# 1996 AFL season

The 1996 AFL season was the 100th season of the Australian Football League (AFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Australia, which was known as the Victorian Football League until 1989. The season featured sixteen clubs and ran from 29 March until 28 September. It comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs, as well as several celebrations of the league's centenary.
The premiership was won by the North Melbourne Football Club for the third time, after it defeated Sydney by 43 points in the 1996 AFL Grand Final.

## Pre-season
### Lightning Premiership

In the 1996 AFL Lightning Premiership final, Essendon defeated the Brisbane Bears 6.2 (38) to 2.9 (21) at Waverley Park.

### Ansett Australia Cup

In the 1996 Ansett Australia Cup final, St Kilda defeated Carlton 20.10 (130) to 10.12 (72) at Waverley Park.

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

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Melbourne | 8.8 (56) | Geelong | 27.21 (183) | MCG | 46,832 | Friday, 29 March |
| Richmond | 15.14 (104) | Essendon | 19.8 (122) | MCG | 52,271 | Saturday, 30 March |
| St Kilda | 12.13 (85) | North Melbourne | 15.19 (109) | Waverley Park | 23,434 | Saturday, 30 March |
| Fitzroy | 11.5 (71) | Hawthorn | 13.14 (92) | Whitten Oval | 10,239 | Saturday, 30 March |
| Brisbane Bears | 21.15 (141) | Footscray | 7.12 (54) | Gabba | 14,222 | Saturday, 30 March |
| Carlton | 16.13 (109) | Collingwood | 12.15 (87) | MCG | 70,152 | Sunday, 31 March |
| Fremantle | 6.9 (45) | West Coast | 9.13 (67) | Subiaco Oval | 33,041 | Sunday, 31 March |
| Adelaide | 20.10 (130) | Sydney | 6.4 (40) | Football Park | 40,665 | Sunday, 31 March |

### Round 2

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| North Melbourne | 26.12 (168) | Footscray | 5.7 (37) | MCG | 30,873 | Saturday, 6 April |
| Geelong | 26.8 (164) | St Kilda | 20.14 (134) | Kardinia Park | 25,950 | Saturday, 6 April |
| Hawthorn | 6.15 (51) | Richmond | 14.14 (98) | Waverley Park | 38,263 | Saturday, 6 April |
| Fitzroy | 15.11 (101) | Adelaide | 21.7 (133) | Whitten Oval | 8,685 | Saturday, 6 April |
| West Coast | 11.11 (77) | Brisbane Bears | 16.7 (103) | WACA | 29,213 | Saturday, 6 April |
| Essendon | 10.12 (72) | Carlton | 15.11 (101) | MCG | 62,207 | Sunday, 7 April |
| Sydney | 9.17 (71) | Fremantle | 13.22 (100) | SCG | 10,965 | Sunday, 7 April |
| Collingwood | 27.11 (173) | Melbourne | 11.13 (79) | MCG | 53,268 | Monday, 8 April |

### Round 3

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Adelaide | 21.16 (142) | Geelong | 12.6 (78) | Football Park | 43,766 | Friday, 12 April |
| Footscray | 17.19 (121) | Fitzroy | 10.10 (70) | Whitten Oval | 14,345 | Saturday, 13 April |
| Hawthorn | 12.8 (80) | North Melbourne | 22.21 (153) | Waverley Park | 20,331 | Saturday, 13 April |
| Brisbane Bears | 13.12 (90) | Richmond | 15.18 (108) | Gabba | 20,635 | Saturday, 13 April |
| Sydney | 15.17 (107) | Collingwood | 10.13 (73) | SCG | 17,674 | Sunday, 14 April |
| Fremantle | 15.12 (102) | Carlton | 6.13 (49) | Subiaco Oval | 22,652 | Sunday, 14 April |
| Essendon | 16.13 (109) | West Coast | 6.14 (50) | Waverley Park | 20,852 | Sunday, 14 April |
| Melbourne | 14.14 (98) | St Kilda | 13.10 (88) | Optus Oval | 11,881 | Sunday, 14 April |

### Round 4

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Brisbane Bears | 18.17 (125) | North Melbourne | 14.11 (95) | Gabba | 17,469 | Friday, 19 April |
| Carlton | 21.7 (133) | Melbourne | 12.14 (86) | Optus Oval | 19,051 | Saturday, 20 April |
| Collingwood | 14.14 (98) | Fremantle | 8.13 (61) | Victoria Park | 23,170 | Saturday, 20 April |
| St Kilda | 24.16 (160) | Fitzroy | 11.9 (75) | Waverley Park | 17,625 | Saturday, 20 April |
| Footscray | 8.9 (57) | Hawthorn | 8.9 (57) | Whitten Oval | 16,804 | Saturday, 20 April |
| Adelaide | 23.23 (161) | Essendon | 9.11 (65) | Football Park | 45,266 | Saturday, 20 April |
| Richmond | 9.16 (70) | Sydney | 10.11 (71) | Waverley Park | 33,847 | Sunday, 21 April |
| West Coast | 12.16 (88) | Geelong | 16.10 (106) | Subiaco Oval | 30,837 | Sunday, 21 April |

### Round 5

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Essendon | 16.9 (105) | Collingwood | 17.15 (117) | MCG | 87,549 | Thursday, 25 April |
| Fremantle | 13.18 (96) | Melbourne | 8.11 (59) | WACA | 26,618 | Friday, 26 April |
| Carlton | 12.14 (86) | West Coast | 12.13 (85) | Optus Oval | 19,927 | Saturday, 27 April |
| Geelong | 13.13 (91) | Richmond | 12.16 (88) | Kardinia Park | 26,016 | Saturday, 27 April |
| North Melbourne | 23.14 (152) | Adelaide | 17.11 (113) | MCG | 32,215 | Saturday, 27 April |
| Sydney | 13.10 (88) | Hawthorn | 11.10 (76) | SCG | 20,227 | Saturday, 27 April |
| Brisbane Bears | 24.14 (158) | Fitzroy | 6.13 (49) | Gabba | 14,495 | Sunday, 28 April |
| St Kilda | 16.20 (116) | Footscray | 13.12 (90) | Waverley Park | 27,094 | Sunday, 28 April |

### Round 6

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Sydney | 14.6 (90) | Essendon | 12.18 (90) | SCG | 22,088 | Friday, 3 May |
| Geelong | 13.15 (93) | North Melbourne | 15.14 (104) | MCG | 50,074 | Friday, 3 May |
| Collingwood | 23.14 (152) | Adelaide | 12.8 (80) | Victoria Park | 26,459 | Saturday, 4 May |
| Melbourne | 7.8 (50) | West Coast | 24.12 (156) | Optus Oval | 8,747 | Saturday, 4 May |
| Fitzroy | 9.8 (62) | Richmond | 23.16 (154) | Whitten Oval | 13,497 | Saturday, 4 May |
| Hawthorn | 9.11 (65) | St Kilda | 13.8 (86) | Waverley Park | 30,225 | Saturday, 4 May |
| Footscray | 9.10 (64) | Carlton | 12.8 (80) | MCG | 31,024 | Sunday, 5 May |
| Fremantle | 12.13 (85) | Brisbane Bears | 17.8 (110) | Subiaco Oval | 24,591 | Sunday, 5 May |

### Round 7

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Essendon | 22.11 (143) | Geelong | 17.12 (114) | MCG | 75,632 | Wednesday, 8 May |
| Collingwood | 14.11 (95) | St Kilda | 18.10 (118) | MCG | 71,663 | Friday, 10 May |
| Carlton | 18.17 (125) | Fitzroy | 8.14 (62) | Optus Oval | 16,176 | Saturday, 11 May |
| Melbourne | 5.8 (38) | Sydney | 12.10 (82) | MCG | 23,660 | Saturday, 11 May |
| Brisbane Bears | 15.14 (104) | Hawthorn | 5.11 (41) | Gabba | 20,053 | Saturday, 11 May |
| Richmond | 17.11 (113) | Footscray | 9.8 (62) | MCG | 25,691 | Sunday, 12 May |
| West Coast | 19.11 (125) | North Melbourne | 7.16 (58) | Subiaco Oval | 32,312 | Sunday, 12 May |
| Adelaide | 20.12 (132) | Fremantle | 5.6 (36) | Football Park | 40,386 | Sunday, 12 May |
Note: The opening four matches of this round replicated the opening round of the inaugural 1897 VFL season, with Essendon and Geelong playing each other on the day of the 99th anniversary.

### Round 8

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Brisbane Bears | 15.18 (108) | Collingwood | 14.14 (98) | Gabba | 21,644 | Friday, 17 May |
| Carlton | 12.14 (86) | Geelong | 15.8 (98) | MCG | 67,931 | Friday, 17 May |
| Hawthorn | 19.8 (122) | Melbourne | 10.11 (71) | Waverley Park | 20,527 | Saturday, 18 May |
| Fitzroy | 16.11 (107) | Fremantle | 10.16 (76) | Whitten Oval | 5,083 | Saturday, 18 May |
| North Melbourne | 20.24 (144) | Richmond | 14.5 (89) | MCG | 49,939 | Saturday, 18 May |
| West Coast | 14.16 (100) | Sydney | 9.10 (64) | WACA | 31,411 | Saturday, 18 May |
| Adelaide | 13.19 (97) | St Kilda | 11.7 (73) | Football Park | 43,370 | Sunday, 19 May |
| Footscray | 13.6 (84) | Essendon | 23.13 (151) | MCG | 36,766 | Sunday, 19 May |
Note: Ben Hart took the mark of the year in Adelaide's win over St Kilda. Note: Fitzroy's victory was the last win they had in the AFL before departing.

### Round 9

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| North Melbourne | 25.20 (170) | Fitzroy | 9.11 (65) | MCG | 19,964 | Friday, 24 May |
| Essendon | 11.23 (89) | Melbourne | 12.5 (77) | MCG | 37,288 | Saturday, 25 May |
| Footscray | 18.11 (119) | Adelaide | 11.13 (79) | Whitten Oval | 11,140 | Saturday, 25 May |
| Hawthorn | 8.8 (56) | West Coast | 14.6 (90) | Waverley Park | 14,286 | Saturday, 25 May |
| Sydney | 21.6 (132) | Brisbane Bears | 10.14 (74) | SCG | 26,537 | Sunday, 26 May |
| Fremantle | 17.18 (120) | Richmond | 10.6 (66) | Subiaco Oval | 20,934 | Sunday, 26 May |
| St Kilda | 9.15 (69) | Carlton | 13.13 (91) | Waverley Park | 41,023 | Sunday, 26 May |
| Collingwood | 11.10 (76) | Geelong | 21.13 (139) | MCG | 56,609 | Monday, 27 May |

### Round 10

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Footscray | 10.9 (69) | North Melbourne | 12.17 (89) | MCG | 22,416 | Friday, 7 June |
| Carlton | 15.11 (101) | Richmond | 13.12 (90) | MCG | 59,062 | Saturday, 8 June |
| Geelong | 14.14 (98) | Brisbane Bears | 15.8 (98) | Kardinia Park | 24,800 | Saturday, 8 June |
| Fitzroy | 10.7 (67) | Sydney | 21.11 (137) | Whitten Oval | 9,701 | Saturday, 8 June |
| St Kilda | 9.13 (67) | Essendon | 13.11 (89) | Waverley Park | 43,925 | Saturday, 8 June |
| Fremantle | 7.11 (53) | Hawthorn | 17.8 (110) | Subiaco Oval | 19,350 | Sunday, 9 June |
| Adelaide | 11.10 (76) | West Coast | 19.16 (130) | Football Park | 43,398 | Sunday, 9 June |
| Melbourne | 17.12 (114) | Collingwood | 10.16 (76) | MCG | 48,302 | Monday, 10 June |
NOTE: St Kilda vs Essendon match on Saturday night was disrupted by a power failure during the third quarter, resulting the match being completed the following week on the Tuesday night with 2 12-minutes halves.

### Round 11

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Geelong | 20.9 (129) | Footscray | 12.13 (85) | Kardinia Park | 21,516 | Saturday, 15 June |
| Hawthorn | 16.12 (108) | Adelaide | 14.15 (99) | Waverley Park | 16,652 | Saturday, 15 June |
| North Melbourne | 10.13 (73) | Sydney | 24.8 (152) | Optus Oval | 18,644 | Saturday, 15 June |
| Richmond | 21.13 (139) | St Kilda | 15.15 (105) | MCG | 39,029 | Saturday, 15 June |
| Brisbane Bears | 5.8 (38) | Carlton | 9.8 (62) | Gabba | 20,225 | Saturday, 15 June |
| West Coast | 16.19 (115) | Collingwood | 9.8 (62) | Subiaco Oval | 34,832 | Sunday, 16 June |
| Essendon | 13.12 (90) | Fremantle | 12.17 (89) | MCG | 31,383 | Sunday, 16 June |
| Fitzroy | 8.8 (56) | Melbourne | 18.11 (119) | Whitten Oval | 10,836 | Sunday, 16 June |

### Round 12

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Richmond | 19.14 (128) | Adelaide | 13.4 (82) | MCG | 39,044 | Friday, 21 June |
| Collingwood | 14.11 (95) | Carlton | 17.14 (116) | MCG | 61,448 | Saturday, 22 June |
| Geelong | 17.10 (112) | Fremantle | 13.15 (93) | Kardinia Park | 22,116 | Saturday, 22 June |
| Hawthorn | 17.12 (114) | Fitzroy | 12.11 (83) | Waverley Park | 16,217 | Saturday, 22 June |
| Brisbane Bears | 18.15 (123) | Melbourne | 6.10 (46) | Gabba | 14,871 | Saturday, 22 June |
| Sydney | 18.15 (123) | Footscray | 11.11 (77) | SCG | 22,689 | Sunday, 23 June |
| North Melbourne | 16.11 (107) | Essendon | 14.11 (95) | MCG | 39,515 | Sunday, 23 June |
| West Coast | 22.9 (141) | St Kilda | 17.6 (108) | Subiaco Oval | 29,434 | Sunday, 23 June |

### Round 13

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Collingwood | 10.9 (69) | Richmond | 14.8 (92) | MCG | 69,072 | Friday, 28 June |
| Carlton | 13.13 (91) | Sydney | 15.12 (102) | Optus Oval | 20,030 | Saturday, 29 June |
| Fitzroy | 6.3 (39) | Geelong | 25.16 (166) | Whitten Oval | 10,504 | Saturday, 29 June |
| St Kilda | 14.12 (96) | Brisbane Bears | 7.8 (50) | Waverley Park | 13,824 | Saturday, 29 June |
| Essendon | 18.13 (121) | Hawthorn | 15.10 (100) | MCG | 43,481 | Saturday, 29 June |
| Fremantle | 8.10 (58) | North Melbourne | 9.20 (74) | WACA | 19,360 | Saturday, 29 June |
| Adelaide | 10.12 (72) | Melbourne | 19.9 (123) | Football Park | 37,557 | Sunday, 30 June |
| Footscray | 9.5 (59) | West Coast | 11.5 (71) | Whitten Oval | 11,184 | Sunday, 30 June |

### Round 14

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| North Melbourne | 21.18 (144) | Carlton | 13.11 (89) | MCG | 68,537 | Friday, 5 July |
| Hawthorn | 17.12 (114) | Collingwood | 11.15 (81) | Waverley Park | 30,886 | Saturday, 6 July |
| Fitzroy | 7.10 (52) | Essendon | 17.16 (118) | Optus Oval | 12,748 | Saturday, 6 July |
| Richmond | 7.9 (51) | West Coast | 10.8 (68) | MCG | 37,482 | Saturday, 6 July |
| Adelaide | 15.12 (102) | Brisbane Bears | 14.10 (94) | Football Park | 34,183 | Saturday, 6 July |
| Sydney | 18.17 (125) | Geelong | 11.8 (74) | SCG | 44,047 | Sunday, 7 July |
| Melbourne | 14.10 (94) | Footscray | 10.7 (67) | MCG | 22,852 | Sunday, 7 July |
| Fremantle | 11.11 (77) | St Kilda | 15.10 (100) | Subiaco Oval | 17,697 | Sunday, 7 July |

### Round 15

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| West Coast | 20.11 (131) | Fitzroy | 9.9 (63) | WACA | 22,044 | Friday, 12 July |
| Carlton | 19.17 (131) | Adelaide | 9.10 (64) | Optus Oval | 20,102 | Saturday, 13 July |
| Collingwood | 22.12 (144) | North Melbourne | 12.11 (83) | MCG | 34,514 | Saturday, 13 July |
| Geelong | 10.12 (72) | Hawthorn | 11.8 (74) | Kardinia Park | 22,207 | Saturday, 13 July |
| St Kilda | 11.13 (79) | Sydney | 14.12 (96) | Waverley Park | 34,337 | Saturday, 13 July |
| Brisbane Bears | 15.13 (103) | Essendon | 10.8 (68) | Gabba | 20,378 | Sunday, 14 July |
| Melbourne | 12.9 (81) | Richmond | 18.19 (127) | MCG | 41,380 | Sunday, 14 July |
| Footscray | 18.9 (117) | Fremantle | 15.9 (99) | Whitten Oval | 8,674 | Sunday, 14 July |

### Round 16

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| North Melbourne | 17.16 (118) | St Kilda | 4.5 (29) | MCG | 24,778 | Friday, 19 July |
| Essendon | 15.18 (108) | Richmond | 13.10 (88) | MCG | 58,768 | Saturday, 20 July |
| Footscray | 3.4 (22) | Brisbane Bears | 4.12 (36) | Whitten Oval | 9,994 | Saturday, 20 July |
| Geelong | 13.10 (88) | Melbourne | 4.6 (30) | Kardinia Park | 17,538 | Saturday, 20 July |
| Hawthorn | 15.8 (98) | Carlton | 7.7 (49) | Waverley Park | 28,670 | Saturday, 20 July |
| Sydney | 16.14 (110) | Adelaide | 12.16 (88) | SCG | 29,174 | Sunday, 21 July |
| West Coast | 12.10 (82) | Fremantle | 7.6 (48) | Subiaco Oval | 35,406 | Sunday, 21 July |
| Collingwood | 17.14 (116) | Fitzroy | 10.16 (76) | Victoria Park | 23,567 | Sunday, 21 July |

### Round 17

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Melbourne | 11.4 (70) | North Melbourne | 28.15 (183) | MCG | 20,955 | Friday, 26 July |
| Carlton | 13.13 (91) | Essendon | 11.16 (82) | MCG | 65,420 | Saturday, 27 July |
| St Kilda | 14.16 (100) | Geelong | 11.10 (76) | Waverley Park | 24,289 | Saturday, 27 July |
| Richmond | 17.12 (114) | Hawthorn | 11.7 (73) | Optus Oval | 19,081 | Saturday, 27 July |
| Brisbane Bears | 25.13 (163) | West Coast | 17.14 (116) | Gabba | 15,772 | Saturday, 27 July |
| Footscray | 16.12 (108) | Collingwood | 17.12 (114) | MCG | 28,776 | Sunday, 28 July |
| Fremantle | 15.14 (104) | Sydney | 12.6 (78) | Subiaco Oval | 17,513 | Sunday, 28 July |
| Adelaide | 26.10 (166) | Fitzroy | 9.13 (67) | Football Park | 31,880 | Sunday, 28 July |

### Round 18

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| North Melbourne | 19.16 (130) | Hawthorn | 15.9 (99) | MCG | 28,555 | Friday, 2 August |
| Carlton | 23.7 (145) | Fremantle | 11.18 (84) | Optus Oval | 15,277 | Saturday, 3 August |
| St Kilda | 13.10 (88) | Collingwood | 11.12 (78) | Waverley Park | 30,065 | Saturday, 3 August |
| Geelong | 15.14 (104) | Adelaide | 10.9 (69) | Kardinia Park | 17,818 | Saturday, 3 August |
| Sydney | 17.13 (115) | Melbourne | 6.16 (52) | SCG | 18,850 | Sunday, 4 August |
| West Coast | 14.15 (99) | Essendon | 14.9 (93) | Subiaco Oval | 37,669 | Sunday, 4 August |
| Fitzroy | 6.9 (45) | Footscray | 8.12 (60) | Whitten Oval | 8,757 | Sunday, 4 August |
| Richmond | 7.11 (53) | Brisbane Bears | 9.16 (70) | Optus Oval | 17,157 | Sunday, 4 August |

### Round 19

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Fremantle | 15.16 (106) | Collingwood | 11.16 (82) | WACA | 22,874 | Friday, 9 August |
| Melbourne | 20.9 (129) | Carlton | 17.8 (110) | MCG | 30,166 | Saturday, 10 August |
| Essendon | 21.17 (143) | Adelaide | 16.11 (107) | Optus Oval | 15,794 | Saturday, 10 August |
| Geelong | 18.19 (127) | West Coast | 12.10 (82) | Kardinia Park | 21,081 | Saturday, 10 August |
| Fitzroy | 5.5 (35) | St Kilda | 13.10 (88) | Whitten Oval | 7,781 | Saturday, 10 August |
| Hawthorn | 20.12 (132) | Footscray | 10.5 (65) | Waverley Park | 14,914 | Saturday, 10 August |
| Sydney | 20.10 (130) | Richmond | 12.10 (82) | SCG | 28,541 | Sunday, 11 August |
| North Melbourne | 8.11 (59) | Brisbane Bears | 11.11 (77) | Optus Oval | 15,453 | Sunday, 11 August |

### Round 20

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Melbourne | 13.14 (92) | Fremantle | 10.11 (71) | MCG | 15,494 | Friday, 16 August |
| Richmond | 19.18 (132) | Geelong | 9.13 (67) | MCG | 50,633 | Saturday, 17 August |
| Hawthorn | 7.7 (49) | Sydney | 9.18 (72) | Waverley Park | 28,897 | Saturday, 17 August |
| Fitzroy | 14.16 (100) | Brisbane Bears | 29.13 (187) | Optus Oval | 6,469 | Saturday, 17 August |
| Adelaide | 10.10 (70) | North Melbourne | 10.16 (76) | Football Park | 33,030 | Saturday, 17 August |
| Footscray | 14.11 (95) | St Kilda | 8.9 (57) | Optus Oval | 7,677 | Sunday, 18 August |
| Collingwood | 9.10 (64) | Essendon | 11.11 (77) | MCG | 51,057 | Sunday, 18 August |
| West Coast | 19.13 (127) | Carlton | 10.8 (68) | Subiaco Oval | 40,085 | Sunday, 18 August |

### Round 21

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| North Melbourne | 14.12 (96) | Geelong | 16.13 (109) | MCG | 52,426 | Friday, 23 August |
| Carlton | 13.18 (96) | Footscray | 9.12 (66) | Optus Oval | 21,674 | Saturday, 24 August |
| Essendon | 14.16 (100) | Sydney | 12.10 (82) | MCG | 69,237 | Saturday, 24 August |
| St Kilda | 9.9 (63) | Hawthorn | 12.8 (80) | Waverley Park | 28,118 | Saturday, 24 August |
| Brisbane Bears | 10.11 (71) | Fremantle | 10.10 (70) | Gabba | 19,204 | Saturday, 24 August |
| Richmond | 28.19 (187) | Fitzroy | 5.6 (36) | MCG | 48,884 | Sunday, 25 August |
| West Coast | 24.7 (151) | Melbourne | 11.12 (78) | Subiaco Oval | 33,689 | Sunday, 25 August |
| Adelaide | 14.12 (96) | Collingwood | 24.9 (153) | Football Park | 40,212 | Sunday, 25 August |

### Round 22

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Essendon | 11.13 (79) | Footscray | 11.10 (76) | MCG | 42,598 | Friday, 30 August |
| Geelong | 9.11 (65) | Carlton | 16.11 (107) | Kardinia Park | 27,659 | Saturday, 31 August |
| Collingwood | 15.10 (100) | Brisbane Bears | 6.15 (51) | Victoria Park | 21,126 | Saturday, 31 August |
| St Kilda | 20.24 (144) | Adelaide | 11.9 (75) | Waverley Park | 14,778 | Saturday, 31 August |
| Melbourne | 15.11 (101) | Hawthorn | 15.12 (102) | MCG | 63,196 | Saturday, 31 August |
| Sydney | 12.13 (85) | West Coast | 6.14 (50) | SCG | 29,517 | Saturday, 31 August |
| Richmond | 16.13 (109) | North Melbourne | 21.15 (141) | MCG | 61,740 | Sunday, 1 September |
| Fremantle | 24.13 (157) | Fitzroy | 10.11 (71) | Subiaco Oval | 22,574 | Sunday, 1 September |
Note: Last game of Fitzroy Lions before merger with Brisbane Bears to become Brisbane Lions.

## Ladder

| (P) | Premiers |
| | Qualified for finals |
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
| 1 | Sydney | 22 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 2152 | 1737 | 123.9 | 66 |
| 2 | North Melbourne (P) | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2526 | 1982 | 127.4 | 64 |
| 3 | Brisbane Bears | 22 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 2174 | 1731 | 125.6 | 62 |
| 4 | West Coast | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2201 | 1758 | 125.2 | 60 |
| 5 | Carlton | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2116 | 1909 | 110.8 | 60 |
| 6 | Essendon | 22 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 2209 | 2023 | 109.2 | 58 |
| 7 | Geelong | 22 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 2353 | 2047 | 114.9 | 54 |
| 8 | Hawthorn | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 1893 | 1921 | 98.5 | 46 |
| 9 | Richmond | 22 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 2282 | 1944 | 117.4 | 44 |
| 10 | St Kilda | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 2053 | 2033 | 101.0 | 40 |
| 11 | Collingwood | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 2203 | 2142 | 102.8 | 36 |
| 12 | Adelaide | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 2233 | 2327 | 96.0 | 32 |
| 13 | Fremantle | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 1830 | 1983 | 92.3 | 28 |
| 14 | Melbourne | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 1743 | 2463 | 70.8 | 28 |
| 15 | Footscray | 22 | 5 | 16 | 1 | 1654 | 2139 | 77.3 | 22 |
| 16 | Fitzroy | 22 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 1452 | 2935 | 49.5 | 4 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Average score: 94.0 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 |
| Sydney | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 30 | 34 | 38 | 42 | 46 | 50 | 50 | 54 | 58 | 62 | 62 | 66 |
| North Melbourne (P) | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 56 | 60 | 60 | 64 |
| Brisbane Bears | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 38 | 42 | 46 | 50 | 54 | 58 | 62 | 62 |
| West Coast Eagles | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 48 | 52 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 60 |
| Carlton | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 44 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 56 | 60 |
| Essendon | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 30 | 30 | 34 | 38 | 38 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 46 | 50 | 54 | 58 |
| Geelong | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 26 | 30 | 34 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 42 | 42 | 46 | 50 | 50 | 54 | 54 |
| Hawthorn | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 26 | 30 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 38 | 38 | 42 | 46 |
| Richmond | 0 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 44 |
| St Kilda | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 40 |
| Collingwood | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 36 |
| Adelaide | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Fremantle | 0 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 |
| Melbourne | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| Footscray | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Fitzroy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |

## Finals
### Qualifying Finals

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Brisbane Bears | 15.11 (101) | Essendon | 15.10 (100) | Gabba | 21,964 | Friday, 6 September |
| West Coast | 18.17 (125) | Carlton | 10.10 (70) | Subiaco Oval | 41,501 | Saturday, 7 September |
| Sydney | 13.12 (90) | Hawthorn | 12.12 (84) | SCG | 37,010 | Saturday, 7 September |
| North Melbourne | 19.17 (131) | Geelong | 9.17 (71) | MCG | 69,323 | Sunday, 8 September |

### Semi-finals

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| West Coast | 8.19 (67) | Essendon | 22.12 (144) | MCG | 85,656 | Saturday, 14 September |
| Brisbane Bears | 26.14 (170) | Carlton | 10.13 (73) | Gabba | 21,767 | Saturday, 14 September |

### Preliminary Finals

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| North Melbourne | 17.12 (114) | Brisbane Bears | 11.10 (76) | MCG | 66,719 | Saturday, 21 September |
| Sydney | 10.10 (70) | Essendon | 10.9 (69) | SCG | 41,731 | Saturday, 21 September |

### Grand Final

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| North Melbourne | 19.17 (131) | Sydney | 13.10 (88) | MCG | 93,102 | Saturday, 28 September |

## Attendance

| Team | Hosted | Average | Highest | Lowest | Total |
| Essendon | 11 | 49,526 | 87,549 | 15,794 | 544,789 |
| Collingwood | 11 | 44,723 | 71,663 | 21,126 | 491,953 |
| Adelaide | 11 | 39,428 | 45,266 | 31,880 | 433,713 |
| Richmond | 11 | 38,624 | 61,740 | 17,157 | 424,859 |
| Carlton | 11 | 35,891 | 70,152 | 15,277 | 394,802 |
| North Melbourne | 11 | 34,627 | 68,537 | 15,453 | 380,899 |
| West Coast | 11 | 32,448 | 40,085 | 22,044 | 356,932 |
| Melbourne | 11 | 30,315 | 63,196 | 8747 | 333,465 |
| St Kilda | 11 | 27,137 | 43,925 | 13,824 | 298,512 |
| Geelong | 11 | 25,161 | 50,074 | 17,538 | 276,775 |
| Sydney | 11 | 24,574 | 44,047 | 10,965 | 270,309 |
| Hawthorn | 11 | 23,624 | 38,263 | 14,286 | 259,868 |
| Fremantle | 11 | 22,473 | 33,041 | 17,513 | 247,204 |
| Brisbane | 11 | 18,088 | 21,644 | 14,222 | 198,968 |
| Footscray | 11 | 18,073 | 36,766 | 7677 | 198,800 |
| Fitzroy | 11 | 9482 | 13,497 | 5083 | 104,300 |
| Totals | 176 | 29,637 | 87,549 | 5083 | 5,216,148 |
| Venue | Hosted | Average | Highest | Lowest | Total |
| MCG | 51 | 46,114 | 87,549 | 15,494 | 2351,808 |
| Football Park | 11 | 39,428 | 45,266 | 31,880 | 433,713 |
| Subiaco Oval | 16 | 28,289 | 40,085 | 17,513 | 452,616 |
| Waverley Park | 24 | 25,545 | 43,925 | 13,824 | 613,079 |
| WACA | 6 | 25,253 | 31,411 | 19,360 | 151,520 |
| SCG | 11 | 24,574 | 44,047 | 10,965 | 270,309 |
| Victoria Park | 4 | 23,581 | 26,459 | 21,126 | 94,322 |
| Kardinia Park | 10 | 22,670 | 27,659 | 17,538 | 226,701 |
| Gabba | 11 | 18,088 | 21,644 | 14,222 | 198,968 |
| Optus Oval | 17 | 15,641 | 21,674 | 6469 | 265,892 |
| Whitten Oval | 15 | 10,482 | 16,804 | 5083 | 157,224 |
| Totals | 176 | 29,637 | 87,549 | 5083 | 5,216,148 |

## Awards

* The Brownlow Medal was awarded to Michael Voss of Brisbane Bears and James Hird of Essendon.
* The Leigh Matthews Trophy was awarded to Corey McKernan of North Melbourne.
* The Coleman Medal was awarded to Tony Lockett of Sydney.
* The Norm Smith Medal was awarded to Glenn Archer of North Melbourne.
* The AFL Rising Star award was awarded to Ben Cousins of West Coast.
* The Wooden Spoon was "awarded" to Fitzroy in their final season before the club merged with the Brisbane Bears.
* The reserves premiership was won by North Melbourne
* The seniors premiership was won by North Melbourne