# 1991 AFL season

The 1991 AFL season was the 95th season of the Australian Football League (AFL), which was known previously as the Victorian Football League until 1989. The season ran from 22 March until 28 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top six clubs, an increase from the top five clubs which had contested the finals since 1972.
The season saw expansion of the league to fifteen clubs, with the admission of the newly established Adelaide Crows, based in Adelaide, South Australia. With at least one team representing each of the three major Australian rules football states, the league was now the highest level senior Australian rules football competition across Australia, as well as the top administrative body for football in Victoria.
The premiership was won by the Hawthorn Football Club for the ninth time, after defeating West Coast by 53 points in the 1991 AFL Grand Final.

## Foster's Cup

Hawthorn defeated North Melbourne 14.19 (103) to 7.12 (54) in the final.

## Home-and-away season

The league expanded to 15 teams with the admission of the Adelaide Crows, meaning byes were required for the first time since 1943.
Each team played 22 games for the season with two byes: seven teams had a bye in round 1, and one team had a bye in each subsequent round.

### Round 1

| | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | | |
| Friday, 22 March (7:40 pm) | Adelaide 24.11 (155) | def. | Hawthorn 9.15 (69) | Football Park (crowd: 44,902) | Report |
| Saturday, 23 March (2:10 pm) | St Kilda 16.11 (107) | def. | Richmond 12.10 (82) | Waverley Park (crowd: 33,192) | Report |
| Sunday, 24 March (2:10 pm) | Footscray 11.10 (76) | def. by | Collingwood 21.20 (146) | Waverley Park (crowd: 38,861) | Report |
| Sunday, 24 March (2:10 pm) | West Coast 14.15 (99) | def. | Melbourne 2.8 (20) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 26,105) | Report |
| | Bye Brisbane Bears, Carlton, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, North Melbourne, Sydney | Bye Brisbane Bears, Carlton, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, North Melbourne, Sydney | Bye Brisbane Bears, Carlton, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, North Melbourne, Sydney | | |
| The Jarman brothers Andrew (for Adelaide) and Darren (for Hawthorn) made their AFL debuts against each other in the season opener. ||||||

### Round 2

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 8.10 (58) | West Coast | 13.7 (85) | Waverley Park | 39,266 | Saturday 30, March |
| Fitzroy | 6.13 (49) | Melbourne | 27.18 (180) | Princes Park | 11,278 | Saturday 30, March |
| Brisbane Bears | 8.10 (58) | North Melbourne | 15.14 (104) | Carrara Stadium | 5,724 | Saturday 30, March |
| Adelaide | 12.9 (81) | Carlton | 15.14 (104) | Football Park | 43,850 | Sunday 31, March |
| Richmond | 17.7 (109) | Essendon | 16.17 (113) | MCG | 31,793 | Monday 1, April |
| Geelong | 18.22 (130) | St Kilda | 16.8 (104) | Kardinia Park | 26,303 | Monday 1, April |
| Hawthorn | 25.16 (166) | Sydney | 10.15 (75) | Princes Park | 13,815 | Monday 1, April |

### Round 3

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Carlton | 18.19 (127) | Brisbane Bears | 9.16 (70) | Princes Park | 16,651 | Saturday 6, April |
| Collingwood | 16.21 (117) | Fitzroy | 8.10 (58) | Victoria Park | 24,691 | Saturday 6, April |
| North Melbourne | 13.16 (94) | Essendon | 25.17 (167) | MCG | 24,961 | Saturday 6, April |
| Hawthorn | 20.16 (136) | Richmond | 11.13 (79) | Waverley Park | 25,960 | Saturday 6, April |
| Footscray | 10.8 (68) | Geelong | 15.27 (117) | Whitten Oval | 20,875 | Sunday 7, April |
| Melbourne | 21.19 (145) | St Kilda | 24.10 (154) | MCG | 27,266 | Sunday 7, April |
| Sydney | 15.18 (108) | Adelaide | 19.18 (132) | SCG | 10,649 | Sunday 7, April |

### Round 4

| | Round 4 | Round 4 | Round 4 | | |
| Friday, 12 April (7:40 pm) | West Coast 18.19 (127) | def. | North Melbourne 8.7 (55) | WACA Ground (crowd: 28,362) | Report |
| Saturday, 13 April (2:10 pm) | Essendon 12.20 (92) | def. | Adelaide 6.11 (47) | Windy Hill (crowd: 20,197) | Report |
| Saturday, 13 April (2:10 pm) | Melbourne 23.17 (155) | def. | Carlton 17.8 (110) | AFL Park (crowd: 32,573) | Report |
| Saturday, 13 April (2:10 pm) | St Kilda 13.16 (94) | drew with | Collingwood 13.16 (94) | Moorabbin Oval (crowd: 31,213) | Report |
| Saturday, 13 April (2:10 pm) | Fitzroy 12.18 (90) | def. by | Footscray 15.16 (106) | Princes Park (crowd: 10,351) | Report |
| Saturday, 13 April (2:10 pm) | Richmond 19.13 (127) | def. by | Sydney 24.20 (164) | MCG (crowd: 17,294) | Report |
| Sunday, 14 April (2:10 pm) | Brisbane Bears 12.16 (88) | def. by | Geelong 27.28 (190) | The Gabba (crowd: 12,654) | Report |
| | Bye Hawthorn | Bye Hawthorn | Bye Hawthorn | | |
| This was the first time since 1981 that a match for VFL/AFL premiership points had been staged at The Gabba. Under the insistence of their new coach Robert Walls, the Bears would eventually relocate there permanently in 1993. The match is also noticeable with Geelong’s Bill Brownless kicking 11 goals in the match, which remains the record for most goals kicked in a match at the venue. ||||||

### Round 5

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Sydney | 19.16 (130) | Essendon | 24.17 (161) | SCG | 13,140 | Friday 19, April |
| Collingwood | 16.19 (115) | Brisbane Bears | 14.9 (93) | Victoria Park | 20,403 | Saturday 20, April |
| Fitzroy | 12.17 (89) | Richmond | 16.17 (113) | Princes Park | 12,124 | Saturday 20, April |
| Footscray | 17.16 (118) | Hawthorn | 16.11 (107) | Waverley Park | 21,448 | Saturday 20, April |
| Melbourne | 28.14 (182) | North Melbourne | 17.10 (112) | MCG | 22,928 | Saturday 20, April |
| Geelong | 13.17 (95) | Carlton | 8.10 (58) | Kardinia Park | 27,365 | Sunday 21, April |
| West Coast | 19.16 (130) | Adelaide | 9.11 (65) | Subiaco Oval | 34,704 | Sunday 21, April |

### Round 6

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 10.17 (77) | Melbourne | 17.11 (113) | Waverley Park | 55,735 | Thursday 25, April |
| North Melbourne | 27.26 (188) | Sydney | 21.8 (134) | MCG | 15,664 | Thursday 25, April |
| Carlton | 13.16 (94) | St Kilda | 7.18 (60) | Princes Park | 29,005 | Saturday 27, April |
| Geelong | 13.11 (89) | West Coast | 19.20 (134) | Waverley Park | 33,905 | Saturday 27, April |
| Brisbane Bears | 12.11 (83) | Essendon | 16.18 (114) | Carrara Stadium | 9,253 | Saturday 27, April |
| Fitzroy | 11.8 (74) | Hawthorn | 36.15 (231) | North Hobart Oval | 13,335 | Sunday 28, April |
| Adelaide | 19.14 (128) | Footscray | 14.13 (97) | Football Park | 36,695 | Sunday 28, April |

### Round 7

| | Round 7 | Round 7 | Round 7 | | |
| Friday, 3 May (7:40 pm) | North Melbourne 21.15 (141) | def. | Fitzroy 14.13 (97) | MCG (crowd: 13,111) | Report |
| Saturday, 4 May (2:10 pm) | St Kilda 24.18 (162) | def. | Adelaide 4.7 (31) | Moorabbin Oval (crowd: 25,057) | Report |
| Saturday, 4 May (2:10 pm) | Melbourne 18.18 (126) | def. | Brisbane Bears 17.11 (113) | MCG (crowd: 14,722) | Report |
| Saturday, 4 May (2:10 pm) | Essendon 17.13 (115) | def. | Carlton 13.16 (94) | Waverley Park (crowd: 47,651) | Report |
| Saturday, 4 May (2:10 pm) | Hawthorn 8.14 (62) | def. by | West Coast 21.18 (144) | Princes Park (crowd: 18,585) | Report |
| Sunday, 5 May (2:10 pm) | Footscray 20.13 (133) | def. | Richmond 14.17 (101) | Western Oval (crowd: 18,644) | Report |
| Sunday, 5 May (2:10 pm) | Sydney 20.24 (144) | def. | Geelong 14.14 (98) | SCG (crowd: 11,244) | Report |
| | Bye Collingwood | Bye Collingwood | Bye Collingwood | | |
| St Kilda stars Nicky Winmar and Tony Lockett marked their long-awaited return to action with outstanding performances as the Saints set a new club record for biggest win, eclipsing their 110-point win against Fitzroy in 1970. The signs were ominous when Lockett goaled in the opening minute after marking a pass from Robert Harvey, eventually finishing with 12 goals. The Crows weren't helped by the loss of Andrew Jarman to a shoulder injury in the first quarter. In their match at the MCG, Brisbane Bears led Melbourne for much of the afternoon, and appeared to have won when former Geelong player Shane Hamilton put the Bears 19 points ahead at the 19-minute mark of the final quarter. The Demons mounted a comeback when Darren Cuthbertson goaled from a controversial free kick after Bears defender John Gastev was penalized for holding the ball, and hit the front with goals to Jim Stynes and Ricky Jackson to eventually run out 13-point winners. Cuthbertson and Darren Bennett kicked five goals each for the winners. ||||||

### Round 8

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 18.14 (122) | Carlton | 11.12 (78) | Waverley Park | 29,727 | Saturday 11, May |
| Essendon | 13.9 (87) | West Coast | 14.10 (94) | Windy Hill | 21,438 | Saturday 11, May |
| Fitzroy | 10.10 (70) | Sydney | 21.21 (147) | Princes Park | 7,416 | Saturday 11, May |
| Melbourne | 17.19 (121) | Footscray | 12.10 (82) | MCG | 23,617 | Saturday 11, May |
| Geelong | 17.17 (119) | North Melbourne | 22.18 (150) | Kardinia Park | 17,746 | Saturday 11, May |
| Richmond | 24.15 (159) | Collingwood | 15.12 (102) | MCG | 28,322 | Sunday 12, May |
| Brisbane Bears | 12.7 (79) | St Kilda | 21.22 (148) | Gabba | 9,828 | Sunday 12, May |

### Round 9

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 18.12 (120) | Adelaide | 18.10 (118) | MCG | 16,175 | Friday 17, May |
| Carlton | 13.15 (93) | Richmond | 12.9 (81) | Princes Park | 23,087 | Saturday 18, May |
| Collingwood | 13.12 (90) | Geelong | 18.24 (132) | Victoria Park | 26,262 | Saturday 18, May |
| Hawthorn | 15.13 (103) | Essendon | 13.9 (87) | Waverley Park | 40,537 | Saturday 18, May |
| Footscray | 15.11 (101) | Brisbane Bears | 14.12 (96) | Whitten Oval | 10,585 | Saturday 18, May |
| West Coast | 17.23 (125) | Fitzroy | 3.8 (26) | Subiaco Oval | 23,586 | Sunday 19, May |
| Sydney | 16.17 (113) | St Kilda | 18.11 (119) | SCG | 13,284 | Sunday 19, May |

### Round 10

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Adelaide | 15.16 (106) | Melbourne | 10.12 (72) | Football Park | 43,722 | Friday 24, May |
| Collingwood | 16.12 (108) | Hawthorn | 23.13 (151) | Waverley Park | 45,595 | Saturday 25, May |
| St Kilda | 11.15 (81) | Essendon | 16.13 (109) | Moorabbin Oval | 33,832 | Saturday 25, May |
| Fitzroy | 19.13 (127) | Geelong | 14.22 (106) | Princes Park | 10,214 | Saturday 25, May |
| North Melbourne | 21.15 (141) | Footscray | 18.19 (127) | MCG | 17,254 | Saturday 25, May |
| Brisbane Bears | 10.15 (75) | Richmond | 12.10 (82) | Carrara Stadium | 7,330 | Sunday 26, May |
| West Coast | 15.16 (106) | Sydney | 10.12 (72) | Subiaco Oval | 33,498 | Sunday 26, May |

### Round 11

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 18.22 (130) | Collingwood | 17.12 (114) | MCG | 28,299 | Saturday 1, June |
| Essendon | 12.14 (86) | Melbourne | 12.8 (80) | Windy Hill | 21,635 | Saturday 1, June |
| Geelong | 27.15 (177) | Adelaide | 14.9 (93) | Kardinia Park | 17,644 | Saturday 1, June |
| Hawthorn | 10.17 (77) | St Kilda | 15.13 (103) | Princes Park | 20,832 | Saturday 1, June |
| Richmond | 12.8 (80) | West Coast | 17.15 (117) | Waverley Park | 15,476 | Saturday 1, June |
| Footscray | 8.9 (57) | Carlton | 1.10 (16) | Whitten Oval | 16,036 | Sunday 2, June |
| Sydney | 18.13 (121) | Brisbane Bears | 26.12 (168) | SCG | 7,657 | Sunday 2, June |

### Round 12

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Carlton | 12.10 (82) | Collingwood | 10.2 (62) | Waverley Park | 39,832 | Saturday 8, June |
| Footscray | 4.11 (35) | Sydney | 5.5 (35) | Whitten Oval | 11,236 | Saturday 8, June |
| Brisbane Bears | 14.9 (93) | West Coast | 21.19 (145) | Carrara Stadium | 5,728 | Sunday 9, June |
| Adelaide | 7.8 (50) | Fitzroy | 7.5 (47) | Football Park | 31,273 | Sunday 9, June |
| Hawthorn | 13.18 (96) | Geelong | 20.16 (136) | Princes Park | 23,123 | Monday 10, June |
| Melbourne | 13.12 (90) | Richmond | 14.12 (96) | MCG | 29,415 | Monday 10, June |
| St Kilda | 15.11 (101) | North Melbourne | 8.18 (66) | Moorabbin Oval | 31,242 | Monday 10, June |

### Round 13

| | Round 13 | Round 13 | Round 13 | | |
| Friday, 14 June (7:40 pm) | West Coast 25.15 (165) | def. | Footscray 7.5 (47) | WACA Ground (crowd: 25,117) | Report |
| Saturday, 15 June (2:10 pm) | Richmond 6.11 (47) | def. by | Adelaide 12.13 (85) | MCG (crowd: 16,235) | Report |
| Saturday, 15 June (2:10 pm) | Hawthorn 22.17 (149) | def. | Brisbane Bears 9.8 (62) | Princes Park (crowd: 5,741) | Report |
| Saturday, 15 June (2:10 pm) | Essendon 10.14 (74) | def. by | Collingwood 11.10 (76) | Waverley Park (crowd: 41,948) | Report |
| Sunday, 16 June (1:10 pm) | Fitzroy 15.8 (98) | def. by | St Kilda 17.9 (111) | North Hobart Oval (crowd: 13,746) | Report |
| Sunday, 16 June (2:10 pm) | Melbourne 16.8 (104) | def. by | Geelong 20.14 (134) | MCG (crowd: 40,930) | Report |
| Sunday, 16 June (3:10 pm) | Sydney 18.16 (124) | def. | Carlton 17.8 (110) | SCG (crowd: 12,769) | Report |
| | Bye North Melbourne | Bye North Melbourne | Bye North Melbourne | | |
| In the Friday evening game in Perth, West Coast continued their unbeaten start to the season and extended their winning streak to 12 games when they pounded Footscray by 118 points, equalling their biggest winning margin which was set against Brisbane Bears in 1988. Full-forward Peter Sumich became the first Eagles player to kick ten or more goals in a game and finished with a career-best 13 goals. Going into three-quarter time with a one-point lead, Adelaide kicked six goals to none in the final quarter to defeat Richmond and win their first game in Melbourne. After the match, Crows coach Graham Cornes acknowledged the significance of the win and took the opportunity to accuse the Victorian football media of a "xenophobic" attitude towards non-Victorian teams, also claiming that South Australian football crowds were "angels" compared to the crowds at Melbourne's suburban football grounds. The game between Melbourne and Geelong marked the much-anticipated return of Gary Ablett from his premature retirement announcement earlier in the year. He had a modest game with ten touches and two goals, while teammate Bill Brownless took several spectacular marks and kicked seven goals as the Cats ran out winners by 30 points and consigned the Demons to a fourth straight loss. ||||||

### Round 14

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Richmond | 19.14 (128) | North Melbourne | 26.16 (172) | MCG | 23,353 | Friday 21, June |
| Carlton | 12.11 (83) | West Coast | 11.14 (80) | Princes Park | 19,588 | Saturday 22, June |
| Collingwood | 20.23 (143) | Sydney | 6.8 (44) | Victoria Park | 22,332 | Saturday 22, June |
| Essendon | 17.20 (122) | Fitzroy | 12.11 (83) | Windy Hill | 16,519 | Saturday 22, June |
| St Kilda | 16.6 (102) | Footscray | 8.21 (69) | Moorabbin Oval | 23,963 | Saturday 22, June |
| Melbourne | 11.11 (77) | Hawthorn | 19.13 (127) | Waverley Park | 30,664 | Saturday 22, June |
| Adelaide | 23.18 (156) | Brisbane Bears | 13.12 (90) | Football Park | 35,355 | Sunday 23, June |

### Round 15

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 18.7 (115) | Hawthorn | 27.17 (179) | MCG | 25,819 | Friday 28, June |
| Collingwood | 23.22 (160) | Adelaide | 5.7 (37) | Victoria Park | 25,164 | Saturday 29, June |
| Fitzroy | 6.5 (41) | Carlton | 8.12 (60) | Princes Park | 15,147 | Saturday 29, June |
| Footscray | 11.23 (89) | Essendon | 6.7 (43) | Whitten Oval | 17,536 | Saturday 29, June |
| Geelong | 19.17 (131) | Richmond | 14.14 (98) | Waverley Park | 22,688 | Saturday 29, June |
| Sydney | 14.10 (94) | Melbourne | 26.21 (177) | SCG | 10,569 | Sunday 30, June |
| West Coast | 21.11 (137) | St Kilda | 14.9 (93) | Subiaco | 42,255 | Sunday 30, June |

### Round 16

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Carlton | 14.5 (89) | North Melbourne | 13.17 (95) | Princes Park | 23,191 | Saturday 6, July |
| Collingwood | 20.13 (133) | Footscray | 13.2 (80) | Victoria Park | 27,757 | Saturday 6, July |
| Hawthorn | 23.20 (158) | Adelaide | 14.11 (95) | Waverley Park | 21,715 | Saturday 6, July |
| Melbourne | 11.10 (76) | West Coast | 14.16 (100) | MCG | 25,799 | Saturday 6, July |
| Geelong | 13.21 (99) | Essendon | 10.15 (75) | Kardinia Park | 31,096 | Sunday 7, July |
| Brisbane Bears | 26.14 (170) | Fitzroy | 15.15 (105) | Gabba | 7,373 | Sunday 7, July |
| Richmond | 13.18 (96) | St Kilda | 18.16 (124) | MCG | 32,782 | Sunday 7, July |

### Round 17

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| West Coast | 20.15 (135) | Collingwood | 8.6 (54) | WACA | 30,715 | Friday 12, July |
| Carlton | 6.12 (48) | Adelaide | 7.13 (55) | Princes Park | 13,509 | Saturday 13, July |
| Essendon | 6.7 (43) | Richmond | 7.18 (60) | Windy Hill | 13,501 | Saturday 13, July |
| Melbourne | 12.20 (92) | Fitzroy | 7.13 (55) | MCG | 12,710 | Saturday 13, July |
| St Kilda | 9.13 (67) | Geelong | 18.8 (116) | Moorabbin Oval | 28,789 | Saturday 13, July |
| North Melbourne | 15.13 (103) | Brisbane Bears | 14.6 (90) | Waverley Park | 7,239 | Saturday 13, July |
| Sydney | 14.19 (103) | Hawthorn | 15.24 (114) | SCG | 12,143 | Sunday 14, July |

### Round 18

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Fitzroy | 15.21 (111) | Collingwood | 18.16 (124) | Princes Park | 14,129 | Saturday 20, July |
| Essendon | 19.9 (123) | North Melbourne | 5.19 (49) | Windy Hill | 19,322 | Saturday 20, July |
| Richmond | 13.10 (88) | Hawthorn | 13.16 (94) | Waverley Park | 24,731 | Saturday 20, July |
| St Kilda | 16.14 (110) | Melbourne | 17.9 (111) | Moorabbin Oval | 24,950 | Saturday 20, July |
| Brisbane Bears | 14.16 (100) | Carlton | 12.21 (93) | Carrara Stadium | 9,735 | Sunday 21, July |
| Geelong | 20.16 (136) | Footscray | 10.8 (68) | Kardinia Park | 22,145 | Sunday 21, July |
| Adelaide | 16.22 (118) | Sydney | 19.8 (122) | Football Park | 40,794 | Sunday 21, July |

### Round 19

| | Round 19 | Round 19 | Round 19 | | |
| Friday, 26 July (7:40 pm) | North Melbourne 12.13 (85) | def. | West Coast 11.16 (82) | MCG (crowd: 19,399) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 July (2:10 pm) | Geelong 24.15 (159) | def. | Brisbane Bears 8.10 (58) | Kardinia Park (crowd: 13,639) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 July (2:10 pm) | Carlton 10.8 (68) | def. by | Melbourne 11.14 (80) | Princes Park (crowd: 16,110) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 July (2:10 pm) | Collingwood 13.7 (85) | def. | St Kilda 7.11 (53) | Waverley Park (crowd: 53,315) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 July (2:10 pm) | Footscray 16.12 (108) | def. | Fitzroy 7.9 (51) | Western Oval (crowd: 8,977) | Report |
| Sunday, 28 July (2:10 pm) | Sydney 14.15 (99) | def. | Richmond 12.20 (92) | SCG (crowd: 9,276) | Report |
| Sunday, 28 July (7:40 pm) | Adelaide 16.12 (108) | def. | Essendon 12.9 (81) | Football Park (crowd: 41,716) | Report |
| | Bye Hawthorn | Bye Hawthorn | Bye Hawthorn | | |

### Round 20

| | Round 20 | Round 20 | Round 20 | | |
| Saturday, 3 August (2:10 pm) | Carlton 16.9 (105) | def. | Geelong 14.19 (103) | Princes Park (crowd: 20,277) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 August (2:10 pm) | Essendon 22.19 (151) | def. | Sydney 12.12 (84) | Windy Hill (crowd: 14,341) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 August (2:10 pm) | Hawthorn 12.11 (83) | def. | Footscray 10.9 (69) | Waverley Park (crowd: 20,670) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 August (2:10 pm) | North Melbourne 13.10 (88) | def. by | Melbourne 20.20 (140) | MCG (crowd: 28,323) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 August (7:40 pm) | Brisbane Bears 10.11 (71) | def. by | Collingwood 26.16 (172) | Carrara Stadium (crowd: 9,302) | Report |
| Sunday, 4 August (2:10 pm) | Richmond 13.19 (97) | def. by | Fitzroy 23.18 (156) | MCG (crowd: 16,434) | Report |
| Sunday, 4 August (2:10 pm) | Adelaide 11.14 (80) | def. by | West Coast 14.11 (95) | Football Park (crowd: 45,864) | Report |
| | Bye St Kilda | Bye St Kilda | Bye St Kilda | | |
| Carlton produced its second major upset of the season, shaking off four consecutive narrow losses and surviving a last-quarter fightback from second-placed Geelong to win by two points. The Blues players kept a promise to coach David Parkin that they would produce a four-quarter effort, while Cats coach Malcolm Blight lamented his side's inconsistency. ||||||

### Round 21

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| West Coast | 11.16 (82) | Geelong | 12.9 (81) | WACA | 30,987 | Friday 9, August |
| St Kilda | 23.17 (155) | Carlton | 15.11 (101) | Waverley Park | 32,615 | Saturday 10, August |
| Melbourne | 8.7 (55) | Collingwood | 19.13 (127) | MCG | 50,085 | Saturday 10, August |
| Essendon | 23.19 (157) | Brisbane Bears | 17.10 (112) | Windy Hill | 12,970 | Saturday 10, August |
| Hawthorn | 28.27 (195) | Fitzroy | 10.9 (69) | Princes Park | 11,500 | Saturday 10, August |
| Footscray | 8.16 (64) | Adelaide | 6.4 (40) | Whitten Oval | 11,452 | Saturday 10, August |
| Sydney | 13.22 (100) | North Melbourne | 20.16 (136) | SCG | 13,252 | Sunday 11, August |

### Round 22

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Adelaide | 12.9 (81) | St Kilda | 20.12 (132) | Football Park | 45,440 | Friday 16, August |
| Carlton | 12.12 (84) | Essendon | 13.10 (88) | Waverley Park | 34,588 | Saturday 17, August |
| Fitzroy | 22.16 (148) | North Melbourne | 21.21 (147) | Princes Park | 8,588 | Saturday 17, August |
| Richmond | 14.11 (95) | Footscray | 11.12 (78) | MCG | 15,466 | Saturday 17, August |
| Geelong | 17.13 (115) | Sydney | 13.10 (88) | Kardinia Park | 17,755 | Saturday 17, August |
| Brisbane Bears | 13.13 (91) | Melbourne | 15.13 (103) | Gabba | 6,480 | Sunday 18, August |
| West Coast | 15.9 (99) | Hawthorn | 11.9 (75) | Subiaco Oval | 35,001 | Sunday 18, August |

### Round 23

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Sydney | 21.14 (140) | Fitzroy | 13.16 (94) | SCG | 8,553 | Friday 23, August |
| Carlton | 8.10 (58) | Hawthorn | 23.18 (156) | Princes Park | 18,521 | Saturday 24, August |
| Collingwood | 18.18 (126) | Richmond | 14.9 (93) | Victoria Park | 29,541 | Saturday 24, August |
| North Melbourne | 8.10 (58) | Geelong | 13.12 (90) | Waverley Park | 26,445 | Saturday 24, August |
| St Kilda | 27.12 (174) | Brisbane Bears | 7.12 (54) | Moorabbin Oval | 16,364 | Saturday 24, August |
| West Coast | 16.19 (115) | Essendon | 7.10 (52) | Subiaco Oval | 38,990 | Sunday 25, August |
| Footscray | 6.9 (45) | Melbourne | 8.8 (56) | Whitten Oval | 16,380 | Sunday 25, August |

### Round 24

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Richmond | 20.18 (138) | Carlton | 18.15 (123) | MCG | 21,854 | Saturday 31, August |
| Geelong | 16.11 (107) | Collingwood | 8.18 (66) | Kardinia Park | 28,491 | Saturday 31, August |
| Essendon | 9.9 (63) | Hawthorn | 21.17 (143) | Waverley Park | 48,311 | Saturday 31, August |
| Fitzroy | 14.15 (99) | West Coast | 12.17 (89) | Princes Park | 7,308 | Saturday 31, August |
| St Kilda | 24.14 (158) | Sydney | 17.17 (119) | Moorabbin Oval | 24,106 | Saturday 31, August |
| Brisbane Bears | 8.14 (62) | Footscray | 14.14 (98) | Carrara Stadium | 4,721 | Saturday 31, August |
| Adelaide | 28.12 (180) | North Melbourne | 16.11 (107) | Football Park | 36,220 | Sunday 1, September |

## Ladder

| (P) | Premiers |
| | Qualified for finals |
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
| 1 | West Coast | 22 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 2485 | 1532 | 162.2 | 76 |
| 2 | Hawthorn (P) | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2793 | 2055 | 135.9 | 64 |
| 3 | Geelong | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2660 | 2021 | 131.6 | 64 |
| 4 | St Kilda | 22 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 2512 | 2087 | 120.4 | 58 |
| 5 | Melbourne | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 2355 | 2123 | 110.9 | 52 |
| 6 | Essendon | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 2203 | 2017 | 109.2 | 52 |
| 7 | Collingwood | 22 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2349 | 2033 | 115.5 | 50 |
| 8 | North Melbourne | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2456 | 2693 | 91.2 | 48 |
| 9 | Adelaide | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 2041 | 2282 | 89.4 | 40 |
| 10 | Footscray | 22 | 9 | 12 | 1 | 1815 | 2064 | 87.9 | 38 |
| 11 | Carlton | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1878 | 2113 | 88.9 | 32 |
| 12 | Sydney | 22 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 2360 | 2778 | 85.0 | 30 |
| 13 | Richmond | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 2141 | 2450 | 87.4 | 28 |
| 14 | Fitzroy | 22 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 1837 | 2771 | 66.3 | 16 |
| 15 | Brisbane Bears | 22 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 1976 | 2842 | 69.5 | 12 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Average score: 102.6 Source: AFL Tables

## Finals series
### Finals week 1

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 17.11 (113) | Essendon | 11.9 (75) | Waverley Park | 46,032 | Saturday 7, September |
| Geelong | 15.14 (104) | St Kilda | 14.13 (97) | Waverley Park | 63,796 | Sunday 8, September |
| West Coast | 15.11 (101) | Hawthorn | 18.16 (124) | Subiaco Oval | 44,142 | Sunday 8, September |

### Finals week 2

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 13.17 (95) | Geelong | 13.15 (93) | Waverley Park | 63,733 | Saturday 14, September |
| West Coast | 17.15 (117) | Melbourne | 12.7 (79) | Waverley Park | 41,136 | Sunday 15, September |

### Preliminary final

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Geelong | 8.16 (64) | West Coast | 11.13 (79) | Waverley Park | 47,638 | Saturday 21, September |

### Grand final

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 20.19 (139) | West Coast | 13.8 (86) | Waverley Park | 75,230 | Saturday 28, September |

## Season notes

* The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed the Crows, entered the AFL competition.
* The McIntyre "final five" system, which had operated from 1972 until 1990, was replaced by the first McIntyre "final six" system. This system lasted only this season, and it was replaced by the second McIntyre "final six" system in 1992.
* St Kilda broke an eighteen year finals drought, making the finals for the first time since 1973.
* In round 6, North Melbourne and Sydney kicked a combined 32.18 (210) in the first half. It is the only aggregate of 200 points for a half in VFL/AFL history.
* In round 11, Carlton kicked its only goal through Mark Arceri 33 seconds from the end of its match with Footscray. It was the Blues' lowest score since 1904, and the closest a team has come to a goalless match since 1961.
* In round 21, Essendon hosted its last senior VFL/AFL match at Windy Hill, its home venue since 1922. Essendon played its home matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the remainder of the 1990s.
* Jim Stynes became the first, and as of 2024 only, foreign-born winner of the highest individual award, the Brownlow Medal.
* West Coast did not concede more than 100 points in any game during the home-and-away season, being the first team to do this since 1967.
* In May, the AFL Commission adopted conditions to allow finals matches to be played outside Victoria for the first time, if the higher ranked team was non-Victorian and its ground managers could demonstrate there would be at least a comparable financial result to the match being played in Melbourne. The season's qualifying final between West Coast and Hawthorn, played at Subiaco Oval, became the first finals match played outside Victoria under these conditions.
* The capacity of the Melbourne Cricket Ground was reduced by half during 1991 as the new Great Southern Stand was constructed in preparation for the 1992 Cricket World Cup, to be played there from February 1992. One consequence of this was that Waverley Park hosted all finals that were played in Melbourne, including the grand final for the first and only time in its history. The other was that Hawthorn's plans move its home games from Princes Park to Waverley Park were delayed by one year: Hawthorn had played five home games at Waverley Park and six at Princes Park in 1990 as part of transitional arrangements for a permanent move in 1991, but the AFL reneged on the deal when it became clear that the ground was needed for blockbuster games throughout the year: as a compromise, Hawthorn again played five home games at Waverley Park and six at Princes Park during 1991, and then moved permanently to Waverley Park in 1992.
* The reserves premiership was won by Brisbane, who became the first non-Victorian team to win a VFL/AFL premiership at any grade (main: 1991 AFL reserves season).
* The final under-19s premiership was won by North Melbourne. The AFL under-19s competition was shut down at the end of the season, being replaced by an under-18s competition featuring six district-based clubs in Victoria that were unaffiliated to the VFL/AFL clubs.
* At the end of the season, Hawthorn captain Michael Tuck retired, having played a then-record 426 VFL/AFL matches (including seven premierships from 11 grand finals). The record stood until passed by Brent Harvey (North Melbourne) in Round 19 of 2016.

## Awards

* The Brownlow Medal was awarded to Jim Stynes of Melbourne
* The Coleman Medal was awarded to Tony Lockett of St Kilda
* The Norm Smith Medal was awarded to Paul Dear of Hawthorn
* The Leigh Matthews Trophy was awarded to Jim Stynes of Melbourne
* The Under 19's Wooden Spoon was "awarded" to Footscray
* The Reserves Wooden Spoon was "awarded" to Sydney
* The Seniors Wooden Spoon was "awarded" to Brisbane
* The Under 19's Grand Final was won by North Melbourne against Collingwood
* The Reserves Grand Final was won by Brisbane against Melbourne
* The Seniors Grand Final was won by Hawthorn against West Coast