1981 VFL season Round 9 Round 9

| Home_team | Home_team_score | Away_team | Away_team_score | Venue | Crowd | Date_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Footscray | 10.14 (74) | Hawthorn | 11.18 (84) | Western Oval | 13789 | 23 May 1981 |
| Fitzroy | 13.15 (93) | Geelong | 16.18 (114) | Junction Oval | 15604 | 23 May 1981 |
| Carlton | 25.22 (172) | South Melbourne | 11.7 (73) | Princes Park | 22445 | 23 May 1981 |
| Melbourne | 10.10 (70) | Essendon | 14.20 (104) | MCG | 31769 | 23 May 1981 |
| North Melbourne | 12.26 (98) | Collingwood | 16.15 (111) | Arden Street Oval | 24625 | 23 May 1981 |
| Richmond | 20.16 (136) | St Kilda | 15.15 (105) | VFL Park | 40240 | 23 May 1981 |