1981 VFL season Round 3 Round 3

| Home_team | Home_team_score | Away_team | Away_team_score | Venue | Crowd | Date_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Footscray | 18.11 (119) | Melbourne | 18.12 (120) | Western Oval | 13256 | 11 April 1981 |
| Carlton | 14.24 (108) | Fitzroy | 12.20 (92) | Princes Park | 24780 | 11 April 1981 |
| North Melbourne | 15.26 (116) | Geelong | 14.5 (89) | Arden Street Oval | 17744 | 11 April 1981 |
| Richmond | 17.16 (118) | Essendon | 16.18 (114) | MCG | 61908 | 11 April 1981 |
| St Kilda | 19.21 (135) | Collingwood | 23.19 (157) | Moorabbin Oval | 33882 | 11 April 1981 |
| South Melbourne | 21.13 (139) | Hawthorn | 18.9 (117) | VFL Park | 21977 | 11 April 1981 |