This page is a complete chronological listing of the pre-season and night series premiers of the Australian Football League (AFL), known as the Victorian Football League (VFL) until 1990. Although it spans three different competitions, the premierships are considered historically equivalent.
From 1956 to 1971, the first VFL Night Series was a consolation knock-out competition held in September at the Lake Oval in Albert Park amongst the eight teams who failed to reach the finals in the VFL premiership season – apart from 1957, when all twelve teams competed. [1]
There were no official VFL night series held during the 1972 to 1976 seasons, although in 1976 the National Football League (the national governing body at the time) held its own night series mid-week during the season, known as the NFL Wills Cup. This led to the VFL reviving its own night series, now also held mid-week during the season among all clubs, and televised on Channel 7 to rival the NFL series that was shown on Channel 10. [2] While the 1977 series only featured the twelve VFL teams, between 1978 and 1986 a selection of teams from the SANFL, WAFL and representative teams from Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania also competed. [3] This became known as the Australian Football Championships Night Series and ran until 1987.
With the national expansion of the VFL to include teams from Western Australia and Queensland the 1987 series was restricted to only the 14 VFL teams and commenced during the pre-season period, but was completed mid-week between rounds 5 and 6 of the 1987 VFL season. [4]
From 1988 until 2013, the competition was played in its entirety before the premiership season began and is competed for by only the VFL or AFL teams (the VFL was renamed the AFL in 1990), and became the Australian Football League pre-season competition. The preseason competition was abandoned in 2014, and replaced with discrete practice matches.
Year | Winners | Grand finalist | Scores | Venue | Crowd | Margin | Season result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1956 | South Melbourne | Carlton | 13.16 (94) – 13.10 (88) | Lake Oval | 32,450 | 6 | 9th |
1957 | South Melbourne | Geelong | 15.13 (103) – 8.4 (52) | Lake Oval | 25,000 | 51 | 10th |
1958 | St Kilda | Carlton | 16.13 (109) – 15.11 (101) | Lake Oval | 26,400 | 8 | 8th |
1959 | Fitzroy | Hawthorn | 10.10 (70) – 4.16 (40) | Lake Oval | 9,200 | 30 | 5th |
1960 | South Melbourne | Hawthorn | 10.12 (72) – 8.11 (59) | Lake Oval | 20,000 | 13 | 8th |
1961 | Geelong | North Melbourne | 9.20 (74) – 9.8 (62) | Lake Oval | 30,465 | 12 | 6th |
1962 | Richmond | Hawthorn | 8.16 (64) – 9.6 (60) | Lake Oval | 24,550 | 4 | 8th |
1963 | Footscray | Richmond | 10.9 (69) – 9.9 (63) | Lake Oval | 25,270 | 6 | 9th |
1964 | Footscray | St Kilda | 11.12 (78) – 11.7 (73) | Lake Oval | 36,300 | 5 | 10th |
1965 | North Melbourne | Carlton | 14.13 (97) – 9.3 (57) | Lake Oval | 37,750 | 40 | 9th |
1966 | North Melbourne | Hawthorn | 20.12 (132) – 12.7 (79) | Lake Oval | 22,800 | 53 | 7th |
1967 | Footscray | South Melbourne | 15.11 (101) – 8.8 (56) | Lake Oval | 26,731 | 45 | 12th |
1968 | Hawthorn | North Melbourne | 16.15 (111) – 6.14 (50) | Lake Oval | 15,650 | 61 | 6th |
1969 | Hawthorn | Melbourne | 10.17 (77) – 9.18 (72) | Lake Oval | 21,067 | 5 | 5th |
1970 | Footscray | Melbourne | 13.17 (95) – 13.15 (93) | Lake Oval | 23,882 | 2 | 7th |
1971 | Melbourne | Fitzroy | 12.7 (79) – 9.9 (63) | Lake Oval | 21,169 | 16 | 7th |
Team | Wins | Seasons |
---|---|---|
Footscray | 4 | 1963, 1964, 1967, 1970 |
South Melbourne | 3 | 1956, 1957, 1960 |
Hawthorn | 2 | 1968, 1969 |
North Melbourne | 2 | 1965, 1966 |
Melbourne | 1 | 1971 |
St Kilda | 1 | 1958 |
Fitzroy | 1 | 1959 |
Geelong | 1 | 1961 |
Richmond | 1 | 1962 |
Year | Winners | Grand finalist | Scores | Venue | Crowd | Margin | Season result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1977 | Hawthorn | Carlton | 14.11 (95) – 11.5 (71) | VFL Park | 27,407 | 24 | Preliminary Finalist |
1978 | Fitzroy | North Melbourne | 13.18 (96) – 2.8 (20) | VFL Park | 26,420 | 76 | 9th |
1979 | Collingwood | Hawthorn | 12.8 (80) – 7.10 (52) | VFL Park | 37,753 | 28 | Grand Finalist |
1980 | North Melbourne | Collingwood | 8.9 (57) – 7.12 (54) | VFL Park | 50,478 | 3 | Elimination Finalist |
1981 | Essendon | Carlton | 9.11 (65) – 6.5 (41) | VFL Park | 42,269 | 24 | Elimination Finalist |
1982 | Swans | North Melbourne | 13.12 (90) – 8.10 (58) | VFL Park | 20,028 | 32 | 7th |
1983 | Carlton | Richmond | 14.16 (100) – 10.6 (66) | VFL Park | 32,927 | 34 | Elimination Finalist |
1984 | Essendon | Sydney Swans | 13.11 (89) – 5.8 (38) | VFL Park | 30,824 | 51 | Premier |
1985 | Hawthorn | Essendon | 11.11 (77) – 10.8 (68) | VFL Park | 24,812 | 9 | Grand Finalist |
1986 | Hawthorn | Carlton | 9.12 (66) – 5.6 (36) | VFL Park | 19,627 | 30 | Premier |
1987 | Melbourne | Essendon | 8.10 (58) – 8.6 (54) | VFL Park | 26,860 | 4 | Preliminary Finalist |
Team | Wins | Seasons |
---|---|---|
Hawthorn | 3 | 1977, 1985, 1986 |
Essendon | 2 | 1981, 1984 |
Melbourne | 1 | 1987 |
Carlton | 1 | 1983 |
Sydney Swans | 1 | 1982 |
North Melbourne | 1 | 1980 |
Collingwood | 1 | 1979 |
Fitzroy | 1 | 1978 |
Year | Premier | Runner-up | Scores | Venue | Crowd | Margin | Winner season | Runner-up season |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | Hawthorn | Geelong | 10.10 (70) – 9.13 (67) | Waverley Park | 35,803 | 3 | Premier | 9th |
1989 | Melbourne | Geelong | 10.16 (76) – 9.13 (67) | Waverley Park | 48,720 | 9 | Semi Finalist | Grand Finalist |
1990 | Essendon | North Melbourne | 17.10 (112) – 10.16 (76) | Waverley Park | 48,559 | 36 | Grand Finalist | 6th |
1991 | Hawthorn | North Melbourne | 14.19 (103) – 7.12 (54) | Waverley Park | 46,629 | 49 | Premier | 8th |
1992 | Hawthorn | Fitzroy | 19.14 (128) – 8.15 (63) | Waverley Park | 49,453 | 65 | Elimination Finalist | 10th |
1993 | Essendon | Richmond | 14.18 (102) – 11.13 (79) | Waverley Park | 75,533 | 23 | Premier | 14th |
1994 | Essendon | Adelaide | 15.12 (102) – 9.14 (68) | Waverley Park | 43,925 | 34 | 10th | 11th |
1995 | North Melbourne | Adelaide | 14.9 (93) – 8.15 (63) | Waverley Park | 39,393 | 30 | Preliminary Finalist | 11th |
1996 | St Kilda | Carlton | 20.10 (130) – 10.12 (72) | Waverley Park | 66,888 | 58 | 10th | Semi-Finalist |
1997 | Carlton | Geelong | 14.13 (97) – 5.10 (40) | MCG | 63,898 | 57 | 11th | Semi Finalist |
1998 | North Melbourne | St Kilda | 14.13 (97) – 12.11 (83) | Waverley Park | 63,760 | 14 | Grand Finalist | Semi-Finalist |
1999 | Hawthorn | Port Adelaide | 12.11 (83) – 5.6 (36) | Waverley Park | 74,786 | 47 | 9th | Elimination Finalist |
2000 | Essendon | North Melbourne | 16.21 (117) – 11.10 (76) | MCG | 56,720 | 41 | Premier | Preliminary Finalist |
2001 | Port Adelaide | Brisbane Lions | 17.9 (111) – 3.8 (26) | Football Park | 35,304 | 85 | Semi Finalist | Premier |
2002 | Port Adelaide | Richmond | 10.11 (71) – 9.8 (62) | Colonial Stadium | 36,481 | 9 | Preliminary Finalist | 14th |
2003 | Adelaide | Collingwood | 2.13.8 (104) – 1.9.10 (73) | Telstra Dome | 43,571 | 31 | Semi Finalist | Grand Finalist |
2004 | St Kilda | Geelong | 1.14.5 (98) – 1.10.7 (76) | Telstra Dome | 50,533 | 22 | Preliminary Finalist | Preliminary Finalist |
2005 | Carlton | West Coast Eagles | 1.14.18 (111) – 1.11.9 (84) | Telstra Dome | 43,391 | 27 | 16th (Wooden Spoon) | Grand Finalist |
2006 | Geelong | Adelaide | 3.10.5 (92) – 1.10.15 (84) | AAMI Stadium | 30,707 | 8 | 9th | Preliminary Finalist |
2007 | Carlton | Brisbane Lions | 2.12.7 (97) – 0.10.12 (72) | Telstra Dome | 46,094 | 25 | 15th | 10th |
2008 | St Kilda | Adelaide | 2.7.9 (69) – 0.9.10 (64) | AAMI Stadium | 26,823 | 5 | Preliminary Finalist | Elimination Finalist |
2009 | Geelong | Collingwood | 0.18.19 (127) – 1.6.6 (51) | Etihad Stadium | 37,277 | 76 | Premier | Preliminary Finalist |
2010 | Western Bulldogs | St Kilda | 2.13.8 (104) – 0.9.10 (64) | Etihad Stadium | 42,381 | 40 | Preliminary Finalist | Grand Finalist |
2011 | Collingwood | Essendon | 1.15.9 (108) – 0.13.8 (86) | Etihad Stadium | 45,304 | 22 | Grand Finalist | Elimination Finalist |
2012 | Adelaide | West Coast Eagles | 2.10.17 (95) – 2.5.13 (61) | AAMI Stadium | 27,376 | 34 | Preliminary Finalist | Semi-Finalist |
2013 | Brisbane Lions | Carlton | 0.16.13 (109) – 2.7.9 (69) | Etihad Stadium | 24,884 | 40 | 12th | Semi-Finalist |
^The Australian Football League was called the Victorian Football League prior to 1990.
From 2003 onwards, the pre-season cup competition has had a modified scoring system (not the usual scoring system that is used in the premiership season), that includes awarding 9 points for Super Goals that are kicked from outside the 50m arc and 3 points for rushed behinds.
The last pre-season premiership was awarded in 2013, as subsequent pre-season tournaments had no declared winner.
Team | Wins | Most Recent Win |
---|---|---|
Essendon | 4 | 2000 |
Hawthorn | 4 | 1999 |
St Kilda | 3 | 2008 |
Carlton | 3 | 2007 |
Adelaide | 2 | 2012 |
Geelong | 2 | 2009 |
Port Adelaide | 2 | 2002 |
North Melbourne | 2 | 1998 |
Brisbane Lions | 1 | 2013 |
Collingwood | 1 | 2011 |
Western Bulldogs | 1 | 2010 |
Melbourne | 1 | 1989 |
Team | Wins | Seasons |
---|---|---|
Hawthorn | 9 | 1968, 1969, 1977, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1999 |
Essendon | 6 | 1981, 1984, 1990, 1993, 1994, 2000 |
Footscray / Western Bulldogs | 5 | 1963, 1964, 1967, 1970, 2010 |
North Melbourne / Kangaroos | 5 | 1965, 1966, 1980, 1995, 1998 |
South Melbourne / Sydney Swans | 4 | 1956, 1957, 1960, 1982 |
St Kilda | 4 | 1958, 1996, 2004, 2008 |
Carlton | 4 | 1983, 1997, 2005, 2007 |
Geelong | 3 | 1961, 2006, 2009 |
Melbourne | 3 | 1971, 1987, 1989 |
Adelaide | 2 | 2003, 2012 |
Collingwood | 2 | 1979, 2011 |
Fitzroy | 2 | 1959, 1978 |
Port Adelaide | 2 | 2001, 2002 |
Brisbane Lions | 1 | 2013 |
Richmond | 1 | 1962 |
Ref: [5] |
Season | Premier | Runner Up | Score | Venue | Attendance | Margin |
1956 | South Melbourne | Carlton | 13.16 (94) – 13.10 (88) | Lake Oval | 32,450 | 6 |
1957 | South Melbourne | Geelong | 15.13 (103) – 8.4 (52) | Lake Oval | 25,000 | 51 |
1963 | Footscray | Richmond | 10.9 (69) – 9.9 (63) | Lake Oval | 25,270 | 6 |
1964 | Footscray | St Kilda | 11.12 (78) – 11.7 (73) | Lake Oval | 36,300 | 5 |
1965 | North Melbourne | Carlton | 14.13 (97) – 9.3 (57) | Lake Oval | 37,750 | 40 |
1966 | North Melbourne | Hawthorn | 20.12 (132) – 12.7 (79) | Lake Oval | 22,800 | 53 |
1968 | Hawthorn | North Melbourne | 16.15 (111) – 6.14 (50) | Lake Oval | 15,650 | 61 |
1969 | Hawthorn | Melbourne | 10.17 (77) – 9.18 (72) | Lake Oval | 21,067 | 5 |
1985 | Hawthorn | Essendon | 11.11 (77) – 10.8 (68) | Waverley Park | 24,812 | 9 |
1986 | Hawthorn | Carlton | 9.12 (66) – 5.6 (36) | Waverley Park | 19,627 | 30 |
1991 | Hawthorn | North Melbourne | 14.19 (103) – 7.12 (54) | Waverley Park | 46,629 | 49 |
1992 | Hawthorn | Fitzroy | 19.14 (128) – 8.15 (63) | Waverley Park | 49,453 | 65 |
1993 | Essendon | Richmond | 14.18 (102) – 11.13 (79) | Waverley Park | 75,533 | 23 |
1994 | Essendon | Adelaide | 15.12 (102) – 9.14 (68) | Waverley Park | 43,925 | 34 |
2001 | Port Adelaide | Brisbane Lions | 17.9 (111) – 3.8 (26) | Football Park | 35,304 | 85 |
2002 | Port Adelaide | Richmond | 10.11 (71) – 9.8 (62) | Colonial Stadium | 36,481 | 9 |
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