# 2016 AFL season

The 2016 AFL season was the 120th 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 eighteen clubs, ran from 24 March until 1 October, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs. Thirty-four players, seventeen of whom were still active in the league, missed the season through suspension by the World Anti-Doping Agency, for doping infringements which occurred at the Essendon Football Club as part of its 2012 sports supplements program.
The premiership was won by the Western Bulldogs for the second time, after it defeated Sydney by 22 points in the 2016 AFL Grand Final.

## Pre-season

The pre-season series of matches, known as the 2016 NAB Challenge, featured 27 practice matches played over 25 days, which began on 18 February and ended on 13 March. The matches were stand-alone, with no overall winner of the series. Each team played three games, many of which were played at suburban or regional venues, with all games televised on Fox Footy. The nine-point super goal was used in these matches.
| | Week 1 | Week 1 | Week 1 | | |
| Thursday, 18 February (7:10 pm) | Hawthorn 0.8.5 (53) | def. | Carlton 0.4.8 (32) | Aurora Stadium (crowd: 9,181) | Report |
| Friday, 19 February (4:10 pm) | Fremantle 0.14.6 (90) | def. | Richmond 0.4.6 (30) | Rushton Park (crowd: 7,500) | Report |
| Saturday, 20 February (2:05 pm) | St Kilda 1.9.10 (73) | def. by | North Melbourne 0.18.9 (117) | Norm Minns Oval, Wangaratta (crowd: 6,216) | Report |
| Saturday, 20 February (4:40 pm) | Sydney 1.10.12 (81) | def. | Port Adelaide 1.7.9 (60) | Blacktown International Sportspark (crowd: 3,172) | Report |
| Sunday, 21 February (1:35 pm) | Adelaide 2.20.10 (148) | def. | West Coast 0.7.6 (48) | Unley Oval, Adelaide (crowd: 8,000) | Report |
| Sunday, 21 February (3:40 pm) | Brisbane Lions 0.6.7 (43) | def. by | Gold Coast 0.9.14 (68) | Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex, Burpengary (crowd: 3,807) | Report |
| | Week 2 | Week 2 | Week 2 | | |
| Thursday, 25 February (7:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 0.11.7 (73) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 1.13.17 (104) | StarTrack Oval (crowd: 5,472) | Report |
| Friday, 26 February (7:10 pm) | Geelong 2.16.9 (123) | def. by | Collingwood 0.21.5 (131) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 20,460) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 February (1:35 pm) | Port Adelaide 1.10.7 (76) | def. by | Melbourne 0.15.5 (95) | Playford Alive Oval, Adelaide (crowd: 4,981) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 February (4:40 pm) | Richmond 1.15.5 (104) | def. | Hawthorn 0.4.9 (33) | Holm Park, (crowd: 6,384) | Report |
| Sunday, 28 February (2:05 pm) | Carlton 1.3.8 (35) | def. by | Essendon 1.13.8 (95) | Ikon Park (crowd: 18,718) | Report |
| Sunday, 28 February (1:40 pm) | Fremantle 1.9.6 (69) | def. | Adelaide 0.8.19 (67) | Sounness Park, Mount Barker (crowd: 4,767) | Report |
| | Week 3 | Week 3 | Week 3 | | |
| Thursday, 3 March (4:10 pm) | West Coast 0.7.13 (55) | def. | Gold Coast 1.6.7 (52) | HBF Arena, Joondalup (crowd: 5,021) | Report |
| Friday, 4 March (7:10 pm) | Sydney 1.8.3 (60) | def. by | Greater Western Sydney 0.14.10 (94) | Drummoyne Oval, Sydney (crowd: 4,754) | Report |
| Saturday, 5 March (2:05 pm) | Essendon 0.3.6 (24) | def. by | Geelong 0.17.9 (111) | Deakin Reserve, Shepparton (crowd: 5,488) | Report |
| Saturday, 5 March (4:40 pm) | North Melbourne 1.10.8 (77) | def. by | Collingwood 0.12.13 (85) | Robertson Oval, Wagga Wagga (crowd: 6,000) | Report |
| Sunday, 6 March (2:05 pm) | Western Bulldogs 1.7.9 (60) | def. by | Melbourne 0.10.12 (72) | Highgate Recreational Reserve, Craigieburn (crowd: 4,139) | Report |
| Sunday, 6 March (cancelled) | Brisbane Lions | v | St Kilda | Harrup Park Country Club, Mackay | |
| | Week 4 | Week 4 | Week 4 | | |
| Thursday, 10 March (7:10 pm) | Richmond 1.4.12 (45) | def. by | Port Adelaide 0.13.15 (93) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 6,584) | Report |
| Friday, 11 March (5:50 pm) | Carlton 1.8.12 (69) | def. by | Sydney 0.14.7 (91) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 6,804) | Report |
| Friday, 11 March (7:40 pm) | Gold Coast 0.11.18 (84) | def. by | Adelaide 3.12.10 (109) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 4,460) | Report |
| Saturday, 12 March (1:10 pm) | Collingwood 1.15.8 (107) | def. | Western Bulldogs 1.14.12 (105) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 12,594) | Report |
| Saturday, 12 March (1:10 pm) | Fremantle 2.9.11 (83) | def. | Geelong 0.10.11 (71) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 8,624) | Report |
| Saturday, 12 March (7:10 pm) | Hawthorn 2.16.11 (125) | def. | North Melbourne 0.12.8 (80) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 8,894) | Report |
| Sunday, 13 March (12:10 pm) | Brisbane Lions 2.9.11 (83) | def. by | Greater Western Sydney 1.17.11 (122) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 1,504) | Report |
| Sunday, 13 March (4:10 pm) | Melbourne 1.14.14 (107) | def. | St Kilda 0.12.11 (83) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 8,621) | Report |
| Sunday, 13 March (4:10 pm) | West Coast 1.23.11 (158) | def. | Essendon 0.7.11 (53) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 9,210) | Report |

## Rule changes

The following rule changes were made for the 2016 season:
* The interchange rules were significantly altered to give each team four interchange players and a maximum of 90 rotations per game (excluding concussion, blood rule and stretcher interchanges). This replaced the 2015 protocol in which teams had three interchange players and a substitute and a maximum of 120 rotations per game.
* The scope of tackles covered by the existing 'dangerous tackles' rule was expanded, with both umpires and the tribunal more strictly penalising players for tackles including a lifting, slinging or rotating technique.
* A stricter interpretation of the existing "deliberate out of bounds" rule is to be applied.
* The width of the protected zone on either side of a player with a mark or free kick was increased from five metres to ten metres. The rule was trialled in the 2016 pre-season before being endorsed shortly for the premiership season.
* A provision for the AFL to appeal to the tribunal against an inadequate penalty will be introduced; previously, players had the right to appeal their charges or penalties but the AFL did not have the right to appeal against an acquittal or lenient penalty.
* A thirty-second countdown clock, within which a player taking a set shot must begin their approach, was displayed on the scoreboard at most AFL grounds. This replaced the previous system in which the umpire was responsible for judging the thirty second time limit. The change was not implemented at grounds which lacked existing infrastructure to support it. From round 9 onwards, the shot clock was not shown during the final two minutes of any quarter to prevent it from being actively used in end-of-game clock management.
* The grand final replay was abolished, with the provisions which were introduced in 1991 for five minutes each way of extra time in drawn finals now also applying to a drawn grand final. A new provision was also introduced to all finals to allow for an untimed period of golden point extra time to decide the game if scores remained level after extra time.
* All matches during rounds 13, 14 and 15 (the bye rounds) featured a trial of officiating matches with four field umpires instead of three.

## Premiership season

Notable features of the draw include:
* Due to the weighted rule, Collingwood and Essendon met only once in the regular season for the first time since 1991, on Anzac Day.
* Due to poor results in the Friday night timeslot in 2015, Carlton did not feature on Friday nights during the regular season, but still contested the annual Thursday night season opener against Richmond in round 1.
* Melbourne and Richmond again met on Anzac Eve, which this season fell on a Sunday night. It was the only Sunday night match for the season, with the timeslot's unpopularity causing it to be scrapped after the 2014 season. The New Zealand Anzac Day match was scrapped from the fixture.
* Due to the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Greater Western Sydney's primary home ground (Spotless Stadium) was unavailable until round 6, therefore the club's first two home games were played at its secondary home ground, Manuka Oval.
* One month prior to the season, the Sydney Swans and ANZ Stadium came to an agreement to end their contract one year earlier than its scheduled conclusion, resulting in all eleven Sydney home games being played at the Sydney Cricket Ground, instead of eight at the SCG and three at ANZ Stadium. ANZ Stadium was still used for finals matches during 2016.
* The inclusion of the first ever AFL sanctioned LGBT pride game for premiership points was held in round 21 between St Kilda and Sydney.
* There was a bye round between round 23 and the first week of the finals, to encourage teams participating in the finals to field their strongest side possible ahead of their first final. It was since announced in February 2016 that the annual E. J. Whitten Legends Game would be played in the football-free weekend, shifting from its mid-season slot.
* All starting times are local.

### Round 1

| | Round 1 (Opening Round) | Round 1 (Opening Round) | Round 1 (Opening Round) | | |
| Thursday, 24 March (7:25 pm) | Richmond 14.8 (92) | def. | Carlton 12.11 (83) | MCG (crowd: 75,706) | Report |
| Saturday, 26 March (1:40 pm) | Melbourne 12.8 (80) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 10.18 (78) | MCG (crowd: 28,505) | Report |
| Saturday, 26 March (3:35 pm) | Gold Coast 17.19 (121) | def. | Essendon 9.6 (60) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 16,239) | Report |
| Saturday, 26 March (7:25 pm) | Sydney 18.25 (133) | def. | Collingwood 7.11 (53) | SCG (crowd: 33,857) (Moved from ANZ Stadium) | Report |
| Saturday, 26 March (7:25 pm) | North Melbourne 16.11 (107) | def. | Adelaide 14.13 (97) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 25,485) | Report |
| Sunday, 27 March (1:10 pm) | Western Bulldogs 15.13 (103) | def. | Fremantle 5.8 (38) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 27,832) | Report |
| Sunday, 27 March (2:50 pm) | Port Adelaide 20.13 (133) | def. | St Kilda 15.10 (100) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 43,807) | Report |
| Sunday, 27 March (4:40 pm) | West Coast 26.10 (166) | def. | Brisbane Lions 15.12 (102) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 35,201) | Report |
| Monday, 28 March (3:20 pm) | Geelong 18.8 (116) | def. | Hawthorn 12.14 (86) | MCG (crowd: 74,218) | Report |
| Fremantle's score of 5.8 (38) is its lowest ever score against the Western Bulldogs. ||||||

### Round 2

| | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | | |
| Friday, 1 April (7:50 pm) | Collingwood 13.9 (87) | def. | Richmond 12.14 (86) | MCG (crowd: 72,761) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 April (1:15 pm) | Adelaide 22.12 (144) | def. | Port Adelaide 11.20 (86) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 51,585) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 April (2:10 pm) | Essendon 11.14 (80) | def. | Melbourne 10.7 (67) | MCG (crowd: 50,424) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 April (3:35 pm) | Brisbane Lions 11.17 (83) | def. by | North Melbourne 17.15 (117) | Gabba (crowd: 18,021) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 April (7:25 pm) | St Kilda 5.6 (36) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 13.15 (93) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 37,353) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 April (4:40 pm) | Fremantle 14.16 (100) | def. by | Gold Coast 19.12 (126) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 34,208) | Report |
| Sunday, 3 April (1:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 13.11 (89) | def. | Geelong 11.10 (76) | Manuka Oval (crowd: 13,656) | Report |
| Sunday, 3 April (3:20 pm) | Hawthorn 14.15 (99) | def. | West Coast 7.11 (53) | MCG (crowd: 42,977) | Report |
| Sunday, 3 April (4:40 pm) | Carlton 10.11 (71) | def. by | Sydney 20.11 (131) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 33,146) | Report |

### Round 3

| | Round 3 | Round 3 | Round 3 | | |
| Friday, 8 April (7:50 pm) | Port Adelaide 17.10 (112) | def. | Essendon 7.9 (51) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 44,601) | Report |
| Saturday, 9 April (1:45 pm) | St Kilda 18.11 (119) | def. | Collingwood 14.6 (90) | MCG (crowd: 50,903) | Report |
| Saturday, 9 April (2:10 pm) | Richmond 13.14 (92) | def. by | Adelaide 19.14 (128) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 29,951) | Report |
| Saturday, 9 April (4:35 pm) | Sydney 14.9 (93) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 10.8 (68) | SCG (crowd: 37,045) | Report |
| Saturday, 9 April (7:25 pm) | Gold Coast 13.17 (95) | def. | Carlton 5.11 (41) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 13,885) | Report |
| Saturday, 9 April (5:40 pm) | West Coast 12.20 (92) | def. | Fremantle 8.11 (59) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 40,555) | Report |
| Sunday, 10 April (1:10 pm) | North Melbourne 21.10 (136) | def. | Melbourne 20.11 (131) | Blundstone Arena (crowd: 12,607) | Report |
| Sunday, 10 April (3:20 pm) | Western Bulldogs 13.12 (90) | def. by | Hawthorn 14.9 (93) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 46,808) | Report |
| Sunday, 10 April (4:40 pm) | Geelong 18.17 (125) | def. | Brisbane Lions 7.14 (56) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 23,320) | Report |

### Round 4

| | Round 4 | Round 4 | Round 4 | | |
| Friday, 15 April (6:10 pm) | West Coast 18.17 (125) | def. | Richmond 9.3 (57) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 38,860) | Report |
| Saturday, 16 April (1:45 pm) | Essendon 6.6 (42) | def. by | Geelong 9.18 (72) | MCG (crowd: 42,723) | Report |
| Saturday, 16 April (2:10 pm) | Hawthorn 13.9 (87) | def. | St Kilda 13.6 (84) | Aurora Stadium (crowd: 15,173) | Report |
| Saturday, 16 April (4:35 pm) | Brisbane Lions 14.23 (107) | def. | Gold Coast 14.10 (94) | Gabba (crowd: 20,041) | Report |
| Saturday, 16 April (7:25 pm) | Carlton 7.7 (49) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 13.7 (85) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 27,622) | Report |
| Saturday, 16 April (7:10 pm) | Adelaide 16.17 (113) | def. | Sydney 15.13 (103) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 51,330) | Report |
| Sunday, 17 April (1:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 22.19 (151) | def. | Port Adelaide 9.11 (65) | Manuka Oval (crowd: 10,028) | Report |
| Sunday, 17 April (3:20 pm) | Collingwood 9.13 (67) | def. by | Melbourne 16.6 (102) | MCG (crowd: 47,558) | Report |
| Sunday, 17 April (4:40 pm) | North Melbourne 20.12 (132) | def. | Fremantle 14.17 (101) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 23,393) | Report |
| Greater Western Sydney's score of 22.19 (151) is the biggest score kicked at Manuka Oval. ||||||

### Round 5

| | Round 5 (ANZAC Round) | Round 5 (ANZAC Round) | Round 5 (ANZAC Round) | | |
| Friday, 22 April (7:50 pm) | Hawthorn 17.10 (112) | def. | Adelaide 17.7 (109) | MCG (crowd: 45,781) | Report |
| Saturday, 23 April (1:45 pm) | Sydney 12.16 (88) | def. | West Coast 7.7 (49) | SCG (crowd: 35,427) | Report |
| Saturday, 23 April (4:35 pm) | Gold Coast 11.15 (81) | def. by | North Melbourne 18.11 (119) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 13,351) | Report |
| Saturday, 23 April (7:25 pm) | Western Bulldogs 17.18 (120) | def. | Brisbane Lions 10.7 (67) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 25,097) | Report |
| Saturday, 23 April (7:15 pm) | Port Adelaide 8.11 (59) | def. by | Geelong 16.11 (107) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 44,937) | Report |
| Sunday, 24 April (1:10 pm) | St Kilda 12.7 (79) | def. by | Greater Western Sydney 19.12 (126) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 21,052) | Report |
| Sunday, 24 April (2:15 pm) | Fremantle 9.14 (68) | def. by | Carlton 10.12 (72) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 34,796) | Report |
| Sunday, 24 April (7:10 pm) | Melbourne 20.9 (129) | def. | Richmond 14.12 (96) | MCG (crowd: 59,968) | Report |
| Monday, 25 April (3:20 pm) | Collingwood 22.10 (142) | def. | Essendon 11.7 (73) | MCG (crowd: 85,082) | Report |

### Round 6

| | Round 6 | Round 6 | Round 6 | | |
| Friday, 29 April (7:50 pm) | North Melbourne 9.7 (61) | def. | Western Bulldogs 6.9 (45) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 47,622) | Report |
| Saturday, 30 April (1:45 pm) | Melbourne 15.6 (96) | def. by | St Kilda 20.15 (135) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 27,260) | Report |
| Saturday, 30 April (1:40 pm) | Adelaide 14.13 (97) | def. | Fremantle 8.16 (64) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 47,423) | Report |
| Saturday, 30 April (4:35 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 24.14 (158) | def. | Hawthorn 12.11 (83) | Spotless Stadium (crowd: 13,766) | Report |
| Saturday, 30 April (7:25 pm) | Geelong 25.18 (168) | def. | Gold Coast 7.6 (48) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 23,007) | Report |
| Saturday, 30 April (7:25 pm) | Richmond 8.11 (59) | def. by | Port Adelaide 13.16 (94) | MCG (crowd: 27,077) | Report |
| Sunday, 1 May (1:10 pm) | Brisbane Lions 14.10 (94) | def. by | Sydney 15.7 (97) | Gabba (crowd: 14,646) | Report |
| Sunday, 1 May (3:20 pm) | Carlton 10.12 (72) | def. | Essendon 8.9 (57) | MCG (crowd: 43,827) | Report |
| Sunday, 1 May (2:40 pm) | West Coast 18.16 (124) | def. | Collingwood 9.8 (62) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 37,931) | Report |

### Round 7

| | Round 7 | Round 7 | Round 7 | | |
| Friday, 6 May (7:50 pm) | Richmond 13.12 (90) | def. by | Hawthorn 21.10 (136) | MCG (crowd: 49,678) | Report |
| Saturday, 7 May (1:45 pm) | Collingwood 12.12 (84) | def. by | Carlton 15.9 (99) | MCG (crowd: 60,222) | Report |
| Saturday, 7 May (2:10 pm) | Geelong 18.15 (123) | def. | West Coast 12.7 (79) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 25,429) | Report |
| Saturday, 7 May (4:35 pm) | Sydney 20.15 (135) | def. | Essendon 7.12 (54) | SCG (crowd: 29,527) (Moved from ANZ Stadium) | Report |
| Saturday, 7 May (5:10 pm) | Gold Coast 14.3 (87) | def. by | Melbourne 24.16 (160) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 12,780) | Report |
| Saturday, 7 May (7:25 pm) | Western Bulldogs 18.15 (123) | def. | Adelaide 17.6 (108) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 26,984) | Report |
| Saturday, 7 May (6:10 pm) | Fremantle 11.11 (77) | def. by | Greater Western Sydney 14.11 (95) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 28,201) | Report |
| Sunday, 8 May (3:20 pm) | St Kilda 11.9 (75) | def. by | North Melbourne 11.16 (82) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 27,254) | Report |
| Sunday, 8 May (4:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 21.10 (136) | def. | Brisbane Lions 7.17 (59) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 32,399) | Report |
| Melbourne's score of 24.16 (160) was its highest score since round 6, 2004 and the highest score conceded by Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium. ||||||

### Round 8

| | Round 8 | Round 8 | Round 8 | | |
| Friday, 13 May (7:20 pm) | Adelaide 11.6 (72) | def. by | Geelong 13.20 (98) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 53,141) | Report |
| Saturday, 14 May (1:45 pm) | Essendon 8.12 (60) | def. by | North Melbourne 10.14 (74) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 30,321) | Report |
| Saturday, 14 May (2:10 pm) | Hawthorn 17.14 (116) | def. | Fremantle 11.9 (75) | Aurora Stadium (crowd: 12,012) | Report |
| Saturday, 14 May (4:35 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 22.17 (149) | def. | Gold Coast 9.4 (58) | Spotless Stadium (crowd: 8,308) | Report |
| Saturday, 14 May (7:25 pm) | Richmond 14.17 (101) | def. | Sydney 15.10 (100) | MCG (crowd: 36,014) | Report |
| Saturday, 14 May (7:25 pm) | Brisbane Lions 10.5 (65) | def. by | Collingwood 20.23 (143) | Gabba (crowd: 24,552) | Report |
| Sunday, 15 May (1:10 pm) | Carlton 14.9 (93) | def. | Port Adelaide 13.13 (91) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 26,924) | Report |
| Sunday, 15 May (3:20 pm) | Melbourne 12.10 (82) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 17.12 (114) | MCG (crowd: 39,921) | Report |
| Sunday, 15 May (2:40 pm) | West Coast 20.12 (132) | def. | St Kilda 3.11 (29) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 36,140) | Report |
| Essendon's half-time score of 0.4 (4) against North Melbourne is its lowest half-time score since round 1, 1915. Richmond defeated Sydney after Sam Lloyd kicked a goal after the final siren. St Kilda's score of 3.11 (29) is its lowest ever score at Domain Stadium and its equal lowest score against West Coast. It is also St Kilda's lowest score in any game since round 6, 2002. West Coast's winning margin of 103 points is their biggest win against St Kilda. ||||||

### Round 9

| | Round 9 | Round 9 | Round 9 | | |
| Friday, 20 May (7:50 pm) | Hawthorn 7.13 (55) | def. by | Sydney 10.9 (69) | MCG (crowd: 61,552) | Report |
| Saturday, 21 May (1:45 pm) | Collingwood 16.8 (104) | def. | Geelong 11.14 (80) | MCG (crowd: 59,864) | Report |
| Saturday, 21 May (2:10 pm) | Gold Coast 11.8 (74) | def. by | Adelaide 22.17 (149) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 11,692) | Report |
| Saturday, 21 May (4:05 pm) | Port Adelaide 13.8 (86) | def. by | West Coast 14.10 (94) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 38,695) | Report |
| Saturday, 21 May (5:40 pm) | Fremantle 6.9 (45) | def. by | Richmond 11.17 (83) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 20,184) | Report |
| Saturday, 21 May (7:25 pm) | North Melbourne 17.11 (113) | def. | Carlton 6.10 (46) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 38,419) | Report |
| Sunday, 22 May (1:10 pm) | Melbourne 19.17 (131) | def. | Brisbane Lions 9.14 (68) | MCG (crowd: 26,892) | Report |
| Sunday, 22 May (3:20 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 15.8 (98) | def. | Western Bulldogs 10.13 (73) | Spotless Stadium (crowd: 9,612) | Report |
| Sunday, 22 May (4:40 pm) | St Kilda 16.13 (109) | def. | Essendon 9.9 (63) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 29,026) | Report |
| North Melbourne won the first nine games of a VFL/AFL season for the first time in its history. The Fremantle vs Richmond game, played during torrential rain, was attended by only 20,184 people, the lowest for a Fremantle home game since round 8, 2001, despite selling a season-high 43,943 tickets. ||||||

### Round 10

| | Round 10 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round) | Round 10 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round) | Round 10 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round) | | |
| Friday, 27 May (7:50 pm) | Sydney 14.7 (91) | def. | North Melbourne 9.11 (65) | SCG (crowd: 38,498) | Report |
| Saturday, 28 May (1:45 pm) | Brisbane Lions 13.9 (87) | def. by | Hawthorn 21.9 (135) | Gabba (crowd: 23,691) | Report |
| Saturday, 28 May (1:40 pm) | Melbourne 10.16 (76) | def. by | Port Adelaide 18.13 (121) | TIO Traeger Park (crowd: 5,146) | Report |
| Saturday, 28 May (4:35 pm) | St Kilda 15.11 (101) | def. | Fremantle 10.7 (67) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 17,927) | Report |
| Saturday, 28 May (7:25 pm) | Essendon 10.7 (67) | def. by | Richmond 16.9 (105) | MCG (crowd: 56,948) | Report |
| Saturday, 28 May (7:10 pm) | Adelaide 15.17 (107) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 13.7 (85) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 46,737) | Report |
| Sunday, 29 May (1:10 pm) | Carlton 16.8 (104) | def. | Geelong 12.13 (85) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 33,535) | Report |
| Sunday, 29 May (3:20 pm) | Collingwood 7.11 (53) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 11.8 (74) | MCG (crowd: 45,078) | Report |
| Sunday, 29 May (2:40 pm) | West Coast 20.12 (132) | def. | Gold Coast 7.13 (55) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 34,945) | Report |
| Carlton defeated Geelong for the first time at Etihad Stadium after 15 attempts. ||||||

### Round 11

| | Round 11 | Round 11 | Round 11 | | |
| Friday, 3 June (7:50 pm) | North Melbourne 18.16 (124) | def. | Richmond 7.12 (54) | Blundstone Arena (crowd: 17,844) | Report |
| Saturday, 4 June (1:45 pm) | Hawthorn 11.16 (82) | def. | Melbourne 10.4 (64) | MCG (crowd: 41,833) | Report |
| Saturday, 4 June (2:10 pm) | Carlton 16.6 (102) | def. | Brisbane Lions 9.10 (64) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 30,722) | Report |
| Saturday, 4 June (4:35 pm) | Geelong 14.14 (98) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 14.4 (88) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 22,007) | Report |
| Saturday, 4 June (5:40 pm) | Fremantle 20.6 (126) | def. | Essendon 6.11 (47) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 31,199) | Report |
| Saturday, 4 June (7:25 pm) | Gold Coast 6.5 (41) | def. by | Sydney 11.13 (79) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 4,368) | Report |
| Sunday, 5 June (1:10 pm) | Collingwood 7.16 (58) | def. by | Port Adelaide 19.11 (125) | MCG (crowd: 28,567) | Report |
| Sunday, 5 June (3:20 pm) | Western Bulldogs 12.11 (83) | def. | West Coast 11.9 (75) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 28,769) | Report |
| Sunday, 5 June (4:10 pm) | Adelaide 19.19 (133) | def. | St Kilda 6.9 (45) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 40,896) | Report |
| The match between North Melbourne and Richmond at Blundstone Arena saw a crowd of 17,844, the highest for an AFL game at the ground. Three clubs laid a club record number of tackles in their round 11 matches: Sydney (135 tackles), Gold Coast (119 tackles) and Hawthorn (109 tackles); all occurred in wet conditions, which is usually conducive to higher tackle counts. The Swans' record was broken just two rounds later. As stand-in captain in the Western Bulldogs' win over West Coast, Marcus Bontempelli became the youngest player in history to captain a VFL/AFL side to victory at the age of 20 years and 194 days. ||||||

### Round 12

| | Round 12 | Round 12 | Round 12 | | |
| Friday, 10 June (7:50 pm) | Essendon 6.7 (43) | def. by | Hawthorn 23.13 (151) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 27,567) | Report |
| Saturday, 11 June (1:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 14.13 (97) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 15.10 (100) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 40,096) | Report |
| Saturday, 11 June (4:35 pm) | Brisbane Lions 9.10 (64) | def. by | Fremantle 23.9 (147) | Gabba (crowd: 12,899) | Report |
| Saturday, 11 June (7:25 pm) | Geelong 15.15 (105) | def. | North Melbourne 12.2 (74) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 44,045) | Report |
| Saturday, 11 June (5:40 pm) | West Coast 11.10 (76) | def. by | Adelaide 15.15 (105) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 37,591) | Report |
| Sunday, 12 June (1:10 pm) | St Kilda 17.8 (110) | def. | Carlton 12.6 (78) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 47,945) | Report |
| Sunday, 12 June (3:20 pm) | Richmond 17.12 (114) | def. | Gold Coast 15.7 (97) | MCG (crowd: 30,448) | Report |
| Sunday, 12 June (4:40 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 15.15 (105) | def. | Sydney 9.9 (63) | Spotless Stadium (crowd: 21,541) | Report |
| Monday, 13 June (3:20 pm) | Melbourne 16.8 (104) | def. | Collingwood 8.10 (58) | MCG (crowd: 60,158) | Report |
| Patrick Dangerfield's disposal count of 48 is the equal highest amount of disposals ever by a single player in Geelong's history and the equal highest number of disposals for any player at Etihad Stadium. West Coast had its only scoreless quarter in its history at Domain Stadium. Melbourne ended an eight game winless streak against Collingwood in the Queen's Birthday clash. ||||||

### Round 13

| | Round 13 | Round 13 | Round 13 | | |
| Friday, 17 June (7:50 pm) | North Melbourne 11.18 (84) | def. by | Hawthorn 14.9 (93) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 37,073) | Report |
| Saturday, 18 June (1:40 pm) | Brisbane Lions 12.10 (82) | def. by | West Coast 20.11 (131) | Gabba (crowd: 12,777) | Report |
| Saturday, 18 June (2:35 pm) | Fremantle 12.14 (86) | def. | Port Adelaide 9.15 (69) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 32,448) | Report |
| Saturday, 18 June (7:25 pm) | Western Bulldogs 5.13 (43) | def. by | Geelong 16.4 (100) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 41,725) | Report |
| Sunday, 19 June (1:10 pm) | Sydney 12.14 (86) | def. | Melbourne 4.7 (31) | SCG (crowd: 19,086) | Report |
| Sunday, 19 June (4:40 pm) | Essendon 12.18 (90) | def. by | Greater Western Sydney 17.15 (117) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 14,463) | Report |
| | Bye Adelaide, Carlton, Collingwood, Gold Coast, Richmond, St Kilda | Bye Adelaide, Carlton, Collingwood, Gold Coast, Richmond, St Kilda | Bye Adelaide, Carlton, Collingwood, Gold Coast, Richmond, St Kilda | | |
| The Sydney Swans laid the most number of tackles ever recorded in a match, with 155 in its win over Melbourne in a match played in wet conditions. The crowd of 14,463 for the match between Essendon and Greater Western Sydney is the lowest for an Essendon home game since 1991. ||||||

### Round 14

| | Round 14 | Round 14 | Round 14 | | |
| Thursday, 23 June (7:20 pm) | Adelaide 12.28 (100) | def. | North Melbourne 10.7 (67) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 37,890) | Report |
| Friday, 24 June (7:50 pm) | Collingwood 12.13 (85) | def. | Fremantle 5.7 (37) | MCG (crowd: 20,320) | Report |
| Saturday, 25 June (1:40 pm) | Richmond 17.15 (117) | def. | Brisbane Lions 11.9 (75) | MCG (crowd: 28,883) | Report |
| Saturday, 25 June (4:35 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 18.19 (127) | def. | Carlton 9.11 (65) | Spotless Stadium (crowd: 10,355) | Report |
| Saturday, 25 June (7:25 pm) | St Kilda 14.9 (93) | def. | Geelong 13.12 (90) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 28,745) | Report |
| Sunday, 26 June (3:20 pm) | Hawthorn 12.14 (86) | def. | Gold Coast 8.12 (60) | Aurora Stadium (crowd: 10,121) | Report |
| | Bye Essendon, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Sydney, West Coast, Western Bulldogs | Bye Essendon, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Sydney, West Coast, Western Bulldogs | Bye Essendon, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Sydney, West Coast, Western Bulldogs | | |
| The crowd of 20,320 for the match between Collingwood and Fremantle, played in cold conditions, is the lowest for a game involving Collingwood at the MCG since 1940. Collingwood's win against Fremantle was their 1500th win in their VFL/AFL history. Fremantle's score of 5.7 (37) is its lowest score against Collingwood and their lowest score at the MCG. This round was the lowest attended round by average crowds since round 19, 1996, and the lowest attended round overall since round 6, 1994. ||||||

### Round 15

| | Round 15 | Round 15 | Round 15 | | |
| Thursday, 30 June (6:10 pm) | West Coast 20.10 (130) | def. | Essendon 7.10 (52) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 33,117) | Report |
| Friday, 1 July (7:50 pm) | Port Adelaide 14.10 (94) | def. | Richmond 8.8 (56) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 37,848) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 July (1:40 pm) | Gold Coast 15.18 (108) | def. | St Kilda 8.20 (68) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 14,071) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 July (4:35 pm) | Sydney 11.13 (79) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 13.5 (83) | SCG (crowd: 33,386) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 July (7:25 pm) | Carlton 6.9 (45) | def. by | Collingwood 8.9 (57) | MCG (crowd: 56,157) | Report |
| Sunday, 3 July (3:20 pm) | Melbourne 15.8 (98) | def. by | Adelaide 18.12 (120) | MCG (crowd: 29,133) | Report |
| | Bye Brisbane Lions, Fremantle, Geelong, Greater Western Sydney, Hawthorn, North Melbourne | Bye Brisbane Lions, Fremantle, Geelong, Greater Western Sydney, Hawthorn, North Melbourne | Bye Brisbane Lions, Fremantle, Geelong, Greater Western Sydney, Hawthorn, North Melbourne | | |

### Round 16

| | Round 16 (Multicultural Round) | Round 16 (Multicultural Round) | Round 16 (Multicultural Round) | | |
| Thursday, 7 July (7:20 pm) | Port Adelaide 12.7 (79) | def. by | Hawthorn 15.11 (101) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 43,025) | Report |
| Friday, 8 July (7:50 pm) | Geelong 9.6 (60) | def. by | Sydney 15.8 (98) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 24,339) | Report |
| Saturday, 9 July (1:40 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 14.9 (93) | def. by | Collingwood 19.11 (125) | Spotless Stadium (crowd: 13,483) | Report |
| Saturday, 9 July (4:35 pm) | Gold Coast 22.7 (139) | def. | Brisbane Lions 17.11 (113) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 13,528) | Report |
| Saturday, 9 July (7:25 pm) | Western Bulldogs 12.13 (85) | def. | Richmond 11.9 (75) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 39,679) | Report |
| Saturday, 9 July (7:10 pm) | Melbourne 12.15 (87) | def. | Fremantle 8.7 (55) | TIO Stadium (crowd: 8,163) | Report |
| Sunday, 10 July (1:10 pm) | Carlton 7.5 (47) | def. by | Adelaide 16.11 (107) | MCG (crowd: 32,430) | Report |
| Sunday, 10 July (1:20 pm) | West Coast 16.8 (104) | def. | North Melbourne 11.6 (72) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 35,168) | Report |
| Sunday, 10 July (4:40 pm) | Essendon 14.14 (98) | def. by | St Kilda 17.7 (109) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 25,204) | Report |

### Round 17

| | Round 17 | Round 17 | Round 17 | | |
| Thursday, 14 July (7:20 pm) | Sydney 10.10 (70) | def. by | Hawthorn 11.9 (75) | SCG (crowd: 42,314) | Report |
| Friday, 15 July (6:10 pm) | Fremantle 9.7 (61) | def. by | Geelong 11.12 (78) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 31,042) | Report |
| Saturday, 16 July (1:40 pm) | Richmond 16.6 (102) | def. | Essendon 11.17 (83) | MCG (crowd: 44,908) | Report |
| Saturday, 16 July (4:35 pm) | North Melbourne 10.17 (77) | def. by | Port Adelaide 16.9 (105) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 24,361) | Report |
| Saturday, 16 July (7:25 pm) | Western Bulldogs 15.17 (107) | def. | Gold Coast 8.11 (59) | Cazaly's Stadium (crowd: 8,509) | Report |
| Saturday, 16 July (7:10 pm) | Adelaide 14.13 (97) | def. | Collingwood 10.9 (69) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 50,012) | Report |
| Sunday, 17 July (1:10 pm) | Carlton 11.9 (75) | def. by | West Coast 12.10 (82) | MCG (crowd: 26,389) | Report |
| Sunday, 17 July (3:20 pm) | St Kilda 15.20 (110) | def. | Melbourne 11.8 (74) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 25,322) | Report |
| Sunday, 17 July (4:40 pm) | Brisbane Lions 9.13 (67) | def. by | Greater Western Sydney 22.14 (146) | Gabba (crowd: 10,195) | Report |
| Greater Western Sydney's second quarter score of 10.1 (61) was their highest scoring quarter ever. The Brisbane Lions lost a club record 12th consecutive match. The crowd of 10,195 for the match between the Brisbane Lions and Greater Western Sydney is the lowest for a Brisbane Lions match at the Gabba and the lowest at the ground since round 16, 1995. St Kilda won its 14th consecutive game against Melbourne spanning from the 2006 elimination final, and recorded their longest winning streak against any club in their VFL/AFL history, surpassing their previous record of 13 consecutive wins against Fitzroy from 1962 to 1969. ||||||

### Round 18

| | Round 18 | Round 18 | Round 18 | | |
| Friday, 22 July (7:50 pm) | Collingwood 12.12 (84) | def. by | North Melbourne 18.16 (124) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 36,041) | Report |
| Saturday, 23 July (1:45 pm) | Sydney 10.14 (74) | def. | Carlton 10.8 (68) | SCG (crowd: 31,765) (Moved from ANZ Stadium) | Report |
| Saturday, 23 July (2:10 pm) | Gold Coast 16.9 (105) | def. | Fremantle 12.9 (81) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 8,933) | Report |
| Saturday, 23 July (2:35 pm) | West Coast 10.6 (66) | def. | Melbourne 8.12 (60) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 33,908) | Report |
| Saturday, 23 July (7:25 pm) | Geelong 12.13 (85) | def. | Adelaide 7.13 (55) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 21,127) | Report |
| Saturday, 23 July (7:25 pm) | Western Bulldogs 9.6 (60) | def. by | St Kilda 11.9 (75) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 26,532) | Report |
| Sunday, 24 July (1:10 pm) | Essendon 12.19 (91) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 20.8 (128) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 34,869) | Report |
| Sunday, 24 July (3:20 pm) | Hawthorn 16.18 (114) | def. | Richmond 5.14 (44) | MCG (crowd: 51,892) | Report |
| Sunday, 24 July (4:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 9.6 (60) | def. by | Greater Western Sydney 11.13 (79) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 27,935) | Report |

### Round 19

| | Round 19 | Round 19 | Round 19 | | |
| Friday, 29 July (7:50 pm) | Geelong 16.7 (103) | def. | Western Bulldogs 11.12 (78) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 24,331) | Report |
| Saturday, 30 July (1:45 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 17.9 (111) | def. | Richmond 3.5 (23) | Manuka Oval (crowd: 14,974) | Report |
| Saturday, 30 July (2:10 pm) | Hawthorn 10.14 (74) | def. | Carlton 7.13 (55) | Aurora Stadium (crowd: 18,112) | Report |
| Saturday, 30 July (4:35 pm) | Collingwood 13.13 (91) | def. | West Coast 11.6 (72) | MCG (crowd: 34,929) | Report |
| Saturday, 30 July (7:25 pm) | North Melbourne 12.13 (85) | def. | St Kilda 8.14 (62) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 44,287) | Report |
| Saturday, 30 July (7:25 pm) | Brisbane Lions 11.13 (79) | def. by | Port Adelaide 25.23 (173) | Gabba (crowd: 13,085) | Report |
| Sunday, 31 July (1:10 pm) | Melbourne 9.12 (66) | def. | Gold Coast 9.10 (64) | MCG (crowd: 20,627) | Report |
| Sunday, 31 July (1:20 pm) | Fremantle 7.5 (47) | def. by | Sydney 21.11 (137) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 32,401) | Report |
| Sunday, 31 July (4:10 pm) | Adelaide 22.11 (143) | def. | Essendon 9.7 (61) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 44,264) | Report |
| Corey Enright played his 326th game and became the games record holder for Geelong. The crowd of 14,974 for Greater Western Sydney vs. Richmond is the highest ever crowd at Manuka Oval for an AFL game. Richmond's score of 3.5 (23) is the lowest score kicked at Manuka Oval, the lowest score kicked against Greater Western Sydney. Greater Western Sydney's winning margin of 88 is the biggest winning margin at Manuka Oval. Brent Harvey of North Melbourne became the VFL/AFL games record holder after surpassing Michael Tuck's previous record of 426 games. Port Adelaide's score of 25.23 (173) is the highest score the Brisbane Lions has conceded at the Gabba. Port Adelaide's score of 25.23 (173) and their winning margin of 94 is their highest score and greatest winning margin outside of South Australia. The crowd of 44,287 for North Melbourne vs St Kilda is the highest ever for a home and away game between these two clubs. ||||||

### Round 20

| | Round 20 | Round 20 | Round 20 | | |
| Friday, 5 August (7:50 pm) | Richmond 14.8 (92) | def. | Collingwood 11.11 (77) | MCG (crowd: 49,122) | Report |
| Saturday, 6 August (1:45 pm) | Sydney 14.16 (100) | def. | Port Adelaide 4.9 (33) | SCG (crowd: 30,204) | Report |
| Saturday, 6 August (2:10 pm) | Melbourne 17.8 (110) | def. | Hawthorn 11.15 (81) | MCG (crowd: 38,818) | Report |
| Saturday, 6 August (4:35 pm) | Gold Coast 13.6 (84) | def. by | Greater Western Sydney 14.8 (92) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 9,108) | Report |
| Saturday, 6 August (7:25 pm) | Western Bulldogs 9.7 (61) | def. | North Melbourne 7.5 (47) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 30,740) | Report |
| Saturday, 6 August (7:10 pm) | Adelaide 27.15 (177) | def. | Brisbane Lions 6.3 (39) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 43,549) | Report |
| Sunday, 7 August (1:10 pm) | Carlton 7.9 (51) | def. by | St Kilda 19.8 (122) | MCG (crowd: 37,797) | Report |
| Sunday, 7 August (3:20 pm) | Geelong 15.10 (100) | def. | Essendon 4.10 (34) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 29,254) | Report |
| Sunday, 7 August (2:40 pm) | Fremantle 9.10 (64) | def. by | West Coast 17.8 (110) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 36,215) | Report |
| Port Adelaide's score of 4.9 (33) is their lowest against Sydney and their lowest score at the SCG. Melbourne defeated Hawthorn for the first time since round 8, 2006, ending a thirteen match losing streak. Adelaide's score of 27.15 (177) is the highest AFL score at Adelaide Oval and both their biggest score and win against the Brisbane Lions. Essendon's score of 4.10 (34) is their lowest score at Etihad Stadium. ||||||

### Round 21

| | Round 21 | Round 21 | Round 21 | | |
| Friday, 12 August (7:50 pm) | Western Bulldogs 14.11 (95) | def. | Collingwood 14.8 (92) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 35,010) | Report |
| Saturday, 13 August (1:45 pm) | Brisbane Lions 15.9 (99) | def. | Carlton 13.17 (95) | Gabba (crowd: 17,432) | Report |
| Saturday, 13 August (2:10 pm) | Hawthorn 14.12 (96) | def. | North Melbourne 8.9 (57) | MCG (crowd: 50,657) | Report |
| Saturday, 13 August (4:35 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 14.12 (96) | def. by | West Coast 14.13 (97) | Spotless Stadium (crowd: 10,385) | Report |
| Saturday, 13 August (7:25 pm) | St Kilda 11.10 (76) | def. by | Sydney 23.8 (146) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 33,059) | Report |
| Saturday, 13 August (7:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 8.6 (54) | def. by | Melbourne 13.16 (94) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 33,426) | Report |
| Sunday, 14 August (1:10 pm) | Essendon 11.9 (75) | def. | Gold Coast 9.15 (69) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 16,622) | Report |
| Sunday, 14 August (3:20 pm) | Richmond 12.6 (78) | def. by | Geelong 10.22 (82) | MCG (crowd: 45,567) | Report |
| Sunday, 14 August (2:40 pm) | Fremantle 11.4 (70) | def. by | Adelaide 21.16 (142) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 30,116) | Report |
| Melbourne defeated Port Adelaide in South Australia for the first time since round 8, 2000, ending an eleven match losing streak. Essendon broke a club record 17-match losing streak with their win over Gold Coast. ||||||

### Round 22

| | Round 22 | Round 22 | Round 22 | | |
| Friday, 19 August (6:10 pm) | West Coast 13.14 (92) | def. | Hawthorn 10.7 (67) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 38,581) | Report |
| Saturday, 20 August (1:45 pm) | North Melbourne 10.16 (76) | def. by | Sydney 12.13 (85) | Blundstone Arena (crowd: 16,495) | Report |
| Saturday, 20 August (2:10 pm) | Richmond 6.10 (46) | def. by | St Kilda 7.13 (55) | MCG (crowd: 35,255) | Report |
| Saturday, 20 August (4:35 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 19.15 (129) | def. | Fremantle 5.7 (37) | Spotless Stadium (crowd: 9,556) | Report |
| Saturday, 20 August (7:25 pm) | Collingwood 16.22 (118) | def. | Gold Coast 6.11 (47) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 17,644) | Report |
| Saturday, 20 August (7:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 14.10 (94) | def. by | Adelaide 15.19 (109) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 49,541) | Report |
| Sunday, 21 August (1:10 pm) | Carlton 11.12 (78) | def. | Melbourne 7.16 (58) | MCG (crowd: 40,693) | Report |
| Sunday, 21 August (3:20 pm) | Brisbane Lions 10.9 (69) | def. by | Geelong 19.15 (129) | Gabba (crowd: 20,477) | Report |
| Sunday, 21 August (4:40 pm) | Essendon 7.11 (53) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 14.9 (93) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 25,308) | Report |
| The crowd of 17,644 for the match between Collingwood and Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium is the lowest for a Collingwood home game since round 21, 1989. ||||||

### Round 23

| | Round 23 | Round 23 | Round 23 | | |
| Friday, 26 August (7:40 pm) | Adelaide 10.11 (71) | def. by | West Coast 14.16 (100) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 50,785) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 August (1:45 pm) | Geelong 24.11 (155) | def. | Melbourne 6.8 (44) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 24,413) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 August (2:10 pm) | Essendon 15.13 (103) | def. | Carlton 10.19 (79) | MCG (crowd: 46,566) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 August (4:35 pm) | Sydney 25.14 (164) | def. | Richmond 7.9 (51) | SCG (crowd: 36,570) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 August (7:25 pm) | North Melbourne 9.9 (63) | def. by | Greater Western Sydney 14.16 (100) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 22,295) | Report |
| Saturday, 27 August (7:25 pm) | Gold Coast 9.12 (66) | def. by | Port Adelaide 13.11 (89) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 9,213) | Report |
| Sunday, 28 August (1:10 pm) | St Kilda 25.11 (161) | def. | Brisbane Lions 15.13 (103) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 21,834) | Report |
| Sunday, 28 August (3:20 pm) | Hawthorn 17.10 (112) | def. | Collingwood 17.9 (111) | MCG (crowd: 52,968) | Report |
| Sunday, 28 August (2:40 pm) | Fremantle 10.9 (69) | def. | Western Bulldogs 6.13 (49) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 34,765) | Report |

## 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 | 23 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF | Ladder |
| Adelaide | NM 10 | PA 58 | Rich 36 | Syd 10 | Haw 3 | Frem 33 | WB 15 | Geel 26 | GCS 75 | GWS 22 | StK 88 | WCE 29 | X | NM 33 | Melb 22 | Carl 60 | Coll 28 | Geel 30 | Ess 82 | BL 138 | Frem 72 | PA 15 | WCE 29 | NM 62 | Syd 36 | X | X | 5 |
| Brisbane Lions | WCE 64 | NM 34 | Geel 69 | GCS 13 | WB 53 | Syd 3 | PA 77 | Coll 78 | Melb 63 | Haw 48 | Carl 38 | Frem 83 | WCE 49 | Rich 42 | X | GCS 26 | GWS 79 | Ess 37 | PA 94 | Adel 138 | Carl 4 | Geel 60 | StK 58 | X | X | X | X | 17 |
| Carlton | Rich 9 | Syd 60 | GCS 54 | WB 36 | Frem 4 | Ess 15 | Coll 15 | PA 2 | NM 67 | Geel 19 | BL 38 | StK 32 | X | GWS 62 | Coll 12 | Adel 60 | WCE 7 | Syd 6 | Haw 19 | StK 71 | BL 4 | Melb 20 | Ess 24 | X | X | X | X | 14 |
| Collingwood | Syd 80 | Rich 1 | StK 29 | Melb 35 | Ess 69 | WCE 62 | Carl 15 | BL 78 | Geel 24 | WB 21 | PA 67 | Melb 46 | X | Frem 48 | Carl 12 | GWS 32 | Adel 28 | NM 40 | WCE 19 | Rich 15 | WB 3 | GCS 71 | Haw 1 | X | X | X | X | 12 |
| Essendon | GCS 61 | Melb 13 | PA 61 | Geel 30 | Coll 69 | Carl 15 | Syd 81 | NM 14 | StK 46 | Rich 38 | Frem 79 | Haw 108 | GWS 27 | X | WCE 78 | StK 11 | Rich 19 | BL 37 | Adel 82 | Geel 66 | GCS 6 | WB 40 | Carl 24 | X | X | X | X | 18 |
| Fremantle | WB 65 | GCS 26 | WCE 33 | NM 31 | Carl 4 | Adel 33 | GWS 18 | Haw 41 | Rich 38 | StK 34 | Ess 79 | BL 83 | PA 17 | Coll 48 | X | Melb 32 | Geel 17 | GCS 24 | Syd 90 | WCE 46 | Adel 72 | GWS 92 | WB 20 | X | X | X | X | 16 |
| Geelong | Haw 30 | GWS 13 | BL 69 | Ess 30 | PA 48 | GCS 120 | WCE 44 | Adel 26 | Coll 24 | Carl 19 | GWS 10 | NM 31 | WB 57 | StK 3 | X | Syd 38 | Frem 17 | Adel 30 | WB 25 | Ess 66 | Rich 4 | BL 60 | Melb 111 | Haw 2 | X | Syd 37 | X | 2 |
| Gold Coast | Ess 61 | Frem 26 | Carl 54 | BL 13 | NM 38 | Geel 120 | Melb 73 | GWS 91 | Adel 75 | WCE 77 | Syd 38 | Rich 17 | X | Haw 26 | StK 40 | BL 26 | WB 48 | Frem 24 | Melb 2 | GWS 8 | Ess 6 | Coll 71 | PA 23 | X | X | X | X | 15 |
| Greater Western Sydney | Melb 2 | Geel 13 | Syd 25 | PA 86 | StK 47 | Haw 75 | Frem 18 | GCS 91 | WB 25 | Adel 22 | Geel 10 | Syd 42 | Ess 27 | Carl 62 | X | Coll 32 | BL 79 | PA 19 | Rich 88 | GCS 8 | WCE 1 | Frem 92 | NM 37 | Syd 36 | X | WB 6 | X | 4 |
| Hawthorn | Geel 30 | WCE 46 | WB 3 | StK 3 | Adel 3 | GWS 75 | Rich 46 | Frem 41 | Syd 14 | BL 48 | Melb 18 | Ess 108 | NM 9 | GCS 26 | X | PA 22 | Syd 5 | Rich 70 | Carl 19 | Melb 29 | NM 39 | WCE 25 | Coll 1 | Geel 2 | WB 23 | X | X | 3 |
| Melbourne | GWS 2 | Ess 13 | NM 5 | Coll 35 | Rich 33 | StK 39 | GCS 73 | WB 32 | BL 63 | PA 45 | Haw 18 | Coll 46 | Syd 55 | X | Adel 22 | Frem 32 | StK 36 | WCE 6 | GCS 2 | Haw 29 | PA 40 | Carl 20 | Geel 111 | X | X | X | X | 11 |
| North Melbourne | Adel 10 | BL 34 | Melb 5 | Frem 31 | GCS 38 | WB 16 | StK 7 | Ess 14 | Carl 67 | Syd 26 | Rich 70 | Geel 31 | Haw 9 | Adel 33 | X | WCE 32 | PA 28 | Coll 40 | StK 23 | WB 14 | Haw 39 | Syd 9 | GWS 37 | Adel 62 | X | X | X | 8 |
| Port Adelaide | StK 33 | Adel 58 | Ess 61 | GWS 86 | Geel 48 | Rich 35 | BL 77 | Carl 2 | WCE 8 | Melb 45 | Coll 67 | WB 3 | Frem 17 | X | Rich 38 | Haw 22 | NM 28 | GWS 19 | BL 94 | Syd 67 | Melb 40 | Adel 15 | GCS 23 | X | X | X | X | 10 |
| Richmond | Carl 9 | Coll 1 | Adel 36 | WCE 68 | Melb 33 | PA 35 | Haw 46 | Syd 1 | Frem 38 | Ess 38 | NM 70 | GCS 17 | X | BL 42 | PA 38 | WB 10 | Ess 19 | Haw 70 | GWS 88 | Coll 15 | Geel 4 | StK 9 | Syd 113 | X | X | X | X | 13 |
| St Kilda | PA 33 | WB 57 | Coll 29 | Haw 3 | GWS 47 | Melb 39 | NM 7 | WCE 103 | Ess 46 | Frem 34 | Adel 88 | Carl 32 | X | Geel 3 | GCS 40 | Ess 11 | Melb 36 | WB 15 | NM 23 | Carl 71 | Syd 70 | Rich 9 | BL 58 | X | X | X | X | 9 |
| Sydney | Coll 80 | Carl 60 | GWS 25 | Adel 10 | WCE 39 | BL 3 | Ess 81 | Rich 1 | Haw 14 | NM 26 | GCS 38 | GWS 42 | Melb 55 | X | WB 4 | Geel 38 | Haw 5 | Carl 6 | Frem 90 | PA 67 | StK 70 | NM 9 | Rich 113 | GWS 36 | Adel 36 | Geel 37 | WB 22 | 1 |
| West Coast | BL 64 | Haw 46 | Frem 33 | Rich 68 | Syd 39 | Coll 62 | Geel 44 | StK 103 | PA 8 | GCS 77 | WB 8 | Adel 29 | BL 49 | X | Ess 78 | NM 32 | Carl 7 | Melb 6 | Coll 19 | Frem 46 | GWS 1 | Haw 25 | Adel 29 | WB 47 | X | X | X | 6 |
| Western Bulldogs | Frem 65 | StK 57 | Haw 3 | Carl 36 | BL 53 | NM 16 | Adel 15 | Melb 32 | GWS 25 | Coll 21 | WCE 8 | PA 3 | Geel 57 | X | Syd 4 | Rich 10 | GCS 48 | StK 15 | Geel 25 | NM 14 | Coll 3 | Ess 40 | Frem 20 | WCE 47 | Haw 23 | GWS 6 | Syd 22 | 7 (P) |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF | Ladder |
| + | Win | | Qualified for finals |
| - | Loss | X | Bye |
| | Draw | | Eliminated |
Bold – Home game X – Bye Opponent for round listed above margin

## Ladder

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Sydney | 22 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 2221 | 1469 | 151.2 | 68 | 2016 finals |
| 2 | Geelong | 22 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 2235 | 1554 | 143.8 | 68 | 2016 finals |
| 3 | Hawthorn | 22 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 2134 | 1800 | 118.6 | 68 | 2016 finals |
| 4 | Greater Western Sydney | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2380 | 1663 | 143.1 | 64 | 2016 finals |
| 5 | Adelaide | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2483 | 1795 | 138.3 | 64 | 2016 finals |
| 6 | West Coast | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2181 | 1678 | 130.0 | 64 | 2016 finals |
| 7 | Western Bulldogs (P) | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 1857 | 1609 | 115.4 | 60 | 2016 finals |
| 8 | North Melbourne | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 1956 | 1859 | 105.2 | 48 | 2016 finals |
| 9 | St Kilda | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 1953 | 2041 | 95.7 | 48 | |
| 10 | Port Adelaide | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 2055 | 1939 | 106.0 | 40 | |
| 11 | Melbourne | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 1944 | 1991 | 97.6 | 40 | |
| 12 | Collingwood | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 1910 | 1998 | 95.6 | 36 | |
| 13 | Richmond | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1713 | 2155 | 79.5 | 32 | |
| 14 | Carlton | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 1568 | 1978 | 79.3 | 28 | |
| 15 | Gold Coast | 22 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 1778 | 2273 | 78.2 | 24 | |
| 16 | Fremantle | 22 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 1574 | 2119 | 74.3 | 16 | |
| 17 | Brisbane Lions | 22 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 1770 | 2872 | 61.6 | 12 | |
| 18 | Essendon | 22 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 1437 | 2356 | 61.0 | 12 | |

### Ladder progression

* Numbers highlighted in green indicates the team finished the round inside the top 8.
* Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished in first place on the ladder in that round.
* Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round.
* Underlined numbers indicates the team did not play during that round, either due to a bye or a postponed game.
* Subscript numbers indicate ladder position at round's end.
Points by round :
| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| Sydney | 4$_2$ | 8$_2$ | 12$_1$ | 12$_3$ | 16$_3$ | 20$_3$ | 24$_3$ | 24$_4$ | 28$_4$ | 32$_2$ | 36$_2$ | 36$_3$ | 40$_2$ | 40$_2$ | 40$_4$ | 44$_2$ | 44$_5$ | 48$_3$ | 52$_3$ | 56$_2$ | 60$_2$ | 64$_1$ | 68$_1$ |
| Geelong | 4$_5$ | 4$_6$ | 8$_5$ | 12$_4$ | 16$_4$ | 20$_2$ | 24$_2$ | 28$_2$ | 28$_2$ | 28$_3$ | 32$_3$ | 36$_2$ | 40$_1$ | 40$_3$ | 40$_2$ | 40$_6$ | 44$_7$ | 48$_4$ | 52$_4$ | 56$_5$ | 60$_4$ | 64$_3$ | 68$_2$ |
| Hawthorn | 0$_{14}$ | 4$_7$ | 8$_9$ | 12$_8$ | 16$_5$ | 16$_8$ | 20$_6$ | 24$_6$ | 24$_7$ | 28$_7$ | 32$_5$ | 36$_5$ | 40$_4$ | 44$_1$ | 44$_1$ | 48$_1$ | 52$_1$ | 56$_1$ | 60$_1$ | 60$_1$ | 64$_1$ | 64$_4$ | 68$_3$ |
| Greater Western Sydney | 0$_{10}$ | 4$_9$ | 4$_{11}$ | 8$_9$ | 12$_6$ | 16$_5$ | 20$_5$ | 24$_3$ | 28$_3$ | 28$_4$ | 28$_6$ | 32$_6$ | 36$_5$ | 40$_4$ | 40$_3$ | 40$_7$ | 44$_4$ | 48$_2$ | 52$_2$ | 56$_4$ | 56$_5$ | 60$_5$ | 64$_4$ |
| Adelaide | 0$_{11}$ | 4$_5$ | 8$_6$ | 12$_7$ | 12$_9$ | 16$_7$ | 16$_8$ | 16$_8$ | 20$_8$ | 24$_8$ | 28$_8$ | 32$_7$ | 32$_8$ | 36$_8$ | 40$_5$ | 44$_3$ | 48$_2$ | 48$_6$ | 52$_5$ | 56$_3$ | 60$_3$ | 64$_2$ | 64$_5$ |
| West Coast | 4$_4$ | 4$_8$ | 8$_7$ | 12$_6$ | 12$_8$ | 16$_6$ | 16$_7$ | 20$_7$ | 24$_6$ | 28$_5$ | 28$_7$ | 28$_8$ | 32$_7$ | 32$_8$ | 36$_8$ | 40$_5$ | 44$_6$ | 48$_5$ | 48$_6$ | 52$_6$ | 56$_6$ | 60$_6$ | 64$_6$ |
| Western Bulldogs | 4$_1$ | 8$_1$ | 8$_4$ | 12$_2$ | 16$_2$ | 16$_4$ | 20$_4$ | 24$_5$ | 24$_5$ | 28$_6$ | 32$_4$ | 36$_4$ | 36$_6$ | 36$_7$ | 40$_6$ | 44$_4$ | 48$_3$ | 48$_7$ | 48$_7$ | 52$_7$ | 56$_7$ | 60$_7$ | 60$_7$ |
| North Melbourne | 4$_8$ | 8$_4$ | 12$_3$ | 16$_1$ | 20$_1$ | 24$_1$ | 28$_1$ | 32$_1$ | 36$_1$ | 36$_1$ | 40$_1$ | 40$_1$ | 40$_3$ | 40$_5$ | 40$_7$ | 40$_8$ | 40$_8$ | 44$_8$ | 48$_8$ | 48$_8$ | 48$_8$ | 48$_8$ | 48$_8$ |
| St Kilda | 0$_{13}$ | 0$_{18}$ | 4$_{13}$ | 4$_{12}$ | 4$_{13}$ | 8$_{12}$ | 8$_{13}$ | 8$_{14}$ | 12$_{13}$ | 16$_{13}$ | 16$_{13}$ | 20$_{12}$ | 20$_{12}$ | 24$_{12}$ | 24$_{13}$ | 28$_{12}$ | 32$_{10}$ | 36$_9$ | 36$_{10}$ | 40$_9$ | 40$_{10}$ | 44$_9$ | 48$_9$ |
| Port Adelaide | 4$_6$ | 4$_{12}$ | 8$_8$ | 8$_{11}$ | 8$_{12}$ | 12$_{11}$ | 16$_{10}$ | 16$_{10}$ | 16$_{10}$ | 20$_{10}$ | 24$_9$ | 24$_9$ | 24$_9$ | 24$_9$ | 28$_9$ | 28$_9$ | 32$_9$ | 32$_{10}$ | 36$_9$ | 36$_{10}$ | 36$_{11}$ | 36$_{11}$ | 40$_{10}$ |
| Melbourne | 4$_9$ | 4$_{11}$ | 4$_{10}$ | 8$_{10}$ | 12$_{10}$ | 12$_9$ | 16$_9$ | 16$_9$ | 20$_9$ | 20$_9$ | 20$_{11}$ | 24$_{10}$ | 24$_{10}$ | 24$_{10}$ | 24$_{10}$ | 28$_{10}$ | 28$_{11}$ | 28$_{11}$ | 32$_{11}$ | 36$_{11}$ | 40$_9$ | 40$_{10}$ | 40$_{11}$ |
| Collingwood | 0$_{17}$ | 4$_{14}$ | 4$_{14}$ | 4$_{15}$ | 8$_{11}$ | 8$_{13}$ | 8$_{14}$ | 12$_{12}$ | 16$_{11}$ | 16$_{12}$ | 16$_{12}$ | 16$_{14}$ | 16$_{14}$ | 20$_{14}$ | 24$_{11}$ | 28$_{11}$ | 28$_{12}$ | 28$_{12}$ | 32$_{12}$ | 32$_{12}$ | 32$_{12}$ | 36$_{12}$ | 36$_{12}$ |
| Richmond | 4$_7$ | 4$_{10}$ | 4$_{12}$ | 4$_{13}$ | 4$_{14}$ | 4$_{15}$ | 4$_{15}$ | 8$_{15}$ | 12$_{14}$ | 16$_{14}$ | 16$_{14}$ | 20$_{13}$ | 20$_{13}$ | 24$_{11}$ | 24$_{12}$ | 24$_{13}$ | 28$_{13}$ | 28$_{13}$ | 28$_{13}$ | 32$_{13}$ | 32$_{13}$ | 32$_{13}$ | 32$_{13}$ |
| Carlton | 0$_{12}$ | 0$_{15}$ | 0$_{17}$ | 0$_{18}$ | 4$_{15}$ | 8$_{14}$ | 12$_{12}$ | 16$_{11}$ | 16$_{12}$ | 20$_{11}$ | 24$_{10}$ | 24$_{11}$ | 24$_{11}$ | 24$_{13}$ | 24$_{14}$ | 24$_{14}$ | 24$_{14}$ | 24$_{14}$ | 24$_{15}$ | 24$_{15}$ | 24$_{15}$ | 28$_{14}$ | 28$_{14}$ |
| Gold Coast | 4$_3$ | 8$_3$ | 12$_2$ | 12$_5$ | 12$_7$ | 12$_{10}$ | 12$_{11}$ | 12$_{13}$ | 12$_{15}$ | 12$_{15}$ | 12$_{15}$ | 12$_{15}$ | 12$_{16}$ | 12$_{16}$ | 16$_{15}$ | 20$_{15}$ | 20$_{15}$ | 24$_{15}$ | 24$_{14}$ | 24$_{14}$ | 24$_{14}$ | 24$_{15}$ | 24$_{15}$ |
| Fremantle | 0$_{18}$ | 0$_{17}$ | 0$_{16}$ | 0$_{17}$ | 0$_{18}$ | 0$_{18}$ | 0$_{18}$ | 0$_{18}$ | 0$_{18}$ | 0$_{18}$ | 4$_{16}$ | 8$_{16}$ | 12$_{15}$ | 12$_{15}$ | 12$_{16}$ | 12$_{16}$ | 12$_{16}$ | 12$_{16}$ | 12$_{16}$ | 12$_{16}$ | 12$_{16}$ | 12$_{16}$ | 16$_{16}$ |
| Brisbane Lions | 0$_{15}$ | 0$_{16}$ | 0$_{18}$ | 4$_{14}$ | 4$_{16}$ | 4$_{16}$ | 4$_{16}$ | 4$_{16}$ | 4$_{16}$ | 4$_{16}$ | 4$_{17}$ | 4$_{17}$ | 4$_{17}$ | 4$_{17}$ | 4$_{17}$ | 4$_{17}$ | 4$_{17}$ | 8$_{17}$ | 8$_{17}$ | 8$_{17}$ | 12$_{17}$ | 12$_{17}$ | 12$_{17}$ |
| Essendon | 0$_{16}$ | 4$_{13}$ | 4$_{15}$ | 4$_{16}$ | 4$_{17}$ | 4$_{17}$ | 4$_{17}$ | 4$_{17}$ | 4$_{17}$ | 4$_{17}$ | 4$_{18}$ | 4$_{18}$ | 4$_{18}$ | 4$_{18}$ | 4$_{18}$ | 4$_{18}$ | 4$_{18}$ | 4$_{18}$ | 4$_{18}$ | 4$_{18}$ | 8$_{18}$ | 8$_{18}$ | 12$_{18}$ |

### Positions of teams round by round
## 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 |
| 10 Sep, ANZ Stadium | 10 Sep, ANZ Stadium | 10 Sep, ANZ Stadium | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Sydney | 7.13 (55) | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Greater Western Sydney | 12.19 (91) | 17 Sep, SCG | 17 Sep, SCG | 17 Sep, SCG | | | | |
| | | | Sydney | Sydney | 18.10 (118) | | | | |
| 10 Sep, Adelaide Oval | 10 Sep, Adelaide Oval | 10 Sep, Adelaide Oval | Adelaide | Adelaide | 12.10 (82) | 24 Sep, Spotless Stadium | 24 Sep, Spotless Stadium | 24 Sep, Spotless Stadium | | | |
| 5 | Adelaide | 21.15 (141) | | | | Greater Western Sydney | Greater Western Sydney | 12.11 (83) | |
| 8 | North Melbourne | 12.7 (79) | | | | Western Bulldogs | Western Bulldogs | 13.11 (89) | 1 Oct, MCG | 1 Oct, MCG | 1 Oct, MCG |
| | | | | | | | | | Sydney | Sydney | 10.7 (67) |
| 8 Sep, Domain Stadium | 8 Sep, Domain Stadium | 8 Sep, Domain Stadium | | | | 23 Sep, MCG | 23 Sep, MCG | 23 Sep, MCG | Western Bulldogs | Western Bulldogs | 13.11 (89) |
| 6 | West Coast | 7.10 (52) | | | | Geelong | Geelong | 8.12 (60) | | |
| 7 | Western Bulldogs | 14.15 (99) | 16 Sep, MCG | 16 Sep, MCG | 16 Sep, MCG | Sydney | Sydney | 15.7 (97) | | |
| | | | Hawthorn | Hawthorn | 12.12 (84) | | | | | | |
| 9 Sep, MCG | 9 Sep, MCG | 9 Sep, MCG | Western Bulldogs | Western Bulldogs | 16.11 (107) | | | | | |
| 2 | Geelong | 12.13 (85) | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Hawthorn | 12.11 (83) | | | | | | | | |

### Week one

| | Qualifying finals | Qualifying finals | Qualifying finals | | |
| QF2: Friday, 9 September (7:50 pm) | Geelong 12.13 (85) | def. | Hawthorn 12.11 (83) | MCG (crowd: 87,533) | Report |
| QF1: Saturday, 10 September (3:20 pm) | Sydney 7.13 (55) | def. by | Greater Western Sydney 12.19 (91) | ANZ Stadium (crowd: 60,222) | Report |
| | Elimination finals | Elimination finals | Elimination finals | | |
| EF2: Thursday, 8 September (6:10 pm) | West Coast 7.10 (52) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 14.15 (99) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 42,079) | Report |
| EF1: Saturday, 10 September (7:10 pm) | Adelaide 21.15 (141) | def. | North Melbourne 12.7 (79) | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 49,007) | Report |
| The Western Bulldogs won their first week one final since 2006, and their first interstate final in the club's history. Greater Western Sydney won their first ever finals match. ||||||

### Week two

| | Semi finals | Semi finals | Semi finals | | |
| SF2: Friday, 16 September (7:50 pm) | Hawthorn 12.12 (84) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 16.11 (107) | MCG (crowd: 87,823) | Report |
| SF1: Saturday, 17 September (7:25 pm) | Sydney 18.10 (118) | def. | Adelaide 12.10 (82) | SCG (crowd: 38,136) | Report |

### Week three

| | Preliminary finals | Preliminary finals | Preliminary finals | | |
| PF2: Friday, 23 September (7:50 pm) | Geelong 8.12 (60) | def. by | Sydney 15.7 (97) | MCG (crowd: 71,772) | Report |
| PF1: Saturday, 24 September (5:15 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 12.11 (83) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 13.11 (89) | Spotless Stadium (crowd: 21,790) | Report |
| With both Geelong and Greater Western Sydney losing, this was the first time under the final eight system in which both teams who won their respective qualifying finals failed to qualify for the grand final. The crowd of 21,790 for the match between Greater Western Sydney and the Western Bulldogs is the highest ever crowd for an AFL game at Spotless Stadium. The Greater Western Sydney and Western Bulldogs match was the second-most watched game in AFL history outside a grand final with an average viewership of 2.387 million people. The Western Bulldogs qualified for their first grand final since 1961. The Western Bulldogs became the first team to finish outside the top 4 in the home and away season under the current system to qualify for the Grand Final. ||||||

### Week four

| | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | | |
| Saturday, 1 October (2:30 pm) | Sydney 10.7 (67) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 13.11 (89) | MCG (crowd: 99,981) | Report |
| The Western Bulldogs won their first premiership in sixty-two years, ending the then-longest active VFL/AFL premiership drought. The Western Bulldogs won from the seventh on the ladder after the regular season, the lowest position from which an AFL team had ever won the premiership. The Western Bulldogs became just the second club after Adelaide in 1997 to win four consecutive finals to win a premiership. ||||||

## Attendances
### By club

2016 AFL attendances :
| Club | Total | Games | Avg. per game | Home total | Home games | Home avg. |
| Adelaide | 944,586 | 24 | 37,948 | 517,612 | 11 | 47,056 |
| Brisbane Lions | 504,110 | 22 | 22,914 | 187,816 | 11 | 17,074 |
| Carlton | 784,445 | 22 | 35,657 | 389,242 | 11 | 35,386 |
| Collingwood | 972,219 | 22 | 44,192 | 508,066 | 11 | 46,188 |
| Essendon | 802,059 | 22 | 36,457 | 371,015 | 11 | 33,729 |
| Fremantle | 574,588 | 22 | 26,118 | 345,575 | 11 | 31,416 |
| Geelong | 910,207 | 24 | 37,925 | 335,490 | 11 | 30,499 |
| Gold Coast | 351,648 | 22 | 15,984 | 127,168 | 11 | 11,561 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 485,219 | 24 | 20,217 | 135,664 | 11 | 12,333 |
| Hawthorn | 1,013,973 | 24 | 42,249 | 403,078 | 11 | 36,643 |
| Melbourne | 686,641 | 22 | 30,977 | 344,591 | 11 | 31,326 |
| North Melbourne | 720,874 | 23 | 31,342 | 309,881 | 11 | 28,171 |
| Port Adelaide | 694,948 | 22 | 31,589 | 436,310 | 11 | 39,665 |
| Richmond | 900,137 | 22 | 40,915 | 452,609 | 11 | 41,146 |
| St Kilda | 686,842 | 22 | 31,220 | 340,420 | 11 | 30,947 |
| Sydney | 966,681 | 26 | 37,180 | 367,679 | 11 | 33,425 |
| West Coast | 786,853 | 23 | 34,211 | 401,997 | 11 | 36,545 |
| Western Bulldogs | 954,452 | 26 | 36,710 | 337,685 | 11 | 30,699 |

### By ground

2016 ground attendances :
| Ground | Total | Games | Avg. per game |
| Adelaide Oval | 1,002,929 | 23 | 43,606 |
| ANZ Stadium | 60,222 | 1 | 60,222 |
| Aurora Stadium | 55,418 | 4 | 13,855 |
| Blundstone Arena | 46,946 | 3 | 15,649 |
| Cazaly's Stadium | 8,509 | 1 | 8,509 |
| Domain Stadium | 789,651 | 23 | 34,333 |
| Etihad Stadium | 1,392,126 | 46 | 30,264 |
| Gabba | 187,816 | 11 | 17,074 |
| Manuka Oval | 38,658 | 3 | 12,886 |
| MCG | 2,434,905 | 50 | 48,698 |
| Metricon Stadium | 127,168 | 11 | 11,561 |
| Simonds Stadium | 187,973 | 8 | 23,497 |
| Spotless Stadium | 118,796 | 9 | 13,200 |
| SCG | 405,815 | 12 | 33,818 |
| TIO Stadium | 8,163 | 1 | 8,163 |
| TIO Traeger Park | 5,146 | 1 | 5,146 |

## Awards

* The Brownlow Medal was awarded to Patrick Dangerfield of Geelong, who received 35 votes. He broke Dane Swan's 2011 record for the most votes by any player under the 3-2-1 voting system, until the record was broken a year later by Dustin Martin.
* The Coleman Medal was awarded to Josh Kennedy of West Coast, who kicked 80 goals during the home and away season.
* The Ron Evans Medal was awarded to Callum Mills of Sydney, who received 49 votes.
* The Norm Smith Medal was awarded to Jason Johannisen of the Western Bulldogs.
* The AFL Goal of the Year was awarded to Eddie Betts of Adelaide for the second consecutive season.
* The AFL Mark of the Year was awarded to Majak Daw of North Melbourne.
* The McClelland Trophy was awarded to Sydney for the first time since 2014.
* The wooden spoon was "awarded" to Essendon for the first time since 1933, breaking an eighty-three-year drought.
* The AFL Players Association Awards
** The Leigh Matthews Trophy was awarded to Patrick Dangerfield of Geelong.
** The Robert Rose Award was awarded to Luke Parker of Sydney for the second consecutive year.
** The best captain was awarded to Taylor Walker of Adelaide.
** The best first year player was awarded to Callum Mills of Sydney.
** The 22under22 team captaincy was awarded to Marcus Bontempelli of the Western Bulldogs.
* The AFL Coaches Association Awards
** The AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year Award was awarded to Patrick Dangerfield of Geelong, who received 121 votes.
** The inaugural Gary Ayres Award for the best player in the finals series was awarded to Josh Kennedy of Sydney.
** The Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year Award was awarded to Luke Beveridge of the Western Bulldogs for the second consecutive year.
** The Assistant Coach of the Year Award was awarded to Stuart Dew of Sydney.
** The Career and Development Coach of the Year Award was awarded to Andrew McQualter of Richmond and Danny Sexton of St Kilda.
** The Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Mark Williams.
** The Best Young Player Award was awarded to Isaac Heeney of Sydney.
** The Media Award was awarded to Gerard Whateley for his work on Fox Footy and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
* The Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award was awarded to Jimmy Bartel of Geelong.

### Milestones

| Name | Club | Milestone | Round |
| Michael Rischitelli | Gold Coast | 200 AFL games | Round 1 |
| Leigh Montagna | St Kilda | 250 AFL games | Round 1 |
| Nick Riewoldt | St Kilda | 300 AFL games | Round 2 |
| Matt Priddis | West Coast | 200 AFL games | Round 3 |
| Joel Patfull | Greater Western Sydney | 200 AFL games | Round 4 |
| Shaun Burgoyne | Hawthorn | 300 AFL games | Round 5 |
| Rodney Eade | Gold Coast | 600 AFL games played/coached | Round 5 |
| Drew Petrie | North Melbourne | 300 AFL games | Round 7 |
| Nick Malceski | Gold Coast | 200 AFL games | Round 8 |
| Kade Simpson | Carlton | 250 AFL games | Round 8 |
| Jordan Lewis | Hawthorn | 250 AFL games | Round 10 |
| John Worsfold | Essendon | 500 AFL games played/coached | Round 10 |
| Brent Harvey | North Melbourne | 500 AFL goals | Round 11 |
| Josh Gibson | Hawthorn | 200 AFL games | Round 11 |
| Heath Grundy | Sydney | 200 AFL games | Round 13 |
| Bryce Gibbs | Carlton | 200 AFL games | Round 14 |
| Andrew Walker | Carlton | 200 AFL games | Round 15 |
| Kieren Jack | Sydney | 200 AFL games | Round 16 |
| Andrew Swallow | North Melbourne | 200 AFL games | Round 16 |
| Andrew Mackie | Geelong | 250 AFL games | Round 17 |
| Scott Thompson | Adelaide | 300 AFL games | Round 17 |
| Sam Mitchell | Hawthorn | 300 AFL games | Round 18 |
| Jimmy Bartel | Geelong | 300 AFL games | Round 19 |
| Brent Harvey | North Melbourne | 427 AFL games (league record) | Round 19 |
| Matthew Pavlich | Fremantle | 350 AFL games | Round 19 |
| Justin Westhoff | Port Adelaide | 200 AFL games | Round 20 |
| John Worsfold | Essendon | 300 AFL games coached | Round 20 |
| Jack Riewoldt | Richmond | 200 AFL games | Round 21 |
| Harry Taylor | Geelong | 200 AFL games | Round 21 |
| David Mundy | Fremantle | 250 AFL games | Round 22 |
| Eddie Betts | Adelaide | 250 AFL games | Round 22 |
| Adam Cooney | Essendon | 250 AFL games | Round 22 |
| Mathew Stokes | Essendon | 200 AFL games | Round 22 |
| Dale Thomas | Carlton | 200 AFL games | Round 23 |
| Daniel Merrett | Brisbane Lions | 200 AFL games | Round 23 |
| Matthew Pavlich | Fremantle | 700 AFL goals | Round 23 |
| Shannon Hurn | West Coast | 200 AFL games | Finals week 1 |

### Coleman Medal

* Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the player led the Coleman that round.
* Underlined numbers indicates the player did not play that round.
| | Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | Total |
| 1 | Josh J. Kennedy | 8$_8$ | 1$_9$ | 1$_{10}$ | 2$_{12}$ | 2$_{14}$ | 3$_{17}$ | 3$_{20}$ | 5$_{25}$ | 7$_{32}$ | 5$_{37}$ | 1$_{38}$ | 3$_{41}$ | 5$_{46}$ | 0$_{46}$ | 3$_{49}$ | 4$_{53}$ | 2$_{55}$ | 3$_{58}$ | 2$_{60}$ | 7$_{67}$ | 3$_{70}$ | 5$_{75}$ | 5$_{80}$ | 80 |
| 2 | Lance Franklin | 4$_4$ | 4$_8$ | 4$_{12}$ | 4$_{16}$ | 2$_{18}$ | 5$_{23}$ | 6$_{29}$ | 5$_{34}$ | 3$_{37}$ | 3$_{40}$ | 1$_{41}$ | 2$_{43}$ | 4$_{47}$ | 0$_{47}$ | 5$_{52}$ | 1$_{53}$ | 0$_{53}$ | 4$_{57}$ | 2$_{59}$ | 2$_{61}$ | 6$_{67}$ | 0$_{67}$ | 7$_{74}$ | 74 |
| 3 | Eddie Betts | 1$_1$ | 5$_6$ | 3$_9$ | 4$_{13}$ | 3$_{16}$ | 4$_{20}$ | 0$_{20}$ | 2$_{22}$ | 0$_{22}$ | 5$_{27}$ | 1$_{28}$ | 5$_{33}$ | 0$_{33}$ | 2$_{35}$ | 3$_{38}$ | 3$_{41}$ | 3$_{44}$ | 1$_{45}$ | 5$_{50}$ | 4$_{54}$ | 6$_{60}$ | 5$_{65}$ | 1$_{66}$ | 66 |
| 3 | Tom Lynch | 4$_4$ | 5$_9$ | 4$_{13}$ | 5$_{18}$ | 4$_{22}$ | 2$_{24}$ | 4$_{28}$ | 2$_{30}$ | 2$_{32}$ | 2$_{34}$ | 1$_{35}$ | 4$_{39}$ | 0$_{39}$ | 3$_{42}$ | 1$_{43}$ | 5$_{48}$ | 3$_{51}$ | 4$_{55}$ | 2$_{57}$ | 4$_{61}$ | 2$_{63}$ | 2$_{65}$ | 1$_{66}$ | 66 |
| 5 | Josh Jenkins | 5$_5$ | 4$_9$ | 1$_{10}$ | 1$_{11}$ | 2$_{13}$ | 2$_{15}$ | 8$_{23}$ | 2$_{25}$ | 1$_{26}$ | 1$_{27}$ | 7$_{34}$ | 3$_{37}$ | 0$_{37}$ | 1$_{38}$ | 2$_{40}$ | 3$_{43}$ | 1$_{44}$ | 3$_{47}$ | 2$_{49}$ | 3$_{52}$ | 5$_{57}$ | 2$_{59}$ | 3$_{60}$ | 60 |
| 6 | Tom Hawkins | 2$_2$ | 3$_5$ | 4$_9$ | 0$_9$ | 1$_{10}$ | 4$_{14}$ | 3$_{17}$ | 0$_{17}$ | 4$_{21}$ | 1$_{22}$ | 2$_{24}$ | 0$_{24}$ | 4$_{28}$ | 3$_{31}$ | 0$_{31}$ | 2$_{33}$ | 1$_{34}$ | 4$_{38}$ | 2$_{40}$ | 3$_{43}$ | 1$_{44}$ | 2$_{46}$ | 6$_{52}$ | 52 |
| 7 | Jeremy Cameron | 0$_0$ | 0$_0$ | 0$_0$ | 0$_0$ | 5$_5$ | 3$_8$ | 1$_9$ | 7$_{16}$ | 5$_{21}$ | 1$_{22}$ | 0$_{22}$ | 1$_{23}$ | 2$_{25}$ | 3$_{28}$ | 0$_{28}$ | 5$_{33}$ | 3$_{36}$ | 2$_{38}$ | 2$_{40}$ | 4$_{44}$ | 1$_{45}$ | 3$_{48}$ | 1$_{49}$ | 49 |
| 8 | Jack Riewoldt | 2$_2$ | 3$_5$ | 1$_6$ | 4$_{10}$ | 3$_{13}$ | 3$_{16}$ | 3$_{19}$ | 1$_{20}$ | 2$_{22}$ | 2$_{24}$ | 2$_{26}$ | 1$_{27}$ | 0$_{27}$ | 4$_{31}$ | 4$_{35}$ | 2$_{37}$ | 0$_{37}$ | 2$_{39}$ | 2$_{41}$ | 4$_{45}$ | 1$_{46}$ | 1$_{47}$ | 1$_{48}$ | 48 |
| 8 | Jack Gunston | 3$_3$ | 1$_4$ | 2$_6$ | 0$_6$ | 1$_7$ | 5$_{12}$ | 4$_{16}$ | 3$_{19}$ | 4$_{23}$ | 2$_{25}$ | 3$_{28}$ | 4$_{32}$ | 0$_{32}$ | 1$_{33}$ | 0$_{33}$ | 3$_{36}$ | 2$_{38}$ | 3$_{41}$ | 1$_{42}$ | 2$_{44}$ | 1$_{45}$ | 2$_{47}$ | 1$_{48}$ | 48 |
| 10 | Tim Membrey | 0$_0$ | 0$_0$ | 0$_0$ | 0$_0$ | 0$_0$ | 5$_5$ | 3$_8$ | 0$_8$ | 3$_{11}$ | 3$_{14}$ | 1$_{15}$ | 5$_{20}$ | 0$_0$ | 1$_{21}$ | 2$_{23}$ | 5$_{28}$ | 4$_{32}$ | 2$_{34}$ | 0$_{34}$ | 5$_{39}$ | 1$_{40}$ | 2$_{42}$ | 2$_{44}$ | 44 |
| 10 | Cyril Rioli | 0$_0$ | 4$_4$ | 3$_7$ | 1$_8$ | 4$_{12}$ | 1$_{13}$ | 1$_{14}$ | 0$_{14}$ | 1$_{15}$ | 5$_{19}$ | 1$_{20}$ | 3$_{23}$ | 2$_{25}$ | 0$_{25}$ | 0$_{25}$ | 3$_{28}$ | 2$_{30}$ | 3$_{34}$ | 0$_{34}$ | 4$_{38}$ | 3$_{41}$ | 0$_{44}$ | 3$_{44}$ | 44 |

### Best and fairest

| Club | Award name | Player |
| Adelaide | Malcolm Blight Medal | Rory Sloane |
| Brisbane Lions | Merrett–Murray Medal | Dayne Zorko |
| Carlton | John Nicholls Medal | Sam Docherty |
| Collingwood | Copeland Trophy | Scott Pendlebury |
| Essendon | W. S. Crichton Medal | Zach Merrett |
| Fremantle | Doig Medal | Lachie Neale |
| Geelong | Carji Greeves Medal | Patrick Dangerfield |
| Gold Coast | Club Champion | Tom Lynch |
| Greater Western Sydney | Kevin Sheedy Medal | Toby Greene |
| Hawthorn | Peter Crimmins Medal | Sam Mitchell |
| Melbourne | Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal | Jack Viney |
| North Melbourne | Syd Barker Medal | Robbie Tarrant |
| Port Adelaide | John Cahill Medal | Robbie Gray |
| Richmond | Jack Dyer Medal | Dustin Martin |
| St Kilda | Trevor Barker Award | Jack Steven |
| Sydney | Bob Skilton Medal | Josh Kennedy |
| West Coast | John Worsfold Medal | Luke Shuey |
| Western Bulldogs | Charles Sutton Medal | Marcus Bontempelli |

## Club leadership

| Club | Coach | Captain(s) | Vice-captain(s) | Leadership group |
| Adelaide | Don Pyke | Taylor Walker | | Richard Douglas, Sam Jacobs, Rory Sloane, Daniel Talia, Scott Thompson, Nathan van Berlo |
| Brisbane Lions | Justin Leppitsch | Tom Rockliff | Pearce Hanley, Daniel Rich, Dayne Zorko, Dayne Beams, Daniel Merrett | |
| Carlton | Brendon Bolton | Marc Murphy | Kade Simpson | Patrick Cripps, Ed Curnow, Sam Docherty, Bryce Gibbs, Andrew Walker |
| Collingwood | Nathan Buckley | Scott Pendlebury | Nathan Brown, Steele Sidebottom, Taylor Adams, Brent Macaffer | |
| Essendon | John Worsfold | Brendon Goddard | Mark Baguley | Joe Daniher, James Gwilt, Zach Merrett, David Zaharakis |
| Fremantle | Ross Lyon | David Mundy | | Nat Fyfe, Aaron Sandilands, Lee Spurr, Matthew Pavlich, Michael Johnson |
| Geelong | Chris Scott | Joel Selwood | Harry Taylor | Mark Blicavs, Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan, Tom Hawkins |
| Gold Coast | Rodney Eade | Gary Ablett | Tom Lynch, Dion Prestia, Steven May | Nick Malceski, Michael Rischitelli, David Swallow, Jarrod Harbrow, Matt Rosa, Jaeger O'Meara |
| Greater Western Sydney | Leon Cameron | Phil Davis Callan Ward | Heath Shaw | Matthew Buntine, Stephen Coniglio, Dylan Shiel, Devon Smith |
| Hawthorn | Alastair Clarkson | Luke Hodge | | Jarryd Roughead, Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Josh Gibson, Isaac Smith |
| Melbourne | Paul Roos | Nathan Jones | | Max Gawn, Colin Garland, Jack Viney, Bernie Vince, Tom McDonald |
| North Melbourne | Brad Scott | Andrew Swallow | Jack Ziebell | Shaun Higgins, Jamie Macmillan, Scott Thompson |
| Port Adelaide | Ken Hinkley | Travis Boak | Hamish Hartlett | Brad Ebert, Jack Hombsch, Tom Jonas, Matthew Lobbe, Justin Westhoff, Ollie Wines |
| Richmond | Damien Hardwick | Trent Cotchin | Brett Deledio, Ivan Maric | Alex Rance, Shane Edwards |
| St Kilda | Alan Richardson | Nick Riewoldt | | David Armitage, Sean Dempster, Jarryn Geary, Leigh Montagna, Jack Newnes, Jack Steven, Maverick Weller |
| Sydney | John Longmire | Kieren Jack Jarrad McVeigh | | Heath Grundy, Dan Hannebery, Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker, Dane Rampe, Nick Smith |
| West Coast | Adam Simpson | Shannon Hurn | Josh Kennedy | Eric Mackenzie, Matt Priddis, Luke Shuey |
| Western Bulldogs | Luke Beveridge | Robert Murphy | Easton Wood | Matthew Boyd, Marcus Bontempelli, Dale Morris |

## Coach changes

| Coach | Club | Date | Notes | Caretaker | New coach |
| Paul Roos | Melbourne | 27 August 2016 | Retired at the end of the season as part of a succession plan | — | Simon Goodwin |
| Justin Leppitsch | Brisbane Lions | 29 August 2016 | Sacked following continued poor on-field performances in 2016 | — | Chris Fagan |

## Club financials

2016 AFL membership figures :
| Club | Members | Change from 2015 | % change from 2015 |
| Adelaide | 54,307 | 1,387 | 2.62% |
| Brisbane Lions | 23,286 | 2,122 | 8.35% |
| Carlton | 50,130 | 2,825 | 5.97% |
| Collingwood | 74,643 | 394 | 0.53% |
| Essendon | 57,494 | 3,324 | 5.47% |
| Fremantle | 51,889 | 456 | 0.89% |
| Geelong | 50,571 | 6,259 | 14.12% |
| Gold Coast | 12,854 | 789 | 5.78% |
| Greater Western Sydney | 15,312 | 1,832 | 15.59% |
| Hawthorn | 75,351 | 2,427 | 3.33% |
| Melbourne | 39,146 | 3,193 | 8.88% |
| North Melbourne | 45,014 | 4,002 | 9.78% |
| Port Adelaide | 53,743 | 314 | 0.58% |
| Richmond | 72,278 | 1,469 | 2.07% |
| St Kilda | 38,009 | 5,263 | 16.07% |
| Sydney | 56,523 | 7,687 | 15.74% |
| West Coast | 65,188 | 4,967 | 8.25% |
| Western Bulldogs | 39,459 | 4,237 | 12.03% |
| Total | 875,197 | 39,061 | 4.67% |

## Notable events
### Essendon supplements scandal

On 12 January 2016, after appealing the AFL anti-doping tribunal's verdict that 34 past and present Essendon players were found not guilty of taking an illegal substance during the 2012 season, the Court of Arbitration for Sport returned a final verdict of guilty; as a result, these players, including twelve still at the club, five at another as well as 17 players who are currently playing at lower levels or have retired altogether, were suspended for the entire season.