# 2009 AFL season

The 2009 AFL season was the 113th 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, ran from 26 March until 26 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs.
The premiership was won by the Geelong Football Club for the eighth time, after it defeated St Kilda by twelve points in the 2009 AFL Grand Final.

## Pre-season
### AFL pre-season draft

The pre-season draft was held on 16 December 2008 (but is referred to as the 2009 Pre-season draft in continuation from the early years of the AFL draft when it was held in January or February) and most pre-draft interest was on whether or not former West Coast Eagles captain and Brownlow Medal winner Ben Cousins would be selected by the Richmond Football Club. Richmond, the only club to show interest in recruiting Cousins, had one selection in the pre-season draft (because it had only one space left on its senior list). In the week leading up to the pre-season draft, Richmond requested to have Graham Polak (who had been hit by a tram the previous season, with it not clear at this stage whether or not the resulting injuries would end his career) moved to the rookie list, to free up an additional list space and give them a second selection in the pre-season draft. The request was similar to one made by and granted to the Essendon Football Club a few years earlier with respect to Adam Ramanauskas, but there were key differences which led to Richmond's request being rejected by the AFL and a majority of rival clubs on 15 December. Although Richmond had maintained throughout the previous week that it would draft Cousins only if its request to put Polak on the rookie list was granted, they selected Cousins anyway with their only selection in the pre-season draft. Josh Carr's return to Port Adelaide was another major player move.

### NAB Cup

| Round One | Round One | Round One | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| Western Bulldogs | Western Bulldogs | 69 | | | | | | | | | |
| Essendon | Essendon | 70 | Essendon | Essendon | 67 | | | | | | |
| Brisbane Lions | Brisbane Lions | 65 | Brisbane Lions | Brisbane Lions | 65 | | | | | | |
| St Kilda | St Kilda | 56 | | | | Essendon | Essendon | 73 | | | |
| West Coast | West Coast | 54 | | | | Collingwood | Collingwood | 116 | | | |
| Collingwood | Collingwood | 116 | Collingwood | Collingwood | 97 | | | | | | |
| Fremantle | Fremantle | 86 | Richmond | Richmond | 51 | | | | | | |
| Richmond | Richmond | 89 | | | | | | | Collingwood | Collingwood | 51 |
| Geelong | Geelong | 119 | | | | | | | Geelong | Geelong | 127 |
| Adelaide | Adelaide | 84 | Geelong | Geelong | 72 | | | | | | |
| Sydney | Sydney | 78 | Port Adelaide | Port Adelaide | 54 | | | | | | |
| Port Adelaide | Port Adelaide | 143 | | | | Geelong | Geelong | 84 | | | |
| Carlton | Carlton | 123 | | | | Carlton | Carlton | 67 | | | |
| North Melbourne | North Melbourne | 70 | Carlton | Carlton | 112 | | | | | | |
| Hawthorn | Hawthorn | 69 | Hawthorn | Hawthorn | 88 | | | | | | |
| Melbourne | Melbourne | 66 | | | | | | | | | |

## Premiership season
### Round 1

| | Round 1 (season launch) | Round 1 (season launch) | Round 1 (season launch) | | |
| Thursday, 26 March | Richmond 9.13 (67) | def. by | Carlton 23.12 (150) | MCG (crowd: 87,043) | Report |
| Friday, 27 March | Hawthorn 16.7 (103) | def. by | Geelong 15.21 (111) | MCG (crowd: 69,593) | Report |
| Saturday, 28 March | Collingwood 13.8 (86) | def. by | Adelaide 13.12 (90) | MCG (crowd: 41,591) | Report |
| Saturday, 28 March | Brisbane Lions 14.11 (95) | def. | West Coast 13.8 (86) | The Gabba (crowd: 26,800) | Report |
| Saturday, 28 March | St Kilda 12.8 (80) | def. | Sydney 9.11 (65) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 32,442) | Report |
| Sunday, 29 March | Melbourne 10.7 (67) | def. by | North Melbourne 15.11 (101) | MCG (crowd: 28,707) | Report |
| Sunday, 29 March | Port Adelaide 15.17 (107) | def. | Essendon 9.12 (66) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 28,315) | Report |
| Sunday, 29 March | Fremantle 13.16 (94) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 25.7 (157) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 34,634) | Report |

### Round 2

| | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | | |
| Friday, 3 April | Adelaide 10.9 (69) | def. by | St Kilda 15.11 (101) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 41,189) | Report |
| Saturday, 4 April | Geelong 15.15 (105) | def. | Richmond 13.7 (85) | Skilled Stadium (crowd: 22,288) | Report |
| Saturday, 4 April | Collingwood 17.15 (117) | def. | Melbourne 10.4 (64) | MCG (crowd: 43,176) | Report |
| Saturday, 4 April | Carlton 18.11 (119) | def. | Brisbane Lions 15.10 (100) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 42,496) | Report |
| Saturday, 4 April | Sydney 22.11 (143) | def. | Hawthorn 15.15 (105) | ANZ Stadium (crowd: 36,116) | Report |
| Sunday, 5 April | Essendon 16.13 (109) | def. | Fremantle 10.11 (71) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 27,461) | Report |
| Sunday, 5 April | Western Bulldogs 11.14 (80) | def. | North Melbourne 9.11 (65) | MCG (crowd: 34,466) | Report |
| Sunday, 5 April | West Coast 19.11 (125) | def. | Port Adelaide 10.15 (75) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 37,826) | Report |

### Round 3

| | Round 3 (Easter) | Round 3 (Easter) | Round 3 (Easter) | | |
| Thursday, 9 April | Geelong 18.14 (122) | def. | Collingwood 13.17 (95) | MCG (crowd: 58,527) | Report |
| Saturday, 11 April | St Kilda 25.11 (161) | def. | West Coast 9.10 (64) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 29,006) | Report |
| Saturday, 11 April | Brisbane Lions 15.10 (100) | def. | Sydney 9.13 (67) | The Gabba (crowd: 24,984) | Report |
| Saturday, 11 April | Carlton 16.16 (112) | def. by | Essendon 17.14 (116) | MCG (crowd: 70,411) | Report |
| Sunday, 12 April | Port Adelaide 22.15 (147) | def. | Melbourne 14.6 (90) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 21,030) | Report |
| Sunday, 12 April | North Melbourne 10.9 (69) | def. by | Hawthorn 19.9 (123) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 34,893) | Report |
| Sunday, 12 April | Fremantle 11.14 (80) | def. by | Adelaide 15.14 (104) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 30,035) | Report |
| Monday, 13 April | Western Bulldogs 16.14 (110) | def. | Richmond 8.15 (63) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 46,261) | Report |

### Round 4

| | Round 4 | Round 4 | Round 4 | | |
| Friday, 17 April | Brisbane Lions 10.13 (73) | def. by | Collingwood 13.12 (90) | The Gabba (crowd: 34,912) | Report |
| Saturday, 18 April | Sydney 12.12 (84) | def. | Carlton 9.13 (67) | SCG (crowd: 30,834) | Report |
| Saturday, 18 April | Hawthorn 12.13 (85) | def. by | Port Adelaide 17.13 (115) | MCG (crowd: 33,274) | Report |
| Saturday, 18 April | St Kilda 17.9 (111) | def. | Fremantle 4.4 (28) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 26,326) | Report |
| Saturday, 18 April | Adelaide 13.8 (86) | def. by | Geelong 21.8 (134) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 40,418) | Report |
| Sunday, 19 April | North Melbourne 10.9 (69) | def. | Essendon 7.15 (57) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 33,842) | Report |
| Sunday, 19 April | Richmond 13.14 (92) | def. by | Melbourne 14.16 (100) | MCG (crowd: 40,763) | Report |
| Sunday, 19 April | West Coast 17.14 (116) | def. | Western Bulldogs 12.11 (83) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 37,758) | Report |
| St Kilda recorded its greatest win in matches against Fremantle, 83 points. Gary Ablett, Jr. (Geelong) recorded 33 handpasses in the match against Adelaide. It broke West Coast's Matt Priddis' 2008 record for most handpasses in a game (30), and stood as the record until 2018. In the same match, Geelong set a new team record of 254 handpasses, exceeding its own 2008 record of 242 handpasses. Daniel Pratt (North Melbourne) became the first player to concede a free kick for deliberately rushing a behind, under the new rule introduced this year; Matthew Lloyd (Essendon) goaled from the free kick. ||||||

### Round 5

| | Round 5 (ANZAC Day) | Round 5 (ANZAC Day) | Round 5 (ANZAC Day) | | |
| Friday, 24 April | Port Adelaide 5.6 (36) | def. by | St Kilda 15.12 (102) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 25,426) | Report |
| Saturday, 25 April | Essendon 13.15 (93) | def. | Collingwood 12.16 (88) | MCG (crowd: 84,829) | Report |
| Saturday, 25 April | Hawthorn 11.8 (74) | def. | West Coast 7.14 (56) | Aurora Stadium (crowd: 17,880) | Report |
| Saturday, 25 April | Fremantle 18.13 (121) | def. | Sydney 16.4 (100) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 32,884) | Report |
| Saturday, 25 April | North Melbourne 7.16 (58) | def. by | Richmond 13.16 (94) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 29,224) | Report |
| Sunday, 26 April | Geelong 18.18 (126) | def. | Brisbane Lions 5.3 (33) | Skilled Stadium (crowd: 15,580) | Report |
| Sunday, 26 April | Western Bulldogs 13.12 (90) | def. by | Carlton 21.7 (133) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 44,268) | Report |
| Sunday, 26 April | Melbourne 4.10 (34) | def. by | Adelaide 7.9 (51) | MCG (crowd: 14,129) | Report |
| Geelong amassed a new record 490 disposals in its match against Brisbane, breaking the old record of 469 disposals (West Coast, 2007; and Geelong, 2008). ||||||

### Round 6

| | Round 6 | Round 6 | Round 6 | | |
| Friday, 1 May | North Melbourne 11.9 (75) | def. by | Collingwood 19.13 (127) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 40,087) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 May | Hawthorn 16.10 (106) | def. | Carlton 15.12 (102) | MCG (crowd: 69,014) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 May | West Coast 9.20 (74) | def. by | Fremantle 13.9 (87) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 41,654) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 May | Brisbane Lions 17.9 (111) | def. | Essendon 9.14 (68) | The Gabba (crowd: 29,252) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 May | Port Adelaide 15.15 (105) | def. | Adelaide 12.7 (79) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 41,558) | Report |
| Sunday, 3 May | Sydney 14.10 (94) | def. | Richmond 11.9 (75) | SCG (crowd: 25,410) | Report |
| Sunday, 3 May | Melbourne 10.8 (68) | def. by | Geelong 15.21 (111) | MCG (crowd: 36,932) | Report |
| Sunday, 3 May | Western Bulldogs 11.10 (76) | def. by | St Kilda 14.20 (104) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 36,302) | Report |
| Geelong recorded 498 disposals, including 259 handpasses, in its match against Melbourne; these marks broke the records the club had set in Rounds 5 and 4 respectively. ||||||

### Round 7

| | Round 7 | Round 7 | Round 7 | | |
| Friday, 8 May | Essendon 17.14 (116) | def. | Hawthorn 10.12 (72) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 50,475) | |
| Saturday, 9 May | Geelong 17.14 (116) | def. | Sydney 10.5 (65) | Skilled Stadium (crowd: 22,050) | |
| Saturday, 9 May | Richmond 10.11 (71) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 15.7 (97) | MCG (crowd: 34,646) | |
| Saturday, 9 May | North Melbourne 20.5 (125) | def. | Port Adelaide 18.12 (120) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 14,342) | |
| Saturday, 9 May | Carlton 11.15 (81) | def. by | Fremantle 13.10 (88) | Gold Coast Stadium (crowd: 10,294) | |
| Sunday, 10 May | Adelaide 12.14 (86) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 17.16 (118) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 31,742) | |
| Sunday, 10 May | West Coast 12.18 (90) | def. | Melbourne 13.4 (82) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 35,209) | |
| Monday, 11 May | Collingwood 5.10 (40) | def. by | St Kilda 20.8 (128) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 46,880) | Report |
| St Kilda defeated Collingwood won by 88 points, its greatest ever winning margin against Collingwood. ||||||

### Round 8

| | Round 8 | Round 8 | Round 8 | | |
| Friday, 15 May | Fremantle 9.11 (65) | def. by | Hawthorn 13.9 (87) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 39,135) | Report |
| Saturday, 16 May | Melbourne 15.7 (97) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 15.14 (104) | MCG (crowd: 28,279) | |
| Saturday, 16 May | Geelong 18.11 (119) | def. | North Melbourne 7.7 (49) | Skilled Stadium (crowd: 20,273) | |
| Saturday, 16 May | Brisbane Lions 18.11 (119) | def. | Adelaide 12.11 (83) | The Gabba (crowd: 27,767) | |
| Saturday, 16 May | Sydney 16.10 (106) | def. | West Coast 15.11 (101) | ANZ Stadium (crowd: 33,079) | |
| Sunday, 17 May | Port Adelaide 14.18 (102) | def. | Richmond 15.9 (99) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 22,034) | |
| Sunday, 17 May | Collingwood 7.11 (53) | def. by | Carlton 16.8 (104) | MCG (crowd: 82,834) | |
| Sunday, 17 May | St Kilda 13.12 (90) | def. | Essendon 10.11 (71) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 45,594) | |

### Round 9

| | Round 9 (Indigenous Round) | Round 9 (Indigenous Round) | Round 9 (Indigenous Round) | |
| Friday, 22 May | Geelong 17.14 (116) | def. | Western Bulldogs 17.12 (114) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 44,620) |
| Saturday, 23 May | North Melbourne 14.14 (98) | def. | Fremantle 12.13 (85) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 15,436) |
| Saturday, 23 May | Adelaide 15.14 (104) | def. | Carlton 8.12 (60) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 41,107) |
| Saturday, 23 May | West Coast 9.12 (66) | def. by | Collingwood 12.16 (88) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 36,658) |
| Saturday, 23 May | Richmond 12.13 (85) | def. by | Essendon 19.11 (125) | MCG (crowd: 73,625) |
| Sunday, 24 May | Sydney 18.15 (123) | def. | Port Adelaide 10.8 (68) | SCG (crowd: 23,229) |
| Sunday, 24 May | St Kilda 14.13 (97) | def. | Brisbane Lions 13.3 (81) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 30,673) |
| Sunday, 24 May | Hawthorn 17.12 (114) | def. | Melbourne 13.14 (92) | MCG (crowd: 39,395) |

### Round 10

| | Round 10 | Round 10 | Round 10 | | |
| Friday, 29 May | Carlton 16.15 (111) | def. | West Coast 10.10 (70) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 39,611) | |
| Saturday, 30 May | Western Bulldogs 18.9 (117) | def. | Sydney 12.5 (77) | Manuka Oval (crowd: 12,457) | |
| Saturday, 30 May | North Melbourne 12.9 (81) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 15.9 (99) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 21,583) | Report |
| Saturday, 30 May | Fremantle 17.10 (112) | def. by | Richmond 17.13 (115) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 35,391) | |
| Saturday, 30 May | St Kilda 11.17 (83) | def. | Melbourne 6.10 (46) | Gold Coast Stadium (crowd: 9,112) | |
| Sunday, 31 May | Adelaide 16.10 (106) | def. | Hawthorn 12.7 (79) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 40,035) | |
| Sunday, 31 May | Essendon 11.4 (70) | def. by | Geelong 20.14 (134) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 48,852) | |
| Sunday, 31 May | Collingwood 17.12 (114) | def. | Port Adelaide 11.10 (76) | MCG (crowd: 34,793) | |

### Round 11

| | Round 11 (Women’s Round, Queen's Birthday Holiday Weekend) | Round 11 (Women’s Round, Queen's Birthday Holiday Weekend) | Round 11 (Women’s Round, Queen's Birthday Holiday Weekend) | |
| Friday, 5 June | Richmond 14.5 (89) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 24.13 (157) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 36,483) |
| Saturday, 6 June | North Melbourne 9.3 (57) | def. by | St Kilda 15.13 (103) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 30,962) |
| Saturday, 6 June | Brisbane Lions 16.10 (106) | def. by | Carlton 16.16 (112) | The Gabba (crowd: 33,790) |
| Saturday, 6 June | Port Adelaide 14.10 (94) | def. | Fremantle 11.4 (70) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 18,418) |
| Sunday, 7 June | Essendon 18.6 (114) | def. by | Adelaide 21.4 (130) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 39,451) |
| Sunday, 7 June | Hawthorn 12.14 (86) | def. | Sydney 11.9 (75) | MCG (crowd: 44,464) |
| Sunday, 7 June | West Coast 11.11 (77) | def. by | Geelong 15.9 (99) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 35,355) |
| Monday, 8 June | Melbourne 8.12 (60) | def. by | Collingwood 19.12 (126) | MCG (crowd: 61,287) |
| Terry Wallace coached his final match for Richmond, after announcing his retirement earlier in the week. Wallace was replaced by Jade Rawlings as caretaker. St Kilda won its 11th consecutive game, breaking the previous club record of 10 set in 2004. ||||||

### Round 12

| | Round 12 (Split round) | Round 12 (Split round) | Round 12 (Split round) | |
| Friday, 12 June | Carlton 14.11 (95) | def. by | St Kilda 16.8 (104) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 50,820) |
| Saturday, 13 June | Western Bulldogs 21.11 (137) | def. | Port Adelaide 7.2 (44) | TIO Stadium (crowd: 11,306) |
| Saturday, 13 June | Richmond 13.14 (92) | def. | West Coast 11.11 (77) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 30,117) |
| Sunday, 14 June | Hawthorn 7.9 (51) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 13.15 (93) | Aurora Stadium (crowd: 16,710) |
| Sunday, 14 June | Adelaide 9.14 (68) | def. | North Melbourne 3.6 (24) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 30,173) |
| Friday, 19 June | Essendon 19.17 (131) | def. | Melbourne 13.5 (83) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 45,740) |
| Saturday, 20 June | Sydney 9.12 (66) | def. by | Collingwood 13.11 (89) | ANZ Stadium (crowd: 41,042) |
| Sunday, 21 June | Fremantle 11.9 (75) | def. by | Geelong 13.16 (94) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 33,213) |
| In wet weather in Adelaide, North Melbourne was held to 3.6 (24), its lowest score since 1971, and the lowest score by any team since round 4, 1999. ||||||

### Round 13

| | Round 13 | Round 13 | Round 13 | | |
| Friday, 26 June | Essendon 21.10 (136) | def. | Carlton 9.13 (67) | MCG (crowd: 83,407) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 June | Collingwood 26.13 (169) | def. | Fremantle 13.7 (85) | MCG (crowd: 44,114) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 June | Adelaide 12.13 (85) | def. | Sydney 10.9 (69) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 38,064) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 June | West Coast 16.11 (107) | def. | Hawthorn 13.9 (87) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 31,441) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 June | Brisbane Lions 16.15 (111) | def. | Melbourne 8.8 (56) | The Gabba (crowd: 23,750) | Report |
| Sunday, 28 June | Geelong 18.14 (122) | def. | Port Adelaide 13.10 (88) | Skilled Stadium (crowd: 21,142) | Report |
| Sunday, 28 June | North Melbourne 12.14 (86) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 17.6 (108) | MCG (crowd: 31,470) | Report |
| Sunday, 28 June | St Kilda 13.14 (92) | def. | Richmond 5.6 (36) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 38,196) | Report |

### Round 14

| | Round 14 | Round 14 | Round 14 | | |
| Friday, 3 July | Collingwood 15.12 (102) | def. | Essendon 9.13 (67) | MCG (crowd: 77,699) | Report |
| Saturday, 4 July | Melbourne 17.10 (112) | def. | West Coast 13.14 (92) | MCG (crowd: 23,149) | Report |
| Saturday, 4 July | Port Adelaide 19.14 (128) | def. | Brisbane Lions 11.14 (80) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 20,293) | Report |
| Saturday, 4 July | Richmond 13.7 (85) | def. by | Adelaide 15.12 (102) | Gold Coast Stadium (crowd: 11,174) | Report |
| Saturday, 4 July | Western Bulldogs 19.19 (133) | def. | Hawthorn 6.9 (45) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 36,827) | Report |
| Sunday, 5 July | Sydney 15.10 (100) | def. | North Melbourne 13.7 (85) | SCG (crowd: 21,929) | Report |
| Sunday, 5 July | St Kilda 14.7 (91) | def. | Geelong 13.7 (85) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 54,444) | Report |
| Sunday, 5 July | Fremantle 15.10 (100) | def. by | Carlton 16.19 (115) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 34,720) | Report |
| The match between St Kilda and Geelong saw both teams enter the game undefeated with 13–0 records; unbeaten teams had never faced each other so late in the season, the previous latest being Round 8, 1991 between West Coast and Essendon. The high demand for the match to be broadcast live resulted in a change in timeslot, moving from 2:10 pm to 3:10 pm so that the Seven Network could broadcast the game live into Melbourne, and use it as a lead-in to its 6pm news broadcast in accordance with its broadcast contract. As of 2021, the match's attendance of 54,444 stands as the largest crowd at an AFL game held at Etihad Stadium. Geelong's loss was its first at the stadium since Round 1, 2007, ending a 13-match winning streak at the ground. Western Bulldogs held reigning Coleman Medallist Lance Franklin goalless for the first time since Round 11, 2006, breaking a streak of 71 consecutive games scoring at least one goal. As of 2022, the streak stands as the longest by a player in the 21st century. ||||||

### Round 15

| | Round 15 | Round 15 | Round 15 | | |
| Friday, 10 July | Western Bulldogs 16.14 (110) | def. by | Collingwood 17.9 (111) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 51,382) | Report |
| Saturday, 11 July | Sydney 10.12 (72) | def. by | Essendon 15.17 (107) | SCG (crowd: 30,924) | Report |
| Saturday, 11 July | Carlton 16.13 (109) | def. | Richmond 12.17 (89) | MCG (crowd: 50,784) | Report |
| Saturday, 11 July | Brisbane Lions 16.12 (108) | def. | Geelong 9.11 (65) | The Gabba (crowd: 34,274) | Report |
| Saturday, 11 July | Adelaide 19.16 (130) | def. | Fremantle 1.7 (13) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 32,451) | Report |
| Sunday, 12 July | Hawthorn 10.13 (73) | def. | North Melbourne 9.10 (64) | Aurora Stadium (crowd: 15,080) | Report |
| Sunday, 12 July | Melbourne 15.11 (101) | def. | Port Adelaide 13.12 (90) | MCG (crowd: 15,888) | Report |
| Sunday, 12 July | West Coast 11.4 (70) | def. by | St Kilda 13.12 (90) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 36,259) | Report |
| Adelaide's dominant victory against Fremantle saw the latter held to a score of only 1.7 (13). As of 2021, it stands as the lowest score in Fremantle's history; and, it was the lowest score kicked by any team in a game since 1961. Fremantle managed only one behind in the first half, also the lowest in club history and the lowest by any club since Fitzroy in Round 1, 1995. ||||||

### Round 16

| | Round 16 | Round 16 | Round 16 | | |
| Friday, 17 July | Essendon 11.4 (70) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 15.13 (103) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 47,120) | Report |
| Saturday, 18 July | Carlton 19.10 (124) | def. | Sydney 9.9 (63) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 42,018) | Report |
| Saturday, 18 July | Geelong 17.15 (117) | def. | Melbourne 11.5 (71) | Skilled Stadium (crowd: 21,160) | Report |
| Saturday, 18 July | Fremantle 7.5 (47) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 9.8 (62) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 22,595) | Report |
| Saturday, 18 July | Collingwood 11.10 (76) | def. by | Hawthorn 18.13 (121) | MCG (crowd: 66,149) | Report |
| Sunday, 19 July | Port Adelaide 17.10 (112) | def. | West Coast 11.10 (76) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 21,106) | Report |
| Sunday, 19 July | Richmond 12.13 (85) | drew with | North Melbourne 12.13 (85) | MCG (crowd: 30,604) | Report |
| Sunday, 19 July | St Kilda 15.15 (105) | def. | Adelaide 7.6 (48) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 31,940) | Report |
| Carlton defeated Sydney to end a twelve-game losing streak against the club, dating back to 2000. ||||||

### Round 17

| | Round 17 (Rivalry Round) | Round 17 (Rivalry Round) | Round 17 (Rivalry Round) | | |
| Friday, 24 July | Carlton 4.16 (40) | def. by | Collingwood 14.10 (94) | MCG (crowd: 84,938) | Report |
| Saturday, 25 July | Geelong 15.9 (99) | def. | Hawthorn 14.14 (98) | MCG (crowd: 64,803) | Report |
| Saturday, 25 July | Fremantle 10.11 (71) | def. | West Coast 8.18 (66) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 39,536) | Report |
| Saturday, 25 July | Brisbane Lions 17.14 (116) | def. | North Melbourne 11.9 (75) | The Gabba (crowd: 25,509) | Report |
| Saturday, 25 July | St Kilda 16.10 (106) | def. | Western Bulldogs 9.7 (61) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 45,082) | Report |
| Sunday, 26 July | Melbourne 6.14 (50) | def. by | Sydney 10.8 (68) | Manuka Oval (crowd: 7,311) | Report |
| Sunday, 26 July | Essendon 14.12 (96) | def. by | Richmond 15.11 (101) | MCG (crowd: 47,412) | Report |
| Sunday, 26 July | Adelaide 19.18 (132) | def. | Port Adelaide 9.8 (62) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 46,859) | Report |
| After Geelong trailed by 28 points early in the final quarter, it came from behind to defeat Hawthorn by one point, with the winning behind kicked after the siren by Jimmy Bartel. ||||||

### Round 18

| | Round 18 | Round 18 | Round 18 | | |
| Friday, 31 July | North Melbourne 11.18 (84) | def. by | Carlton 14.10 (94) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 38,554) | Report |
| Saturday, 1 August | Western Bulldogs 17.9 (111) | def. | Fremantle 11.14 (80) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 19,065) | Report |
| Saturday, 1 August | Geelong 14.9 (93) | def. | Adelaide 13.13 (91) | Skilled Stadium (crowd: 21,686) | Report |
| Saturday, 1 August | Sydney 13.15 (93) | def. by | St Kilda 13.16 (94) | SCG (crowd: 27,805) | Report |
| Saturday, 1 August | Collingwood 12.23 (95) | def. | Brisbane Lions 8.7 (55) | MCG (crowd: 47,268) | Report |
| Sunday, 2 August | Melbourne 12.10 (82) | def. by | Richmond 12.14 (86) | MCG (crowd: 37,438) | |
| Sunday, 2 August | Port Adelaide 18.13 (121) | def. | Hawthorn 14.19 (103) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 25,154) | Report |
| Sunday, 2 August | West Coast 14.11 (95) | def. | Essendon 10.8 (68) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 35,765) | Report |
| Brad Johnson played his 342nd game for the Western Bulldogs, surpassing Chris Grant to become the club's games record holder. Richmond's Jordan McMahon kicked a goal after the final siren from outside the 50-metre arc to secure a four-point win over Melbourne, after Richmond came back from a few goals behind late in the final quarter. Melbourne was later accused of attempting to deliberately lose the match to stay near the bottom of the ladder and secure better draft picks, and the game later became part of an AFL tanking investigation into Melbourne, conducted in 2012 and 2013. ||||||

### Round 19

| | Round 19 | Round 19 | Round 19 | | |
| Friday, 7 August | Carlton 14.13 (97) | def. | Geelong 8.14 (62) | MCG (crowd: 55,057) | |
| Saturday, 8 August | Western Bulldogs 13.19 (97) | def. by | West Coast 16.6 (102) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 22,417) | Report |
| Saturday, 8 August | Hawthorn 7.7 (49) | def. by | St Kilda 10.14 (74) | Aurora Stadium (crowd: 20,011) | Report |
| Saturday, 8 August | Essendon 13.9 (87) | drew with | Brisbane Lions 12.15 (87) | MCG (crowd: 41,636) | Report |
| Saturday, 8 August | Adelaide 9.14 (68) | def. by | Collingwood 13.11 (89) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 45,128) | Report |
| Sunday, 9 August | North Melbourne 19.9 (123) | def. | Melbourne 8.13 (61) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 16,594) | Report |
| Sunday, 9 August | Richmond 10.8 (68) | def. by | Sydney 18.15 (123) | MCG (crowd: 32,216) | Report |
| Sunday, 9 August | Fremantle 17.14 (116) | def. | Port Adelaide 11.8 (74) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 30,029) | Report |
| Brisbane Lions's Daniel Bradshaw kicked a goal after the final siren to draw his side's game against Essendon. ||||||

### Round 20

| | Round 20 (Green Round) | Round 20 (Green Round) | Round 20 (Green Round) | | |
| Friday, 14 August | Hawthorn 9.13 (67) | def. by | Adelaide 13.16 (94) | MCG (crowd: 32,583) | Report |
| Saturday, 15 August | Richmond 8.11 (59) | def. by | Collingwood 22.20 (152) | MCG (crowd: 63,366) | Report |
| Saturday, 15 August | West Coast 17.8 (110) | def. | North Melbourne 10.12 (72) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 32,472) | Report |
| Saturday, 15 August | Brisbane Lions 12.12 (84) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 15.12 (102) | The Gabba (crowd: 33,421) | Report |
| Saturday, 15 August | Sydney 13.9 (87) | def. by | Geelong 13.14 (92) | ANZ Stadium (crowd: 40,261) | Report |
| Sunday, 16 August | Melbourne 20.7 (127) | def. | Fremantle 9.10 (64) | MCG (crowd: 13,004) | Report |
| Sunday, 16 August | Port Adelaide 9.13 (67) | def. by | Carlton 18.13 (121) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 27,221) | Report |
| Sunday, 16 August | Essendon 16.14 (110) | def. | St Kilda 16.12 (108) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 41,410) | Report |
| Essendon defeated St Kilda by two points to inflict St Kilda's first loss of the season; St Kilda's captain Nick Riewoldt had the chance to win the game with a 45-metre set shot after the final siren, but he missed the goal. The losses ended St Kilda's 19-game winning streak, which as of 2022 stands as the longest in St Kilda's history and the equal fifth-longest by any club in VFL/AFL history. ||||||

### Round 21

| | Round 21 | Round 21 | Round 21 | | |
| Friday, 21 August | Western Bulldogs 16.14 (110) | def. | Geelong 14.12 (96) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 46,818) | Report |
| Saturday, 22 August | Carlton 24.9 (153) | def. | Melbourne 15.6 (96) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 37,433) | Report |
| Saturday, 22 August | Adelaide 18.14 (122) | def. | West Coast 7.6 (48) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 39,640) | Report |
| Saturday, 22 August | Brisbane Lions 16.11 (107) | def. | Port Adelaide 14.8 (92) | The Gabba (crowd: 26,437) | Report |
| Saturday, 22 August | Richmond 14.9 (93) | def. by | Hawthorn 20.15 (135) | MCG (crowd: 34,779) | Report |
| Sunday, 23 August | St Kilda 8.11 (59) | def. by | North Melbourne 10.4 (64) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 30,522) | Report |
| Sunday, 23 August | Collingwood 13.19 (97) | def. | Sydney 8.8 (56) | MCG (crowd: 54,400) | Report |
| Sunday, 23 August | Fremantle 21.15 (141) | def. | Essendon 13.9 (87) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 32,413) | Report |

### Round 22

| | Round 22 | Round 22 | Round 22 | | |
| Friday, 28 August | West Coast 17.23 (125) | def. | Richmond 6.9 (45) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 39,017) | Report |
| Saturday, 29 August | Geelong 14.10 (94) | def. | Fremantle 8.6 (54) | Skilled Stadium (crowd: 18,196) | Report |
| Saturday, 29 August | Hawthorn 14.15 (99) | def. by | Essendon 16.20 (116) | MCG (crowd: 77,278) | Report |
| Saturday, 29 August | Carlton 16.8 (104) | def. by | Adelaide 27.14 (176) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 42,356) | Report |
| Saturday, 29 August | Sydney 14.8 (92) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 15.10 (100) | SCG (crowd: 27,933) | Report |
| Saturday, 29 August | Port Adelaide 9.13 (67) | def. by | North Melbourne 10.11 (71) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 17,284) | Report |
| Sunday, 30 August | Melbourne 10.7 (67) | def. by | St Kilda 17.12 (114) | MCG (crowd: 36,748) | Report |
| Sunday, 30 August | Collingwood 10.16 (76) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 14.16 (100) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 48,888) | Report |

### Season notes

* Hawthorn missed the finals, become the first reigning premier to do so since Adelaide in 1999.
* In the final round, Western Bulldogs defeated Collingwood by 24 points; the win gave the Bulldogs a 0.31% percentage advantage over Collingwood, placing the Bulldogs third and the Magpies fourth. Had Brad Johnson not scored a goal in the final minute, Collingwood would have finished third.

## 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 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF | Ladder |
| Adelaide | Coll +4 | StK -32 | Frem +24 | Geel -48 | Melb +17 | PA -26 | WB -32 | BL -36 | Carl +44 | Haw +27 | Ess +16 | NM +44 | Syd +16 | Rich +17 | Frem +117 | StK -57 | PA +70 | Geel -2 | Coll -21 | Haw +27 | WCE +74 | Carl +72 | Ess +96 | Coll -5 | X | X | 5 (5) |
| Brisbane Lions | WCE +9 | Carl -19 | Syd +33 | Coll -17 | Geel -93 | Ess +43 | Rich +26 | Adel +36 | StK -16 | NM +18 | Carl -6 | Haw +42 | Melb +55 | PA -48 | Geel +43 | Frem +15 | NM +41 | Coll -40 | Ess 0 | WB -18 | PA +15 | Syd +8 | Carl +7 | WB -51 | X | X | 6 (6) |
| Carlton | Rich +83 | BL +19 | Ess -4 | Syd -17 | WB +43 | Haw -4 | Frem -7 | Coll +51 | Adel -44 | WCE +41 | BL +6 | StK -9 | Ess -69 | Frem +15 | Rich +20 | Syd +61 | Coll -54 | NM +10 | Geel +35 | PA +54 | Melb +57 | Adel -72 | BL -7 | X | X | X | 7 (7) |
| Collingwood | Adel -4 | Melb +53 | Geel -27 | BL +17 | Ess -5 | NM +52 | StK -88 | Carl -51 | WCE +22 | PA +38 | Melb +66 | Syd +23 | Frem +84 | Ess +35 | WB +1 | Haw -45 | Carl +54 | BL +40 | Adel +21 | Rich +93 | Syd +41 | WB -24 | StK -28 | Adel +5 | Geel -73 | X | 4 (4) |
| Essendon | PA -41 | Frem +38 | Carl +4 | NM -12 | Coll +5 | BL -43 | Haw +44 | StK -19 | Rich +40 | Geel -64 | Adel -16 | Melb +48 | Carl +69 | Coll -35 | Syd +35 | WB -33 | Rich -5 | WCE -27 | BL 0 | StK +2 | Frem -54 | Haw +17 | Adel -96 | X | X | X | 8 (8) |
| Fremantle | WB -63 | Ess -38 | Adel -24 | StK -83 | Syd +21 | WCE +13 | Carl +7 | Haw -22 | NM -13 | Rich -3 | PA -24 | Geel -19 | Coll -84 | Carl -15 | Adel -117 | BL -15 | WCE +5 | WB -31 | PA +42 | Melb -63 | Ess +54 | Geel -40 | X | X | X | X | 14 |
| Geelong | Haw +8 | Rich +20 | Coll +27 | Adel +48 | BL +93 | Melb +43 | Syd +51 | NM +70 | WB +2 | Ess +64 | WCE +22 | Frem +19 | PA +34 | StK -6 | BL -43 | Melb +46 | Haw +1 | Adel +2 | Carl -35 | Syd +5 | WB -14 | Frem +40 | WB +14 | X | Coll +73 | StK +12 | 2 (1) |
| Hawthorn | Geel -8 | Syd -38 | NM +54 | PA -30 | WCE +18 | Carl +4 | Ess -44 | Frem +22 | Melb +22 | Adel -27 | Syd +11 | BL -42 | WCE -20 | WB -88 | NM +9 | Coll +45 | Geel -1 | PA -18 | StK -25 | Adel -27 | Rich +42 | Ess -17 | X | X | X | X | 9 |
| Melbourne | NM -34 | Coll -53 | PA -57 | Rich +8 | Adel -17 | Geel -43 | WCE -8 | WB -7 | Haw -22 | StK -37 | Coll -66 | Ess -48 | BL -55 | WCE +20 | PA +11 | Geel -46 | Syd -18 | Rich -4 | NM -62 | Frem +63 | Carl -57 | StK -47 | X | X | X | X | 16 |
| North Melbourne | Melb +34 | WB -15 | Haw -54 | Ess +12 | Rich -36 | Coll -52 | PA +5 | Geel -70 | Frem +13 | BL -18 | StK -46 | Adel -44 | WB -22 | Syd -15 | Haw -9 | Rich 0 | BL -41 | Carl -10 | Melb +62 | WCE -38 | StK +5 | PA +4 | X | X | X | X | 13 |
| Port Adelaide | Ess +41 | WCE -50 | Melb +57 | Haw +30 | StK -66 | Adel +26 | NM -5 | Rich +3 | Syd -55 | Coll -38 | Frem +24 | WB -93 | Geel -34 | BL +48 | Melb -11 | WCE +36 | Adel -70 | Haw +18 | Frem -42 | Carl -54 | BL -15 | NM -4 | X | X | X | X | 10 |
| Richmond | Carl -83 | Geel -20 | WB -47 | Melb -8 | NM +36 | Syd -19 | BL -26 | PA -3 | Ess -40 | Frem +3 | WB -68 | WCE +15 | StK -56 | Adel -17 | Carl -20 | NM 0 | Ess +5 | Melb +4 | Syd -55 | Coll -93 | Haw -42 | WCE -80 | X | X | X | X | 15 |
| St Kilda | Syd +15 | Adel +32 | WCE +97 | Frem +83 | PA +66 | WB +28 | Coll +88 | Ess +19 | BL +16 | Melb +37 | NM +46 | Carl +9 | Rich +56 | Geel +6 | WCE +20 | Adel +57 | WB +45 | Syd +1 | Haw +25 | Ess -2 | NM -5 | Melb +47 | Coll +28 | X | WB +7 | Geel -12 | 1 (2) |
| Sydney | StK -15 | Haw +38 | BL -33 | Carl +17 | Frem -21 | Rich +19 | Geel -51 | WCE +5 | PA +55 | WB -40 | Haw -11 | Coll -23 | Adel -16 | NM +15 | Ess -35 | Carl -61 | Melb +18 | StK -1 | Rich +55 | Geel -5 | Coll -41 | BL -8 | X | X | X | X | 12 |
| West Coast | BL -9 | PA +50 | StK -97 | WB +33 | Haw -18 | Frem -13 | Melb +8 | Syd -5 | Coll -22 | Carl -41 | Geel -22 | Rich -15 | Haw +20 | Melb -20 | StK -20 | PA -36 | Frem -5 | Ess +27 | WB +5 | NM +38 | Adel -74 | Rich +80 | X | X | X | X | 11 |
| Western Bulldogs | Frem +63 | NM +15 | Rich +47 | WCE -33 | Carl -43 | StK -28 | Adel +32 | Melb +7 | Geel -2 | Syd +40 | Rich +68 | PA +93 | NM +22 | Haw +88 | Coll -1 | Ess +33 | StK -45 | Frem +31 | WCE -5 | BL +18 | Geel +14 | Coll +24 | Geel -14 | BL +51 | StK -7 | X | 3 (3) |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF | Ladder |
| + | Win | | Qualified for finals |
| - | Loss | X | Bye |
| | Draw | | Eliminated |
Bold – Home game

## Ladder

2009 AFL ladder :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | |
| 1 | St Kilda | 22 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 2197 | 1411 | 155.7 | 80 | Finals series |
| 2 | Geelong (P) | 22 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 2312 | 1815 | 127.4 | 72 | Finals series |
| 3 | Western Bulldogs | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2378 | 1940 | 122.6 | 60 | Finals series |
| 4 | Collingwood | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2174 | 1778 | 122.3 | 60 | Finals series |
| 5 | Adelaide | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 2104 | 1789 | 117.6 | 56 | Finals series |
| 6 | Brisbane Lions | 22 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 2017 | 1890 | 106.7 | 54 | Finals series |
| 7 | Carlton | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 2270 | 2055 | 110.5 | 52 | Finals series |
| 8 | Essendon | 22 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 2080 | 2127 | 97.8 | 42 | Finals series |
| 9 | Hawthorn | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 1962 | 2120 | 92.5 | 36 | |
| 10 | Port Adelaide | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 1990 | 2244 | 88.7 | 36 | |
| 11 | West Coast | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1893 | 2029 | 93.3 | 32 | |
| 12 | Sydney | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1888 | 2027 | 93.1 | 32 | |
| 13 | North Melbourne | 22 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 1680 | 2015 | 83.4 | 30 | |
| 14 | Fremantle | 22 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 1747 | 2259 | 77.3 | 24 | |
| 15 | Richmond | 22 | 5 | 16 | 1 | 1774 | 2388 | 74.3 | 22 | |
| 16 | Melbourne | 22 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 1706 | 2285 | 74.7 | 16 | |

### Ladder progression

| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| St Kilda | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 80 |
| Geelong | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 64 | 68 | 68 | 72 |
| Western Bulldogs | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 44 | 44 | 48 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 |
| Collingwood | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 60 |
| Adelaide | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 56 |
| Brisbane Lions | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 44 | 46 | 46 | 50 | 54 |
| Carlton | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 52 |
| Essendon | 0 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 38 | 38 | 42 |
| Hawthorn | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 36 |
| Port Adelaide | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| West Coast | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 32 |
| Sydney | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| North Melbourne | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 26 | 30 |
| Fremantle | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 |
| Richmond | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Melbourne | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 |

## 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 |
| 6 September, MCG | 6 September, MCG | 6 September, MCG | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | St Kilda | 12.8 (80) | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Collingwood | 7.10 (52) | 12 September, MCG | 12 September, MCG | 12 September, MCG | | | | |
| | | | Collingwood | Collingwood | 12.11 (83) | | | | |
| 4 September, AAMI Stadium | 4 September, AAMI Stadium | 4 September, AAMI Stadium | Adelaide | Adelaide | 11.12 (78) | 18 September, MCG | 18 September, MCG | 18 September, MCG | | | |
| 5 | Adelaide | 26.10 (166) | | | | St Kilda | St Kilda | 9.6 (60) | |
| 8 | Essendon | 10.10 (70) | | | | Western Bulldogs | Western Bulldogs | 7.11 (53) | 26 September, MCG | 26 September, MCG | 26 September, MCG |
| | | | | | | | | | St Kilda | St Kilda | 9.14 (68) |
| 5 September, The Gabba | 5 September, The Gabba | 5 September, The Gabba | | | | 19 September, MCG | 19 September, MCG | 19 September, MCG | Geelong | Geelong | 12.8 (80) |
| 6 | Brisbane Lions | 16.15 (111) | | | | Geelong | Geelong | 17.18 (120) | | |
| 7 | Carlton | 15.14 (104) | 11 September, MCG | 11 September, MCG | 11 September, MCG | Collingwood | Collingwood | 6.11 (47) | | |
| | | | Western Bulldogs | Western Bulldogs | 16.11 (107) | | | | | | |
| 5 September, MCG | 5 September, MCG | 5 September, MCG | Brisbane Lions | Brisbane Lions | 8.8 (56) | | | | | |
| 2 | Geelong | 14.12 (96) | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Western Bulldogs | 12.10 (82) | | | | | | | | |

### Week one

| | Qualifying and Elimination Finals | Qualifying and Elimination Finals | Qualifying and Elimination Finals | | |
| EF1: Friday, 4 September (8:15 pm) | Adelaide 26.10 (166) | def. | Essendon 10.10 (70) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 50,393) | Report |
| QF2: Saturday, 5 September (2:30 pm) | Geelong 14.12 (96) | def. | Western Bulldogs 12.10 (82) | MCG (crowd: 74,007) | Report |
| EF2: Saturday, 5 September (7:30 pm) | Brisbane Lions 16.15 (111) | def. | Carlton 15.14 (104) | Gabba (crowd: 32,702) | Report |
| QF1: Sunday, 6 September (2:30 pm) | St Kilda 12.8 (80) | def. | Collingwood 7.10 (52) | MCG (crowd: 84,213) | Report |
| Adelaide‘s 96 point win over Essendon is the Crows biggest winning margin in a final and the Bombers biggest losing margin in a final. Brisbane Lions came back from 30 points down early in the final quarter to defeat Carlton by 7 points. ||||||

### Week two

| | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | |
| SF2: Friday 11 September (7:45 pm) | Western Bulldogs 16.11 (107) | def. | Brisbane Lions 8.8 (56) | MCG (crowd: 47,030) | Report |
| SF1: Saturday 12 September (7:30 pm) | Collingwood 12.11 (83) | def. | Adelaide 11.12 (78) | MCG (crowd: 62,184) | Report |

### Week three

| | Preliminary Finals | Preliminary Finals | Preliminary Finals | | |
| PF1: Friday 18 September (7:45 pm) | St Kilda 9.6 (60) | def. | Western Bulldogs 7.11 (53) | MCG (crowd: 78,245) | Report |
| PF2: Saturday 19 September (7:30 pm) | Geelong 17.18 (120) | def. | Collingwood 6.11 (47) | MCG (crowd: 87,258) | Report |

### Week four

| | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | | |
| 26 September (2:30 pm) | St Kilda | def. by | Geelong | MCG (crowd: 99,251) | Report |
| | 3.2 (20) 7.7 (49) 9.11 (65) 9.14 (68) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 3.0 (18) 7.1 (43) 9.4 (58) 12.8 (80) | Umpires: McBurney, Rosebury, Ryan Norm Smith Medal: Paul Chapman (Geelong) | Umpires: McBurney, Rosebury, Ryan Norm Smith Medal: Paul Chapman (Geelong) |
| Schneider 2 Goddard, Hayes, Dempster, Jones, Koschitzke, Riewoldt, Montagna 1 | Schneider 2 Goddard, Hayes, Dempster, Jones, Koschitzke, Riewoldt, Montagna 1 | Goals | 3 Chapman 2 Mooney, Hawkins, Rooke 1 Selwood, Byrnes, Ablett | 3 Chapman 2 Mooney, Hawkins, Rooke 1 Selwood, Byrnes, Ablett |
| Gram, Hayes, Ball, Jones, Montagna, Baker, Goddard | Gram, Hayes, Ball, Jones, Montagna, Baker, Goddard | Best | Chapman, Rooke, Milburn, Taylor, Selwood, Ablett, Corey, Bartel, Ling, Scarlett | Chapman, Rooke, Milburn, Taylor, Selwood, Ablett, Corey, Bartel, Ling, Scarlett |
| Goddard (broken nose and collarbone), Riewoldt (torn adductor muscle) | Goddard (broken nose and collarbone), Riewoldt (torn adductor muscle) | Injuries | Chapman (hamstring), Taylor (broken hand) | Chapman (hamstring), Taylor (broken hand) |
| Nil | Nil | Reports | Nil | Nil |

## Awards

* The Brownlow Medal was awarded to Gary Ablett, Jr. of Geelong, who polled 30 votes during the home and away season.
* The AFL Rising Star was awarded to Daniel Rich of the Brisbane Lions, who received the maximum 45 votes.
* The Coleman Medal was awarded to Brendan Fevola of Carlton, who kicked 86 goals during the home and away season.
* The Wooden Spoon was "awarded" to Melbourne for the second year in a row. Melbourne finished the season in last place on the ladder after 22 rounds, with just 4 wins.
* The McClelland Trophy was awarded to St Kilda for finishing 1st on the ladder during the premiership season.
* The AFL Players Association Awards were as follows:
** The Leigh Matthews Trophy was awarded to Gary Ablett, Jr. from Geelong for being the Most Valuable Player for the third year in a row.
** The Robert Rose Award went to Joel Selwood from Geelong for being the Most Courageous Player throughout the premiership season.
** The Best Captain award went to Jonathan Brown of the Brisbane Lions for the second time, after winning the award in 2007.
** The Best First-Year Player award was won by Daniel Rich from the Brisbane Lions. Rich blitzed the competition, receiving 463 votes, and the runner-up receiving just 45.

### Best and fairest

| Club | Award name | Winner |
| Adelaide | Malcolm Blight Medal | Bernie Vince |
| Brisbane Lions | Merrett–Murray Medal | Jonathan Brown |
| Carlton | John Nicholls Medal | Chris Judd |
| Collingwood | Copeland Trophy | Dane Swan |
| Essendon | Crichton Medal | Jobe Watson |
| Fremantle | Doig Medal | Aaron Sandilands |
| Geelong | Carji Greeves Medal | Gary Ablett / Corey Enright |
| Hawthorn | Peter Crimmins Medal | Sam Mitchell |
| Melbourne | Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal | Aaron Davey |
| North Melbourne | Syd Barker Medal | Andrew Swallow |
| Port Adelaide | John Cahill Medal | Warren Tredrea |
| Richmond | Jack Dyer Medal | Brett Deledio |
| St Kilda | Trevor Barker Award | Nick Riewoldt |
| Sydney | Bob Skilton Medal | Ryan O'Keefe |
| West Coast | Club Champion Award | Darren Glass |
| Western Bulldogs | Charles Sutton Medal | Matthew Boyd |

### AFL Rising Star

The 2009 award was won by Daniel Rich from the Brisbane Lions.

### Goal of the Year

The Australian Football League celebrates the best goal of the season through the annual Goal of the Year competition. From 2009 onwards, the commercial name for the award is the AFL Stores Goal of the Year.
Nominations
* Round 1 – Shannon Hurn (West Coast)
* Round 2 – Jason Winderlich (Essendon)
* Round 3 – Taylor Walker (Adelaide)
* Round 4 – Ryan Houlihan (Carlton)
* Round 5 – Gary Ablett, Jr. (Geelong)
* Round 6 – Drew Petrie (North Melbourne)
* Round 7 – Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn) – Winner
* Round 8 – Michael Osborne (Hawthorn)
* Round 9 – Stephen Milne (St. Kilda)
* Round 10 – Mark LeCras (West Coast)
* Round 11 – David Rodan (Port Adelaide)
* Round 12 – David Rodan (Port Adelaide)
* Round 13 – Nic Naitanui (West Coast)
* Round 14 – Dale Thomas (Collingwood)
* Round 15 – Brendan Fevola (Carlton)
* Round 16 – David Rodan (Port Adelaide)
* Round 17 – Lance Franklin (Hawthorn)
* Round 18 – Leon Davis (Collingwood)
* Round 19 – Adam Schneider (St Kilda)
* Round 20 – Liam Jurrah (Melbourne)
* Round 21 – Brad Dick (Collingwood)
* Round 22 – Shannon Byrnes (Geelong)

### Mark of the Year

The Australian Football League celebrates the best mark of the season through the annual Mark of the Year competition. From 2009 onwards, the commercial name for the award is the Hungry Jack's Mark of the Year.
Nominations
* Round 1 – Simon Wiggins (Carlton)
* Round 2 – Jay Schulz (Richmond)
* Round 3 – Matthew Lloyd (Essendon)
* Round 4 – Tom Logan (Port Adelaide)
* Round 5 – Tom Hawkins (Geelong)
* Round 6 – Joel Selwood (Geelong)
* Round 7 – Patrick Ryder (Essendon)
* Round 8 – Paul Bevan (Sydney)
* Round 9 – Heath Grundy (Sydney)
* Round 10 – David Mundy (Fremantle)
* Round 11 – Kurt Tippett (Adelaide)
* Round 12 – Nic Naitanui (West Coast)
* Round 13 – Josh Hill (Western Bulldogs)
* Round 14 – Darren Glass (West Coast)
* Round 15 – Jayden Post (Richmond)
* Round 16 – Liam Jurrah (Melbourne)
* Round 17 – Brendan Fevola (Carlton)
* Round 18 – Jimmy Bartel (Geelong)
* Round 19 – Quinten Lynch (West Coast)
* Round 20 – Lewis Roberts-Thomson (Sydney)
* Round 21 – Max Rooke (Geelong)
* Round 22 – Brett Burton (Adelaide) – Winner

### AFL Army Award

The Australian Football League, with the support of the Australian Army, recognises players who produce an act or acts of bravery or selflessness to promote the cause of his team during a game. Each week three players and what they did are made available on the AFL Army Award website for supporters to vote on. The player with the highest percentage of the vote is the AFL Army Award nominee for that round.
Nominations
For the full list of round-by-round nominees, see 2009 AFL Army Award.
* Round 1 – James Kelly (Geelong)
* Round 2 – Campbell Brown (Hawthorn)
* Round 3 – Luke Ball (St Kilda)
* Round 4 – Ricky Dyson (Essendon)
* Round 5 – Lenny Hayes (St Kilda)
* Round 6 – Martin Mattner (Sydney)
* Round 7 – Bryce Gibbs (Carlton)
* Round 8 – Barry Hall (Sydney)
* Round 9 – Matt White (Richmond)
* Round 10 – Travis Varcoe (Geelong)
* Round 11 – Scott McMahon (North Melbourne)
* Round 12 – Brad Green (Melbourne)
* Round 13 – Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
* Round 14 – Ryan Griffen (Western Bulldogs)
* Round 15 – Nathan Eagleton (Western Bulldogs)
* Round 16 – Jacob Surjan (PA Adelaide)
* Round 17 – Cameron Mooney (Geelong)
* Round 18 – Aaron Davey (Melbourne)
* Round 19 – Brett Kirk (Sydney)
* Round 20 – Stephen Milne (St Kilda)
* Round 21 – Max Rooke (Geelong)
* Round 22 – Tom Hawkins (Geelong) – Winner

## Club leadership

| Club | Coach | Captain(s) | Vice Captain(s)/Leadership Group |
| Adelaide | Neil Craig | Simon Goodwin | Tyson Edwards, Brett Burton, Ben Rutten, Nathan van Berlo, Michael Doughty, Scott Stevens |
| Brisbane Lions | Michael Voss | Jonathan Brown | Simon Black, Luke Power, Jed Adcock, Daniel Merrett |
| Carlton | Brett Ratten | Chris Judd | Heath Scotland, Nick Stevens |
| Collingwood | Mick Malthouse | Nick Maxwell | Josh Fraser (vc), Scott Pendlebury (vc), Shane O'Bree, Dane Swan, Tarkyn Lockyer |
| Essendon | Matthew Knights | Matthew Lloyd | Scott Lucas (vc), Mark McVeigh, Adam McPhee, Andrew Welsh, David Hille, Jobe Watson |
| Fremantle | Mark Harvey | Matthew Pavlich | Luke McPharlin, Aaron Sandilands, Antoni Grover, Des Headland |
| Geelong | Mark Thompson | Tom Harley | Cameron Ling (vc), Joel Corey (dvc), Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett, Jimmy Bartel, Corey Enright |
| Hawthorn | Alastair Clarkson | Sam Mitchell | Luke Hodge (vc) |
| Melbourne | Dean Bailey | James McDonald | Cameron Bruce (vc), Brad Green, Brad Miller, Brent Moloney, Brock McLean |
| North Melbourne | Dean Laidley | Brent Harvey | Drew Petrie (vc) |
| Port Adelaide | Mark Williams | Domenic Cassisi | Shaun Burgoyne (vc), Kane Cornes (vc) |
| Richmond | Terry Wallace | Chris Newman | Nathan Foley, Kelvin Moore, Brett Deledio |
| St Kilda | Ross Lyon | Nick Riewoldt | Lenny Hayes |
| Sydney | Paul Roos | Brett Kirk | Craig Bolton, Adam Goodes |
| West Coast | John Worsfold | Darren Glass | Dean Cox (vc), Tyson Stenglein, Matthew Priddis, Adam Selwood, Beau Waters |
| Western Bulldogs | Rodney Eade | Brad Johnson | |

## Umpiring and rule changes

Two rule changes were introduced into the regular season
* If a player is not 'under pressure' and deliberately rushes a behind would be penalised by a free kick at the spot that the ball was rushed;
* If a player tackles an opponent after he disposes of the ball, preventing him from taking further part in the play, then a free kick and 50m penalty is paid.
Umpires were also encouraged to recall a centre bounce if it is offline, throwing it up the second time.
Players contacting umpires continued to be an issue with several players fined for making contact with umpires as they retreated from ball-ups. In related offences, Collingwood's Heath Shaw was suspended for one week after touching an umpire's shoulder, and Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett was fined $5000 after criticising the umpires on radio.

## Coach changes

| Coach | Club | Caretaker Coach (for 2009) | Date | New Coach (2010– ) |
| Terry Wallace | Richmond | Jade Rawlings | 1 June 2009 | Damien Hardwick |
| Dean Laidley | North Melbourne | Darren Crocker | 16 June 2009 | Brad Scott |