# 2017 VFL season

The 2017 VFL season was the 136th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), a second-tier Australian rules football competition played in the state of Victoria. The competition began on 8 April and concluded with the grand final on 24 September 2017.
The grand final was won by Port Melbourne, who defeated Richmond reserves by four points at Etihad Stadium.

## League membership

At the end of the 2016 season, AFL Victoria terminated the licence of the Frankston Football Club due to its financial position, which was no longer considered viable. The club had suffered a severe downturn in the profitability of its pokies licence over the previous few years, and by 2016 the machines were generating a loss for the club. The club terminated the pokies licence in May 2016, but by that time owed more than $1,500,000, both to the state gaming regulators and other creditors. The club went into voluntary administration in August, and the club's VFL licence was terminated the following month, in the week after the VFL Grand Final. The club's immediate existence was saved when creditors, including the gaming regulators, agreed to waive more than 90% of the club's debt, and it came out of administration in late November 2016, but was still excluded from the 2017 season. The club then embarked on a campaign to assure its long-term viability, which included signing up 1200 members and working to improve its relationship with the local leagues as a pathway for Mornington Peninsula footballers into state football. The club applied for and was re-granted its VFL licence for the 2018 season, meaning it missed only one season of football.
There had been an expectation over the previous few years that the Australian Football League's St Kilda Football Club would terminate its reserves affiliation with Sandringham at the end of the 2015 VFL season, with a plan for both clubs would go their separate ways in 2016. This led to Sandringham establishing a partnership with Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) club Hampton Rovers. The affiliation with St Kilda was temporarily extended for the 2016 VFL season. However, after renegotiations throughout 2016, a new rolling affiliation deal with no fixed term was signed, to begin in 2017. The new deal changed the nature of the affiliation, expanding St Kilda's involvement in Sandringham's operation − including removing a stipulation from the previous agreement that no more than 14 St Kilda-listed players could play in Sandringham's senior team in any given match and Sandringham playing three games per year in St Kilda colours (beginning in 2018) at Moorabbin Oval, St Kilda's former home ground.
The Casey Scorpions were renamed the Casey Demons, to co-brand the club with its AFL-affiliate, Melbourne. The club changed its guernsey design to match that of the Melbourne Football Club.

## Premiership season

Source: VFL season 2017 Results and Fixtures

### Round 1

| | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | | |
| Saturday, 8 April (2:00pm) | Port Melbourne 12.15 (87) | def. | Northern Blues 8.10 (58) | North Port Oval | |
| Friday, 14 April (12:00pm) | Footscray 14.9 (93) | def. by | Box Hill 15.5 (95) | VU Whitten Oval | Report |
| Saturday, 15 April (2:00pm) | Sandringham 11.12 (78) | def. | Essendon 10.11 (71) | Trevor Barker Oval | Report |
| Saturday, 15 April (2:40pm) | Coburg 9.8 (62) | def. by | Collingwood 9.10 (64) | Piranha Park | Report |
| Sunday, 16 April (12:00pm) | Richmond 33.21 (219) | def. | North Ballarat 4.7 (31) | Punt Road Oval | Report |
| Sunday, 16 April (2:00pm) | Werribee 10.15 (75) | def. by | Geelong 14.16 (100) | Spring Creek Reserve | Report |
| Monday, 17 April (2:00pm) | Williamstown 12.11 (83) | def. | Casey 8.12 (60) | Burbank Oval | Report |

### Round 2

| | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | | |
| Saturday, 22 April (1:00pm) | Geelong 6.8 (44) | def. by | Port Melbourne 13.18 (96) | Simonds Stadium | Report |
| Saturday, 22 April (2:00pm) | Box Hill 20.8 (128) | def. | Coburg 9.8 (62) | Box Hill City Oval | Report |
| Saturday, 22 April (2:00pm) | Sandringham 8.13 (61) | def. by | Richmond 12.14 (86) | Trevor Barker Oval | Report |
| Saturday, 22 April (2:40pm) | Northern Blues 14.17 (101) | def. | Williamstown 11.14 (80) | Preston City Oval | Report |
| Saturday, 22 April (5:00pm) | Werribee 9.12 (66) | def. by | Footscray 17.15 (117) | VU Whitten Oval | Report |
| Saturday, 22 April (7:00pm) | Casey 19.13 (127) | def. | North Ballarat 12.9 (81) | Casey Fields | |
| Sunday, 23 April (1:00pm) | Essendon 18.10 (118) | def. | Collingwood 5.8 (38) | Windy Hill | Report |

### Round 3

| | Round 3 | Round 3 | Round 3 | | |
| Friday, 28 April (7:00pm) | Footscray 25.13 (163) | def. | North Ballarat 5.9 (39) | VU Whitten Oval | Report |
| Saturday, 29 April (2:00pm) | Sandringham 17.11 (113) | def. | Collingwood 12.21 (93) | Trevor Barker Oval | Report |
| Saturday, 29 April (2:00pm) | Werribee 14.13 (97) | def. | Essendon 9.20 (74) | Arden Street Oval | Report |
| Saturday, 29 April (2:00pm) | Port Melbourne 14.14 (98) | def. | Richmond 9.14 (68) | North Port Oval | Report |
| Saturday, 29 April (2:40pm) | Geelong 14.8 (92) | def. | Casey 8.8 (56) | Simonds Stadium | Report |
| Sunday, 30 April (2:00pm) | Coburg 11.13 (79) | def. by | Northern Blues 21.15 (141) | Piranha Park | |
| Sunday, 30 April (2:00pm) | Williamstown 8.14 (62) | def. by | Box Hill 13.12 (90) | Burbank Oval | Report |

### Round 4

| | Round 4 | Round 4 | Round 4 | | |
| Saturday, 6 May (11:00am) | Geelong 8.5 (53) | def. by | Box Hill 14.11 (95) | Simonds Stadium | Report |
| Saturday, 6 May (12:00pm) | Essendon 8.14 (62) | def. by | Port Melbourne 12.17 (89) | Frankston Park | Report |
| Saturday, 6 May (2:10pm) | Sandringham 12.6 (78) | def. | North Ballarat 9.10 (64) | Trevor Barker Oval | |
| Saturday, 6 May (3:00pm) | Footscray 17.16 (118) | def. | Richmond 17.9 (111) | Etihad Stadium | Report |
| Sunday, 7 May (1:00pm) | Collingwood 6.10 (46) | def. by | Northern Blues 9.5 (59) | Victoria Park | Report |
| Sunday, 7 May (2:00pm) | Werribee 13.9 (87) | def. | Casey 10.14 (74) | Hogans Road Reserve | Report |
| Sunday, 7 May (2:00pm) | Williamstown 20.17 (137) | def. | Coburg 7.7 (49) | Burbank Oval | Report |
| The beginning of the third quarter of the match between Geelong and Box Hill was delayed by almost half an hour after a public address malfunction at Simonds Stadium resulted in the siren sounding continuously for fifteen minutes. ||||||

### Round 5

| | Round 5 | Round 5 | Round 5 | | |
| Saturday, 13 May (12:00pm) | Essendon 17.14 (116) | def. | Geelong 8.7 (55) | Windy Hill | Report |
| Saturday, 13 May (2:00pm) | North Ballarat 4.8 (32) | def. by | Williamstown 17.21 (123) | Eureka Stadium | |
| Saturday, 13 May (2:10pm) | Werribee 17.10 (112) | def. | Collingwood 15.11 (101) | Wangaratta Showgrounds | Report |
| Saturday, 13 May (2:10pm) | Port Melbourne 17.10 (112) | def. | Footscray 12.9 (81) | North Port Oval | Report |
| Sunday, 14 May (12:00pm) | Box Hill 18.8 (116) | def. | Richmond 13.16 (94) | Box Hill City Oval | Report |
| Sunday, 14 May (2:00pm) | Northern Blues 14.14 (98) | def. | Casey 6.7 (43) | Preston City Oval | |
| Sunday, 14 May (2:00pm) | Coburg 14.5 (89) | def. by | Sandringham 15.11 (101) | Piranha Park | Report |

### Round 6

| | Round 6 | Round 6 | Round 6 | | |
| Saturday, 20 May (1:00pm) | North Ballarat 9.13 (67) | def. by | Werribee 10.12 (72) | Eureka Stadium | Report |
| Saturday, 20 May (1:00pm) | Coburg 9.7 (61) | def. by | Essendon 22.18 (150) | Piranha Park | Report |
| Saturday, 20 May (2:00pm) | Northern Blues 17.11 (113) | def. | Sandringham 10.15 (75) | Preston City Oval | |
| Saturday, 20 May (2:10pm) | Footscray 13.9 (87) | def. by | Geelong 14.15 (99) | VU Whitten Oval | Report |
| Saturday, 20 May (3:45pm) | Collingwood 11.10 (76) | def. by | Box Hill 16.6 (102) | Holden Centre | Report |
| Saturday, 20 May (7:00pm) | Casey 14.12 (96) | def. | Port Melbourne 8.5 (53) | Casey Fields | Report |
| Sunday, 21 May (2:00pm) | Williamstown 19.12 (126) | def. | Richmond 10.10 (70) | Burbank Oval | Report |

### Round 7

| | Round 7 | Round 7 | Round 7 | | |
| Saturday, 3 June (12:00pm) | Essendon 20.17 (137) | def. | North Ballarat 15.9 (99) | Windy Hill | Report |
| Saturday, 3 June (1:00pm) | Richmond 10.7 (67) | def. by | Werribee 10.12 (72) | Holm Park | Report |
| Saturday, 3 June (2:10pm) | Port Melbourne 15.18 (108) | drew with | Box Hill 16.12 (108) | North Port Oval | Report |
| Sunday, 4 June (12:00pm) | Collingwood 14.8 (92) | def. | Sandringham 11.12 (78) | Victoria Park | Report |
| Sunday, 4 June (2:00pm) | Coburg 10.8 (68) | def. by | Casey 12.14 (86) | Piranha Park | Report |
| Sunday, 4 June (2:00pm) | Williamstown 15.15 (105) | def. | Geelong 7.10 (52) | Burbank Oval | Report |
| | Bye Footscray, Northern Blues | Bye Footscray, Northern Blues | Bye Footscray, Northern Blues | | |

### Round 8

| | Round 8 | Round 8 | Round 8 | | |
| Friday, 9 June (7:00pm) | Footscray 10.13 (73) | def. | Essendon 10.9 (69) | VU Whitten Oval | Report |
| Saturday, 10 June (11:30am) | Northern Blues 14.16 (100) | def. | Coburg 13.13 (91) | Preston City Oval | Report |
| Saturday, 10 June (2:00pm) | Williamstown 15.14 (104) | def. | Sandringham 12.8 (80) | Burbank Oval | |
| Saturday, 10 June (2:10pm) | Casey 15.12 (102) | def. | Collingwood 13.5 (83) | Casey Fields | Report |
| Sunday, 11 June (1:00pm) | North Ballarat 11.9 (75) | def. by | Box Hill 12.16 (88) | Eureka Stadium | |
| | Bye Geelong, Port Melbourne, Richmond, Werribee | Bye Geelong, Port Melbourne, Richmond, Werribee | Bye Geelong, Port Melbourne, Richmond, Werribee | | |

### Round 9

| | Round 9 | Round 9 | Round 9 | |
| Saturday, 17 June (2:00pm) | Coburg 8.6 (54) | def. by | Port Melbourne 18.10 (118) | Piranha Park |
| Saturday, 17 June (2:10pm) | Northern Blues 15.13 (103) | def. by | Werribee 18.9 (117) | Ikon Park |
| Saturday, 17 June (4:30pm) | Richmond 18.18 (126) | def. | Geelong 12.5 (77) | Punt Road Oval |
| Saturday, 17 June (7:00pm) | Casey 10.15 (75) | def. | Footscray 9.8 (62) | Casey Fields |
| Sunday, 18 June (2:00pm) | Williamstown 16.22 (118) | def. | North Ballarat 9.8 (62) | Burbank Oval |
| | Bye Box Hill, Collingwood, Essendon, Sandringham | Bye Box Hill, Collingwood, Essendon, Sandringham | Bye Box Hill, Collingwood, Essendon, Sandringham | |

### Round 10

| | Round 10 | Round 10 | Round 10 | |
| Saturday, 24 June (12:00pm) | Essendon 15.7 (97) | def. | Williamstown 12.10 (82) | Windy Hill |
| Saturday, 24 June (2:00pm) | Sandringham 8.15 (63) | def. by | Coburg 13.10 (88) | Trevor Barker Oval |
| Saturday, 24 June (2:00pm) | Port Melbourne 13.9 (87) | def. by | Collingwood 19.10 (124) | North Port Oval |
| Saturday, 24 June (2:10pm) | Box Hill 11.7 (73) | def. by | Casey 14.15 (99) | Box Hill City Oval |
| Saturday, 24 June (2:00pm) | Footscray 13.17 (95) | def. | Werribee 10.11 (71) | VU Whitten Oval |
| Sunday, 25 June (12:00pm) | Richmond 16.19 (115) | def. | Northern Blues 4.7 (31) | Punt Road Oval |
| Sunday, 25 June (2:00pm) | North Ballarat 6.15 (51) | def. by | Geelong 15.10 (100) | Eureka Stadium |

### Round 11

| | Round 11 | Round 11 | Round 11 | |
| Saturday, 1 July (1:00pm) | Geelong 19.12 (126) | def. | Coburg 6.5 (41) | Simonds Stadium |
| Saturday, 1 July (2:00pm) | Port Melbourne 16.9 (105) | def. | Casey 5.10 (40) | North Port Oval |
| Saturday, 1 July (2:10pm) | Essendon 10.14 (74) | def. by | Richmond 12.8 (80) | Windy Hill |
| Sunday, 2 July (11:45am) | Collingwood 13.7 (85) | def. | Footscray 12.8 (80) | Victoria Park |
| Sunday, 2 July (2:00pm) | Northern Blues 6.19 (55) | def. by | Box Hill 11.11 (77) | Preston City Oval |
| Sunday, 2 July (2:00pm) | Sandringham 17.6 (108) | def. | Werribee 14.18 (102) | Trevor Barker Oval |
| | Bye North Ballarat, Williamstown | Bye North Ballarat, Williamstown | Bye North Ballarat, Williamstown | |

### Round 12

| | Round 12 | Round 12 | Round 12 | |
| Saturday, 8 July (1:00pm) | Richmond 11.10 (76) | def. | Casey 7.6 (48) | Holm Park |
| Saturday, 8 July (1:00pm) | Geelong 7.8 (50) | def. by | Collingwood 11.10 (76) | Simonds Stadium |
| Saturday, 8 July (2:00pm) | Coburg 10.9 (69) | def. by | Werribee 12.15 (87) | Piranha Park |
| Saturday, 8 July (2:00pm) | Northern Blues 9.9 (63) | def. by | Port Melbourne 13.8 (86) | Preston City Oval |
| Sunday, 9 July (1:00pm) | North Ballarat 6.10 (46) | def. by | Essendon 14.16 (100) | Mars Stadium |
| Sunday, 9 July (2:00pm) | Box Hill 10.13 (73) | def. by | Williamstown 17.16 (118) | Box Hill City Oval |
| Sunday, 9 July (2:00pm) | Sandringham 10.11 (71) | def. by | Footscray 18.12 (120) | Trevor Barker Oval |

### Round 13

| | Round 13 | Round 13 | Round 13 | |
| Saturday, 15 July (12:00pm) | Essendon 16.15 (111) | def. | Northern Blues 4.6 (30) | Windy Hill |
| Saturday, 15 July (1:00pm) | Collingwood 10.10 (70) | def. by | Williamstown 20.10 (130) | Victoria Park |
| Saturday, 15 July (2:00pm) | Port Melbourne 9.13 (67) | def. by | Sandringham 11.9 (75) | North Port Oval |
| Saturday, 15 July (2:00pm) | Werribee 9.7 (61) | def. by | Richmond 25.13 (163) | Frankston Park |
| Saturday, 15 July (7:00pm) | Geelong 6.8 (44) | def. by | Footscray 16.10 (106) | Simonds Stadium |
| Sunday, 16 July (12:00pm) | Box Hill 18.13 (121) | def. | North Ballarat 9.18 (72) | Box Hill City Oval |
| | Bye Casey, Coburg | Bye Casey, Coburg | Bye Casey, Coburg | |

### Round 14

| | Round 14 | Round 14 | Round 14 | |
| Saturday, 22 July (1:00pm) | Geelong 13.8 (86) | def. by | Sandringham 16.17 (113) | Simonds Stadium |
| Saturday, 22 July (1:00pm) | North Ballarat 11.9 (75) | def. | Northern Blues 6.13 (49) | Mars Stadium |
| Saturday, 22 July (1:00pm) | Footscray 18.9 (117) | def. | Coburg 8.9 (57) | VU Whitten Oval |
| Saturday, 22 July (2:00pm) | Port Melbourne 6.12 (48) | def. by | Williamstown 7.9 (51) | North Port Oval |
| Saturday, 22 July (7:00pm) | Casey 10.11 (71) | def. | Essendon 7.14 (56) | Casey Fields |
| Sunday, 23 July (10:20am) | Richmond 16.6 (102) | def. by | Collingwood 14.20 (104) | Punt Road Oval |
| Sunday, 23 July (2:00pm) | Box Hill 15.18 (108) | def. | Werribee 9.9 (63) | Box Hill City Oval |

### Round 15

| | Round 15 | Round 15 | Round 15 | |
| Saturday, 29 July (1:00pm) | Northern Blues 12.8 (80) | def. | Geelong 11.9 (75) | Ikon Park |
| Saturday, 29 July (2:00pm) | Williamstown 16.6 (102) | def. | Footscray 2.11 (23) | Burbank Oval |
| Sunday, 30 July (11:00am) | North Ballarat 8.13 (61) | def. by | Richmond 14.19 (103) | Mars Stadium |
| Sunday, 30 July (11:45am) | Collingwood 13.8 (86) | def. by | Essendon 15.10 (100) | Victoria Park |
| Sunday, 30 July (2:00pm) | Sandringham 14.11 (95) | def. by | Box Hill 22.10 (142) | Trevor Barker Oval |
| Sunday, 30 July (2:00pm) | Casey 12.14 (86) | def. | Coburg 6.7 (43) | Casey Fields |
| Sunday, 30 July (2:00pm) | Werribee 17.3 (105) | def. | Port Melbourne 15.11 (101) | Rams Arena |

### Round 16

| | Round 16 | Round 16 | Round 16 | | |
| Saturday, 27 May (4:00pm) | Richmond 14.7 (91) | def. | Essendon 10.14 (74) | Punt Road Oval | Report |
| Saturday, 5 August (11:00am) | Northern Blues 10.7 (67) | def. by | Footscray 12.8 (80) | Ikon Park | |
| Saturday, 5 August (1:00pm) | North Ballarat 7.6 (48) | def. by | Port Melbourne 12.19 (91) | Mars Stadium | |
| Saturday, 5 August (2:00pm) | Box Hill 19.23 (137) | def. | Geelong 13.7 (85) | Box Hill City Oval | |
| Saturday, 5 August (2:00pm) | Sandringham 12.11 (83) | def. by | Casey 14.9 (93) | Trevor Barker Oval | |
| Saturday, 5 August (3:45pm) | Werribee 11.4 (70) | def. by | Collingwood 15.12 (102) | Etihad Stadium | |
| Sunday, 6 August (2:00pm) | Coburg 8.6 (54) | def. by | Williamstown 16.23 (119) | Piranha Park | |
| The Richmond vs Essendon match was played during the weekend of the interstate game. ||||||

### Round 17

| | Round 17 | Round 17 | Round 17 | | |
| Saturday, 27 May (7:00pm) | Footscray 19.24 (138) | def. | Sandringham 5.9 (39) | VU Whitten Oval | Report |
| Saturday, 12 August (10:15am) | Geelong 12.12 (84) | def. | Richmond 11.11 (77) | Simonds Stadium | |
| Saturday, 12 August (12:00pm) | Essendon 14.5 (89) | def. | Box Hill 12.11 (83) | Windy Hill | |
| Saturday, 12 August (2:00pm) | Port Melbourne 30.17 (197) | def. | Coburg 5.7 (37) | Fortburn Stadium | |
| Saturday, 12 August (7:00pm) | Casey 16.6 (102) | def. | Northern Blues 8.17 (65) | Casey Fields | |
| Sunday, 13 August (1:00pm) | Collingwood 19.14 (128) | def. | North Ballarat 6.5 (41) | Victoria Park | |
| Sunday, 13 August (2:00pm) | Williamstown 17.15 (117) | def. | Werribee 6.10 (46) | Burbank Oval | |
| The Footscray vs Sandringham match was played during the weekend of the interstate game. ||||||

### Round 18

| | Round 18 | Round 18 | Round 18 | |
| Saturday, 19 August (10:45am) | Collingwood 9.17 (71) | def. by | Geelong 11.10 (76) | Holden Centre |
| Saturday, 19 August (12:00pm) | Essendon 13.10 (88) | def. | Footscray 12.11 (83) | Windy Hill |
| Saturday, 19 August (1:00pm) | Werribee 10.16 (76) | def. by | Northern Blues 16.9 (105) | Preston City Oval |
| Saturday, 19 August (2:00pm) | Coburg 16.9 (105) | def. | North Ballarat 14.9 (93) | Piranha Park |
| Saturday, 19 August (7:00pm) | Casey 11.12 (78) | def. | Williamstown 7.12 (54) | Casey Fields |
| Sunday, 20 August (12:00pm) | Richmond 22.17 (149) | def. | Sandringham 12.7 (79) | Punt Road Oval |
| Sunday, 20 August (2:00pm) | Box Hill 8.10 (58) | def. by | Port Melbourne 13.8 (86) | Box Hill City Oval |

### Round 19

| | Round 19 | Round 19 | Round 19 | | |
| Saturday, 26 August (10:45am) | Collingwood 8.11 (59) | def. by | Port Melbourne 9.11 (65) | Holden Centre | Report |
| Saturday, 26 August (1:00pm) | North Ballarat 6.11 (47) | def. by | Sandringham 15.12 (102) | Mars Stadium | |
| Saturday, 26 August (2:10pm) | Footscray 8.10 (58) | def. by | Williamstown 14.17 (101) | VU Whitten Oval | Report |
| Saturday, 26 August (7:00pm) | Casey 11.15 (81) | def. | Werribee 9.12 (66) | Casey Fields | Report |
| Sunday, 27 August (12:00pm) | Richmond 17.17 (119) | def. | Coburg 4.9 (33) | Punt Road Oval | Report |
| Sunday, 27 August (1:00pm) | Geelong 10.9 (69) | def. | Essendon 9.13 (67) | Simonds Stadium | Report |
| Sunday, 27 August (2:00pm) | Box Hill 19.13 (127) | def. | Northern Blues 7.8 (50) | Box Hill City Oval | |

## Ladder

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
| 1 | Williamstown | 18 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 1812 | 1144 | 158.4 | 56 |
| 2 | Box Hill Hawks | 18 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 1821 | 1435 | 126.9 | 54 |
| 3 | Port Melbourne | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 1694 | 1231 | 137.6 | 50 |
| 4 | Casey Demons | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1417 | 1328 | 106.7 | 48 |
| 5 | Richmond | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 1917 | 1348 | 142.2 | 44 |
| 6 | Essendon | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1653 | 1311 | 126.1 | 40 |
| 7 | Footscray | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1694 | 1391 | 121.8 | 40 |
| 8 | Collingwood | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1498 | 1547 | 96.8 | 32 |
| 9 | Northern Blues | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1368 | 1542 | 88.7 | 32 |
| 10 | Geelong | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1367 | 1575 | 86.8 | 32 |
| 11 | Sandringham | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1492 | 1744 | 85.6 | 32 |
| 12 | Werribee | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1445 | 1752 | 82.5 | 32 |
| 13 | Coburg | 18 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 1142 | 2032 | 56.2 | 8 |
| 14 | North Ballarat | 18 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 1084 | 2024 | 53.6 | 4 |

## 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 |
| 2 Sep, Burbank Oval | 2 Sep, Burbank Oval | 2 Sep, Burbank Oval | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Williamstown | 18.10 (118) | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Casey | 11.7 (73) | 9 Sep, Fortburn Stadium | 9 Sep, Fortburn Stadium | 9 Sep, Fortburn Stadium | | | | |
| | | | Casey | Casey | 15.11 (101) | | | | |
| 2 Sep, Fortburn Stadium | 2 Sep, Fortburn Stadium | 2 Sep, Fortburn Stadium | Richmond | Richmond | 19.14 (128) | 17 Sep, Fortburn Stadium | 17 Sep, Fortburn Stadium | 17 Sep, Fortburn Stadium | | | |
| 5 | Richmond | 12.13 (85) | | | | Williamstown | Williamstown | 8.11 (59) | |
| 8 | Collingwood | 11.7 (73) | | | | Port Melbourne | Port Melbourne | 12.10 (82) | 24 Sep, Etihad Stadium | 24 Sep, Etihad Stadium | 24 Sep, Etihad Stadium |
| | | | | | | | | | Port Melbourne | Port Melbourne | 11.8 (74) |
| 3 Sep, Fortburn Stadium | 3 Sep, Fortburn Stadium | 3 Sep, Fortburn Stadium | | | | 16 Sep, Fortburn Stadium | 16 Sep, Fortburn Stadium | 16 Sep, Fortburn Stadium | Richmond | Richmond | 10.10 (70) |
| 6 | Essendon | 13.13 (91) | | | | Box Hill | Box Hill | 8.6 (54) | | |
| 7 | Footscray | 14.12 (96) | 10 Sep, Fortburn Stadium | 10 Sep, Fortburn Stadium | 10 Sep, Fortburn Stadium | Richmond | Richmond | 18.11 (119) | | |
| | | | Port Melbourne | Port Melbourne | 16.11 (107) | | | | | | |
| 3 Sep, Box Hill City Oval | 3 Sep, Box Hill City Oval | 3 Sep, Box Hill City Oval | Footscray | Footscray | 12.15 (87) | | | | | |
| 2 | Box Hill | 11.11 (77) | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Port Melbourne | 9.10 (64) | | | | | | | | |

### Qualifying and Elimination Finals

| | Qualifying Finals | Qualifying Finals | Qualifying Finals | | |
| Saturday 2 September (2:00 pm) | Williamstown 18.10 (118) | def. | Casey 11.7 (73) | Burbank Oval | Report |
| Sunday 3 September (2:00 pm) | Box Hill 11.11 (77) | def. | Port Melbourne 9.10 (64) | Box Hill City Oval | Report |
| | Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | | |
| Saturday 2 September (2:40 pm) | Richmond 12.13 (85) | def. | Collingwood 11.7 (73) | Fortburn Stadium | Report |
| Sunday 3 September (2:40 pm) | Essendon 13.13 (91) | def. by | Footscray 14.12 (96) | Fortburn Stadium | Report |

### Semi-finals

| | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | |
| Saturday 9 September (12:40 pm) | Casey 15.11 (101) | def. by | Richmond 19.14 (128) | Fortburn Stadium | Report |
| Sunday 10 September (2:40 pm) | Port Melbourne 16.11 (107) | def. | Footscray 12.15 (87) | Fortburn Stadium | Report |

### Preliminary Finals

| | Preliminary Finals | Preliminary Finals | Preliminary Finals | | |
| Saturday 16 September (2:40 pm) | Box Hill 8.6 (54) | def. by | Richmond 18.11 (119) | Fortburn Stadium | Report |
| Sunday 17 September (2:40 pm) | Williamstown 8.11 (59) | def. by | Port Melbourne 12.10 (82) | Fortburn Stadium | Report |

### Grand Final

| | 2017 VFL Grand Final | 2017 VFL Grand Final | 2017 VFL Grand Final | | |
| Sunday 24 September (3:00 pm) | Port Melbourne | def. | Richmond | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 17,159) | Report |
| | 2.2 (14) 3.5 (23) 6.6 (42) 11.8 (74) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 3.3 (21) 3.6 (24) 6.8 (44) 10.10 (70) | Umpires: Nick Brown, Daniel Butcher, Andre Gianfagna Norm Goss Memorial Medal: Sam Lloyd Television broadcast: Seven Network | Umpires: Nick Brown, Daniel Butcher, Andre Gianfagna Norm Goss Memorial Medal: Sam Lloyd Television broadcast: Seven Network |
| 3: D. Conway 2: Cain 1: Pinwill, Templeton, Anastasio, Sandilands, Pearson, Wooffindin | 3: D. Conway 2: Cain 1: Pinwill, Templeton, Anastasio, Sandilands, Pearson, Wooffindin | Goals | 3: Griffiths 2: Bolton, Menadue 1: Lloyd, Lennon, Mannagh | 3: Griffiths 2: Bolton, Menadue 1: Lloyd, Lennon, Mannagh |
| In a close conclusion to the Grand Final, Richmond took a 13 point lead at the 20 minute mark of the final quarter, before Port Melbourne kicked three goals in time on to take a five-point lead. Richmond's Ben Lennon then had an opportunity to kick for goal after the final siren from a mark 52 metres out directly in front, but he missed to the right side. Sam Lloyd (Richmond) was the first player from the losing team to win the Norm Goss Memorial Medal in the 35-year history of the award. ||||||

## Awards

* The Frosty Miller Medal was won by Jordan Lisle (Port Melbourne), who kicked 46 goals during the home-and-away season.
* The J. J. Liston Trophy was won by Jacob Townsend (Richmond reserves), who polled 18 votes. 2016 winner Michael Gibbons (Williamstown) finished second with 16 votes, and Adam Marcon (Williamstown) and Matt Hanson (Werribee) were equal third with 14 votes.
* The Fothergill–Round Medal was won by Bayley Fritsch (Casey Demons).
* The last ever Development League premiership before the reserves competition was wound up at the end of the 2017 season was won by Casey. Casey 13.16 (94) defeated Williamstown 11.16 (82) in the Grand Final, played at Fortburn Stadium on 17 September as a curtain-raiser to the seniors first preliminary final.

## Notable events

* Werribee's home ground, Avalon Airport Oval, was unavailable throughout the 2017 season as it was being upgraded. Rather than setting up a permanent alternative, the club played all nine of its home games at different venues, in Torquay, North Melbourne, Wangaratta, Carlton, Docklands, Frankston, Craigieburn, Hoppers Crossing and Footscray.
* After a successful two-year contract, a new two-year broadcast deal covering the 2017 and 2018 seasons was signed between the VFL and Seven Network.
* Eventual premiers Port Melbourne fell on financial hardships prior to the 2017 season, and the entire playing and coaching list forwent match payments in the club's Round 1 match.
* North Ballarat's home ground, Eureka Stadium, underwent a change in management at the start of the season when the entire precinct was compulsorily acquired by the City of Ballarat. The arena and part of the outer was already crown land, with the rest being owned on freehold title by the football club; but the council acquired the entire precinct as it needed to be upgraded for an Australian Football League game in August – the first ever to be staged at the venue – and the council did not have faith that the North Ballarat Football Club board, which had recently undergone a significant and unstable period of change, would be able to manage the works. The club received $5.5M in compensation for the acquisition and an interim lease to use the ground in the 2017 VFL season. These issues formed part of the off-field instability which saw the club's VFL licence terminated at the end of the season.
* Ron Todd, the prolific key forward who played for Collingwood in the VFL in the 1930s and Williamstown in the VFA in the 1940s, was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame. He was only the second player who played the majority of his career in the VFA post-1897 to be inducted.