List of Australian Football League premiers

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)

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.

TODO: Add VFA premiers from when it was the top-level competition.

Sources: