# 1994 AFL season

The 1994 AFL season was the 98th 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 fifteen clubs, ran from 26 March until 1 October, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs – an increase from the six clubs which had contested the finals in previous years.
The premiership was won by the West Coast Eagles for the second time, after it defeated Geelong by 80 points in the 1994 AFL Grand Final.

## Foster's Cup

Essendon 15.12 (102) defeated Adelaide 9.14 (68) in the final.

## Rule changes

There were several significant alterations to the laws of the game brought in for the 1994 season:
* The number of interchange players was increased from two to three which, when added to the "run on" team of 18 on-the-field players, increased the standard team squad size to 21 players.
* The number of field umpires was increased from two to three.
* Playing time was reduced from 25 minutes per quarter to 20 minutes, but additional stoppages (including all scores and boundary throw-ins) attracted "time-on" allocations; the total reduction of playing time was approximately 10%.
* The size of each club's senior playing list was significantly reduced from 52 to 42 players from the 1994 season (with the exception of the struggling Sydney, which was granted a list of 50 players). Victorian clubs could list ten players on a supplementary list to make up the numbers in their reserves teams, but those players were not eligible for AFL senior selection. The change was part of an AFL Commission plan to completely abolish the Victorian clubs' reserves competition by 1995, but this final stage did not occur until 2000.
* Advertising was permitted for the first time on the backs of guernseys. Small sponsors' logos had previously been permitted over the breast and on the shorts, but the new regulations allowed for logos 30 cm long and 8 cm high below the number on the back of the guernsey, which has since become the prime advertising location on guernseys. Under the original rules, the logo was required to be consistent with the colour of the guernsey, a stipulation which has since been relaxed.

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

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 17.12 (114) | Fitzroy | 16.7 (103) | Victoria Park | 25,602 | Saturday 26, March |
| Footscray | 17.11 (113) | Richmond | 17.9 (111) | Whitten Oval | 18,592 | Saturday 26, March |
| St Kilda | 15.7 (97) | Hawthorn | 23.15 (153) | Waverley Park | 29,582 | Saturday 26, March |
| Essendon | 12.10 (82) | West Coast | 11.13 (79) | MCG | 39,492 | Saturday 26, March |
| Melbourne | 26.18 (174) | Geelong | 16.13 (109) | MCG | 39,741 | Sunday 27, March |
| Brisbane Bears | 13.21 (99) | Sydney | 12.17 (89) | Gabba | 7,901 | Sunday 27, March |
| Adelaide | 22.18 (150) | Carlton | 13.6 (84) | Football Park | 44,953 | Sunday 27, March |

### Round 2

| | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | | |
| Saturday, 2 April (2:00 pm) | Fitzroy 17.10 (112) | def. | Essendon 14.15 (99) | Optus Oval (crowd: 24,872) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 April (2:00 pm) | North Melbourne 21.16 (142) | def. | St Kilda 10.13 (73) | MCG (crowd: 27,195) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 April (2:08 pm) | Hawthorn 8.16 (64) | def. by | Melbourne 17.16 (118) | Waverley Park (crowd: 29,581) | Report |
| Sunday, 3 April (2:08 pm) | Richmond 20.14 (134) | def. | Brisbane Bears 11.6 (72) | MCG (crowd: 15,333) | Report |
| Sunday, 3 April (2:15 pm) | West Coast 14.13 (97) | def. | Adelaide 11.12 (78) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 28,228) | Report |
| Monday, 4 April (2:00 pm) | Geelong 22.20 (152) | def. | Footscray 8.16 (64) | Kardinia Park (crowd: 24,019) | Report |
| Monday, 4 April (2:08 pm) | Carlton 9.12 (66) | def. by | Collingwood 14.16 (100) | MCG (crowd: 85,063) | Report |
| | Bye Sydney | Bye Sydney | Bye Sydney | | |
| Under pressure to respond after their poor showing against Melbourne the previous week, Geelong scored their biggest win over Footscray, starting and finishing strongly to run out winners by 88 points. Gary Ablett kicked seven goals and ruckman John Barnes' masterful display (22 hit-outs and 24 disposals) would gain him three Brownlow votes. In the middle of the week, the Footscray board sacked Terry Wheeler and replaced him with ex-Hawthorn coach Alan Joyce. ||||||
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Fitzroy | 17.10 (112) | Essendon | 14.15 (99) | Optus Oval | 24,872 | Saturday 2, April |
| North Melbourne | 21.16 (142) | St Kilda | 10.13 (73) | MCG | 27,195 | Saturday 2, April |
| Hawthorn | 8.16 (64) | Melbourne | 17.16 (118) | Waverley Park | 29,581 | Saturday 2, April |
| West Coast | 14.13 (97) | Adelaide | 11.12 (78) | Subiaco Oval | 28,228 | Sunday 3, April |
| Richmond | 20.14 (134) | Brisbane Bears | 11.6 (72) | MCG | 15,333 | Sunday 3, April |
| Geelong | 22.20 (152) | Footscray | 8.16 (64) | Kardinia Park | 24,019 | Monday 4, April |
| Carlton | 9.12 (66) | Collingwood | 14.16 (100) | MCG | 85,063 | Monday 4, April |

### Round 3

| Home team | Home team | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 25.23 (173) | Hawthorn | 6.10 (46) | MCG | 36,726 | Friday 8, April |
| St Kilda | 16.12 (108) | Essendon | 14.10 (94) | Waverley Park | 30,454 | Saturday 9, April |
| Fitzroy | 17.9 (111) | Brisbane Bears | 12.6 (78) | Whitten Oval | 8,829 | Saturday 9, April |
| Richmond | 5.9 (39) | West Coast | 20.15 (135) | MCG | 19,609 | Saturday 9, April |
| Carlton | 14.15 (99) | Geelong | 10.10 (70) | Optus Oval | 28,496 | Sunday 10, April |
| Collingwood | 14.11 (95) | Footscray | 12.22 (94) | MCG | 38,307 | Sunday 10, April |
| Sydney | 21.9 (135) | Adelaide | 24.10 (154) | SCG | 11,068 | Sunday 10, April |

### Round 4

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Sydney | 11.20 (86) | Richmond | 10.12 (72) | SCG | 9,727 | Friday 15, April |
| Hawthorn | 11.7 (73) | Carlton | 24.16 (160) | Waverley Park | 30,944 | Saturday 16, April |
| Footscray | 14.15 (99) | North Melbourne | 17.10 (112) | Whitten Oval | 21,630 | Saturday 16, April |
| Essendon | 9.12 (66) | Melbourne | 12.12 (84) | MCG | 61,193 | Saturday 16, April |
| West Coast | 18.21 (129) | Fitzroy | 8.5 (53) | WACA | 28,980 | Saturday 16, April |
| Brisbane Bears | 22.19 (151) | St Kilda | 15.8 (98) | Gabba | 11,290 | Sunday 17, April |
| Adelaide | 15.14 (104) | Geelong | 11.11 (77) | Football Park | 45,638 | Sunday 17, April |

### Round 5

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 17.15 (117) | Brisbane Bears | 4.6 (30) | MCG | 20,946 | Friday 22, April |
| Geelong | 17.18 (120) | North Melbourne | 15.15 (105) | Kardinia Park | 23,490 | Saturday 23, April |
| Fitzroy | 20.17 (137) | Sydney | 20.9 (129) | Whitten Oval | 10,514 | Saturday 23, April |
| Essendon | 14.14 (98) | Collingwood | 14.10 (94) | MCG | 74,330 | Saturday 23, April |
| Adelaide | 13.15 (93) | Footscray | 17.8 (110) | Football Park | 44,426 | Sunday 24, April |
| West Coast | 8.10 (58) | Hawthorn | 19.15 (129) | Subiaco Oval | 27,357 | Sunday 24, April |
| St Kilda | 10.10 (70) | Richmond | 15.22 (112) | Waverley Park | 37,870 | Monday 25, April |

### Round 6

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Carlton | 20.14 (134) | Sydney | 11.8 (74) | Optus Oval | 22,810 | Saturday 30, April |
| Collingwood | 8.7 (55) | Melbourne | 9.6 (60) | Waverley Park | 47,211 | Saturday 30, April |
| North Melbourne | 13.8 (86) | West Coast | 18.15 (123) | MCG | 27,022 | Saturday 30, April |
| Brisbane Bears | 17.8 (110) | Adelaide | 18.13 (121) | Gabba | 9,457 | Saturday 30, April |

### Round 7

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 12.16 (88) | Essendon | 11.9 (75) | Waverley Park | 33,927 | Saturday 7, May |
| Richmond | 20.13 (133) | Fitzroy | 13.14 (92) | Optus Oval | 14,614 | Saturday 7, May |
| Melbourne | 8.10 (58) | North Melbourne | 13.12 (90) | MCG | 34,601 | Saturday 7, May |
| Sydney | 17.7 (109) | St Kilda | 16.14 (110) | SCG | 9,295 | Sunday 8, May |
| Geelong | 18.16 (124) | Collingwood | 13.18 (96) | MCG | 52,342 | Sunday 8, May |
| Footscray | 12.14 (86) | Brisbane Bears | 7.7 (49) | Whitten Oval | 12,181 | Sunday 8, May |
| West Coast | 16.19 (115) | Carlton | 6.13 (49) | Subiaco Oval | 26,676 | Sunday 8, May |

### Round 8

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Richmond | 16.11 (107) | Carlton | 20.15 (135) | MCG | 50,227 | Friday 13, May |
| Hawthorn | 25.16 (166) | Brisbane Bears | 10.7 (67) | Waverley Park | 12,233 | Saturday 14, May |
| Fitzroy | 13.12 (90) | North Melbourne | 17.17 (119) | Whitten Oval | 11,334 | Saturday 14, May |
| Collingwood | 19.13 (127) | St Kilda | 11.12 (78) | MCG | 35,851 | Saturday 14, May |
| Melbourne | 13.13 (91) | Footscray | 14.10 (94) | MCG | 28,559 | Sunday 15, May |
| Sydney | 9.17 (71) | Geelong | 25.15 (165) | SCG | 11,142 | Sunday 15, May |
| Essendon | 20.11 (131) | Adelaide | 13.10 (88) | Optus Oval | 28,626 | Sunday 15, May |

### Round 9

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 17.19 (121) | Collingwood | 13.10 (88) | MCG | 72,216 | Friday 20, May |
| Geelong | 21.16 (142) | Richmond | 11.12 (78) | Kardinia Park | 22,777 | Saturday 21, May |
| Melbourne | 14.13 (97) | Sydney | 16.10 (106) | MCG | 19,333 | Saturday 21, May |
| Carlton | 7.20 (62) | Essendon | 9.9 (63) | Waverley Park | 40,080 | Saturday 21, May |
| Footscray | 7.10 (52) | West Coast | 12.11 (83) | Whitten Oval | 14,923 | Saturday 21, May |
| Adelaide | 7.6 (48) | Hawthorn | 22.13 (145) | Football Park | 44,403 | Sunday 22, May |
| St Kilda | 11.9 (75) | Fitzroy | 8.14 (62) | Waverley Park | 15,249 | Sunday 22, May |

### Round 10

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| West Coast | 14.17 (101) | Sydney | 10.15 (75) | WACA | 27,901 | Friday 27, May |
| Carlton | 16.13 (109) | Footscray | 13.19 (97) | Optus Oval | 23,691 | Saturday 28, May |
| St Kilda | 4.8 (32) | Melbourne | 15.16 (106) | Waverley Park | 19,914 | Saturday 28, May |
| Collingwood | 16.14 (110) | Hawthorn | 10.14 (74) | Victoria Park | 26,718 | Saturday 28, May |
| Essendon | 16.16 (112) | Geelong | 15.11 (101) | MCG | 75,129 | Saturday 28, May |
| Brisbane Bears | 17.18 (120) | North Melbourne | 12.21 (93) | Gabba | 10,953 | Sunday 29, May |
| Adelaide | 15.13 (103) | Fitzroy | 9.10 (64) | Football Park | 42,915 | Sunday 29, May |

### Round 11

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Fitzroy | 12.8 (80) | Carlton | 20.15 (135) | Waverley Park | 19,090 | Saturday 4, June |
| Essendon | 24.10 (154) | Richmond | 17.6 (108) | Optus Oval | 22,547 | Saturday 4, June |
| Geelong | 15.11 (101) | Brisbane Bears | 19.12 (126) | Kardinia Park | 18,599 | Saturday 4, June |
| Collingwood | 13.12 (90) | Adelaide | 8.19 (67) | Victoria Park | 27,390 | Saturday 4, June |
| Hawthorn | 20.5 (125) | Footscray | 8.13 (61) | Waverley Park | 22,895 | Sunday 5, June |
| Sydney | 16.10 (106) | North Melbourne | 19.12 (126) | SCG | 11,182 | Sunday 5, June |
| Melbourne | 11.8 (74) | West Coast | 18.10 (118) | MCG | 31,324 | Sunday 5, June |

### Round 12

| | Round 12 | Round 12 | Round 12 | | |
| Saturday, 11 June (2:00 pm) | Geelong 17.11 (113) | def. | St Kilda 16.14 (110) | Kardinia Park (crowd: 23,696) | Report |
| Saturday, 11 June (2:08 pm) | North Melbourne 21.23 (149) | def. | Adelaide 10.9 (69) | Optus Oval (crowd: 16,643) | Report |
| Saturday, 11 June (2:08 pm) | Melbourne 13.16 (94) | def. by | Carlton 18.13 (121) | MCG (crowd: 52,199) | Report |
| Sunday, 12 June (1:15 pm) | Sydney 13.5 (83) | def. by | Hawthorn 21.15 (141) | SCG (crowd: 12,251) | Report |
| Sunday, 12 June (4:15 pm) | West Coast 11.12 (78) | def. | Brisbane Bears 10.9 (69) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 23,492) | Report |
| Monday, 13 June (2:00 pm) | Footscray 13.14 (92) | def. | Essendon 9.10 (64) | Waverley Park (crowd: 39,181) | Report |
| Monday, 13 June (2:08 pm) | Richmond 14.18 (102) | def. | Collingwood 4.12 (36) | MCG (crowd: 61,983) | Report |
| | Bye Fitzroy | Bye Fitzroy | Bye Fitzroy | | |
| Despite missing key players Robert Harvey, Stewart Loewe and Tony Lockett, St Kilda led Geelong at three-quarter time by 26 points after kicking seven goals to nil in the third quarter. However, a spectacular last quarter by Gary Ablett in which he kicked four of his seven goals, and an intercept of Rod Keogh's attempted pass in the forward pocket to Nicky Winmar in the final minute, enabled the Cats to escape with a three-point win. ||||||

### Round 13

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Carlton | 22.13 (145) | St Kilda | 10.5 (65) | Optus Oval | 22,927 | Saturday 18, June |
| Hawthorn | 7.11 (53) | Fitzroy | 10.6 (66) | Waverley Park | 17,599 | Saturday 18, June |
| Richmond | 9.18 (72) | North Melbourne | 10.7 (67) | MCG | 26,917 | Saturday 18, June |
| Footscray | 20.14 (134) | Sydney | 9.6 (60) | Whitten Oval | 13,070 | Sunday 19, June |
| Brisbane Bears | 17.12 (114) | Essendon | 11.15 (81) | Gabba | 18,484 | Sunday 19, June |
| Collingwood | 18.13 (121) | West Coast | 12.12 (84) | MCG | 27,699 | Sunday 19, June |
| Adelaide | 11.17 (83) | Melbourne | 12.6 (78) | Football Park | 41,189 | Sunday 19, June |

### Round 14

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 13.10 (88) | Carlton | 15.16 (106) | MCG | 45,177 | Friday 24, June |
| Footscray | 21.18 (144) | Fitzroy | 6.4 (40) | Whitten Oval | 16,085 | Saturday 25, June |
| Melbourne | 9.8 (62) | Richmond | 11.12 (78) | MCG | 32,528 | Saturday 25, June |
| St Kilda | 12.7 (79) | Adelaide | 11.13 (79) | Waverley Park | 13,868 | Saturday 25, June |
| Geelong | 10.15 (75) | West Coast | 14.9 (93) | Kardinia Park | 21,939 | Saturday 25, June |
| Essendon | 19.15 (129) | Sydney | 14.11 (95) | MCG | 27,094 | Sunday 26, June |
| Brisbane Bears | 17.19 (121) | Collingwood | 11.11 (77) | Gabba | 18,881 | Sunday 26, June |

### Round 15

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| West Coast | 19.14 (128) | St Kilda | 7.7 (49) | WACA | 24,632 | Friday 1, July |
| North Melbourne | 11.19 (85) | Essendon | 14.8 (92) | MCG | 50,141 | Saturday 2, July |
| Hawthorn | 16.19 (115) | Geelong | 11.13 (79) | Waverley Park | 35,267 | Saturday 2, July |
| Fitzroy | 9.11 (65) | Melbourne | 16.15 (111) | Whitten Oval | 8,484 | Saturday 2, July |
| Carlton | 22.12 (144) | Brisbane Bears | 6.10 (46) | Optus Oval | 21,119 | Saturday 2, July |
| Sydney | 10.13 (73) | Collingwood | 13.15 (93) | SCG | 13,083 | Sunday 3, July |
| Adelaide | 12.11 (83) | Richmond | 13.12 (90) | Football Park | 43,052 | Sunday 3, July |

### Round 16

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Fitzroy | 11.14 (80) | Collingwood | 19.15 (129) | Whitten Oval | 15,394 | Saturday 9, July |
| Geelong | 22.13 (145) | Melbourne | 17.13 (115) | Kardinia Park | 23,687 | Saturday 9, July |
| Hawthorn | 21.16 (142) | St Kilda | 11.12 (78) | Waverley Park | 25,037 | Saturday 9, July |
| Richmond | 14.13 (97) | Footscray | 12.22 (94) | MCG | 49,878 | Saturday 9, July |
| Sydney | 15.20 (110) | Brisbane Bears | 21.9 (135) | SCG | 5,728 | Sunday 10, July |
| West Coast | 11.14 (80) | Essendon | 5.14 (44) | Subiaco Oval | 29,723 | Sunday 10, July |
| Carlton | 20.16 (136) | Adelaide | 10.16 (76) | Optus Oval | 29,695 | Sunday 10, July |

### Round 17

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 17.10 (112) | Hawthorn | 11.8 (74) | Optus Oval | 14,096 | Saturday 16, July |
| Footscray | 17.11 (113) | Geelong | 13.7 (85) | Whitten Oval | 23,953 | Saturday 16, July |
| St Kilda | 8.7 (55) | North Melbourne | 17.14 (116) | Waverley Park | 21,097 | Saturday 16, July |
| Collingwood | 7.12 (54) | Carlton | 14.13 (97) | MCG | 85,831 | Saturday 16, July |
| Essendon | 24.9 (153) | Fitzroy | 12.17 (89) | MCG | 33,265 | Sunday 17, July |
| Brisbane Bears | 12.12 (84) | Richmond | 15.8 (98) | Gabba | 14,936 | Sunday 17, July |
| Adelaide | 12.10 (82) | West Coast | 11.12 (78) | Football Park | 42,860 | Sunday 17, July |

### Round 18

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Adelaide | 10.15 (75) | Sydney | 13.9 (87) | Football Park | 43,788 | Friday 22, July |
| Footscray | 13.9 (87) | Collingwood | 7.13 (55) | Whitten Oval | 25,540 | Saturday 23, July |
| Essendon | 15.10 (100) | St Kilda | 18.2 (110) | MCG | 38,858 | Saturday 23, July |
| Hawthorn | 9.5 (59) | North Melbourne | 15.9 (99) | Waverley Park | 26,936 | Saturday 23, July |
| Brisbane Bears | 8.17 (65) | Fitzroy | 7.16 (58) | Gabba | 8,236 | Sunday 24, July |
| Geelong | 13.12 (90) | Carlton | 8.6 (54) | Waverley Park | 42,930 | Sunday 24, July |
| West Coast | 14.17 (101) | Richmond | 7.11 (53) | Subiaco Oval | 26,020 | Sunday 24, July |

### Round 19

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 15.12 (102) | Footscray | 12.10 (82) | MCG | 32,845 | Friday 29, July |
| Melbourne | 21.9 (135) | Essendon | 8.10 (58) | MCG | 43,132 | Saturday 30, July |
| St Kilda | 5.15 (45) | Brisbane Bears | 8.7 (55) | Waverley Park | 12,927 | Saturday 30, July |
| Carlton | 15.14 (104) | Hawthorn | 9.18 (72) | Optus Oval | 25,265 | Saturday 30, July |
| Richmond | 14.11 (95) | Sydney | 9.8 (62) | MCG | 23,906 | Sunday 31, July |
| Geelong | 13.13 (91) | Adelaide | 5.8 (38) | Kardinia Park | 15,383 | Sunday 31, July |
| Fitzroy | 3.8 (26) | West Coast | 13.14 (92) | Whitten Oval | 5,334 | Sunday 31, July |

### Round 20

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 19.20 (134) | Essendon | 17.4 (106) | MCG | 76,565 | Friday 5, August |
| Richmond | 12.21 (93) | St Kilda | 9.7 (61) | MCG | 33,503 | Saturday 6, August |
| North Melbourne | 11.11 (77) | Geelong | 10.18 (78) | Optus Oval | 26,014 | Saturday 6, August |
| Hawthorn | 15.10 (100) | West Coast | 7.12 (54) | Waverley Park | 16,328 | Saturday 6, August |
| Brisbane Bears | 12.12 (84) | Melbourne | 14.15 (99) | Gabba | 12,341 | Sunday 7, August |
| Footscray | 17.16 (118) | Adelaide | 4.10 (34) | Whitten Oval | 17,591 | Sunday 7, August |
| Sydney | 9.12 (66) | Fitzroy | 13.16 (94) | SCG | 6,513 | Sunday 7, August |

### Round 21

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| West Coast | 10.13 (73) | North Melbourne | 9.10 (64) | WACA | 31,948 | Friday 12, August |
| St Kilda | 10.12 (72) | Footscray | 17.15 (117) | Waverley Park | 14,653 | Saturday 13, August |
| Fitzroy | 8.11 (59) | Geelong | 13.22 (100) | Optus Oval | 11,388 | Saturday 13, August |
| Melbourne | 9.10 (64) | Collingwood | 13.14 (92) | MCG | 49,872 | Saturday 13, August |
| Sydney | 9.16 (70) | Carlton | 8.14 (62) | SCG | 9,622 | Sunday 14, August |
| Richmond | 11.23 (89) | Hawthorn | 18.9 (117) | MCG | 52,562 | Sunday 14, August |
| Adelaide | 13.11 (89) | Brisbane Bears | 12.14 (86) | Football Park | 36,599 | Sunday 14, August |

### Round 22

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 12.11 (83) | Melbourne | 15.13 (103) | MCG | 32,951 | Friday 19, August |
| St Kilda | 17.12 (114) | Sydney | 11.15 (81) | Waverley Park | 13,454 | Saturday 20, August |
| Fitzroy | 10.9 (69) | Richmond | 19.15 (129) | Whitten Oval | 12,122 | Saturday 20, August |
| Collingwood | 15.17 (107) | Geelong | 16.8 (104) | MCG | 66,555 | Saturday 20, August |
| Essendon | 20.16 (136) | Hawthorn | 12.12 (84) | MCG | 49,354 | Sunday 21, August |
| Brisbane Bears | 13.10 (88) | Footscray | 14.14 (98) | Gabba | 10,572 | Sunday 21, August |
| Carlton | 19.12 (126) | West Coast | 8.14 (62) | Optus Oval | 28,038 | Sunday 21, August |

### Round 23

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 25.10 (160) | Fitzroy | 10.14 (74) | MCG | 17,960 | Friday 26, August |
| Carlton | 25.11 (161) | Richmond | 6.12 (48) | Optus Oval | 32,486 | Saturday 27, August |
| St Kilda | 14.6 (90) | Collingwood | 13.10 (88) | Waverley Park | 40,154 | Saturday 27, August |
| Geelong | 16.15 (111) | Sydney | 15.9 (99) | Kardinia Park | 22,208 | Saturday 27, August |
| Footscray | 16.15 (111) | Melbourne | 11.5 (71) | Whitten Oval | 23,615 | Saturday 27, August |
| Brisbane Bears | 13.13 (91) | Hawthorn | 15.12 (102) | Gabba | 13,718 | Sunday 28, August |
| Adelaide | 17.13 (115) | Essendon | 8.10 (58) | Football Park | 41,669 | Sunday 28, August |

### Round 24

| | Round 24 | Round 24 | Round 24 | | |
| Friday, 2 September (8:08 pm) | Collingwood 8.14 (62) | def. by | North Melbourne 19.12 (126) | MCG (crowd: 72,932) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 September (2:00 pm) | Essendon 12.8 (80) | def. | Carlton 9.8 (62) | MCG (crowd: 61,231) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 September (2:00 pm) | Fitzroy 15.12 (102) | def. by | St Kilda 21.14 (140) | Western Oval (crowd: 10,809) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 September (2:08 pm) | Hawthorn 9.12 (66) | def. | Adelaide 6.11 (47) | Waverley Park (crowd: 22,973) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 September (2:08 pm) | Richmond 13.17 (95) | def. by | Geelong 27.9 (171) | Optus Oval (crowd: 25,112) | Report |
| Sunday, 4 September (1:15 pm) | Sydney 18.13 (121) | def. by | Melbourne 27.5 (167) | SCG (crowd: 8,344) | Report |
| Sunday, 4 September (4:15 pm) | West Coast 17.15 (117) | def. | Footscray 6.10 (46) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 26,992) | Report |
| | Bye Brisbane Bears | Bye Brisbane Bears | Bye Brisbane Bears | | |
| West Coast's 71-point win over Footscray was marred by an ugly brawl at half-time after Brett Heady was knocked out by a bump from Stephen Wallis. In the midst of the brawl, Footscray defender Daniel Southern applied a choke hold on West Coast full-forward Peter Sumich, causing him to pass out. Southern was subsequently fined $10,000. ||||||

## Ladder

| (P) | Premiers |
| | Qualified for finals |
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
| 1 | West Coast (P) | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2078 | 1572 | 132.2 | 64 |
| 2 | Carlton | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2351 | 1774 | 132.5 | 60 |
| 3 | North Melbourne | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 2383 | 1848 | 129.0 | 52 |
| 4 | Geelong | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 2403 | 2104 | 114.2 | 52 |
| 5 | Footscray | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 2106 | 1905 | 110.6 | 52 |
| 6 | Hawthorn | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 2188 | 2005 | 109.1 | 52 |
| 7 | Melbourne | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2190 | 1879 | 116.6 | 48 |
| 8 | Collingwood | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2017 | 2019 | 99.9 | 48 |
| 9 | Richmond | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2033 | 2167 | 93.8 | 48 |
| 10 | Essendon | 22 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 2075 | 2119 | 97.9 | 44 |
| 11 | Adelaide | 22 | 9 | 12 | 1 | 1876 | 2159 | 86.9 | 38 |
| 12 | Brisbane Bears | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 1940 | 2195 | 88.4 | 36 |
| 13 | St Kilda | 22 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 1809 | 2415 | 74.9 | 30 |
| 14 | Fitzroy | 22 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 1726 | 2456 | 70.3 | 20 |
| 15 | Sydney | 22 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 1987 | 2545 | 78.1 | 16 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Average score: 94.4 Source: AFL Tables

## Finals

The second McIntyre "final six" system, which had operated in 1992 and 1993, was replaced by the McIntyre "final eight" system. The McIntyre "final eight" system would be used until 1999 and was then replaced by the AFL’s Amended "final eight" system in 2000.

### Week one

| | Qualifying finals | Qualifying finals | Qualifying finals | | |
| Saturday, 10 September (2:30 pm) | North Melbourne 15.24 (114) | def. | Hawthorn 13.13 (91) | Waverley Park (crowd: 38,223) | Report |
| Saturday, 10 September (7:45 pm) | Geelong 15.16 (106) | def. | Footscray 15.11 (101) | MCG (crowd: 61,182) | Report |
| Sunday, 11 September (2:10 pm) | Carlton 14.12 (96) | def. by | Melbourne 18.15 (123) | MCG (crowd: 56,111) | Report |
| Sunday, 11 September (4:45 pm) | West Coast 11.16 (82) | def. | Collingwood 12.8 (80) | WACA Ground (crowd: 31,824) | Report |
| The third qualifying final between North Melbourne and Hawthorn was the first-ever AFL finals match to require extra time; this is because scores were level at full time, which had North Melbourne 12.19 (91) to Hawthorn 13.13 (91) at the expiration of regular time. (The provision for extra time had been introduced after the controversial 1990 finals series, when the qualifying final between Collingwood and West Coast was drawn.) North Melbourne dominated extra time, kicking 3.5 to Hawthorn's nil, and North Melbourne won the match by 23 points. Hawthorn eliminated by Melbourne beat Carlton a day later. ||||||

### Semi finals

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Geelong | 15.15 (105) | Carlton | 10.12 (72) | Waverley Park | 53,160 | Saturday, 17 September |
| Melbourne | 21.18 (144) | Footscray | 9.11 (65) | MCG | 65,577 | Sunday, 18 September |

### Preliminary Final

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| North Melbourne | 14.19 (103) | Geelong | 16.13 (109) | MCG | 80,121 | Saturday, 24 September |
| West Coast | 16.21 (117) | Melbourne | 8.4 (52) | WACA | 34,317 | Saturday, 24 September |

### Grand final

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| West Coast | 20.23 (143) | Geelong | 8.15 (63) | MCG | 93,860 | Saturday, 1 October |

## Awards

* The Brownlow Medal was awarded to Greg Williams of Carlton.
* The Leigh Matthews Trophy was awarded to Greg Williams of Carlton.
* The Coleman Medal was awarded to Gary Ablett of Geelong.
* The Norm Smith Medal was awarded to Dean Kemp of West Coast.
* The AFL Rising Star award was awarded to Chris Scott of Brisbane Bears.
* The Wooden Spoon was "awarded" to Sydney.

## Notable events

* Fitzroy moved its match-day home ground from Princes Park (which, due to the first ever ground naming rights deal affecting an AFL venue, became known as Optus Oval from this season) to the Western Oval. However, this left Carlton as the sole tenant of Optus Oval, and an existing arrangement between Carlton and the AFL required eighteen matches to be played there during the year; consequently, Fitzroy and the MCG's four co-tenants (Essendon, Richmond, Melbourne and North Melbourne) were each forced to play one or two home games at Optus Oval to make up the balance.
* Starting from Round 20, the "blood rule" was introduced in order to allay fears raised by the threat of AIDS. Under the rule, any bleeding player would be sent from the field by the umpires until his wound had been covered or closed and any blood-stained gear replaced. The rule, which for the first time ever gave umpires the ability to order players from the ground, was not initially well-received – particularly following a Round 23 incident in which Hawthorn ruckman Stephen Lawrence was unable to return to the field after the third quarter because Hawthorn officials could not find a spare sock to replace his bloodstained one.
* The MCG became Collingwood's predominant home ground for the first time, however they would still play sporadic home games at Victoria Park until 1999 against mostly low crowd drawing and/or interstate opposition. To this day, the MCG has remained Collingwood's predominant home ground.