# 1985 AFC Night Series

The 1985 Australian Football Championships Night Series was the 7th edition of the AFC Night Series, a VFL-organised national club Australian rules football tournament between the leading clubs from the VFL, the SANFL, the WAFL and State Representative Teams.
A total of 17 teams from across Australia played 16 matches over five months, with matches held during the pre-season and midweek throughout the premiership season.

## Qualified Teams

| Team | Nickname | League | Qualification | Participation (bold indicates winners) |
| Enter in Round 1 |||||
| Essendon | Bombers | VFL | Winners of the 1984 Victorian Football League | 9th (Previous: 1893, 1911, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Hawthorn | Hawks | VFL | Runners-Up in the 1984 Victorian Football League | 9th (Previous: 1971, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Collingwood | Magpies | VFL | Third Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League | 9th (Previous: 1896, 1910, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Carlton | Blues | VFL | Fourth Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League | 14th (Previous: 1907, 1908, 1914, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Fitzroy | Lions | VFL | Fifth Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League | 8th (Previous: 1913, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Geelong | Cats | VFL | Sixth Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League | 7th (Previous: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Footscray | Bulldogs | VFL | Seventh Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League | 8th (Previous: 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Richmond | Tigers | VFL | Eighth Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League | 11th (Previous: 1969, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Melbourne | Demons | VFL | Ninth Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League | 7th (Previous: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Sydney | Swans | VFL | Tenth Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League | 10th (Previous: 1888, 1890, 1909, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| North Melbourne | Kangaroos | VFL | Eleventh Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League | 9th (Previous: 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Norwood | Redlegs | SANFL | Winners of the 1984 South Australian National Football League | 12th (Previous: 1888, 1907, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) |
| Port Adelaide | Magpies | SANFL | Runners-Up in the 1984 South Australian National Football League | 12th (Previous: 1890, 1910, 1913, 1914, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982) |
| Swan Districts | Swans | WAFL | Winners of the 1984 West Australian Football League | 6th (Previous: 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982) |
| East Fremantle | Sharks | WAFL | Runners-Up in the 1984 West Australian Football League | 7th (Previous: 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981) |
| Enter in Qualifying Playoff |||||
| St Kilda | Saints | VFL | Twelfth Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League | 7th (Previous: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Queensland | Maroons | QAFL | Winners of the 1984 Escort Shield | 6th (Previous: 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984) |
    $^1$ Includes previous appearances in the Championship of Australia and NFL Night Series.

## Venues

| Melbourne | Adelaide | Brisbane |
| Waverley Park | Football Park | John Wren Oval |
| Capacity: 72,000 | Capacity: 67,000 | Capacity: 10,000 |