1981 VFL season Round 16 Round 16

| Home_team | Home_team_score | Away_team | Away_team_score | Venue | Crowd | Date_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawthorn | 12.14 (86) | Richmond | 20.11 (131) | Princes Park | 19519 | 18 July 1981 |
| Essendon | 22.21 (153) | Footscray | 8.12 (60) | Windy Hill | 21588 | 18 July 1981 |
| South Melbourne | 22.19 (151) | St Kilda | 16.4 (100) | Lake Oval | 13297 | 18 July 1981 |
| Melbourne | 12.7 (79) | Geelong | 22.35 (167) | MCG | 21947 | 18 July 1981 |
| Collingwood | 11.11 (77) | Carlton | 10.16 (76) | Victoria Park | 30708 | 18 July 1981 |
| Fitzroy | 18.13 (121) | North Melbourne | 12.15 (87) | VFL Park | 17713 | 18 July 1981 |