This page is a chronological listing of Australian Football League premiers. The AFL (formerly Victorian Football League) is the elite competition in Australian rules football. Between 1897, when the VFL was formed, and the 1980s where the VFL expanded nationally and was eventually renamed, it was theoretically just one of the state-based competitions. However, Melbourne's superior financial resources and population saw the VFL competition the strongest league in the country for most of that period.
Note that the current nicknames for the teams were devised subsequent to the beginning of the competition, and many have changed - for instance, the Kangaroos were at one stage known as "The Shinboners".
Year | Premier | Runner Up | Grand Final scoreline | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1897 | Essendon | Geelong | No GF played | |
1898 | Fitzroy | Essendon | 5.8 (38) - 3.5 (23) | |
1899 | Fitzroy | South Melbourne | 3.9 (27) - 3.8 (26) | |
1900 | Melbourne | Fitzroy | 4.10 (34) - 3.12 (30) | |
1901 | Essendon | Collingwood | 6.7 (43) - 2.4 (16) | |
1902 | Collingwood | Essendon | 9.6 (60) - 3.9 (27) | |
1903 | Collingwood | Fitzroy | 4.7 (31) - 3.11 (29) | |
1904 | Fitzroy | Carlton | 9.7 (61) - 5.7 (37) | |
1905 | Fitzroy | Collingwood | 4.6 (30) - 2.5 (17) | |
1906 | Carlton | Fitzroy Lions | 15.4 (94) - 6.9 (45) | |
1907 | Carlton | South Melbourne | 6.14 (50) - 6.9 (45) | |
1908 | Carlton | Essendon | 5.5 (35) - 3.8 (26) | |
1909 | South Melbourne | Carlton | 4.14 (38) - 4.12 (36) | |
1910 | Collingwood | Carlton | 9.7 (61) - 6.11 (47) | |
1911 | Essendon | Collingwood | 5.11 (41) - 4.11 (35) | |
1912 | Essendon | South Melbourne | 5.17 (47) - 4.9 (33) | |
1913 | Fitzroy | St Kilda | 7.14 (56) - 5.13 (43) | |
1914 | Carlton | South Melbourne | 6.9 (45) - 4.15 (39) | |
1915 | Carlton | Collingwood | 11.12 (78) - 6.9 (45) | |
1916 | Fitzroy | Carlton | 12.13 (85) - 8.8 (56) | |
1917 | Collingwood | Fitzroy | 9.20 (74) - 5.9 (39) | |
1918 | South Melbourne | Collingwood | 9.8 (62) - 7.15 (57) | |
1919 | Collingwood | Richmond | 11.12 (78) - 7.1 (53) | |
1920 | Richmond | Collingwood | 7.10 (52) - 5.5 (35) | |
1921 | Richmond | Carlton | 5.6 (36) - 4.8 (32) | |
1922 | Fitzroy | Collingwood | 11.13 (79) - 9.14 (68) | |
1923 | Essendon | Fitzroy | 8.15 (63) - 6.10 (46) | |
1924 | Essendon | Richmond | No Grand Final ** | |
1925 | Geelong | Collingwood | 10.19 (79) - 9.15 (69) | |
1926 | Melbourne | Collingwood | 17.17 (119) - 9.8 (62) | |
1927 | Collingwood | Richmond | 2.13 (25) - 1.7 (13) | |
1928 | Collingwood | Richmond | 13.18 (96) - 9.9 (63) | |
1929 | Collingwood | Richmond | 11.13 (79) - 7.8 (50) | |
1930 | Collingwood | Geelong | 14.16 (100) - 9.16 (70) | |
1931 | Geelong | Richmond | 9.14 (68) - 7.6 (48) | |
1932 | Richmond | Carlton | 13.14 (92) - 12.11 (83) | |
1933 | South Melbourne | Richmond | 9.17 (71) - 4.5 (29) | |
1934 | Richmond | South Melbourne | 19.14 (128) - 12.17 (89) | |
1935 | Collingwood | South Melbourne | 11.12 (78) - 7.16 (58) | |
1936 | Collingwood | South Melbourne | 11.23 (89) - 10.18 (78) | |
1937 | Geelong | Collingwood | 18.14 (122) - 12.18 (90) | |
1938 | Carlton | Collingwood | 15.10 (100) - 13.7 (85) | |
1939 | Melbourne | Collingwood | 21.22 (148) - 14.11 (95) | |
1940 | Melbourne | Richmond | 15.17 (107) - 10.8 (68) | |
1941 | Melbourne | Essendon | 19.13 (127) - 13.20 (98) | |
1942 | Essendon | Richmond | 19.18 (132) - 11.13 (79) | |
1943 | Richmond | Essendon | 12.14 (86) - 11.15 (81) | |
1944 | Fitzroy | Richmond | 9.12 (66) - 7.9 (51) | |
1945 | Carlton | South Melbourne | 15.13 (103) - 10.15 (76) | |
1946 | Carlton | Essendon | 13.8 (86) - 11.19(85) | |
1947 | Carlton | Essendon | 13.8 (86) - 11.17 (83) | |
1948 | Melbourne | Essendon | 13.11 (89) - 7.8 (50) | "***" |
1949 | Essendon | Carlton | 18.17(125) - 6.16 (52) | |
1950 | Essendon | North Melbourne | 13.14 (92) - 7.12 (54) | |
1951 | Geelong | Essendon | 11.15 (81) - 10.10 (70) | |
1952 | Geelong | Collingwood | 13.8 (86) - 5.10 (40) | |
1953 | Collingwood | Geelong | 11.11 (77) - 8.17 (65) | |
1954 | Footscray | Melbourne | 15.12 (102) - 7.9 (51) | |
1955 | Melbourne | Collingwood | 8.16 (64) - 5.6 (36) | |
1956 | Melbourne | Collingwood | 17.19 (121) - 6.12 (48) | |
1957 | Melbourne | Essendon | 17.14 (116) - 7.13 (55) | |
1958 | Collingwood | Melbourne | 12.10 (82) - 9.10 (64) | |
1959 | Melbourne | Essendon | 17.13 (115) - 11.12 (78) | |
1960 | Melbourne | Collingwood | 8.14 (62) - 2.2 (14) | |
1961 | Hawthorn | Footscray | 13.16 (94) - 7.9 (51) | |
1962 | Essendon | Carlton | 13.12 (90) - 8.10 (58) | |
1963 | Geelong | Hawthorn | 15.19 (109) - 8.12 (60) | |
1964 | Melbourne | Collingwood | 8.16 (64) - 8.12 (60) | |
1965 | Essendon | St Kilda | 14.21 (105) - 9.16 (70) | |
1966 | St Kilda | Collingwood | 10.14 (74) - 10.13 (73) | |
1967 | Richmond | Geelong | 16.18 (114) - 15.15 (105) | |
1968 | Carlton | Essendon | 7.14 (56) - 8.5 (53) | |
1969 | Richmond | Carlton | 12.13 (85) - 8.12 (60) | |
1970 | Carlton | Collingwood | 17.9 (111) - 14.17 (101) | |
1971 | Hawthorn | St Kilda | 12.10 (82) - 11.9 (75) | |
1972 | Carlton | Richmond | 28.9 (177) - 22.18 (150) | |
1973 | Richmond | Carlton | 16.20 (116) - 12.14 (86) | |
1974 | Richmond | North Melbourne | 18.20 (128) - 13.9 (87) | |
1975 | North Melbourne | Hawthorn | 19.8 (122) - 9.13 (67) | |
1976 | Hawthorn | North Melbourne | 13.22 (100) - 10.10 (70) | |
1977 | North Melbourne | Collingwood | 21.25 (151) - 19.10 (124) | "!!" |
1978 | Hawthorn | North Melbourne | 18.13 (121) - 15.13 (103) | |
1979 | Carlton | Collingwood | 11.16 (82) - 11.11 (77) | |
1980 | Richmond | Collingwood | 23.21 (159) - 9.24 (78) | |
1981 | Carlton | Collingwood | 12.20 (92) - 10.12 (72) | |
1982 | Carlton | Richmond | 14.19 (103) - 12.13 (83) | |
1983 | Hawthorn | Essendon | 20.20 (140) - 8.9 (57) | |
1984 | Essendon | Hawthorn | 14.21 (105) - 12.9 (81) | |
1985 | Essendon | Hawthorn | 26.14 (170) - 14.8 (92) | |
1986 | Hawthorn | Carlton | 16.14 (110) - 9.14 (68) | |
1987 | Carlton | Hawthorn | 15.14 (104) - 9.17 (71) | |
1988 | Hawthorn | Melbourne | 22.20 (152) - 6.20 (56) | |
1989 | Hawthorn | Geelong | 21.18(144) - 21.12 (138) | |
1990 | Collingwood | Essendon | 13.11 (89) - 5.11 (41) | |
1991 | Hawthorn | West Coast Eagles | 20.19 (139) - 13.8 (86) | |
1992 | West Coast Eagles | Geelong | 16.17 (113) - 12.13 (85) | |
1993 | Essendon | Carlton | 20.13 (133) - 13.11 (89) | |
1994 | West Coast Eagles | Geelong | 20.23 (143) - 8.15 (63) | |
1995 | Carlton | Geelong | 21.15 (141) - 11.14 (80) | |
1996 | North Melbourne | Sydney Swans | 19.17(131) - 13.10 (88) | |
1997 | Adelaide Crows | St Kilda | 19.11 (125) - 13.16 (94) | |
1998 | Adelaide Crows | North Melbourne | 15.15 (105) - 8.22 (70) | |
1999 | Kangaroos | Carlton | 19.10 (124) - 12.17 (89) | |
2000 | Essendon | Melbourne | 19.21 (135) - 11.9 (75) | |
2001 | Brisbane Lions | Essendon | 15.18(108) - 12.10 (82) | |
2002 | Brisbane Lions | Collingwood | 10.15(75) - 9.12(66) | |
2003 | Brisbane Lions | Collingwood | 20.14(134) - 12.12(84) |
Notes:
- "**": In 1924 there was no single "Grand Final", instead a 3 - week series of matches was played between the four teams that finished best after the home and away series. Essendon won the premiership on percentage despite losing to Richmond in their final match. The experiment was a flop with crowds and was never repeated.
- "***": The grand final was actually drawn Melbourne 10.9 (69) - Essendon 7.27 (69). The game was replayed the next week, with Melbourne winning the replay.
- "!!": The grand final was tied Collingwood 10.16 (76) - North 9.22 (76). The replay was won by the Kangaroos.
Sources: