchanges allowed was reduced from 90 to 75 per team. Like previous steps taken to reduce interchange numbers, this was designed to alleviate congested play by giving teams less fatigue management.
* The interchange bench was increased from four to five, with the fifth designated a medical substitute allowed to take the field only to replace a player deemed medically unfit to continue. Except with permission from the AFL Medical Officer, a player thus substituted off would be ineligible to play again until at least twelve days later. To be granted permission to play the injury must not be concussion, which has its own mandatory 12 day rule.
* The distance between man on the mark and the kick-off line at a kick-in was increased from 10m to 15m.
* The duration of each quarter of play was returned to 20 minutes plus time-on, as it had been since 1994. Quarters had been played at a reduced 16 minutes plus time-on in 2020, specifically as a fatigue and injury management strategy to cope with pandemic-related interruptions to the season.
Additionally, umpires were directed to use a more stringent interpretation of existing rules related to the man on the mark: the man on the mark had previously been given freedom to move laterally or make a run towards the mark, provided they did not step over the mark; but now, the player would be directed to 'stand' upon taking up the mark position, and would concede a 50-metre penalty if he left that position; he could also choose not to take up the mark, leaving him free to move provided he remained at least five metres behind the mark. This new interpretation made it more difficult for the man on the mark to influence a subsequent sequence of quick-running play, opening up freer ball movement.

## Pre-season

The 2021 AAMI Community Series was played before the home and away season. The competition did not have a grand final or overall winner. All matches were televised live on Fox Footy as well as on the Kayo Sports app.
The series was originally set to feature 18 matches across three weekends, with each team playing twice. However in light of changing domestic border restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the series was reduced to one weekend in March 2021. Victorian clubs played each other, while non-Victorian clubs were originally scheduled to play opponents from neighbouring states. Clubs were free to schedule practice matches with other clubs from their own state beforehand with AFL approval. The schedule was revised for a third time on February 25, 2021. All teams played pre-season games within their home states, to minimise travel before the season began.
| | 2021 AAMI Community Series | 2021 AAMI Community Series | 2021 AAMI Community Series | | |
| Thursday, 4 March (7:10 pm) | Carlton 15.9 (99) | def. by | St Kilda 19.11 (125) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 10,228) | Report |
| Friday, 5 March (7:10 pm) | Collingwood 11.8 (74) | def. by | Richmond 11.14 (80) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 10,308) | Report |
| Saturday, 6 March (4:10 pm) | North Melbourne 12.9 (81) | def. by | Hawthorn 17.18 (120) | Arden Street Oval (crowd: 1,656) | Report |
| Saturday, 6 March (7:10 pm) | Geelong 12.7 (79) | def. | Essendon 9.18 (72) | GMHBA Stadium (crowd: 11,121) | Report |
| Sunday, 7 March (1:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 18.6 (114) | def. | Sydney 12.14 (86) | Giants Stadium (crowd: 3,164) | Report |
| Sunday, 7 March (3:40 pm) | Adelaide 6.9 (45) | def. by | Port Adelaide 17.14 (116) | Flinders University Stadium (crowd: 3,028) | Report |
| Sunday, 7 March (4:10 pm) | West Coast 9.13 (67) | def. | Fremantle 8.9 (57) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 20,116) | Report |
| Monday, 8 March (3:10 pm) | Western Bulldogs 15.16 (106) | def. | Melbourne 10.7 (67) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 7,931) | Report |
| Monday, 8 March (6:10 pm) | Gold Coast 13.11 (89) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 18.9 (117) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 1,962) | Report |

## Home-and-away season

A full 23-round fixture for the 2021 season was released in December 2020; but dates, times and broadcasters were initially revealed only for the first six rounds, with the league intending to release the remaining dates in four-to-six weeks blocks with at least a month's notice during the season.
Through the below tables, there were many matches played before no crowd or a heavily restricted attendance, all of which were caused by the local COVID-19 conditions at the time of the match. Where the venue for the match was altered due to COVID-19 restrictions, the original venue is noted; in cases where the competing teams had a return match later in the season, the clubs sometimes swapped home games.

### Round 1

| | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | | |
| Thursday, 18 March (7:25 pm) | Richmond 15.15 (105) | def. | Carlton 11.14 (80) | MCG (crowd: 49,218) | Report |
| Friday, 19 March (7:40 pm) | Collingwood 7.11 (53) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 10.9 (69) | MCG (crowd: 46,051) | Report |
| Saturday, 20 March (1:45 pm) | Melbourne 11.14 (80) | def. | Fremantle 8.10 (58) | MCG (crowd: 21,365) | Report |
| Saturday, 20 March (4:05 pm) | Adelaide 15.13 (103) | def. | Geelong 13.13 (91) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 26,985) | Report |
| Saturday, 20 March (7:25 pm) | Essendon 13.13 (91) | def. by | Hawthorn 14.8 (92) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 25,128) | Report |
| Saturday, 20 March (6:45 pm) | Brisbane Lions 14.10 (94) | def. by | Sydney 19.11 (125) | Gabba (crowd: 22,762) | Report |
| Sunday, 21 March (1:10 pm) | North Melbourne 9.11 (65) | def. by | Port Adelaide 17.15 (117) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 13,050) | Report |
| Sunday, 21 March (3:20 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 11.12 (78) | def. by | St Kilda 13.8 (86) | Giants Stadium (crowd: 5,014) | Report |
| Sunday, 21 March (3:10 pm) | West Coast 12.11 (83) | def. | Gold Coast 8.10 (58) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 38,493) | Report |

### Round 2

| | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | | |
| Thursday, 25 March (7:20 pm) | Carlton 13.7 (85) | def. by | Collingwood 16.10 (106) | MCG (crowd: 51,723) | Report |
| Friday, 26 March (7:50 pm) | Geelong 12.9 (81) | def. | Brisbane Lions 11.14 (80) | GMHBA Stadium (crowd: 20,070) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 March (1:45 pm) | Sydney 18.13 (121) | def. | Adelaide 11.22 (88) | SCG (crowd: 23,946) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 March (4:05 pm) | Port Adelaide 18.11 (119) | def. | Essendon 9.11 (65) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 29,978) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 March (7:30 pm) | St Kilda 11.7 (73) | def. by | Melbourne 12.19 (91) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 25,903) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 March (7:10 pm) | Gold Coast 14.14 (98) | def. | North Melbourne 5.9 (39) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 6,661) | Report |
| Sunday, 28 March (1:10 pm) | Hawthorn 7.7 (49) | def. by | Richmond 11.12 (78) | MCG (crowd: 41,051) | Report |
| Sunday, 28 March (3:20 pm) | Western Bulldogs 14.16 (100) | def. | West Coast 14.9 (93) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 21,391) | Report |
| Sunday, 28 March (3:10 pm) | Fremantle 11.21 (87) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 7.14 (56) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 27,625) | Report |

### Round 3

| | Round 3 (Easter Round) | Round 3 (Easter Round) | Round 3 (Easter Round) | | |
| Thursday, 1 April (7:40 pm) | Collingwood 11.6 (72) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 11.7 (73) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 28,057) (Moved from The Gabba) | Report |
| Friday, 2 April (4:20 pm) | North Melbourne 5.9 (39) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 25.17 (167) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 28,483) | Report |
| Friday, 2 April (7:20 pm) | Adelaide 14.11 (95) | def. | Gold Coast 12.13 (85) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 30,175) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 April (1:45 pm) | Richmond 10.12 (72) | def. by | Sydney 17.15 (117) | MCG (crowd: 43,637) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 April (4:35 pm) | Essendon 22.11 (143) | def. | St Kilda 9.14 (68) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 29,234) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 April (5:10 pm) | West Coast 16.12 (108) | def. | Port Adelaide 11.5 (71) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 42,090) | Report |
| Sunday, 4 April (3:20 pm) | Carlton 16.13 (109) | def. | Fremantle 9.10 (64) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 24,551) | Report |
| Sunday, 4 April (6:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 11.2 (68) | def. by | Melbourne 15.12 (102) | Manuka Oval (crowd: 9,563) | Report |
| Monday, 5 April (3:20 pm) | Geelong 10.9 (69) | def. | Hawthorn 9.10 (64) | MCG (crowd: 50,030) | Report |
| Zac Bailey (Brisbane Lions) kicked a goal after the siren to win the match against Collingwood. Western Bulldogs set a new record for its greatest winning margin in a VFL/AFL match, winning by 128 points against North Melbourne. ||||||

### Round 4

| | Round 4 | Round 4 | Round 4 | | |
| Thursday, 8 April (7:20 pm) | Sydney 11.17 (83) | def. | Essendon 12.8 (80) | SCG (crowd: 28,039) | Report |
| Friday, 9 April (7:20 pm) | Port Adelaide 11.13 (79) | def. | Richmond 11.11 (77) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 33,742) | Report |
| Saturday, 10 April (1:45 pm) | Western Bulldogs 10.13 (73) | def. | Brisbane Lions 8.6 (54) | Mars Stadium (crowd: 7,387) | Report |
| Saturday, 10 April (4:35 pm) | St Kilda 15.12 (102) | def. | West Coast 13.4 (82) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 16,710) | Report |
| Saturday, 10 April (7:25 pm) | Gold Coast 8.11 (59) | def. by | Carlton 9.16 (70) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 11,618) | Report |
| Saturday, 10 April (7:25 pm) | Collingwood 9.6 (60) | def. by | Greater Western Sydney 14.6 (90) | MCG (crowd: 29,866) | Report |
| Sunday, 11 April (1:10 pm) | North Melbourne 10.8 (68) | def. by | Adelaide 16.13 (109) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 13,479) | Report |
| Sunday, 11 April (3:20 pm) | Melbourne 12.13 (85) | def. | Geelong 9.6 (60) | MCG (crowd: 33,728) | Report |
| Sunday, 11 April (2:40 pm) | Fremantle 13.18 (96) | def. | Hawthorn 12.9 (81) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 29,490) | Report |

### Round 5

| | Round 5 | Round 5 | Round 5 | | |
| Thursday, 15 April (7:20 pm) | St Kilda 7.6 (48) | def. by | Richmond 20.14 (134) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 32,056) | Report |
| Friday, 16 April (6:10 pm) | West Coast 16.7 (103) | def. | Collingwood 11.10 (76) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 54,159) | Report |
| Saturday, 17 April (4:35 pm) | Western Bulldogs 17.16 (118) | def. | Gold Coast 8.8 (56) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 18,920) | Report |
| Saturday, 17 April (4:35 pm) | Sydney 10.9 (69) | def. by | Greater Western Sydney 9.17 (71) | SCG (crowd: 33,541) | Report |
| Saturday, 17 April (7:25 pm) | Carlton 9.14 (68) | def. by | Port Adelaide 15.6 (96) | MCG (crowd: 32,893) | Report |
| Saturday, 17 April (7:25 pm) | Brisbane Lions 15.12 (102) | def. | Essendon 6.9 (45) | Gabba (crowd: 23,544) | Report |
| Sunday, 18 April (12:40 pm) | Adelaide 11.6 (72) | def. by | Fremantle 12.12 (84) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 31,454) | Report |
| Sunday, 18 April (3:20 pm) | Hawthorn 8.6 (54) | def. by | Melbourne 15.14 (104) | MCG (crowd: 36,337) | Report |
| Sunday, 18 April (4:40 pm) | Geelong 10.17 (77) | def. | North Melbourne 7.5 (47) | GMHBA Stadium (crowd: 21,282) | Report |

### Round 6

| | Round 6 (ANZAC Round) | Round 6 (ANZAC Round) | Round 6 (ANZAC Round) | | |
| Friday, 23 April (7:50 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 9.11 (65) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 15.14 (104) | Manuka Oval (crowd: 10,064) | Report |
| Saturday, 24 April (1:45 pm) | Geelong 21.10 (136) | def. | West Coast 5.9 (39) | GMHBA Stadium (crowd: 21,282) | Report |
| Saturday, 24 April (1:45 pm) | Gold Coast 15.10 (100) | def. | Sydney 9.6 (60) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 9,819) | Report |
| Saturday, 24 April (4:35 pm) | Carlton 12.13 (85) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 15.13 (103) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 29,576) | Report |
| Saturday, 24 April (7:25 pm) | Melbourne 12.10 (82) | def. | Richmond 6.12 (48) | MCG (crowd: 56,418) | Report |
| Saturday, 24 April (6:10 pm) | Fremantle 14.15 (99) | def. | North Melbourne 6.12 (48) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Sunday, 25 April (12:30 pm) | Hawthorn 15.12 (102) | def. | Adelaide 16.3 (99) | University of Tasmania Stadium (crowd: 9,007) | Report |
| Sunday, 25 April (3:20 pm) | Collingwood 13.7 (85) | def. by | Essendon 16.13 (109) | MCG (crowd: 78,113) | Report |
| Sunday, 25 April (6:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 14.9 (93) | def. | St Kilda 5.9 (39) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 33,125) | Report |
| Adelaide kicked an AFL record of 15 goals straight (14 of which were kicked before half time, also a record) before registering its first behind in its loss to Hawthorn. ||||||

### Round 7

| | Round 7 | Round 7 | Round 7 | | |
| Friday, 30 April (7:50 pm) | Richmond 11.11 (77) | def. | Western Bulldogs 7.13 (55) | MCG (crowd: 52,402) | Report |
| Saturday, 1 May (1:40 pm) | Adelaide 4.15 (39) | def. by | Greater Western Sydney 15.16 (106) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 28,853) | Report |
| Saturday, 1 May (1:45 pm) | Collingwood 7.13 (55) | def. by | Gold Coast 12.7 (79) | MCG (crowd: 24,397) | Report |
| Saturday, 1 May (4:35 pm) | St Kilda 19.14 (128) | def. | Hawthorn 9.5 (59) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 26,433) | Report |
| Saturday, 1 May (7:25 pm) | Sydney 14.6 (90) | def. | Geelong 12.16 (88) | SCG (crowd: 29,123) | Report |
| Saturday, 1 May (7:25 pm) | Brisbane Lions 13.15 (93) | def. | Port Adelaide 5.14 (44) | Gabba (crowd: 20,007) | Report |
| Sunday, 2 May (1:10 pm) | North Melbourne 11.7 (73) | def. by | Melbourne 16.7 (103) | Blundstone Arena (crowd: 6,009) | Report |
| Sunday, 2 May (3:20 pm) | Essendon 16.11 (107) | def. by | Carlton 19.9 (123) | MCG (crowd: 57,447) | Report |
| Sunday, 2 May (2:40 pm) | West Coast 20.12 (132) | def. | Fremantle 11.7 (73) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 0) | Report |

### Round 8

| | Round 8 | Round 8 | Round 8 | | |
| Friday, 7 May (7:50 pm) | Richmond 9.9 (63) | def. by | Geelong 19.12 (126) | MCG (crowd: 54,857) | Report |
| Saturday, 8 May (1:45 pm) | Gold Coast 7.12 (54) | def. by | St Kilda 8.15 (63) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 9,271) | Report |
| Saturday, 8 May (2:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 16.11 (107) | def. | Essendon 16.9 (105) | GIANTS Stadium (crowd: 8,526) | Report |
| Saturday, 8 May (4:35 pm) | North Melbourne 11.10 (76) | def. by | Collingwood 14.10 (94) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 22,329) | Report |
| Saturday, 8 May (7:25 pm) | Melbourne 10.7 (67) | def. | Sydney 8.10 (58) | MCG (crowd: 35,567) | Report |
| Saturday, 8 May (7:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 12.15 (87) | def. | Adelaide 5.8 (38) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 43,069) | Report |
| Sunday, 9 May (1:10 pm) | Hawthorn 8.12 (60) | def. by | West Coast 14.14 (98) | MCG (crowd: 15,277) | Report |
| Sunday, 9 May (3:20 pm) | Western Bulldogs 16.11 (107) | def. | Carlton 13.13 (91) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 27,663) | Report |
| Sunday, 9 May (4:40 pm) | Brisbane Lions 14.11 (95) | def. | Fremantle 10.11 (71) | The Gabba (crowd: 15,403) (Moved from Optus Stadium) | Report |

### Round 9

| | Round 9 | Round 9 | Round 9 | | |
| Friday, 14 May (7:50 pm) | St Kilda 5.17 (47) | def. by | Geelong 10.8 (68) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 26,712) | Report |
| Saturday, 15 May (1:45 pm) | Sydney 10.12 (72) | def. | Collingwood 5.12 (42) | SCG (crowd: 31,448) | Report |
| Saturday, 15 May (2:10 pm) | Hawthorn 12.8 (80) | def. by | North Melbourne 13.9 (87) | University of Tasmania Stadium (crowd: 9,121) | Report |
| Saturday, 15 May (4:35 pm) | Gold Coast 7.9 (51) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 19.10 (124) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 12,636) | Report |
| Saturday, 15 May (7:25 pm) | Richmond 13.9 (87) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 12.11 (83) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 18,798) | Report |
| Saturday, 15 May (7:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 12.5 (77) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 15.6 (96) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 32,787) | Report |
| Sunday, 16 May (1:10 pm) | Essendon 10.8 (68) | def. | Fremantle 8.13 (61) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 26,357) | Report |
| Sunday, 16 May (3:20 pm) | Melbourne 13.16 (94) | def. | Carlton 10.8 (68) | MCG (crowd: 38,581) | Report |
| Sunday, 16 May (2:40 pm) | West Coast 16.10 (106) | def. | Adelaide 11.10 (76) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 43,427) | Report |
| North Melbourne's win was its first since Round 9, 2020, ending a 16 game losing streak. It was North Melbourne's longest losing streak since 1971–72. ||||||

### Round 10

| | Round 10 | Round 10 | Round 10 | | |
| Friday, 21 May (7:50 pm) | Brisbane Lions 15.12 (102) | def. | Richmond 11.8 (74) | Gabba (crowd: 31,127) | Report |
| Saturday, 22 May (1:45 pm) | Carlton 13.8 (86) | def. | Hawthorn 9.9 (63) | MCG (crowd: 45,741) | Report |
| Saturday, 22 May (2:10 pm) | Geelong 14.7 (91) | def. | Gold Coast 8.9 (57) | GMHBA Stadium (crowd: 22,055) | Report |
| Saturday, 22 May (4:05 pm) | Adelaide 15.6 (96) | def. | Melbourne 14.11 (95) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 31,373) | Report |
| Saturday, 22 May (7:25 pm) | Western Bulldogs 21.18 (144) | def. | St Kilda 5.3 (33) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 28,720) | Report |
| Saturday, 22 May (5:40 pm) | Fremantle 12.14 (86) | def. | Sydney 13.6 (84) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 29,134) | Report |
| Sunday, 23 May (1:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 13.15 (93) | def. | West Coast 11.11 (77) | GIANTS Stadium (crowd: 9,046) | Report |
| Sunday, 23 May (3:20 pm) | Collingwood 8.10 (58) | def. by | Port Adelaide 8.11 (59) | MCG (crowd: 23,415) | Report |
| Sunday, 23 May (4:40 pm) | Essendon 22.9 (141) | def. | North Melbourne 10.9 (69) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 33,121) | Report |
| Melbourne suffered its first loss since Round 16, 2020, ending an 11 game winning streak. St Kilda suffered its worst ever defeat against the Western Bulldogs, losing by 111 points. West Coast's Shannon Hurn played his 290th game, surpassing the club's games record previously held by Dean Cox. ||||||

### Round 11

| | Round 11 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round Week 1) | Round 11 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round Week 1) | Round 11 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round Week 1) | | |
| Friday, 28 May (7:50 pm) | Western Bulldogs 8.11 (59) | def. by | Melbourne 13.9 (87) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Saturday, 29 May (1:45 pm) | Collingwood 6.15 (51) | def. by | Geelong 8.13 (61) | MCG (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Saturday, 29 May (2:10 pm) | Brisbane Lions 19.15 (129) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 10.5 (65) | Gabba (crowd: 22,038) | Report |
| Saturday, 29 May (4:35 pm) | St Kilda 12.16 (88) | def. | North Melbourne 10.8 (68) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Saturday, 29 May (7:40 pm) | Gold Coast 17.11 (113) | def. | Hawthorn 11.10 (76) | SCG (crowd: 1,241) (Moved from TIO Stadium) | Report |
| Saturday, 29 May (5:40 pm) | West Coast 11.5 (71) | def. by | Essendon 12.15 (87) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 41,883) | Report |
| Sunday, 30 May (2:10 pm) | Richmond 17.9 (111) | def. | Adelaide 12.11 (83) | GIANTS Stadium (crowd: 4,236) (Moved from MCG) | Report |
| Sunday, 30 May (3:20 pm) | Sydney 15.10 (100) | def. | Carlton 11.12 (78) | SCG (crowd: 29,882) | Report |
| Sunday, 30 May (4:50 pm) | Port Adelaide 18.7 (115) | def. | Fremantle 9.15 (69) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 26,759) | Report |

### Round 12

| | Round 12 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round Week 2) | Round 12 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round Week 2) | Round 12 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round Week 2) | | |
| Friday, 4 June (7:20 pm) | Melbourne 14.13 (97) | def. | Brisbane Lions 11.9 (75) | GIANTS Stadium (crowd: 3,772) (Moved from TIO Traeger Park) | Report |
| Saturday, 5 June (1:45 pm) | Sydney 13.14 (92) | def. | St Kilda 12.11 (83) | SCG (crowd: 19,020) (Moved from Marvel Stadium) | Report |
| Saturday, 5 June (4:05 pm) | Adelaide 10.13 (73) | def. by | Collingwood 12.6 (78) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 30,446) | Report |
| Saturday, 5 June (5:40 pm) | Essendon 12.12 (84) | def. by | Richmond 19.9 (123) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 55,656) (Moved from MCG) | Report |
| Sunday, 6 June (3:20 pm) | Carlton 10.13 (73) | def. by | West Coast 14.11 (95) | SCG (crowd: 5,137) (Moved from MCG) | Report |
| Sunday, 6 June (4:40 pm) | Fremantle 9.11 (65) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 13.15 (93) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 32,875) | Report |
| | Bye Geelong, Gold Coast, Greater Western Sydney, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide | Bye Geelong, Gold Coast, Greater Western Sydney, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide | Bye Geelong, Gold Coast, Greater Western Sydney, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide | | |

### Round 13

| | Round 13 | Round 13 | Round 13 | | |
| Thursday, 10 June (7:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 14.7 (91) | def. by | Geelong 17.10 (112) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 28,718) | Report |
| Friday, 11 June (7:50 pm) | Sydney 7.9 (51) | def. by | Hawthorn 14.5 (89) | SCG (crowd: 25,904) | Report |
| Saturday, 12 June (2:15 pm) | Fremantle 11.10 (76) | def. | Gold Coast 6.13 (49) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 27,318) | Report |
| Saturday, 12 June (7:25 pm) | St Kilda 8.12 (60) | def. by | Adelaide 9.12 (66) | Cazalys Stadium (crowd: 5,969) | Report |
| Sunday, 13 June (3:20 pm) | North Melbourne 14.10 (94) | drew with | Greater Western Sydney 14.10 (94) | Blundstone Arena (crowd: 3,462) | Report |
| Sunday, 13 June (5:20 pm) | West Coast 13.7 (85) | def. | Richmond 12.9 (81) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 50,834) | Report |
| Monday, 14 June (3:20 pm) | Melbourne 9.9 (63) | def. by | Collingwood 11.14 (80) | SCG (crowd: 16,453) (Moved from MCG) | Report |
| | Bye Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Essendon, Western Bulldogs | Bye Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Essendon, Western Bulldogs | Bye Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Essendon, Western Bulldogs | | |
| The game between West Coast and Richmond was brought forward from Round 14 to Round 13, which had been both teams' originally fixtured bye; this allowed Richmond, whose players had remained interstate since Round 11, to visit Western Australia without quarantine and then return to Victoria five days earlier than the original fixture would have allowed. The attendance of 3,462 at the North Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney match is the lowest ever figure for a VFL/AFL fixture in Tasmania. ||||||

### Round 14

| | Round 14 | Round 14 | Round 14 | | |
| Friday, 18 June (7:50 pm) | Geelong 12.11 (83) | def. | Western Bulldogs 11.12 (78) | GMHBA Stadium (crowd: 6,583) | Report |
| Saturday, 19 June (1:45 pm) | Gold Coast 4.7 (31) | def. by | Port Adelaide 12.9 (81) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 7,117) | Report |
| Saturday, 19 June (4:35 pm) | North Melbourne 6.9 (45) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 9.14 (68) | Blundstone Arena (crowd: 5,060) (Moved from Marvel Stadium) | Report |
| Saturday, 19 June (7:25 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 16.6 (102) | def. | Carlton 9.12 (66) | GIANTS Stadium (crowd: 7,035) | Report |
| Sunday, 20 June (3:20 pm) | Hawthorn 10.13 (73) | def. by | Essendon 13.8 (86) | University of Tasmania Stadium (crowd: 14,834) (Moved from MCG) | Report |
| | Bye Adelaide, Collingwood, Fremantle, Melbourne, Richmond, St Kilda, Sydney, West Coast | Bye Adelaide, Collingwood, Fremantle, Melbourne, Richmond, St Kilda, Sydney, West Coast | Bye Adelaide, Collingwood, Fremantle, Melbourne, Richmond, St Kilda, Sydney, West Coast | | |
| Gary Rohan (Geelong) kicked a goal after the siren to win the game against the Western Bulldogs. ||||||

### Round 15

| | Round 15 | Round 15 | Round 15 | | |
| Thursday, 24 June (7:30 pm) | Brisbane Lions 13.16 (94) | def. | Geelong 7.8 (50) | Gabba (crowd: 29,024) | Report |
| Friday, 25 June (7:50 pm) | Richmond 2.10 (22) | def. by | St Kilda 9.8 (62) | MCG (crowd: 14,787) | Report |
| Saturday, 26 June (1:45 pm) | Collingwood 12.7 (79) | def. by | Fremantle 14.7 (91) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 11,570) | Report |
| Saturday, 26 June (1:45 pm) | North Melbourne 9.18 (72) | def. | Gold Coast 9.9 (63) | Blundstone Arena (crowd: 6,719) | Report |
| Saturday, 26 June (4:05 pm) | Port Adelaide 12.9 (81) | def. | Sydney 10.11 (71) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 29,631) | Report |
| Saturday, 26 June (7:25 pm) | Essendon 8.9 (57) | def. by | Melbourne 9.14 (68) | MCG (crowd: 19,414) | Report |
| Sunday, 27 June (1:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 11.6 (72) | def. by | Hawthorn 13.12 (90) | MCG (crowd: 9,897) (Moved from GIANTS Stadium) | Report |
| Sunday, 27 June (1:20 pm) | West Coast 6.7 (43) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 13.20 (98) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Sunday, 27 June (4:10 pm) | Carlton 12.11 (83) | def. | Adelaide 10.13 (73) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 14,930) | Report |
| The crowd of 9,897 between Greater Western Sydney and Hawthorn, under capacity restrictions, was the lowest for an attended AFL premiership match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground since round 21, 1992. Richmond's score of 2.10 (22) against St Kilda was its lowest score since Round 16, 1961, and its lowest score at the MCG since the 1927 Grand Final. ||||||

### Round 16

| | Round 16 | Round 16 | Round 16 | | |
| Thursday, 1 July (7:20 pm) | Gold Coast 10.17 (77) | def. | Richmond 10.7 (67) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 9,327) (Moved from Metricon Stadium) | Report |
| Friday, 2 July (7:50 pm) | Geelong 15.8 (98) | def. | Essendon 8.9 (57) | GMHBA Stadium (crowd: 15,579) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 July (1:45 pm) | Melbourne 7.13 (55) | def. by | Greater Western Sydney 9.10 (64) | MCG (crowd: 16,963) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 July (4:05 pm) | Adelaide 8.11 (59) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 17.9 (111) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 16,178) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 July (7:40 pm) | Hawthorn 7.11 (53) | def. by | Port Adelaide 13.9 (87) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 18,251) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 July (7:40 pm) | Fremantle 8.16 (64) | def. by | Carlton 12.8 (80) | MCG (crowd: 12,103) (Moved from Optus Stadium) | Report |
| Sunday, 4 July (1:10 pm) | Sydney 18.10 (118) | def. | West Coast 3.8 (26) | GMHBA Stadium (crowd: 9,520) (Moved from SCG) | Report |
| Sunday, 4 July (3:20 pm) | Collingwood 8.13 (61) | def. by | St Kilda 10.10 (70) | MCG (crowd: 18,082) | Report |
| Sunday, 4 July (4:40 pm) | Western Bulldogs 16.12 (108) | def. | North Melbourne 11.13 (79) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 18,216) | Report |
| Shaun Burgoyne of Hawthorn became the fifth player in VFL/AFL history to play 400 games; his milestone game was played against his former club Port Adelaide. West Coast recorded a score of 3.8 (26) against Sydney, its lowest score since Round 23, 1992. ||||||

### Round 17

| | Round 17 | Round 17 | Round 17 | | |
| Thursday, 8 July (7:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 8.7 (55) | def. by | Melbourne 12.14 (86) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 30,908) | Report |
| Friday, 9 July (7:50 pm) | Essendon 11.18 (84) | def. | Adelaide 2.9 (21) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 23,604) | Report |
| Saturday, 10 July (1:45 pm) | Hawthorn 6.10 (46) | def. by | Fremantle 16.12 (108) | University of Tasmania Stadium (crowd: 9,111) | Report |
| Saturday, 10 July (4:35 pm) | Carlton 5.14 (44) | def. by | Geelong 10.10 (70) | MCG (crowd: 31,834) | Report |
| Saturday, 10 July (7:25 pm) | Brisbane Lions 8.15 (63) | def. by | St Kilda 14.11 (95) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 9,075) (Moved from The Gabba) | Report |
| Sunday, 11 July (12:40 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 9.10 (64) | def. by | Gold Coast 10.5 (65) | Mars Stadium (crowd: 2,952) (Moved from GIANTS Stadium) | Report |
| Sunday, 11 July (3:20 pm) | Western Bulldogs 8.12 (60) | def. by | Sydney 11.13 (79) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 24,817) | Report |
| Sunday, 11 July (4:10 pm) | Richmond 11.5 (71) | def. by | Collingwood 13.9 (87) | MCG (crowd: 29,437) | Report |
| Monday, 12 July (5:40 pm) | West Coast 8.12 (60) | def. by | North Melbourne 10.10 (70) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 30,515) | Report |
| Adelaide's score of 2.9 (21) against Essendon set new records for the lowest score in Adelaide's history, and the lowest score ever by any team at Marvel Stadium, surpassing the previous mark of 3.6 (24) from Round 18, 2011, which was also scored by the Crows. ||||||

### Round 18

| | Round 18 | Round 18 | Round 18 | | |
| Thursday, 15 July (6:10 pm) | Fremantle 3.13 (31) | def. by | Geelong 14.16 (100) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 35,271) | Report |
| Friday, 16 July (8:05 pm) | Richmond 16.10 (106) | def. | Brisbane Lions 13.8 (86) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 4,119) (Moved from MCG) | Report |
| Saturday, 17 July (1:45 pm) | St Kilda 8.13 (61) | def. by | Port Adelaide 10.14 (74) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Saturday, 17 July (4:35 pm) | Gold Coast 11.13 (79) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 14.6 (90) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 8,244) | Report |
| Saturday, 17 July (7:25 pm) | Melbourne 11.13 (79) | drew with | Hawthorn 12.7 (79) | MCG (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Sunday, 18 July (12:35 pm) | North Melbourne 11.8 (74) | def. by | Essendon 13.14 (92) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 5,114) (Moved from Marvel Stadium) | Report |
| Sunday, 18 July (3:20 pm) | Collingwood 9.8 (62) | def. by | Carlton 13.13 (91) | MCG (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Sunday, 18 July (4:10 pm) | Adelaide 8.8 (56) | def. by | West Coast 14.14 (98) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 24,554) | Report |
| Sunday, 18 July (6:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 11.6 (72) | def. by | Sydney 15.8 (98) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 2,374) (Moved from GIANTS Stadium) | Report |

### Round 19

| | Round 19 | Round 19 | Round 19 | | |
| Friday, 23 July (7:15 pm) | Port Adelaide 14.13 (97) | def. | Collingwood 10.9 (69) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) (Moved from Adelaide Oval) | Report |
| Saturday, 24 July (1:45 pm) | Carlton 11.11 (77) | def. by | North Melbourne 18.8 (116) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Saturday, 24 July (3:10 pm) | Brisbane Lions 17.18 (120) | def. | Gold Coast 10.11 (71) | Gabba (crowd: 16,660) | Report |
| Saturday, 24 July (2:35 pm) | West Coast 14.10 (94) | def. | St Kilda 13.8 (86) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 43,657) | Report |
| Saturday, 24 July (7:25 pm) | Melbourne 9.11 (65) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 13.7 (85) | MCG (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Saturday, 24 July (7:40 pm) | Adelaide 16.6 (102) | def. | Hawthorn 13.5 (83) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) (Moved from Adelaide Oval) | Report |
| Sunday, 25 July (12:30 pm) | Sydney 14.14 (98) | def. | Fremantle 8.10 (58) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 2,875) (Moved from SCG) | Report |
| Sunday, 25 July (3:20 pm) | Geelong 15.5 (95) | def. | Richmond 8.9 (57) | MCG (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Sunday, 25 July (6:10 pm) | Essendon 7.11 (53) | def. by | Greater Western Sydney 9.12 (66) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 2,681) (Moved from Marvel Stadium) | Report |

### Round 20

| | Round 20 | Round 20 | Round 20 | | |
| Friday, 30 July (7:50 pm) | St Kilda 12.9 (81) | def. by | Carlton 18.4 (112) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Saturday, 31 July (12:20 pm) | Western Bulldogs 15.15 (105) | def. | Adelaide 8.8 (56) | Mars Stadium (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Saturday, 31 July (1:15 pm) | North Melbourne 6.6 (42) | def. by | Geelong 8.14 (62) | Blundstone Arena (crowd: 8,083) | Report |
| Saturday, 31 July (4:15 pm) | Collingwood 14.6 (90) | def. | West Coast 6.9 (45) | MCG (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Sunday, 1 August (12:10 pm) | Gold Coast 4.6 (30) | def. by | Melbourne 18.20 (128) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) (Moved from Metricon Stadium) | Report |
| Sunday, 1 August (2:10 pm) | Hawthorn 14.8 (92) | def. | Brisbane Lions 12.8 (80) | University of Tasmania Stadium (crowd: 5,381) (Moved from MCG) | Report |
| Sunday, 1 August (3:10 pm) | Essendon 16.6 (102) | def. by | Sydney 17.7 (109) | MCG (crowd: 0) (Moved from Marvel Stadium) | Report |
| Sunday, 1 August (3:10 pm) | Fremantle 7.13 (55) | def. | Richmond 6.15 (51) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 24,979) | Report |
| Sunday, 1 August (6:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 11.7 (73) | def. by | Port Adelaide 15.10 (100) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) (Moved from UNSW Canberra Oval) | Report |
| A snap COVID-19 lockdown in Queensland, announced on the morning of Saturday 31 July and commencing the same afternoon, saw two matches – Gold Coast vs Melbourne and Essendon vs Sydney (which had previously been relocated to Queensland from Marvel Stadium) – postponed at less than a day's notice from Saturday to Sunday. Both matches were relocated to Melbourne, as was the Greater Western Sydney vs Port Adelaide match (which had previously been relocated to Queensland from UNSW Canberra Oval), which was already fixtured for Sunday. ||||||

### Round 21

| | Round 21 | Round 21 | Round 21 | | |
| Friday, 6 August (7:50 pm) | Geelong 8.17 (65) | def. by | Greater Western Sydney 13.6 (84) | GMHBA Stadium (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Saturday, 7 August (1:45 pm) | Carlton 8.9 (57) | def. by | Gold Coast 11.10 (76) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Saturday, 7 August (4:35 pm) | Richmond 13.11 (89) | def. | North Melbourne 8.8 (56) | MCG (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Saturday, 7 August (7:10 pm) | Adelaide 7.9 (51) | def. by | Port Adelaide 7.13 (55) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 14,376) | Report |
| Saturday, 7 August (7:40 pm) | St Kilda 14.9 (93) | def. | Sydney 10.4 (64) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) (Moved from SCG) | Report |
| Sunday, 8 August (2:10 pm) | Hawthorn 15.7 (97) | def. | Collingwood 12.6 (78) | MCG (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Sunday, 8 August (3:20 pm) | Western Bulldogs 12.12 (84) | def. by | Essendon 15.7 (97) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Sunday, 8 August (3:10 pm) | Fremantle 8.6 (54) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 18.10 (118) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 29,589) (Moved from The Gabba) | Report |
| Monday, 9 August (6:10 pm) | West Coast 9.9 (63) | def. by | Melbourne 10.12 (72) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 31,584) | Report |
| The match between Hawthorn and Collingwood was originally moved from the MCG to University of Tasmania Stadium to allow spectators to attend; but was returned to its original venue after a COVID-19 case was detected in Tasmania. The match between West Coast and Melbourne was originally scheduled to be played on August 7, but was pushed back to August 9 to allow Melbourne to complete seven days of quarantine in Western Australia. The match between West Coast and Melbourne was suspended early in the final quarter under the lightning policy, and when the game resumed 29 minutes later, it was played to its full length. ||||||

### Round 22

| | Round 22 | Round 22 | Round 22 | | |
| Friday, 13 August (7:50 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 16.10 (106) | def. | Richmond 10.7 (67) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) (Moved from GIANTS Stadium) | Report |
| Saturday, 14 August (1:45 pm) | Hawthorn 9.10 (64) | def. | Western Bulldogs 5.7 (37) | University of Tasmania Stadium (crowd: 7,822) | Report |
| Saturday, 14 August (4:05 pm) | Port Adelaide 21.14 (140) | def. | Carlton 5.15 (45) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 13,943) | Report |
| Saturday, 14 August (4:35 pm) | Geelong 13.7 (85) | def. | St Kilda 11.5 (71) | GMHBA Stadium (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Saturday, 14 August (7:25 pm) | Brisbane Lions 22.10 (142) | def. | Collingwood 8.9 (57) | Gabba (crowd: 15,146) (Moved from Marvel Stadium) | Report |
| Saturday, 14 August (7:40 pm) | North Melbourne 12.5 (77) | def. by | Sydney 13.13 (91) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Sunday, 15 August (2:10 pm) | Melbourne 16.8 (104) | def. | Adelaide 9.9 (63) | MCG (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Sunday, 15 August (3:20 pm) | Gold Coast 4.6 (30) | def. by | Essendon 14.14 (98) | GMHBA Stadium (crowd: 0) (Moved from Metricon Stadium) | Report |
| Sunday, 15 August (3:10 pm) | Fremantle 12.7 (79) | def. | West Coast 9.10 (64) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 51,692) | Report |
| Fremantle ended an 11-game Western Derby losing streak against West Coast. ||||||

### Round 23

| | Round 23 | Round 23 | Round 23 | | |
| Friday, 20 August (7:50 pm) | Western Bulldogs 10.4 (64) | def. by | Port Adelaide 9.12 (66) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Saturday, 21 August (1:35 pm) | Richmond 12.11 (83) | drew with | Hawthorn 12.11 (83) | MCG (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Saturday, 21 August (1:45 pm) | Sydney 21.10 (136) | def. | Gold Coast 6.13 (49) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) (Moved from SCG) | Report |
| Saturday, 21 August (4:35 pm) | Brisbane Lions 19.11 (125) | def. | West Coast 13.9 (87) | Gabba (crowd: 21,845) | Report |
| Saturday, 21 August (7:25 pm) | Geelong 12.5 (77) | def. by | Melbourne 12.9 (81) | GMHBA Stadium (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Saturday, 21 August (7:40 pm) | Carlton 11.9 (75) | def. by | Greater Western Sydney 12.17 (89) | Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Sunday, 22 August (12:15 pm) | St Kilda 17.5 (107) | def. | Fremantle 6.13 (49) | Blundstone Arena (crowd: 3,082) (Moved from Marvel Stadium) | Report |
| Sunday, 22 August (3:20 pm) | Essendon 16.6 (102) | def. | Collingwood 9.10 (64) | MCG (crowd: 0) | Report |
| Sunday, 22 August (4:10 pm) | Adelaide 13.20 (98) | def. | North Melbourne 8.6 (54) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 13,103) | Report |
| Max Gawn kicked a goal after the siren to win the game for Melbourne against Geelong, after trailing by 44 points midway through the third quarter. In doing so, Melbourne secured the minor premiership. It was the first time that the minor premiership was not confirmed until after the siren in the final round since Round 22, 1987. It was also the first time Melbourne had kicked a goal after the siren to win a game. ||||||

### Season notes

* Melbourne won its first nine games of the season, its best unbeaten start to a season since 1956.
* North Melbourne 'won' the wooden spoon, their 14th total and their first since 1972. They were only the 8th team in VFL/AFL history to finish last on the ladder after every round of the home-and-away season (and the first since 2008).
* Melbourne won the minor premiership for the first time since 1964. Melbourne also won the McClelland Trophy for the first time since 1990 for finishing first.
* West Coast missed the AFL finals for the first time since 2014.

## 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 | Geel +12 | Syd -33 | GCS +10 | NM +41 | Frem -12 | Haw -3 | GWS -67 | PA -49 | WCE -30 | Melb +1 | Rich -28 | Coll -5 | StK +6 | X | Carl -10 | BL -52 | Ess -63 | WCE -42 | Haw +19 | WB -49 | PA -4 | Melb -41 | NM +44 | X | X | X | X | 15 |
| Brisbane Lions | Syd -31 | Geel -1 | Coll +1 | WB -19 | Ess +57 | Carl +18 | PA +49 | Frem +24 | GCS +73 | Rich +28 | GWS +64 | Melb -22 | X | NM +23 | Geel +44 | Adel +52 | StK -32 | Rich -20 | GCS +49 | Haw -12 | Frem +64 | Coll +85 | WCE +38 | Melb -33 | WB -1 | X | X | 4 (5) |
| Carlton | Rich -25 | Coll -21 | Frem +45 | GCS +11 | PA -28 | BL -18 | Ess +16 | WB -16 | Melb -26 | Haw +23 | Syd -22 | WCE -22 | X | GWS -36 | Adel +10 | Frem +16 | Geel -26 | Coll +29 | NM -39 | StK +31 | GCS -19 | PA -95 | GWS -14 | X | X | X | X | 13 |
| Collingwood | WB -16 | Carl +21 | BL -1 | GWS -30 | WCE -27 | Ess -24 | GCS -24 | NM +18 | Syd -30 | PA -1 | Geel -10 | Adel +5 | Melb +17 | X | Frem -12 | StK -9 | Rich +16 | Carl -29 | PA -28 | WCE +45 | Haw -19 | BL -85 | Ess -38 | X | X | X | X | 17 |
| Essendon | Haw -1 | PA -54 | StK +75 | Syd -3 | BL -57 | Coll +24 | Carl -16 | GWS -2 | Frem +7 | NM +72 | WCE +16 | Rich -39 | X | Haw +13 | Melb -11 | Geel -41 | Adel +63 | NM +18 | GWS -13 | Syd -7 | WB +13 | GCS +68 | Coll +38 | WB -49 | X | X | X | 8 (8) |
| Fremantle | Melb -22 | GWS +31 | Carl -45 | Haw +15 | Adel +12 | NM +51 | WCE -59 | BL -24 | Ess -7 | Syd +2 | PA -46 | WB -28 | GCS +27 | X | Coll +12 | Carl -16 | Haw +62 | Geel -69 | Syd -40 | Rich +4 | BL -64 | WCE +15 | StK -58 | X | X | X | X | 11 |
| Geelong | Adel -12 | BL +1 | Haw +5 | Melb -25 | NM +30 | WCE +97 | Syd -2 | Rich +63 | StK +21 | GCS +34 | Coll +10 | X | PA +21 | WB +5 | BL -44 | Ess +41 | Carl +26 | Frem +69 | Rich +38 | NM +20 | GWS -19 | StK +14 | Melb -4 | PA -43 | GWS +35 | Melb -83 | X | 3 (4) |
| Gold Coast | WCE -25 | NM +59 | Adel -10 | Carl -11 | WB -62 | Syd +40 | Coll +24 | StK -9 | BL -73 | Geel -34 | Haw +37 | X | Frem -27 | PA -50 | NM -9 | Rich +10 | GWS +1 | WB -11 | BL -49 | Melb -98 | Carl +19 | Ess -68 | Syd -87 | X | X | X | X | 16 |
| Greater Western Sydney | StK -8 | Frem -31 | Melb -34 | Coll +30 | Syd +2 | WB -39 | Adel +67 | Ess +2 | Rich -4 | WCE +16 | BL -64 | X | NM 0 | Carl +36 | Haw -18 | Melb +9 | GCS -1 | Syd -26 | Ess +13 | PA -27 | Geel +19 | Rich +39 | Carl +14 | Syd +1 | Geel -35 | X | X | 7 (6) |
| Hawthorn | Ess +1 | Rich -29 | Geel -5 | Frem -15 | Melb -50 | Adel +3 | StK -69 | WCE -38 | NM -7 | Carl -23 | GCS -37 | X | Syd +38 | Ess -13 | GWS +18 | PA -34 | Frem -62 | Melb 0 | Adel -19 | BL +12 | Coll +19 | WB +27 | Rich 0 | X | X | X | X | 14 |
| Melbourne | Frem +22 | StK +18 | GWS +34 | Geel +25 | Haw +50 | Rich +34 | NM +30 | Syd +9 | Carl +26 | Adel -1 | WB +28 | BL +22 | Coll -17 | X | Ess +11 | GWS -9 | PA +31 | Haw 0 | WB -20 | GCS +98 | WCE +9 | Adel +41 | Geel +4 | BL +33 | X | Geel +83 | WB +74 | 1 (1) |
| North Melbourne | PA -52 | GCS -59 | WB -128 | Adel -41 | Geel -30 | Frem -51 | Melb -30 | Coll -18 | Haw +7 | Ess -72 | StK -20 | X | GWS 0 | BL -23 | GCS +9 | WB -29 | WCE +10 | Ess -18 | Carl +39 | Geel -20 | Rich -33 | Syd -14 | Adel -44 | X | X | X | X | 18 |
| Port Adelaide | NM +52 | Ess +54 | WCE -37 | Rich +2 | Carl +28 | StK +54 | BL -49 | Adel +49 | WB -19 | Coll +1 | Frem +46 | X | Geel -21 | GCS +50 | Syd +10 | Haw +34 | Melb -31 | StK +13 | Coll +28 | GWS +27 | Adel +4 | Carl +95 | WB +2 | Geel +43 | X | WB -71 | X | 2 (3) |
| Richmond | Carl +25 | Haw +29 | Syd -45 | PA -2 | StK +86 | Melb -34 | WB +22 | Geel -63 | GWS +4 | BL -28 | Adel +28 | Ess +39 | WCE -4 | X | StK -40 | GCS -10 | Coll -16 | BL +20 | Geel -38 | Frem -4 | NM +33 | GWS -39 | Haw 0 | X | X | X | X | 12 |
| St Kilda | GWS +8 | Melb -18 | Ess -75 | WCE +20 | Rich -86 | PA -54 | Haw +69 | GCS +9 | Geel -21 | WB -111 | NM +20 | Syd -9 | Adel -6 | X | Rich +40 | Coll +9 | BL +32 | PA -13 | WCE -8 | Carl -31 | Syd +29 | Geel -14 | Frem +58 | X | X | X | X | 10 |
| Sydney | BL +31 | Adel +33 | Rich +45 | Ess +3 | GWS -2 | GCS -40 | Geel +2 | Melb -9 | Coll +30 | Frem -2 | Carl +22 | StK +9 | Haw -38 | X | PA -10 | WCE +92 | WB +19 | GWS +26 | Frem +40 | Ess +7 | StK -29 | NM +14 | GCS +87 | GWS -1 | X | X | X | 6 (7) |
| West Coast | GCS +25 | WB -7 | PA +37 | StK -20 | Coll +27 | Geel -97 | Frem +59 | Haw +38 | Adel +30 | GWS -16 | Ess -16 | Carl +22 | Rich +4 | X | WB -55 | Syd -92 | NM -10 | Adel +42 | StK +8 | Coll -45 | Melb -9 | Frem -15 | BL -38 | X | X | X | X | 9 |
| Western Bulldogs | Coll +16 | WCE +7 | NM +128 | BL +19 | GCS +62 | GWS +39 | Rich -22 | Carl +16 | PA +19 | StK +111 | Melb -28 | Frem +28 | X | Geel -5 | WCE +55 | NM +29 | Syd -19 | GCS +11 | Melb +20 | Adel +49 | Ess -13 | Haw -27 | PA -2 | Ess +49 | BL +1 | PA +71 | Melb -74 | 5 (2) |
| 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

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Melbourne (P) | 22 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 1888 | 1443 | 130.8 | 70 | Finals series |
| 2 | Port Adelaide | 22 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 1884 | 1492 | 126.3 | 68 | Finals series |
| 3 | Geelong | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 1845 | 1456 | 126.7 | 64 | Finals series |
| 4 | Brisbane Lions | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2131 | 1599 | 133.3 | 60 | Finals series |
| 5 | Western Bulldogs | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 1994 | 1501 | 132.8 | 60 | Finals series |
| 6 | Sydney | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 1986 | 1656 | 119.9 | 60 | Finals series |
| 7 | Greater Western Sydney | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 1768 | 1773 | 99.7 | 46 | Finals series |
| 8 | Essendon | 22 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 1953 | 1790 | 109.1 | 44 | Finals series |
| 9 | West Coast | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 1752 | 1880 | 93.2 | 40 | |
| 10 | St Kilda | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 1644 | 1796 | 91.5 | 40 | |
| 11 | Fremantle | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 1578 | 1825 | 86.5 | 40 | |
| 12 | Richmond | 22 | 9 | 12 | 1 | 1743 | 1780 | 97.9 | 38 | |
| 13 | Carlton | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1746 | 1972 | 88.5 | 32 | |
| 14 | Hawthorn | 22 | 7 | 13 | 2 | 1629 | 1912 | 85.2 | 32 | |
| 15 | Adelaide | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 1616 | 1971 | 82.0 | 28 | |
| 16 | Gold Coast | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 1430 | 1863 | 76.8 | 28 | |
| 17 | Collingwood | 22 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 1557 | 1818 | 85.6 | 24 | |
| 18 | North Melbourne | 22 | 4 | 17 | 1 | 1458 | 2075 | 70.3 | 18 | |

### Ladder progression

* Numbers highlighted in green indicates the team finished the round inside the top 8.
* Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished in first place on the ladder in that round.
* Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round.
* Underlined numbers indicates the team did not play during that round, either due to a bye or a postponed game.
* Subscript numbers indicate ladder position at round's end.
Points 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 | 23 |
| Melbourne | 4$_3$ | 8$_4$ | 12$_3$ | 16$_2$ | 20$_2$ | 24$_2$ | 28$_1$ | 32$_1$ | 36$_1$ | 36$_2$ | 40$_1$ | 44$_1$ | 44$_1$ | 44$_1$ | 48$_1$ | 48$_2$ | 52$_1$ | 54$_1$ | 54$_3$ | 58$_3$ | 62$_1$ | 66$_1$ | 70$_1$ |
| Port Adelaide | 4$_1$ | 8$_1$ | 8$_4$ | 12$_4$ | 16$_4$ | 20$_3$ | 20$_3$ | 24$_3$ | 24$_5$ | 28$_5$ | 32$_5$ | 32$_5$ | 32$_5$ | 36$_5$ | 40$_4$ | 44$_4$ | 44$_5$ | 48$_4$ | 52$_4$ | 56$_4$ | 60$_4$ | 64$_3$ | 68$_2$ |
| Geelong | 0$_{12}$ | 4$_{11}$ | 8$_7$ | 8$_{10}$ | 12$_8$ | 16$_4$ | 16$_5$ | 20$_4$ | 24$_3$ | 28$_3$ | 32$_4$ | 32$_3$ | 36$_3$ | 40$_3$ | 40$_5$ | 44$_5$ | 48$_3$ | 52$_3$ | 56$_2$ | 60$_2$ | 60$_3$ | 64$_2$ | 64$_3$ |
| Brisbane Lions | 0$_{15}$ | 0$_{14}$ | 4$_{13}$ | 4$_{16}$ | 8$_{10}$ | 12$_8$ | 16$_7$ | 20$_5$ | 24$_4$ | 28$_4$ | 32$_3$ | 32$_4$ | 32$_4$ | 36$_4$ | 40$_3$ | 44$_3$ | 44$_4$ | 44$_4$ | 48$_5$ | 48$_6$ | 52$_5$ | 56$_5$ | 60$_4$ |
| Western Bulldogs | 4$_6$ | 8$_5$ | 12$_1$ | 16$_1$ | 20$_1$ | 24$_1$ | 24$_2$ | 28$_2$ | 32$_2$ | 36$_1$ | 36$_2$ | 40$_2$ | 40$_2$ | 40$_2$ | 44$_2$ | 48$_1$ | 48$_2$ | 52$_2$ | 56$_1$ | 60$_1$ | 60$_2$ | 60$_4$ | 60$_5$ |
| Sydney | 4$_4$ | 8$_3$ | 12$_2$ | 16$_3$ | 16$_3$ | 16$_5$ | 20$_4$ | 20$_6$ | 24$_6$ | 24$_6$ | 28$_6$ | 32$_6$ | 32$_6$ | 32$_6$ | 32$_6$ | 36$_6$ | 40$_6$ | 44$_6$ | 48$_6$ | 52$_5$ | 52$_6$ | 56$_6$ | 60$_6$ |
| Greater Western Sydney | 0$_{11}$ | 0$_{16}$ | 0$_{17}$ | 4$_{15}$ | 8$_{12}$ | 8$_{14}$ | 12$_{11}$ | 16$_9$ | 16$_9$ | 20$_8$ | 20$_{10}$ | 20$_{10}$ | 22$_{10}$ | 26$_9$ | 26$_{10}$ | 30$_8$ | 30$_{10}$ | 30$_{12}$ | 34$_8$ | 34$_9$ | 38$_8$ | 42$_7$ | 46$_7$ |
| Essendon | 0$_{10}$ | 0$_{17}$ | 4$_{10}$ | 4$_{12}$ | 4$_{14}$ | 8$_{12}$ | 8$_{15}$ | 8$_{15}$ | 12$_{12}$ | 16$_{11}$ | 20$_9$ | 20$_9$ | 20$_{11}$ | 24$_{10}$ | 24$_{11}$ | 24$_{12}$ | 28$_{11}$ | 32$_8$ | 32$_9$ | 32$_{10}$ | 36$_9$ | 40$_8$ | 44$_8$ |
| West Coast | 4$_2$ | 4$_7$ | 8$_5$ | 8$_6$ | 12$_6$ | 12$_{10}$ | 16$_8$ | 20$_7$ | 24$_7$ | 24$_7$ | 24$_7$ | 28$_7$ | 32$_7$ | 32$_7$ | 32$_7$ | 32$_7$ | 32$_8$ | 36$_7$ | 40$_7$ | 40$_7$ | 40$_7$ | 40$_9$ | 40$_9$ |
| St Kilda | 4$_8$ | 4$_{10}$ | 4$_{16}$ | 8$_{11}$ | 8$_{13}$ | 8$_{16}$ | 12$_{14}$ | 16$_{11}$ | 16$_{11}$ | 16$_{14}$ | 20$_{12}$ | 20$_{12}$ | 20$_{13}$ | 20$_{13}$ | 24$_{12}$ | 28$_{11}$ | 32$_9$ | 32$_{11}$ | 32$_{12}$ | 32$_{13}$ | 36$_{11}$ | 36$_{12}$ | 40$_{10}$ |
| Fremantle | 0$_{16}$ | 4$_8$ | 4$_{15}$ | 8$_9$ | 12$_9$ | 16$_6$ | 16$_9$ | 16$_{10}$ | 16$_{10}$ | 20$_{10}$ | 20$_{11}$ | 20$_{11}$ | 24$_9$ | 24$_{11}$ | 28$_9$ | 28$_{10}$ | 32$_7$ | 32$_{10}$ | 32$_{11}$ | 36$_8$ | 36$_{12}$ | 40$_{10}$ | 40$_{11}$ |
| Richmond | 4$_5$ | 8$_2$ | 8$_6$ | 8$_8$ | 12$_5$ | 12$_7$ | 16$_6$ | 16$_8$ | 20$_8$ | 20$_9$ | 24$_8$ | 28$_8$ | 28$_8$ | 28$_8$ | 28$_8$ | 28$_9$ | 28$_{12}$ | 32$_9$ | 32$_{10}$ | 32$_{11}$ | 36$_{10}$ | 36$_{11}$ | 38$_{12}$ |
| Carlton | 0$_{14}$ | 0$_{15}$ | 4$_{12}$ | 8$_7$ | 8$_{11}$ | 8$_{13}$ | 12$_{12}$ | 12$_{13}$ | 12$_{13}$ | 16$_{12}$ | 16$_{13}$ | 16$_{14}$ | 16$_{14}$ | 16$_{14}$ | 20$_{13}$ | 24$_{13}$ | 24$_{13}$ | 28$_{13}$ | 28$_{13}$ | 32$_{12}$ | 32$_{13}$ | 32$_{13}$ | 32$_{13}$ |
| Hawthorn | 4$_9$ | 4$_{13}$ | 4$_{14}$ | 4$_{17}$ | 4$_{17}$ | 8$_{15}$ | 8$_{16}$ | 8$_{17}$ | 8$_{17}$ | 8$_{17}$ | 8$_{17}$ | 8$_{17}$ | 12$_{17}$ | 12$_{17}$ | 16$_{17}$ | 16$_{17}$ | 16$_{17}$ | 18$_{17}$ | 18$_{17}$ | 22$_{17}$ | 26$_{15}$ | 30$_{14}$ | 32$_{14}$ |
| Adelaide | 4$_7$ | 4$_{12}$ | 8$_8$ | 12$_5$ | 12$_7$ | 12$_9$ | 12$_{13}$ | 12$_{14}$ | 12$_{15}$ | 16$_{13}$ | 16$_{15}$ | 16$_{15}$ | 20$_{12}$ | 20$_{12}$ | 20$_{14}$ | 20$_{15}$ | 20$_{16}$ | 20$_{16}$ | 24$_{15}$ | 24$_{16}$ | 24$_{17}$ | 24$_{17}$ | 28$_{15}$ |
| Gold Coast | 0$_{17}$ | 4$_6$ | 4$_9$ | 4$_{13}$ | 4$_{15}$ | 8$_{11}$ | 12$_{10}$ | 12$_{12}$ | 12$_{14}$ | 12$_{15}$ | 16$_{14}$ | 16$_{13}$ | 16$_{15}$ | 16$_{16}$ | 16$_{16}$ | 20$_{14}$ | 24$_{14}$ | 24$_{14}$ | 24$_{14}$ | 24$_{15}$ | 28$_{14}$ | 28$_{15}$ | 28$_{16}$ |
| Collingwood | 0$_{13}$ | 4$_9$ | 4$_{11}$ | 4$_{14}$ | 4$_{16}$ | 4$_{17}$ | 4$_{17}$ | 8$_{16}$ | 8$_{16}$ | 8$_{16}$ | 8$_{16}$ | 12$_{16}$ | 16$_{16}$ | 16$_{15}$ | 16$_{15}$ | 16$_{16}$ | 20$_{15}$ | 20$_{15}$ | 20$_{16}$ | 24$_{14}$ | 24$_{16}$ | 24$_{16}$ | 24$_{17}$ |
| North Melbourne | 0$_{18}$ | 0$_{18}$ | 0$_{18}$ | 0$_{18}$ | 0$_{18}$ | 0$_{18}$ | 0$_{18}$ | 0$_{18}$ | 4$_{18}$ | 4$_{18}$ | 4$_{18}$ | 4$_{18}$ | 6$_{18}$ | 6$_{18}$ | 10$_{18}$ | 10$_{18}$ | 14$_{18}$ | 14$_{18}$ | 18$_{18}$ | 18$_{18}$ | 18$_{18}$ | 18$_{18}$ | 18$_{18}$ |

### Positions of teams round by round
## 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 |
| 28 Aug, Adelaide Oval | 28 Aug, Adelaide Oval | 28 Aug, Adelaide Oval | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Melbourne | 13.15 (93) | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Brisbane Lions | 9.6 (60) | 4 Sep, Gabba | 4 Sep, Gabba | 4 Sep, Gabba | | | | |
| | | | Brisbane Lions | Brisbane Lions | 11.12 (78) | | | | |
| 29 Aug, University of Tasmania Stadium | 29 Aug, University of Tasmania Stadium | 29 Aug, University of Tasmania Stadium | Western Bulldogs | Western Bulldogs | 11.13 (79) | 10 Sep, Optus Stadium | 10 Sep, Optus Stadium | 10 Sep, Optus Stadium | | | |
| 5 | Western Bulldogs | 13.7 (85) | | | | Melbourne | Melbourne | 19.11 (125) | |
| 8 | Essendon | 4.12 (36) | | | | Geelong | Geelong | 6.6 (42) | 25 Sep, Optus Stadium | 25 Sep, Optus Stadium | 25 Sep, Optus Stadium |
| | | | | | | | | | Melbourne | Melbourne | 21.14 (140) |
| 28 Aug, University of Tasmania Stadium | 28 Aug, University of Tasmania Stadium | 28 Aug, University of Tasmania Stadium | | | | 11 Sep, Adelaide Oval | 11 Sep, Adelaide Oval | 11 Sep, Adelaide Oval | Western Bulldogs | Western Bulldogs | 10.6 (66) |
| 6 | Sydney | 10.13 (73) | | | | Port Adelaide | Port Adelaide | 6.9 (45) | | |
| 7 | Greater Western Sydney | 11.8 (74) | 3 Sep, Optus Stadium | 3 Sep, Optus Stadium | 3 Sep, Optus Stadium | Western Bulldogs | Western Bulldogs | 17.14 (116) | | |
| | | | Geelong | Geelong | 15.13 (103) | | | | | | |
| 27 Aug, Adelaide Oval | 27 Aug, Adelaide Oval | 27 Aug, Adelaide Oval | Greater Western Sydney | Greater Western Sydney | 10.8 (68) | | | | | |
| 2 | Port Adelaide | 12.14 (86) | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Geelong | 5.13 (43) | | | | | | | | |

### Week one

| | Qualifying finals | Qualifying finals | Qualifying finals | | |
| QF2: Friday, 27 August (7:20 pm) | Port Adelaide 12.14 (86) | def. | Geelong 5.13 (43) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 19,712) | Report |
| QF1: Saturday, 28 August (7:00 pm) | Melbourne 13.15 (93) | def. | Brisbane Lions 9.6 (60) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 13,784) | Report |
| | Elimination finals | Elimination finals | Elimination finals | | |
| EF2: Saturday, 28 August (3:20 pm) | Sydney 10.13 (73) | def. by | Greater Western Sydney 11.8 (74) | University of Tasmania Stadium (crowd: 8,635) | Report |
| EF1: Sunday, 29 August (3:20 pm) | Western Bulldogs 13.7 (85) | def. | Essendon 4.12 (36) | University of Tasmania Stadium (crowd: 9,760) | Report |
| Tasmania hosted its first AFL finals games with University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston hosting both elimination finals. ||||||

### Week two

| | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | |
| SF2: Friday, 3 September (5:50 pm) | Geelong 15.13 (103) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 10.8 (68) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 44,091) | Report |
| SF1: Saturday, 4 September (7:20 pm) | Brisbane Lions 11.12 (78) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 11.13 (79) | Gabba (crowd: 30,647) | Report |
| Geelong's Joel Selwood played his 333rd game, surpassing the club's games record previously held by Corey Enright. ||||||

### Week three

| | Preliminary finals | Preliminary finals | Preliminary finals | | |
| PF1: Friday, 10 September (5:50 pm) | Melbourne 19.11 (125) | def. | Geelong 6.6 (42) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 58,599) | Report |
| PF2: Saturday, 11 September (7:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 6.9 (45) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 17.14 (116) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 26,400) | Report |
| Melbourne defeated Geelong by 83 points, its greatest winning margin ever against Geelong. ||||||

### Week four

| | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final | | |
| Saturday, 25 September (5:15 pm) | Melbourne 21.14 (140) | def. | Western Bulldogs 10.6 (66) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 61,118) | Report |
| Owing to a COVID-19 lockdown preventing the match from being played with a crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the match was staged at Optus Stadium in Perth. The second year in a row that saw the AFL Grand Final played outside of Melbourne. Melbourne won their first premiership in 57 years, ending the longest active premiership drought and the fourth longest in VFL/AFL history. ||||||

## Club leadership

| Club | Coach | Captain(s) | Vice-captain(s) | Leadership group |
| Adelaide | Matthew Nicks | Rory Sloane | | Matt Crouch, Tom Doedee, Tom Lynch, Brodie Smith |
| Brisbane Lions | Chris Fagan | Dayne Zorko | Harris Andrews | Jarrod Berry, Darcy Gardiner, Ryan Lester, Jarryd Lyons, Lincoln McCarthy, Hugh McCluggage, Lachie Neale, Daniel Rich |
| Carlton | David Teague | Patrick Cripps Sam Docherty | | |
| Collingwood | Nathan Buckley (round 1–13) Robert Harvey (round 15–) | Scott Pendlebury | Taylor Adams, Jeremy Howe, Steele Sidebottom | Brodie Grundy, Darcy Moore, Jordan Roughead |
| Essendon | Ben Rutten | Dyson Heppell | Michael Hurley, Andrew McGrath, Zach Merrett | |
| Fremantle | Justin Longmuir | Nathan Fyfe | | Andrew Brayshaw, Reece Conca, David Mundy, Alex Pearce, Michael Walters |
| Geelong | Chris Scott | Joel Selwood | Mark Blicavs, Patrick Dangerfield | Mitch Duncan, Mark O'Connor, Tom Stewart, Zach Tuohy |
| Gold Coast | Stuart Dew | David Swallow Jarrod Witts | Sam Collins, Touk Miller | |
| Greater Western Sydney | Leon Cameron | Stephen Coniglio | Toby Greene | Phil Davis, Matt de Boer, Jacob Hopper, Josh Kelly, Lachie Whitfield |
| Hawthorn | Alastair Clarkson | Ben McEvoy | Jaeger O’Meara | Jack Gunston, Tom Mitchell, Liam Shiels, James Worpel |
| Melbourne | Simon Goodwin | Max Gawn | Jack Viney | |
| North Melbourne | David Noble | Jack Ziebell | Luke McDonald, Jy Simpkin | Ben Cunnington, Robbie Tarrant, Kayne Turner |
| Port Adelaide | Ken Hinkley | Tom Jonas | Ollie Wines | Darcy Byrne-Jones, Hamish Hartlett |
| Richmond | Damien Hardwick | Trent Cotchin | Jack Riewoldt, Shane Edwards | |
| St Kilda | Brett Ratten | Jarryn Geary Jack Steele | Dougal Howard, Tim Membrey | Jack Billings, Sebastian Ross, Callum Wilkie |
| Sydney | John Longmire | Josh Kennedy Luke Parker Dane Rampe | | Harry Cunningham, Lance Franklin, Jake Lloyd, Callum Mills, Tom Papley |
| West Coast | Adam Simpson | Luke Shuey | Jeremy McGovern | Josh Kennedy, Nic Naitanui |
| Western Bulldogs | Luke Beveridge | Marcus Bontempelli | Mitch Wallis | |

## Awards
### Coleman Medal

* Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the player led the Coleman Medal at the end of that round.
* Numbers underlined indicates the player did not play in 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 | Harry McKay | 2$_2$ | 4$_6$ | 7$_{13}$ | 2$_{15}$ | 1$_{16}$ | 6$_{22}$ | 4$_{26}$ | 4$_{30}$ | 3$_{33}$ | 2$_{35}$ | 3$_{38}$ | 0$_{38}$ | 0$_{38}$ | 3$_{41}$ | 2$_{43}$ | 3$_{46}$ | 2$_{48}$ | 4$_{52}$ | 0$_{52}$ | 5$_{57}$ | 1$_{58}$ | 0$_{58}$ | 0$_{58}$ | 58 |
| 2 | Tom Hawkins | 2$_2$ | 3$_5$ | 2$_7$ | 2$_9$ | 1$_{10}$ | 3$_{13}$ | 1$_{14}$ | 4$_{18}$ | 2$_{20}$ | 2$_{22}$ | 3$_{25}$ | 0$_{25}$ | 4$_{29}$ | 1$_{30}$ | 1$_{31}$ | 6$_{37}$ | 0$_{37}$ | 4$_{41}$ | 4$_{45}$ | 1$_{46}$ | 1$_{47}$ | 3$_{50}$ | 4$_{54}$ | 54 |
| 3 | Jack Riewoldt | 4$_4$ | 4$_8$ | 1$_9$ | 3$_{12}$ | 5$_{17}$ | 2$_{19}$ | 1$_{20}$ | 1$_{21}$ | 1$_{22}$ | 3$_{25}$ | 5$_{30}$ | 2$_{32}$ | 2$_{34}$ | 0$_{34}$ | 0$_{34}$ | 1$_{35}$ | 1$_{36}$ | 6$_{42}$ | 2$_{44}$ | 1$_{45}$ | 2$_{47}$ | 1$_{48}$ | 3$_{51}$ | 51 |
| 4 | Taylor Walker | 5$_5$ | 6$_{11}$ | 6$_{17}$ | 3$_{20}$ | 2$_{22}$ | 3$_{25}$ | 2$_{27}$ | 0$_{27}$ | 0$_{27}$ | 3$_{30}$ | 4$_{34}$ | 2$_{36}$ | 1$_{37}$ | 0$_{37}$ | 3$_{40}$ | 1$_{41}$ | 0$_{41}$ | 1$_{42}$ | 4$_{46}$ | 2$_{48}$ | 0$_{48}$ | 0$_{48}$ | 0$_{48}$ | 48 |
| 4 | Josh Bruce | 1$_1$ | 3$_4$ | 10$_{14}$ | 1$_{15}$ | 2$_{17}$ | 2$_{19}$ | 1$_{20}$ | 5$_{25}$ | 2$_{27}$ | 3$_{30}$ | 3$_{33}$ | 1$_{34}$ | 0$_{34}$ | 3$_{37}$ | 0$_{37}$ | 2$_{39}$ | 1$_{40}$ | 1$_{41}$ | 2$_{43}$ | 2$_{45}$ | 3$_{48}$ | 0$_{48}$ | 0$_{48}$ | 48 |
| 4 | Lance Franklin | 0$_0$ | 3$_3$ | 0$_3$ | 3$_6$ | 5$_{11}$ | 0$_{11}$ | 0$_{11}$ | 0$_{11}$ | 2$_{13}$ | 6$_{19}$ | 3$_{22}$ | 2$_{24}$ | 1$_{25}$ | 0$_{25}$ | 4$_{29}$ | 3$_{32}$ | 1$_{33}$ | 4$_{37}$ | 2$_{39}$ | 2$_{41}$ | 1$_{42}$ | 0$_{42}$ | 6$_{48}$ | 48 |
| 7 | Bayley Fritsch | 2$_2$ | 1$_3$ | 3$_6$ | 4$_{10}$ | 0$_{10}$ | 2$_{12}$ | 6$_{18}$ | 0$_{18}$ | 3$_{21}$ | 1$_{22}$ | 3$_{25}$ | 2$_{27}$ | 1$_{28}$ | 0$_{28}$ | 0$_{28}$ | 0$_{31}$ | 1$_{32}$ | 3$_{35}$ | 2$_{37}$ | 2$_{39}$ | 0$_{39}$ | 7$_{46}$ | 1$_{47}$ | 47 |
| 7 | Charlie Cameron | 0$_0$ | 2$_2$ | 2$_4$ | 0$_4$ | 1$_5$ | 3$_8$ | 4$_{12}$ | 3$_{15}$ | 3$_{18}$ | 1$_{19}$ | 1$_{20}$ | 2$_{22}$ | 0$_{22}$ | 2$_{24}$ | 3$_{27}$ | 3$_{30}$ | 0$_{30}$ | 2$_{32}$ | 3$_{35}$ | 1$_{36}$ | 2$_{38}$ | 6$_{44}$ | 3$_{47}$ | 47 |
| 7 | Ben King | 3$_3$ | 3$_6$ | 4$_{10}$ | 1$_{11}$ | 2$_{13}$ | 5$_{18}$ | 2$_{20}$ | 3$_{23}$ | 2$_{25}$ | 3$_{28}$ | 4$_{32}$ | 0$_{32}$ | 0$_{32}$ | 2$_{34}$ | 0$_{34}$ | 4$_{38}$ | 0$_{38}$ | 2$_{40}$ | 3$_{43}$ | 0$_{43}$ | 0$_{43}$ | 0$_{43}$ | 4$_{47}$ | 47 |
| 10 | Charlie Dixon | 2$_2$ | 4$_6$ | 0$_6$ | 0$_6$ | 2$_8$ | 2$_{10}$ | 0$_{10}$ | 2$_{12}$ | 2$_{14}$ | 1$_{15}$ | 3$_{18}$ | 0$_{18}$ | 4$_{22}$ | 2$_{24}$ | 2$_{26}$ | 4$_{30}$ | 2$_{32}$ | 1$_{33}$ | 4$_{37}$ | 4$_{41}$ | 1$_{42}$ | 4$_{46}$ | 0$_{46}$ | 46 |

### Player milestones

Player milestones :
| Name | Club | Milestone | Round |
| Brad Sheppard | West Coast | 200 AFL games | Round 4 |
| Luke Dahlhaus | Geelong | 200 AFL games | Round 6 |
| Nathan Jones | Melbourne | 300 AFL games | Round 6 |
| Dustin Martin | Richmond | 250 AFL games | Round 6 |
| Brandon Ellis | Gold Coast | 200 AFL games | Round 8 |
| Steele Sidebottom | Collingwood | 250 AFL games | Round 8 |
| Robbie Gray | Port Adelaide | 250 AFL games | Round 14 |
| Shaun Burgoyne | Hawthorn | 400 AFL games | Round 16 |
| Steven Motlop | Port Adelaide | 200 AFL games | Round 17 |
| Nathan Fyfe | Fremantle | 200 AFL games | Round 17 |
| Lachie Henderson | Geelong | 200 AFL games | Round 17 |
| Dayne Zorko | Brisbane Lions | 200 AFL games | Round 17 |
| Jack Riewoldt | Richmond | 700 AFL goals | Round 17 |
| Todd Goldstein | North Melbourne | Most hitouts in VFL/AFL history | Round 17 |
| Jack Riewoldt | Richmond | 300 AFL games | Round 18 |
| Brodie Smith | Adelaide | 200 AFL games | Round 18 |
| Nic Naitanui | West Coast | 200 AFL games | Round 18 |
| Lance Franklin | Sydney | 400 Sydney goals | Round 18 |
| Travis Boak | Port Adelaide | 300 AFL games | Round 19 |
| Ed Curnow | Carlton | 200 AFL games | Round 19 |
| David Mundy | Fremantle | 350 AFL games | Round 19 |
| Shaun Higgins | Geelong | 250 AFL games | Round 20 |
| Shannon Hurn | West Coast | 300 AFL games | Round 20 |
| Cameron Guthrie | Geelong | 200 AFL games | Round 21 |
| Marc Murphy | Carlton | 300 AFL games | Round 22 |
| Mark Blicavs | Geelong | 200 AFL games | Round 23 |
| Eddie Betts | Carlton | 350 AFL games | Round 23 |
| Jordan Roughead | Collingwood | 200 AFL games | Round 23 |
| Tom Hawkins | Geelong | 300 AFL games | Qualifying Final |
| Jackson Macrae | Western Bulldogs | Most disposals in a VFL/AFL season | Preliminary Final |

### Best and fairest

| Club | Award name | Player | Times won |
| Adelaide | Malcolm Blight Medal | Rory Laird | 2 |
| Brisbane Lions | Merrett–Murray Medal | Dayne Zorko | 5 |
| Carlton | John Nicholls Medal | Sam Walsh | 1 |
| Collingwood | Copeland Trophy | Jack Crisp | 1 |
| Essendon | W. S. Crichton Medal | Zach Merrett | 3 |
| Fremantle | Doig Medal | Sean Darcy | 1 |
| Geelong | Carji Greeves Medal | Tom Stewart | 1 |
| Gold Coast | Club Champion | Touk Miller | 1 |
| Greater Western Sydney | Kevin Sheedy Medal | Josh Kelly | 2 |
| Hawthorn | Peter Crimmins Medal | Tom Mitchell | 3 |
| Melbourne | Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy | Clayton Oliver | 3 |
| North Melbourne | Syd Barker Medal | Jy Simpkin | 1 |
| Port Adelaide | John Cahill Medal | Ollie Wines | 1 |
| Richmond | Jack Dyer Medal | Dylan Grimes | 1 |
| St Kilda | Trevor Barker Award | Jack Steele | 2 |
| Sydney | Bob Skilton Medal | Luke Parker | 3 |
| West Coast | John Worsfold Medal | Nic Naitanui | 2 |
| Western Bulldogs | Charles Sutton Medal | Marcus Bontempelli | 4 |

## Coach changes

| Outgoing coach | Club | Date | Notes | Caretaker coach | Incoming coach |
| Nathan Buckley | Collingwood | 9 June 2021 | Stepped down after round 13 following poor start to the season in his final year of contract. | Robert Harvey | Craig McRae |
| Alastair Clarkson | Hawthorn | 30 July 2021 | Stepping down at the end of the season after succession plan ended earlier than expected. | N/A | Sam Mitchell |
| David Teague | Carlton | 26 August 2021 | Sacked following an extensive review of the club's football operations. | N/A (end of season) | Michael Voss |