List of Melbourne Football Club seasons

Last updated

This is a list of seasons competed by the Melbourne Football Club . The team was founded in 1858, and was fundamental in developing the rules of Australian rules football and organizing the first competitions. Melbourne was a founding member of the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1877, which, alongside the South Australian Football Association (SAFA), were the first ever Australian rules football associations. [1] In 1897, Melbourne was a founding member of the breakaway Victorian Football League (VFL) – renamed the Australian Football League (AFL) in 1990 – which they have remained in ever since.

Contents

In their long history, Melbourne have had long periods of success but also long periods of failure. During the nine VFA premiership seasons in which Melbourne took part, they never won the premiership. They have won the VFL premiership 13 times, most recently in 2021, which was the club's first premiership since 1964. After their 1964 premiership, Melbourne missed the finals for 22 consecutive seasons, the third-longest such drought in VFL/AFL history. [2]

Seasons

PremiershipRunners-up Minor premiership Finals berth Wooden spoon
League
Season
Melbourne
Season
LeagueHome-and-away season resultsFinals resultsCoachCaptain
FinishWinsLossesDraws
Victorian Football Association (VFA)
1877 1877 VFA1634Not heldBob Sillett
1878 1878 VFA1175Not heldBob Sillett
1879 1879 VFA1164Not heldBob Sillett
1880 1880 VFA958Not heldJames Bennie
1881 1881 VFA1464Not heldSam Lamrock
1882 1882 VFA6134Not heldDave Rannard
1883 1883 VFA12102Not heldMurdoch McKenzie
1884 1884 VFA10133Not heldJohn Macdonald
1885 1885 VFA6152Not heldGeorge Aitken
Frederick Franks
1886 1886 VFA13101Not heldHoward Morrison
1887 1887 VFA7112Not heldJames Kelly
VFA premiership officially established
1888 1888 VFA11th4141Not heldHoward King
1889 1889 VFA11th4161Not heldEddie Fox
1890 1890 VFA8th694Not heldEddie Fox
1891 1891 VFA6th865Not heldEddie Fox
1892 1892 VFA4th1053Not heldWilliam Aitken
Eddie Fox
1893 1893 VFA2nd1632Not heldEddie Fox
1894 1894 VFA2nd1350Not heldEddie Fox
1895 1895 VFA2nd [lower-alpha 1] 1350Not heldEddie Fox
Joe Wilson
1896 1896 VFA4th [lower-alpha 2] 1260Not heldJoe Wilson
Victorian Football League (VFL)
1897 1897 VFL3rd1040Lost round-robin match (Collingwood) 51–47
Lost round-robin match (Geelong) 46–37
Lost round-robin match (Essendon) 14–8
Ned Sutton
1898 1898 VFL6th6101Lost round-robin match (Geelong) 78–16
Won round-robin match (St Kilda) 38–17
Lost round-robin match (Collingwood) 55–41
Ned Sutton
1899 1899 VFL5th890Lost round-robin match (Collingwood) 45–25
Lost round-robin match (Fitzroy) 40–2
Lost round-robin match (Carlton) 41–16
Eddie Sholl
1900 1900 VFL6th890Won round-robin match (Geelong) 45–28
Won round-robin match (St Kilda) 86–15
Lost round-robin match (Collingwood) 30–24
Won semi-final (Essendon) 45–43
Won Grand Final (Fitzroy) 34–30
Dick Wardill
1901 1901 VFL5th971 William C. McClelland
1902 1902 VFL4th980Lost semi-final (Essendon) 61–51William C. McClelland
1903 1903 VFL7th3140William C. McClelland
1904 1904 VFL6th890William C. McClelland
1905 1905 VFL8th3140 Frank Langley
1906 1906 VFL8th1160 Arthur Sowden
1907 1907 VFL7th7100 Alec Hall Vin Coutie
1908 1908 VFL8th7110Alec Hall Hugh Purse
1909 1909 VFL5th1071Alec Hall Bernie Nolan
1910 1910 VFL9th4140 Eddie Drohan Vin Coutie
1911 1911 VFL7th7101Vin Coutie
1912 1912 VFL6th990Alec Hall Alf George
1913 1913 VFL9th4140Alec HallAlf George
1914 1914 VFL9th2160 Len Incigneri
1915 1915 VFL4th970Lost semi-final (Carlton) 78–67 Jack McKenzie
1916 Did not play due to World War I
1917
1918
1919 1919 VFL9th0160 George Heinz
1920 1920 VFL8th5110 Gerald Brosnan George Heinz
1921 1921 VFL6th682 Percy Wilson
1922 1922 VFL6th790Percy Wilson
1923 1923 VFL9th3130Percy Wilson
1924 1924 VFL8th4120 Gordon Rattray Bert Chadwick
1925 1925 VFL3rd1241Won semi-final (Geelong) 101–86
Lost preliminary final (Collingwood) 63–26
Bert Chadwick
1926 1926 VFL3rd1440Won semi-final (Collingwood) 95–84
Won Preliminary Final (Essendon) 42–39
Won Grand Final (Collingwood) 119–62
Bert Chadwick
1927 1927 VFL5th1260Bert Chadwick
1928 1928 VFL3rd1440Drew Semi-final (Collingwood) 62–62
Lost semi-final replay (Collingwood) 68–64
Ivor Warne-Smith
1929 1929 VFL5th1161Ivor Warne-Smith
1930 1930 VFL5th1170Ivor Warne-Smith
1931 1931 VFL8th8100Ivor Warne-Smith
1932 1932 VFL9th4140Ivor Warne-Smith Francis Vine
1933 1933 VFL10th3150 Frank Hughes Francis Vine
1934 1934 VFL6th990Frank Hughes Colin Niven
1935 1935 VFL6th891Frank HughesColin Niven
1936 1936 VFL4th1260Won semi-final (Carlton) 97–88
Lost preliminary final (South Melbourne) 89–63
Frank Hughes Allan La Fontaine
1937 1937 VFL2nd1530Lost semi-final (Geelong) 125–113
Lost preliminary final (Collingwood) 107–52
Frank HughesAllan La Fontaine
1938 1938 VFL5th1170Frank HughesAllan La Fontaine
1939 1939 VFL1st1530Won semi-final (Collingwood) 104–90
Won Grand Final (Collingwood) 148–95
Frank HughesAllan La Fontaine
1940 1940 VFL1st1440Lost semi-final (Richmond) 107–101
Won Preliminary Final (Essendon) 90–85
Won Grand Final (Richmond) 107–68
Frank HughesAllan La Fontaine
1941 1941 VFL2nd1440Won semi-final (Carlton) 109–82
Won Grand Final (Essendon) 127–98
Frank HughesAllan La Fontaine
1942 1942 VFL8th5100 Percy Beames
1943 1943 VFL7th780Percy Beames
1944 1944 VFL8th7110Percy Beames
1945 1945 VFL9th8120Frank Hughes Norm Smith
1946 1946 VFL4th1360Won semi-final (Footscray) 120–102
Won Preliminary Final (Collingwood) 113–100
Lost Grand Final (Essendon) 150–87
Frank HughesNorm Smith
1947 1947 VFL6th1180Frank HughesNorm Smith
1948 1948 VFL2nd1360Lost semi-final (Essendon) 94–58
Won Preliminary Final (Collingwood) 166–101
Drew Grand Final (Essendon) 69–69
Won Grand Final replay (Essendon) 89–50
Frank Hughes Don Cordner
1949 1949 VFL5th1270Allan La FontaineDon Cordner
1950 1950 VFL3rd1260Lost semi-final (Geelong) 88–44Allan La Fontaine Shane McGrath
1951 1951 VFL12th1170Allan La Fontaine Denis Cordner
1952 1952 VFL6th991Norm SmithDenis Cordner
1953 1953 VFL11th3141Norm SmithDenis Cordner
1954 1954 VFL4th1170Won semi-final (North Melbourne) 110–80
Won Preliminary Final (Geelong) 67–50
Lost Grand Final (Footscray) 102–51
Norm Smith Geoff Collins
1955 1955 VFL1st1530Won semi-final (Collingwood) 56–45
Won Grand Final (Collingwood) 64–36
Norm Smith Noel McMahen
1956 1956 VFL1st1620Won semi-final (Collingwood) 80–64
Won Grand Final (Collingwood) 121–48
Norm SmithNoel McMahen
1957 1957 VFL1st1251Lost semi-final (Essendon) 83–67
Won Preliminary Final (Hawthorn) 144–76
Won Grand Final (Essendon) 116–55
Norm Smith John Beckwith
1958 1958 VFL1st1530Won semi-final (Collingwood) 78–33
Lost Grand Final (Collingwood) 82–64
Norm SmithJohn Beckwith
1959 1959 VFL1st1341Won semi-final (Carlton) 81–37
Won Grand Final (Essendon) 115–78
Norm SmithJohn Beckwith
1960 1960 VFL1st1440Won semi-final (Fitzroy) 102–40
Won Grand Final (Collingwood) 62–14
Norm Smith Ron Barassi
1961 1961 VFL2nd1251Lost semi-final (Hawthorn) 80–73
Lost preliminary final (Footscray) 85–58
Norm SmithRon Barassi
1962 1962 VFL3rd1440Lost semi-final (Carlton) 78–76Norm SmithRon Barassi
1963 1963 VFL3rd1350Won semi-final (St Kilda) 71–64
Lost preliminary final (Hawthorn) 77–68
Norm SmithRon Barassi
1964 1964 VFL1st1440Won semi-final (Collingwood) 134–45
Won Grand Final (Collingwood) 64–60
Norm Smith [lower-alpha 3] Ron Barassi
1965 1965 VFL7th1080Norm Smith [lower-alpha 4] Hassa Mann
1966 1966 VFL11th3150Norm SmithHassa Mann
1967 1967 VFL7th8100Norm SmithHassa Mann
1968 1968 VFL8th8120John BeckwithHassa Mann
1969 1969 VFL12th3170John Beckwith Tassie Johnson
1970 1970 VFL10th6160John Beckwith Frank Davis
1971 1971 VFL7th11101 Ian Ridley Frank Davis
1972 1972 VFL8th10120Ian RidleyFrank Davis
1973 1973 VFL10th7150Ian Ridley Stan Alves
1974 1974 VFL12th3190 Bob Skilton Stan Alves
1975 1975 VFL10th9130Bob SkiltonStan Alves
1976 1976 VFL6th11110Bob SkiltonStan Alves
1977 1977 VFL11th5170Bob Skilton Greg Wells
1978 1978 VFL12th5170 Dennis Jones Greg Wells
1979 1979 VFL11th6160 Carl Ditterich [lower-alpha 5]
1980 1980 VFL9th5170Carl Ditterich
1981 1981 VFL12th1210Ron Barassi Robert Flower
1982 1982 VFL8th8140Ron BarassiRobert Flower
1983 1983 VFL8th9130Ron BarassiRobert Flower
1984 1984 VFL9th9130Ron BarassiRobert Flower
1985 1985 VFL11th6160Ron BarassiRobert Flower
1986 1986 VFL11th7150 John Northey Robert Flower
1987 1987 VFL5th12100Won Elimination Final (North Melbourne) 158–40
Won semi-final (Sydney) 149–73
Lost preliminary final (Hawthorn) 80–78
John NortheyRobert Flower
1988 1988 VFL5th1390Won Elimination Final (West Coast) 73–71
Won semi-final (Collingwood) 95–82
Won Preliminary Final (Carlton) 120–98
Lost Grand Final (Hawthorn) 152–56
John Northey Greg Healy
1989 1989 VFL4th1480Won Elimination Final (Collingwood) 111–88
Lost semi-final (Geelong) 153–90
John NortheyGreg Healy
Australian Football League (AFL)
1990 1990 AFL4th1660Won Elimination Final (Hawthorn) 73–64
Lost semi-final (West Coast) 130–100
John NortheyGreg Healy
1991 1991 AFL5th1390Won Elimination Final (Essendon) 113–75
Lost semi-final (West Coast) 117–79
John Northey Garry Lyon
1992 1992 AFL11th7141John NortheyGarry Lyon
1993 1993 AFL10th10100 Neil Balme Garry Lyon
1994 1994 AFL7th12100Won Qualifying Final (Carlton) 123–96
Won semi-final (Footscray) 144–65
Lost preliminary final (West Coast) 117–52
Neil BalmeGarry Lyon
1995 1995 AFL9th9130Neil BalmeGarry Lyon
1996 1996 AFL14th7150Neil BalmeGarry Lyon
1997 1997 AFL16th4180Neil Balme
Greg Hutchison
Garry Lyon
1998 1998 AFL4th1480Won Qualifying Final (Adelaide) 115–67
Won semi-final (St Kilda) 107–56
Lost preliminary final (North Melbourne) 114–84
Neale Daniher Todd Viney
1999 1999 AFL14th6160Neale DaniherTodd Viney
2000 2000 AFL3rd1480Won Qualifying Final (Carlton) 96–87
Won Preliminary Final (North Melbourne) 156–106
Lost Grand Final (Essendon) 135–75
Neale Daniher David Neitz
2001 2001 AFL11th10120Neale DaniherDavid Neitz
2002 2002 AFL6th12100Won Elimination Final (North Melbourne) 122–84
Lost semi-final (Adelaide) 130–118
Neale DaniherDavid Neitz
2003 2003 AFL14th5170Neale DaniherDavid Neitz
2004 2004 AFL5th1480Lost Elimination Final (Essendon) 104–99Neale DaniherDavid Neitz
2005 2005 AFL7th12100Lost Elimination Final (Geelong) 116–61Neale DaniherDavid Neitz
2006 2006 AFL7th1381Won Elimination Final (St Kilda) 90–72
Lost semi-final (Fremantle) 102–74
Neale DaniherDavid Neitz
2007 2007 AFL14th5170Neale Daniher
Mark Riley
David Neitz
2008 2008 AFL16th3190 Dean Bailey David Neitz
2009 2009 AFL16th4180Dean Bailey James McDonald
2010 2010 AFL12th8131Dean BaileyJames McDonald
2011 2011 AFL13th8131Dean Bailey
Todd Viney
Brad Green
2012 2012 AFL16th4180 Mark Neeld Jack Grimes
Jack Trengove
2013 2013 AFL17th2200Mark Neeld
Neil Craig
Jack Grimes
Jack Trengove
2014 2014 AFL17th4180 Paul Roos Jack Grimes
Nathan Jones
2015 2015 AFL13th7150Paul RoosNathan Jones
2016 2016 AFL11th10120Paul RoosNathan Jones
2017 2017 AFL9th12100 Simon Goodwin Nathan Jones
Jack Viney
2018 2018 AFL5th1480Won Elimination Final (Geelong) 75–46
Won semi-final (Hawthorn) 104–71
Lost preliminary final (West Coast) 121–55
Simon GoodwinNathan Jones
Jack Viney
2019 2019 AFL17th5170Simon GoodwinNathan Jones
Jack Viney
2020 2020 AFL9th980Simon Goodwin Max Gawn
2021 2021 AFL1st1741Won Qualifying Final (Brisbane) 134–45
Won Preliminary Final (Geelong) 125–42
Won Grand Final (Western) 140–66
Simon GoodwinMax Gawn
2022 2022 AFL2nd1660Lost Qualifying Final (Sydney) 91–69
Lost semi-final (Brisbane) 92–79
Simon GoodwinMax Gawn
Notes
  1. In a 3-way tie with Collingwood and Geelong for 2nd place.
  2. In a 2-way tie with Fitzroy for 4th place.
  3. Ron Barassi was the coach for one match.
  4. Frank Hughes was the coach for one match.
  5. Frank Davis was the coach for one match.

All-time win–loss records

LeagueWinsLossesDrawsWin %Premierships
VFA (1877–1896)20116855.5390 premierships
VFL/AFL (1897–2021) home-and-away season1081129420.45613 premierships
10 minor premierships
VFL/AFL (1897–2021) finals57422.574
All-time results (1877–2021)1339150477.472

Footnotes

  1. "1877: A pivotal year in footy history". AustralianFootball.com. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  2. "Streaks – All Teams". AFL Tables. Retrieved 5 July 2021.

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References