List of Australian Football League premiers
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This page is a chronological listing of Australian Football League premiers. The Australian Football League (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 in 1990 (to the AFL), 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".
Since the introduction of the salary cap and the draft in the late 80's, every AFL club has played finals football. Since 1998, every club has played in a preliminary final.
Contents |
[edit] Results
[edit] The VFL
Season | Premier | Runner Up | Score | Venue | Attendance |
1897 | Essendon | Geelong | No Grand Final[1] | No Venue | N/A |
1898 | Fitzroy | Essendon | 5.8 (38) - 3.5 (23) | Junction Oval | 16,538 |
1899 | Fitzroy | South Melbourne | 3.9 (27) - 3.8 (26) | Junction Oval | 4,823 |
1900 | Melbourne | Fitzroy | 4.10 (34) - 3.12 (30) | East Melbourne | 20,181 |
1901 | Essendon | Collingwood | 6.7 (43) - 2.4 (16) | Lake Oval | 30,031 |
1902 | Collingwood | Essendon | 9.6 (60) - 3.9 (27 | MCG | 35,202 |
1903 | Collingwood | Fitzroy | 4.7 (31) - 3.11 (29) | MCG | 32,263 |
1904 | Fitzroy | Carlton | 9.7 (61) - 5.7 (37) | MCG | 32,688 |
1905 | Fitzroy | Collingwood | 4.6 (30) - 2.5 (17) | MCG | 30,000 |
1906 | Carlton | Fitzroy | 15.4 (94) - 6.9 (45) | MCG | 44,437 |
1907 | Carlton | South Melbourne | 6.14 (50) - 6.9 (45) | MCG | 45,477 |
1908 | Carlton | Essendon | 5.5 (35) - 3.8 (26) | MCG | 50,261 |
1909 | South Melbourne | Carlton | 4.14 (38) - 4.12 (36) | MCG | 37,759 |
1910 | Collingwood | Carlton | 9.7 (61) - 6.11 (47) | MCG | 42,790 |
1911 | Essendon | Collingwood | 5.11 (41) - 4.11 (35) | MCG | 43,905 |
1912 | Essendon | South Melbourne | 5.17 (47) - 4.9 (33) | MCG | 54,434 |
1913 | Fitzroy | St Kilda | 7.14 (56) - 5.13 (43) | MCG | 59,556 |
1914 | Carlton | South Melbourne | 6.9 (45) - 4.15 (39) | MCG | 30,495 |
1915 | Carlton | Collingwood | 11.12 (78) - 6.9 (45) | MCG | 39,343 |
1916 | Fitzroy | Carlton | 12.13 (85) - 8.8 (56) | MCG | 21,130 |
1917 | Collingwood | Fitzroy | 9.20 (74) - 5.9 (39) | MCG | 25,512 |
1918 | South Melbourne | Collingwood | 9.8 (62) - 7.15 (57) | MCG | 39,262 |
1919 | Collingwood | Richmond | 11.12 (78) - 7.1 (53) | MCG | 45,413 |
1920 | Richmond | Collingwood | 7.10 (52) - 5.5 (35) | MCG | 53,908 |
1921 | Richmond | Carlton | 5.6 (36) - 4.8 (32) | MCG | 43,122 |
1922 | Fitzroy | Collingwood | 11.13 (79) - 9.14 (68) | MCG | 50,054 |
1923 | Essendon | Fitzroy | 8.15 (63) - 6.10 (46) | MCG | 46,566 |
1924 | Essendon | Richmond | No Grand Final[1] | No Venue | N/A |
1925 | Geelong | Collingwood | 10.19 (79) - 9.15 (69) | MCG | 64,288 |
1926 | Melbourne | Collingwood | 17.17 (119) - 9.8 (62) | MCG | 59,632 |
1927 | Collingwood | Richmond | 2.13 (25) - 1.7 (13) | MCG | 34,551 |
1928 | Collingwood | Richmond | 13.18 (96) - 9.9 (63) | MCG | 50,026 |
1929 | Collingwood | Richmond | 11.13 (79) - 7.8 (50) | MCG | 63,336 |
1930 | Collingwood | Geelong | 14.16 (100) - 9.16 (70) | MCG | 45,022 |
1931 | Geelong | Richmond | 9.14 (68) - 7.6 (48) | MCG | 60,712 |
1932 | Richmond | Carlton | 13.14 (92) - 12.11 (83) | MCG | 69,724 |
1933 | South Melbourne | Richmond | 9.17 (71) - 4.5 (29) | MCG | 75,754 |
1934 | Richmond | South Melbourne | 19.14 (128) - 12.17 (89) | MCG | 65,335 |
1935 | Collingwood | South Melbourne | 11.12 (78) - 7.16 (58) | MCG | 54,154 |
1936 | Collingwood | South Melbourne | 11.23 (89) - 10.18 (78) | MCG | 74,091 |
1937 | Geelong | Collingwood | 18.14 (122) - 12.18 (90) | MCG | 88,540 |
1938 | Carlton | Collingwood | 15.10 (100) - 13.7 (85) | MCG | 96,486 |
1939 | Melbourne | Collingwood | 21.22 (148) - 14.11 (95) | MCG | 78,110 |
1940 | Melbourne | Richmond | 15.17 (107) - 10.8 (68) | MCG | 70,330 |
1941 | Melbourne | Essendon | 19.13 (127) - 13.20 (98) | MCG | 79,687 |
1942 | Essendon | Richmond | 19.18 (132) - 11.13 (79) | Princes Park | 49,000 |
1943 | Richmond | Essendon | 12.14 (86) - 11.15 (81) | Princes Park | 42,100 |
1944 | Fitzroy | Richmond | 9.12 (66) - 7.9 (51) | Junction Oval | 43,000 |
1945 | Carlton | South Melbourne | 15.13 (103) - 10.15 (76) | Princes Park | 62,986 |
1946 | Essendon | Melbourne | 22.18 (150) - 13.9(87) | MCG | 73,743 |
1947 | Carlton | Essendon | 13.8 (86) - 11.19 (85) | MCG | 85,815 |
1948 | Melbourne | Essendon | 13.11 (89) - 7.8 (50)[1] | MCG | 52,226 |
1949 | Essendon | Carlton | 18.17 (125) - 6.16 (52) | MCG | 90,453 |
1950 | Essendon | North Melbourne | 13.14 (92) - 7.12 (54) | MCG | 87,601 |
1951 | Geelong | Essendon | 11.15 (81) - 10.10 (70) | MCG | 84,109 |
1952 | Geelong | Collingwood | 13.8 (86) - 5.10 (40) | MCG | 81,304 |
1953 | Collingwood | Geelong | 11.11 (77) - 8.17 (65) | MCG | 89,060 |
1954 | Footscray | Melbourne | 15.12 (102) - 7.9 (51) | MCG | 80,897 |
1955 | Melbourne | Collingwood | 8.16 (64) - 5.6 (36) | MCG | 88,053 |
1956 | Melbourne | Collingwood | 17.19 (121) - 6.12 (48) | MCG | 115,803 |
1957 | Melbourne | Essendon | 17.14 (116) - 7.13 (55) | MCG | 100,324 |
1958 | Collingwood | Melbourne | 12.10 (82) - 9.10 (64) | MCG | 97,956 |
1959 | Melbourne | Essendon | 17.13 (115) - 11.12 (78) | MCG | 103,506 |
1960 | Melbourne | Collingwood | 8.14 (62) - 2.2 (14) | MCG | 97,457 |
1961 | Hawthorn | Footscray | 13.16 (94) - 7.9 (51) | MCG | 107,935 |
1962 | Essendon | Carlton | 13.12 (90) - 8.10 (58) | MCG | 98,385 |
1963 | Geelong | Hawthorn | 15.19 (109) - 8.12 (60) | MCG | 101,452 |
1964 | Melbourne | Collingwood | 8.16 (64) - 8.12 (60) | MCG | 102,469 |
1965 | Essendon | St Kilda | 14.21 (105) - 9.16 (70) | MCG | 104,846 |
1966 | St Kilda | Collingwood | 10.14 (74) - 10.13 (73) | MCG | 101,655 |
1967 | Richmond | Geelong | 16.18 (114) - 15.15 (105) | MCG | 109,396 |
1968 | Carlton | Essendon | 7.14 (56) - 8.5 (53) | MCG | 116,828 |
1969 | Richmond | Carlton | 12.13 (85) - 8.12 (60) | MCG | 119,165 |
1970 | Carlton | Collingwood | 17.9 (111) - 14.17 (101) | MCG | 121,696 |
1971 | Hawthorn | St Kilda | 12.10 (82) - 11.9 (75) | MCG | 118,192 |
1972 | Carlton | Richmond | 28.9 (177) - 22.18 (150) | MCG | 112,393 |
1973 | Richmond | Carlton | 16.20 (116) - 12.14 (86) | MCG | 116,956 |
1974 | Richmond | North Melbourne | 18.20 (128) - 13.9 (87) | MCG | 113,839 |
1975 | North Melbourne | Hawthorn | 19.8 (122) - 9.13 (67) | MCG | 110,551 |
1976 | Hawthorn | North Melbourne | 13.22 (100) - 10.10 (70) | MCG | 110,143 |
1977 | North Melbourne | Collingwood | 21.25 (151) - 19.10 (124)[2] | MCG | 98,366 |
1978 | Hawthorn | North Melbourne | 18.13 (121) - 15.13 (103) | MCG | 101,704 |
1979 | Carlton | Collingwood | 11.16 (82) - 11.11 (77) | MCG | 113,545 |
1980 | Richmond | Collingwood | 23.21 (159) - 9.24 (78) | MCG | 113,461 |
1981 | Carlton | Collingwood | 12.20 (92) - 10.12 (72) | MCG | 112,964 |
1982 | Carlton | Richmond | 14.19 (103) - 12.13 (83) | MCG | 107,537 |
1983 | Hawthorn | Essendon | 20.20 (140) - 8.9 (57) | MCG | 110,332 |
1984 | Essendon | Hawthorn | 14.21 (105) - 12.9 (81) | MCG | 92,685 |
1985 | Essendon | Hawthorn | 26.14 (170) - 14.8 (92) | MCG | 100,042 |
1986 | Hawthorn | Carlton | 16.14 (110) - 9.14 (68) | MCG | 101,861 |
1987 | Carlton | Hawthorn | 15.14 (104) - 9.17 (71) | MCG | 92,754 |
1988 | Hawthorn | Melbourne | 22.20 (152) - 6.20 (56) | MCG | 93,754 |
1989 | Hawthorn | Geelong | 21.18 (144) - 21.12 (138) | MCG | 94,796 |
[edit] The AFL
Season | Premier | Runner Up | Score | Venue | Attendance |
1990 | Collingwood | Essendon | 13.11 (89) - 5.11 (41) | MCG | 98,944 |
1991 | Hawthorn | West Coast Eagles | 20.19 (139) - 13.8 (86) | Waverley Park | 75,230 |
1992 | West Coast Eagles | Geelong | 16.17 (113) - 12.13 (85) | MCG | 95,007 |
1993 | Essendon | Carlton | 20.13 (133) - 13.11 (89) | MCG | 96,862 |
1994 | West Coast Eagles | Geelong | 20.23 (143) - 8.15 (63) | MCG | 93,860 |
1995 | Carlton | Geelong | 21.15 (141) - 11.14 (80) | MCG | 93,670 |
1996 | North Melbourne | Sydney Swans | 19.17 (131) - 13.10 (88) | MCG | 93,102 |
1997 | Adelaide Crows | St Kilda | 19.11 (125) - 13.16 (94) | MCG | 98,828 |
1998 | Adelaide Crows | North Melbourne | 15.15 (105) - 8.22 (70) | MCG | 94,431 |
1999 | Kangaroos | Carlton | 19.10 (124) - 12.17 (89) | MCG | 94,228 |
2000 | Essendon | Melbourne | 19.21 (135) - 11.9 (75) | MCG | 96,249 |
2001 | Brisbane Lions | Essendon | 15.18 (108) - 12.10 (82) | MCG | 91,482 |
2002 | Brisbane Lions | Collingwood | 10.15 (75) - 9.12 (66) | MCG | 91,817 |
2003 | Brisbane Lions | Collingwood | 20.14 (134) - 12.12 (84) | MCG | 79,451 |
2004 | Port Adelaide | Brisbane Lions | 17.11 (113) - 10.13 (73) | MCG | 77,671 |
2005 | Sydney Swans | West Coast Eagles | 8.10 (58) - 7.12 (54) | MCG | 91,898 |
2006 | West Coast Eagles | Sydney Swans | 12.13 (85) - 12.12 (84) | MCG | 97,431 |
[edit] Premiership Tally
Club | Premierships | Most Recent Flag | Last Grand Final | Runners Up |
Essendon | 16 | 2000 | 2001 | 14 |
Carlton | 16 | 1995 | 1999 | 13 |
Collingwood | 14 | 1990 | 2003 | 25 |
Melbourne | 12 | 1964 | 2000 | 5 |
Richmond | 10 | 1980 | 1982 | 12 |
Hawthorn | 9 | 1991 | 1991 | 5 |
Fitzroy (Defunct) | 8 | 1944 | 1944 | 5 |
Geelong | 6 | 1963 | 1995 | 8 |
Sydney/South Melbourne | 4 | 2005 | 2006 | 9 |
Kangaroos | 4 | 1999 | 1999 | 5 |
Brisbane Lions | 3 | 2003 | 2004 | 1 |
West Coast Eagles | 3 | 2006 | 2006 | 2 |
Adelaide | 2 | 1998 | 1998 | 0 |
Port Adelaide | 1 | 2004 | 2004 | 0 |
St Kilda | 1 | 1966 | 1997 | 4 |
Western Bulldogs | 1 | 1954 | 1961 | 1 |
Fremantle | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Brisbane Bears (Defunct) | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
University (Defunct) | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
[edit] Recent History
The recent history of premiers and runners up from 1997 to 2006, with the teams ranked firstly by the number of Premierships won, and secondly by Grand Final appearances.
Rank | Club | Premierships | Grand Finals |
1st | Brisbane Lions | 3 (2001, 2002, 2003) | 4 (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004) |
2nd | Adelaide | 2 (1997, 1998) | 2 (1997, 1998) |
= 3rd | Kangaroos | 1 (1999) | 2 (1998, 1999) |
= 3rd | Essendon | 1 (2000) | 2 (2000, 2001) |
= 3rd | Sydney | 1 (2005) | 2 (2005, 2006) |
= 3rd | West Coast Eagles | 1 (2006) | 2 (2005, 2006) |
7th | Port Adelaide | 1 (2004) | 1 (2004) |
[edit] Efficiency of Teams
In the interest of interpreting the premiership tallies to allow comparison between recently added non-Victorian teams, and long-standing Victorian teams, here is the average number of years it takes for each premiership for each team.
Club | Year Joined (Year Left) | Premierships | Runners Up | Average years to Premiership | Average years to reach GF |
West Coast Eagles | 1987 | 3 | 2 | 6.67 | 4 |
Brisbane Lions † | 1987 | 3 | 1 | 6.67 | 5 |
Essendon | 1897 | 16 | 14 | 6.88 | 3.67 |
Carlton | 1897 | 16 | 13 | 6.88 | 3.79 |
Collingwood | 1897 | 14 | 25 | 7.86 | 2.82 |
Adelaide | 1991 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
Hawthorn | 1925 | 9 | 5 | 9.11 | 5.86 |
Melbourne | 1897 | 12 | 5 | 9.17 | 6.47 |
Richmond | 1908 | 10 | 12 | 9.9 | 4.5 |
Port Adelaide | 1997 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 10 |
Fitzroy (Defunct) | 1897(1996) | 8 | 5 | 12.5 | 7.69 |
Geelong | 1897 | 6 | 8 | 18.33 | 7.86 |
Kangaroos | 1925 | 4 | 5 | 20.5 | 9.11 |
Sydney/South Melbourne | 1897 | 4 | 9 | 27.5 | 8.46 |
Western Bulldogs | 1925 | 1 | 1 | 82 | 41 |
St Kilda | 1897 | 1 | 4 | 110 | 22 |
Fremantle | 1995 | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
University (Defunct) | 1908(1914) | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
†Includes time as the Brisbane Bears.
[edit] Longest Premiership Droughts
No. | Club | Years | Start | End | Grand Finals |
1 | Sydney/South Melbourne | 72 | 1933 | 2005 | 1934, 1935, 1936, 1996 |
2 | St Kilda | 70 | 1897 (est) | 1966 | 1913, 1965 |
3 | Western Bulldogs | 52* | 1954 | pres | 1961 |
4 | Fitzroy | 51 | 1944 | 1996 (def) | - |
4 | Kangaroos | 51 | 1925 (est) | 1975 | 1950, 1975 |
6 | Geelong | 43* | 1963 | pres | 1967, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1995 |
7 | Melbourne | 42* | 1964 | pres | 1988, 2000 |
8 | St Kilda | 40* | 1966 | pres | 1971, 1997 |
9 | Hawthorn | 37 | 1925 (est) | 1961 | - |
10 | Collingwood | 32 | 1958 | 1990 | 1960, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1977 (twice), 1979, 1980, 1981 |
Dates given are the premiership years which started and ended the drought, unless the drought started at establishment (est), or ended at folding/merging (def).
[edit] Notes
- From 2000 to 2004 a pattern emerged that the team that won the premiership 100 years earlier, lost the premiership 100 years later. In 1900, Melbourne won the premiership, 100 years later in 2000, Melbourne lost the Grand Final. In 1901, Essendon won the premiership, 100 years later in 2001, Essendon lost the Grand Final. Collingwood won the premierships in 1902 and 1903, but lost the Grand Finals in 2002 and 2003. And in 1904, Fitzroy won the premiership, and in 2004 the Brisbane Lions (made from the merger with Fitzroy and The Bears), lost the Grand Final.
- Collingwood has lost more Grand Finals than any other club: A total of 25, which is 9 more than any other club has won. This included 8 losses between 1958 and 1990.
- Collingwood also holds the record for the most consecutive Premierships won with 4 in a row from 1927 to 1930. The closest to matching that was Melbourne from 1955 to 1960. The Demons won 3 in a row from 1955-1957, but Collingwood managed to defend its record by beating the Demons in 1958. Melbourne went on to win the next two flags in 1959-1960. The Brisbane Lions also came close when they won 3 in a row from 2001 to 2003, but lost to Port Adelaide in the 2004 Grand Final. The only other occasion when a team won 3 in a row was Carlton, who won the flag from 1906-1908, and fell two points short of winning in 1909, losing to South Melbourne
- In 1916 there were only 4 teams playing in the league due to World War I. Fitzroy ended the season in last place, but because the top 4 finals system was still in place, the Lions found form in the finals to eventually win the 1916 Premiership against Carlton. This is colloquially known as the only time a team has won the wooden spoon and premiership in the same season (although Fitzroy's finals success leads many to argue that Richmond received the spoon instead.)
[edit] References
- Notes & Web references