# 1983 VFL season

The 1983 VFL season was the 87th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest-level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria.
The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 26 March until 24 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top five clubs.
Before the season, the South Melbourne Football Club, which had played its home games in Sydney, New South Wales, in 1982, formally relocated its operations to Sydney and was renamed the Sydney Swans.
The Hawthorn Football Club won the premiership for the fifth time after it defeated Essendon by 83 points in the 1983 VFL Grand Final.

## Night series

Carlton defeated Richmond 14.16 (100) to 10.6 (66) in the final.

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

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 14.16 (100) | St Kilda | 12.15 (87) | Arden Street Oval | 18,496 | 26 March 1983 |
| Fitzroy | 16.16 (112) | Hawthorn | 20.11 (131) | Junction Oval | 15,626 | 26 March 1983 |
| Carlton | 20.16 (136) | Richmond | 11.10 (76) | Princes Park | 28,108 | 26 March 1983 |
| Melbourne | 19.11 (125) | Collingwood | 20.15 (135) | MCG | 72,274 | 26 March 1983 |
| Geelong | 15.16 (106) | Footscray | 11.9 (75) | VFL Park | 18,377 | 26 March 1983 |
| Sydney | 17.9 (111) | Essendon | 15.20 (110) | SCG | 12,001 | 27 March 1983 |

### Round 2

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 14.12 (96) | Geelong | 15.11 (101) | Victoria Park | 34,851 | 2 April 1983 |
| Richmond | 15.10 (100) | Melbourne | 18.11 (119) | MCG | 41,889 | 2 April 1983 |
| Footscray | 14.15 (99) | Carlton | 12.10 (82) | Western Oval | 20,414 | 2 April 1983 |
| Hawthorn | 9.16 (70) | Sydney | 5.15 (45) | Princes Park | 16,159 | 4 April 1983 |
| Essendon | 20.11 (131) | St Kilda | 10.10 (70) | Windy Hill | 27,566 | 4 April 1983 |
| North Melbourne | 6.7 (43) | Fitzroy | 12.16 (88) | VFL Park | 23,788 | 4 April 1983 |

### Round 3

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Geelong | 13.16 (94) | Richmond | 6.10 (46) | Kardinia Park | 23,643 | 9 April 1983 |
| Footscray | 16.15 (111) | Melbourne | 11.13 (79) | Western Oval | 20,608 | 9 April 1983 |
| St Kilda | 6.6 (42) | Hawthorn | 26.15 (171) | Moorabbin Oval | 19,227 | 9 April 1983 |
| Fitzroy | 14.13 (97) | Essendon | 7.14 (56) | Junction Oval | 19,823 | 9 April 1983 |
| Carlton | 13.19 (97) | Collingwood | 11.21 (87) | VFL Park | 69,596 | 9 April 1983 |
| Sydney | 5.15 (45) | North Melbourne | 27.23 (185) | SCG | 11,831 | 10 April 1983 |

### Round 4

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 18.19 (127) | Richmond | 14.19 (103) | Arden Street Oval | 14,822 | 16 April 1983 |
| Fitzroy | 17.23 (125) | Sydney | 6.16 (52) | Junction Oval | 10,738 | 16 April 1983 |
| Hawthorn | 12.25 (97) | Footscray | 17.16 (118) | Princes Park | 16,026 | 16 April 1983 |
| Essendon | 20.21 (141) | Collingwood | 17.15 (117) | Windy Hill | 27,888 | 16 April 1983 |
| Melbourne | 13.12 (90) | Carlton | 14.15 (99) | MCG | 38,544 | 16 April 1983 |
| St Kilda | 11.13 (79) | Geelong | 13.12 (90) | VFL Park | 20,826 | 16 April 1983 |

### Round 5

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 9.19 (73) | Hawthorn | 14.11 (95) | Victoria Park | 28,506 | 23 April 1983 |
| Carlton | 9.11 (65) | Fitzroy | 18.17 (125) | Princes Park | 25,971 | 23 April 1983 |
| Sydney | 24.16 (160) | St Kilda | 21.11 (137) | SCG | 11,276 | 24 April 1983 |
| Geelong | 16.14 (110) | Melbourne | 18.13 (121) | Kardinia Park | 27,645 | 25 April 1983 |
| Richmond | 17.12 (114) | Footscray | 18.8 (116) | MCG | 51,651 | 25 April 1983 |
| Essendon | 20.8 (128) | North Melbourne | 17.21 (123) | VFL Park | 47,722 | 25 April 1983 |

### Round 6

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 18.18 (126) | Sydney | 12.21 (93) | MCG | 22,590 | 30 April 1983 |
| Essendon | 27.19 (181) | Footscray | 7.7 (49) | Windy Hill | 25,151 | 30 April 1983 |
| Collingwood | 19.16 (130) | North Melbourne | 15.18 (108) | Victoria Park | 28,016 | 30 April 1983 |
| Carlton | 12.13 (85) | Geelong | 14.11 (95) | Princes Park | 25,480 | 30 April 1983 |
| St Kilda | 15.12 (102) | Fitzroy | 22.11 (143) | Moorabbin Oval | 16,154 | 30 April 1983 |
| Hawthorn | 12.16 (88) | Richmond | 15.16 (106) | VFL Park | 33,096 | 30 April 1983 |

### Round 7

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 13.13 (91) | North Melbourne | 21.16 (142) | Princes Park | 13,945 | 7 May 1983 |
| Fitzroy | 11.10 (76) | Geelong | 9.13 (67) | Junction Oval | 18,770 | 7 May 1983 |
| Richmond | 16.16 (112) | Essendon | 21.11 (137) | MCG | 49,707 | 7 May 1983 |
| Footscray | 11.16 (82) | Collingwood | 14.4 (88) | Western Oval | 31,479 | 7 May 1983 |
| Melbourne | 16.12 (108) | St Kilda | 11.9 (75) | VFL Park | 25,192 | 7 May 1983 |
| Sydney | 18.10 (118) | Carlton | 22.17 (149) | SCG | 15,432 | 8 May 1983 |

### Round 8

| | Round 8 | Round 8 | Round 8 | | |
| Saturday, 14 May (2:10 pm) | St Kilda 12.17 (89) | def. by | Carlton 22.13 (145) | Moorabbin Oval (crowd: 19,016) | Report |
| Saturday, 14 May (2:10 pm) | Collingwood 16.11 (107) | def. | Richmond 8.11 (59) | VFL Park (crowd: 58,780) | Report |
| Saturday, 14 May (2:10 pm) | Hawthorn 20.17 (137) | def. | Essendon 14.11 (95) | Princes Park (crowd: 21,835) | Report |
| Saturday, 14 May (2:10 pm) | Melbourne 12.15 (87) | def. by | Fitzroy 18.18 (126) | MCG (crowd: 33,758) | Report |
| Saturday, 14 May (2:10 pm) | North Melbourne 29.15 (189) | def. | Footscray 11.8 (74) | Arden Street Oval (crowd: 15,556) | Report |
| Saturday, 14 May (2:10 pm) | Geelong 11.18 (84) | def. by | Sydney 16.14 (110) | Kardinia Park (crowd: 17,650) | Report |
| North Melbourne broke the record for their highest League score in front of over 15,000 supporters at Arden Street Oval. After going into the main break with a 39-point lead and coach Barry Cable urging them be more ruthless, they piled on 12 goals in the third quarter to extend the lead to over 100 points. The play of brothers Jim and Phil Krakouer was a particular highlight, combining with Kym Hodgeman to kick 13 goals between them. Playing in the forward pocket due to knee difficulties, Fitzroy captain Garry Wilson kicked six goals to help the Lions pull away to a 39-point win over Melbourne, who had stayed in the game for three-quarters despite missing a number of senior players and losing key forward Kelvin Templeton as a late withdrawal. ||||||

### Round 9

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Geelong | 12.12 (84) | North Melbourne | 18.16 (124) | Kardinia Park | 21,802 | 21 May 1983 |
| Essendon | 22.17 (149) | Melbourne | 17.13 (115) | Windy Hill | 19,850 | 21 May 1983 |
| Carlton | 15.14 (104) | Hawthorn | 14.12 (96) | Princes Park | 30,750 | 21 May 1983 |
| St Kilda | 16.12 (108) | Richmond | 13.15 (93) | Moorabbin Oval | 20,686 | 21 May 1983 |
| Fitzroy | 13.21 (99) | Footscray | 22.13 (145) | VFL Park | 22,336 | 21 May 1983 |
| Sydney | 18.13 (121) | Collingwood | 14.16 (100) | SCG | 15,305 | 22 May 1983 |

### Round 10

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Richmond | 16.10 (106) | Sydney | 14.10 (94) | MCG | 21,047 | 28 May 1983 |
| Footscray | 17.26 (128) | St Kilda | 11.16 (82) | Western Oval | 19,247 | 28 May 1983 |
| Essendon | 15.19 (109) | Geelong | 15.7 (97) | Windy Hill | 20,782 | 28 May 1983 |
| Collingwood | 10.17 (77) | Fitzroy | 13.15 (93) | Victoria Park | 32,820 | 28 May 1983 |
| North Melbourne | 29.19 (193) | Carlton | 11.16 (82) | Arden Street Oval | 22,776 | 28 May 1983 |
| Melbourne | 16.13 (109) | Hawthorn | 27.9 (171) | VFL Park | 23,988 | 28 May 1983 |

### Round 11

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 18.17 (125) | North Melbourne | 20.19 (139) | MCG | 25,249 | 4 June 1983 |
| Fitzroy | 20.16 (136) | Richmond | 16.18 (114) | Junction Oval | 16,153 | 4 June 1983 |
| Hawthorn | 12.16 (88) | Geelong | 14.11 (95) | Princes Park | 13,465 | 4 June 1983 |
| St Kilda | 21.18 (144) | Collingwood | 24.16 (160) | Moorabbin Oval | 25,153 | 4 June 1983 |
| Carlton | 15.11 (101) | Essendon | 19.12 (126) | VFL Park | 60,619 | 4 June 1983 |
| Sydney | 17.19 (121) | Footscray | 15.12 (102) | SCG | 10,710 | 5 June 1983 |

### Round 12

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 15.12 (102) | Geelong | 14.7 (91) | Western Oval | 25,382 | 11 June 1983 |
| St Kilda | 15.14 (104) | North Melbourne | 20.15 (135) | Moorabbin Oval | 15,467 | 11 June 1983 |
| Hawthorn | 25.17 (167) | Fitzroy | 21.8 (134) | Princes Park | 20,559 | 11 June 1983 |
| Essendon | 23.18 (156) | Sydney | 13.5 (83) | Windy Hill | 20,535 | 13 June 1983 |
| Richmond | 21.15 (141) | Carlton | 13.13 (91) | MCG | 48,243 | 13 June 1983 |
| Collingwood | 12.15 (87) | Melbourne | 10.8 (68) | VFL Park | 55,380 | 13 June 1983 |

### Round 13

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| St Kilda | 13.13 (91) | Essendon | 21.12 (138) | VFL Park | 30,616 | 18 June 1983 |
| Geelong | 15.11 (101) | Collingwood | 13.7 (85) | Kardinia Park | 25,808 | 18 June 1983 |
| Melbourne | 18.15 (123) | Richmond | 15.19 (109) | MCG | 28,468 | 18 June 1983 |
| Fitzroy | 34.16 (220) | North Melbourne | 10.10 (70) | Junction Oval | 19,770 | 18 June 1983 |
| Carlton | 26.15 (171) | Footscray | 12.10 (82) | Princes Park | 23,710 | 18 June 1983 |
| Sydney | 11.12 (78) | Hawthorn | 15.20 (110) | SCG | 10,084 | 19 June 1983 |

### Round 14

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 11.16 (82) | Sydney | 7.8 (50) | Arden Street Oval | 7,408 | 25 June 1983 |
| Hawthorn | 21.17 (143) | St Kilda | 9.20 (74) | Princes Park | 8,190 | 25 June 1983 |
| Essendon | 8.10 (58) | Fitzroy | 9.11 (65) | Windy Hill | 22,925 | 25 June 1983 |
| Melbourne | 14.15 (99) | Footscray | 12.13 (85) | MCG | 19,306 | 25 June 1983 |
| Collingwood | 15.10 (100) | Carlton | 6.9 (45) | Victoria Park | 27,778 | 25 June 1983 |
| Richmond | 11.4 (70) | Geelong | 10.9 (69) | VFL Park | 17,339 | 25 June 1983 |

### Round 15

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 9.6 (60) | Hawthorn | 13.11 (89) | VFL Park | 15,750 | 2 July 1983 |
| Carlton | 9.13 (67) | Melbourne | 15.16 (106) | Princes Park | 19,300 | 2 July 1983 |
| Geelong | 9.14 (68) | St Kilda | 18.12 (120) | Kardinia Park | 11,459 | 2 July 1983 |
| Collingwood | 16.8 (104) | Essendon | 13.9 (87) | Victoria Park | 33,614 | 2 July 1983 |
| Richmond | 16.18 (114) | North Melbourne | 21.12 (138) | MCG | 23,622 | 2 July 1983 |
| Sydney | 23.9 (147) | Fitzroy | 17.15 (117) | SCG | 10,315 | 3 July 1983 |

### Round 16

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 12.12 (84) | Richmond | 15.14 (104) | Western Oval | 15,006 | 9 July 1983 |
| North Melbourne | 19.14 (128) | Essendon | 16.11 (107) | Arden Street Oval | 22,340 | 9 July 1983 |
| Fitzroy | 13.11 (89) | Carlton | 18.16 (124) | VFL Park | 31,757 | 9 July 1983 |
| St Kilda | 20.9 (129) | Sydney | 14.16 (100) | Moorabbin Oval | 17,861 | 16 July 1983 |
| Melbourne | 10.19 (79) | Geelong | 10.13 (73) | MCG | 34,155 | 16 July 1983 |
| Hawthorn | 19.23 (137) | Collingwood | 14.16 (100) | Princes Park | 28,595 | 16 July 1983 |

### Round 17

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 24.8 (152) | Collingwood | 14.14 (98) | VFL Park | 41,098 | 23 July 1983 |
| Richmond | 11.16 (82) | Hawthorn | 22.14 (146) | MCG | 31,084 | 23 July 1983 |
| Footscray | 16.11 (107) | Essendon | 18.17 (125) | Western Oval | 20,708 | 23 July 1983 |
| Geelong | 11.7 (73) | Carlton | 15.18 (108) | Kardinia Park | 17,657 | 23 July 1983 |
| Fitzroy | 20.18 (138) | St Kilda | 22.17 (149) | Junction Oval | 15,335 | 23 July 1983 |
| Sydney | 18.17 (125) | Melbourne | 16.16 (112) | SCG | 11,094 | 24 July 1983 |

### Round 18

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 6.14 (50) | Richmond | 19.10 (124) | Windy Hill | 18,050 | 30 July 1983 |
| Collingwood | 12.10 (82) | Footscray | 9.19 (73) | Victoria Park | 20,743 | 30 July 1983 |
| Carlton | 17.17 (119) | Sydney | 11.9 (75) | Princes Park | 17,868 | 30 July 1983 |
| St Kilda | 11.15 (81) | Melbourne | 14.14 (98) | Moorabbin Oval | 20,218 | 30 July 1983 |
| North Melbourne | 12.18 (90) | Hawthorn | 15.7 (97) | Arden Street Oval | 17,720 | 30 July 1983 |
| Geelong | 7.7 (49) | Fitzroy | 16.15 (111) | VFL Park | 14,718 | 30 July 1983 |

### Round 19

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Sydney | 10.15 (75) | Geelong | 20.21 (141) | SCG | 12,752 | 5 August 1983 |
| Fitzroy | 22.29 (161) | Melbourne | 11.9 (75) | Junction Oval | 13,870 | 6 August 1983 |
| Essendon | 23.18 (156) | Hawthorn | 16.14 (110) | Windy Hill | 19,315 | 6 August 1983 |
| Carlton | 25.18 (168) | St Kilda | 8.13 (61) | Princes Park | 19,203 | 6 August 1983 |
| Richmond | 11.13 (79) | Collingwood | 13.11 (89) | MCG | 81,966 | 6 August 1983 |
| Footscray | 10.11 (71) | North Melbourne | 25.14 (164) | VFL Park | 12,028 | 6 August 1983 |

### Round 20

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 28.14 (182) | Sydney | 18.12 (120) | Victoria Park | 18,772 | 13 August 1983 |
| North Melbourne | 16.20 (116) | Geelong | 11.18 (84) | Arden Street Oval | 11,093 | 13 August 1983 |
| Footscray | 19.11 (125) | Fitzroy | 14.15 (99) | Western Oval | 14,688 | 13 August 1983 |
| Melbourne | 19.10 (124) | Essendon | 21.15 (141) | MCG | 38,620 | 13 August 1983 |
| Hawthorn | 15.22 (112) | Carlton | 20.9 (129) | Princes Park | 28,504 | 13 August 1983 |
| Richmond | 9.11 (65) | St Kilda | 21.14 (140) | VFL Park | 21,811 | 13 August 1983 |

### Round 21

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Carlton | 18.18 (126) | North Melbourne | 13.15 (93) | Princes Park | 32,610 | 20 August 1983 |
| St Kilda | 13.16 (94) | Footscray | 16.4 (100) | Moorabbin Oval | 15,680 | 20 August 1983 |
| Fitzroy | 19.13 (127) | Collingwood | 7.21 (63) | Junction Oval | 24,104 | 20 August 1983 |
| Hawthorn | 25.22 (172) | Melbourne | 8.9 (57) | VFL Park | 21,192 | 20 August 1983 |
| Geelong | 12.11 (83) | Essendon | 26.9 (165) | Kardinia Park | 20,110 | 20 August 1983 |
| Sydney | 10.13 (73) | Richmond | 15.24 (114) | SCG | 11,475 | 21 August 1983 |

### Round 22

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Geelong | 11.11 (77) | Hawthorn | 24.13 (157) | Kardinia Park | 11,214 | 27 August 1983 |
| Footscray | 17.12 (114) | Sydney | 10.12 (72) | Western Oval | 13,369 | 27 August 1983 |
| Collingwood | 24.11 (155) | St Kilda | 14.8 (92) | Victoria Park | 19,016 | 27 August 1983 |
| North Melbourne | 21.22 (148) | Melbourne | 10.15 (75) | Arden Street Oval | 10,603 | 27 August 1983 |
| Richmond | 12.21 (93) | Fitzroy | 19.13 (127) | MCG | 27,310 | 27 August 1983 |
| Essendon | 18.10 (118) | Carlton | 8.19 (67) | VFL Park | 64,232 | 27 August 1983 |

## Ladder

| (P) | Premiers |
| | Qualified for finals |
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
| 1 | North Melbourne | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2789 | 2183 | 127.8 | 64 |
| 2 | Hawthorn (P) | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2675 | 2078 | 128.7 | 60 |
| 3 | Fitzroy | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2608 | 2059 | 126.7 | 60 |
| 4 | Essendon | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2664 | 2215 | 120.3 | 60 |
| 5 | Carlton | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 2360 | 2244 | 105.2 | 52 |
| 6 | Collingwood | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2315 | 2247 | 103.0 | 48 |
| 7 | Footscray | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 2102 | 2428 | 86.6 | 40 |
| 8 | Melbourne | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 2220 | 2557 | 86.8 | 36 |
| 9 | Geelong | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1932 | 2197 | 87.9 | 32 |
| 10 | Richmond | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 2124 | 2392 | 88.8 | 28 |
| 11 | Sydney | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 2068 | 2670 | 77.5 | 28 |
| 12 | St Kilda | 22 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 2150 | 2737 | 78.6 | 20 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Average score: 106.1 Source: AFL Tables

## Finals series
### Finals week 1

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Essendon | 17.12 (114) | Carlton | 12.9 (81) | Waverley Park | 65,881 | Saturday, 3 September |
| Hawthorn | 19.13 (127) | Fitzroy | 19.9 (123) | MCG | 58,288 | Saturday, 3 September |

### Finals week 2

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| North Melbourne | 6.12 (48) | Hawthorn | 13.10 (88) | Waverley Park | 41,063 | Saturday, 10 September |
| Fitzroy | 12.14 (86) | Essendon | 16.13 (109) | MCG | 81,090 | Saturday, 10 September |

### Preliminary final

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| North Melbourne | 12.6 (78) | Essendon | 25.14 (164) | Waverley Park | 63,785 | Saturday, 17 September |

### Grand final

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Hawthorn | 20.20 (140) | Essendon | 8.9 (57) | MCG | 110,332 | Saturday, 24 September |

## Season notes

* In Round 4, St Kilda played Paul Morwood, Jack Lynch and Silvio Foschini without their clearances from the Sydney Swans being finalised. Had they beaten Geelong, they would have forfeited the points under the laws at the time.
* North Melbourne's 150-point loss to Fitzroy in Round 13 more than doubled the previous biggest loss by a minor premier of 69 points, which had occurred in 1952 and 1974.
* In Fitzroy's Round 17 game with St Kilda, a record quarter aggregate of 19.7 (121) – Fitzroy 12.6 (78), St. Kilda 7.1 (43) – was kicked during the second quarter.
* In Round 19, Kevin Bartlett became the first player to play 400 VFL games, after having in Round 11 of 1981 become the first to reach 350 games.

## Awards

* The Brownlow Medal was awarded to Ross Glendinning of North Melbourne.
* The Coleman Medal was awarded to Bernie Quinlan of Fitzroy.
* The VFL Players Association MVP Award, now known as the Leigh Matthews Trophy, was awarded to Terry Daniher of Essendon.
* The Norm Smith Medal was awarded to Colin Robertson of Hawthorn.
* The "Wooden Spoon" was "awarded" to St Kilda.
* The under 19s premiership won by Melbourne
* The reserves premiership was won by Essendon. Essendon 19.14 (128) defeated Collingwood 15.9 (99) in the grand final, held as a curtain-raiser to the seniors Grand Final on 24 September.