VFL/AFL premiership and grand final statistics

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This page is a collection of VFL/AFL premiership and grand final statistics. The Australian Football League (AFL), known as the Victorian Football League (VFL) until 1990, is the elite national competition in men's Australian rules football. Each year, the premiership is awarded to the club that wins the AFL Grand Final. The grand final has been played in all VFL/AFL seasons except for 1897 and 1924 (where the premiership was awarded without a grand final being played), and has been an annual tradition in its current format since 1931.

Contents

Since the introduction by the League of equalisation policies of a salary cap and draft in 1987, [1] every team currently competing in the Australian Football League (except for Gold Coast, which has not yet qualified for a finals series as of 2023) has qualified for a grand final. This has had a significant impact on the spread of premierships: since 1990, fourteen clubs have won a premiership, compared with only five clubs between 1967 and 1989. [2] Of the teams currently competing in the Australian Football League, only Fremantle, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney are yet to win a premiership.

As of 2023, Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton are all tied for winning 16 premierships, with Collingwood winning the most consecutive premierships, at four between 1927 and 1930.

Premierships by team

ClubYears in
competition		PremiershipsRunners-up
TotalYearsTotalYears
Collingwood 1897–present16 1902, 1903, 1910, 1917, 1919, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1935, 1936, 1953, 1958, 1990, 2010, 2023 27 1901, 1905, 1911, 1915, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1925, 1926, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2018
Essendon 1897–present16 1897, 1901, 1911, 1912, 1923, 1924, 1942, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1962, 1965, 1984, 1985, 1993, 2000 14 1898, 1902, 1908, 1941, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1957, 1959, 1968, 1983, 1990, 2001
Carlton 1897–present16 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995 13 1904, 1909, 1910, 1916, 1921, 1932, 1949, 1962, 1969, 1973, 1986, 1993, 1999
Richmond 1908–present13 1920, 1921, 1932, 1934, 1943, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1980, 2017, 2019, 2020 12 1919, 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1940, 1942, 1944, 1972, 1982
Melbourne 1897–present13 1900, 1926, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1948, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1964, 2021 5 1946, 1954, 1958, 1988, 2000
Hawthorn 1925–present13 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015 6 1963, 1975, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2012
Geelong 1897–present10 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2022 10 1897, 1930, 1953, 1967, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2008, 2020
Fitzroy 1897–19968 1898, 1899, 1904, 1905, 1913, 1916, 1922, 1944 5 1900, 1903, 1906, 1917, 1923
South Melbourne / Sydney 1897–present5 1909, 1918, 1933, 2005, 2012 13 1899, 1907, 1912, 1914, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1945, 1996, 2006, 2014, 2016, 2022
North Melbourne 1925–present4 1975, 1977, 1996, 1999 5 1950, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1998
West Coast 1987–present4 1992, 1994, 2006, 2018 3 1991, 2005, 2015
Brisbane Lions 1997–present3 2001, 2002, 2003 2 2004, 2023
Footscray / Western Bulldogs 1925–present2 1954, 2016 2 1961, 2021
Adelaide 1991–present2 1997, 1998 1 2017
St Kilda 1897–present1 1966 6 1913, 1965, 1971, 1997, 2009, 2010
Port Adelaide 1997–present1 2004 1 2007
Greater Western Sydney 2012–present0—1 2019
Fremantle 1995–present0—1 2013
Gold Coast 2011–present0—0—
Brisbane Bears 1987–19960—0—
University 1908–19140—0—

Table correct to the end of the 2023 season.

Premiership frequency

ClubYears in competitionSeasonsPremiershipsRunners-upStrike rate (based on
seasons in competition)		Average years per
PremiershipGrand final
Hawthorn 1925–present9913613.13%7.625.21
Essendon 1897–1915, 1918–present125161412.80%7.814.17
Collingwood 1897–present127162712.60%7.942.95
Carlton 1897–present127161312.60%7.944.38
Richmond 1908–present116131211.21%8.924.64
Brisbane Lions 1997–present273211.11%9.005.40
West Coast 1987–present374310.81%9.255.29
Melbourne 1897–1915, 1919–present12413510.48%9.546.89
Geelong 1897–1915, 1917–1941, 1944–present12410108.06%12.406.20
Fitzroy 1897–1996100858.00%12.507.69
Adelaide 1991–present33216.06%16.5011.00
North Melbourne 1925–present99454.04%24.7511.00
South Melbourne / Sydney 1897–1915, 1917–present1265133.97%25.207.00
Port Adelaide 1997–present27113.70%27.0013.50
Footscray / Western Bulldogs 1925–present99222.02%49.5024.75
St Kilda 1897–1915, 1918–present125160.80%125.0017.86
Greater Western Sydney 2012–present1201——12.00
Fremantle 1995–present2901——29.00
University 1908–1914700———
Brisbane Bears 1987–19961000———
Gold Coast 2011–present1300———

Table correct to the end of the 2023 season.

Premiership droughts

+Drought began upon club's entry to league
†Drought ended upon club's exit from league
*Also the longest club premiership drought

The following tables summarise the different premiership droughts for each club. The first table is limited to droughts lasting fifty or more seasons, while the other three are specific to each club (two of which span the entire competition, including all 21 teams). The duration of the drought is given as the number of full seasons contested between premierships; the season in which the drought is broken is considered to be part of the drought, and if the drought began from a club's entry to the league, the club's inaugural season is also considered to be part of the drought. Grand final replays are not included in grand final appearances.

Longest premiership droughts

ClubSeasonsStartEndGrand final appearances
during drought
South Melbourne / Sydney 72 1933 2005 1934, 1935, 1936, 1945, 1996
St Kilda 68 [lower-alpha 1] 1897 + 1966 1913, 1965
Footscray / Western Bulldogs 62 1954 2016 1961
St Kilda 57 1966 — 1971, 1997, 2009, 2010
Melbourne 57 1964 2021 1988, 2000
Fitzroy 52 1944 1996 †—
North Melbourne 51 1925 + 1975 1950, 1974

Table correct to the end of the 2023 season.

Longest club premiership droughts

ClubSeasonsStartEndGrand final appearances during drought
Adelaide 25 1998 — 2017
Brisbane Bears 10 1987 + 1996 †—
Brisbane Lions 20 2003 — 2004, 2023
Carlton 28 1995 — 1999
Collingwood 32 1958 1990 1960, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981
Essendon 23 2000 — 2001
Fitzroy 52 1944 1996 †—
Footscray / Western Bulldogs 62 1954 2016 1961
Fremantle 29 1995 +— 2013
Geelong 44 1963 2007 1967, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1995
Gold Coast 13 2011 +——
Greater Western Sydney 12 2012 +— 2019
Hawthorn 37 1925 + 1961 —
Melbourne 57 1964 2021 1988, 2000
North Melbourne 51 1925 + 1975 1950, 1974
Port Adelaide 19 2004 — 2007
Richmond 37 1980 2017 1982
St Kilda 68 [lower-alpha 1] 1897 + 1966 1913, 1965
South Melbourne / Sydney 72 1933 2005 1934, 1935, 1936, 1945, 1996
University 7 1908 + 1914 †—
West Coast 12 1994 2006 2005
2006 2018 2015

Table correct to the end of the 2023 season.

Current club premiership droughts

ClubSeasonsStartGrand final appearances
during drought
Adelaide 25* 1998 2017
Brisbane Lions 20* 2003 2004, 2023
Carlton 28* 1995 1999
Collingwood 0 2023 —
Essendon 23* 2000 2001
Fremantle 29* 1995 + 2013
Geelong 1 2022 —
Gold Coast 13* 2011 +—
Greater Western Sydney 12* 2012 + 2019
Hawthorn 8 2015 —
Melbourne 2 2021 —
North Melbourne 24 1999 —
Port Adelaide 19* 2004 2007
Richmond 3 2020 —
St Kilda 57 1966 1971, 1997, 2009, 2010
Sydney 11 2012 2014, 2016, 2022
West Coast 5 2018 —
Western Bulldogs 7 2016 2021

Table correct to the end of the 2023 season.

Time taken to win first premiership

°Club has not yet won a premiership
×Club exited the league without winning a premiership
ClubSeasonsEntry to
league		First
premiership		Grand final appearances
during drought
Adelaide 7 1991 1997 —
Brisbane Bears 10× 1987 ——
Brisbane Lions 5 1997 2001 —
Carlton 10 1897 1906 1904
Collingwood 6 1897 1902 1901
Essendon 1 1897 1897 —
Fitzroy 2 1897 1898 —
Footscray / Western Bulldogs 30 1925 1954 —
Fremantle 29° 1995 — 2013
Geelong 29 1897 1925 1897
Gold Coast 13° 2011 ——
Greater Western Sydney 12° 2012 — 2019
Hawthorn 37* 1925 1961 —
Melbourne 4 1897 1900 —
North Melbourne 51* 1925 1975 1950, 1974
Port Adelaide 8 1997 2004 —
Richmond 13 1908 1920 1919
St Kilda 68* [lower-alpha 1] 1897 1966 1913, 1965
South Melbourne / Sydney 13 1897 1909 1899, 1907
University 7× 1908 ——
West Coast 6 1987 1992 1991

Table correct to the end of the 2023 season.

  1. 1 2 3 As St Kilda did not contest the 1916 and 1917 seasons, the duration of this drought was 68 contested seasons (across 70 calendar years).

Consecutive appearances

Consecutive premierships

#ClubYears
4 Collingwood 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930
3 Carlton 1906, 1907, 1908
Melbourne 1939, 1940, 1941
Melbourne 1955, 1956, 1957
Brisbane Lions 2001, 2002, 2003
Hawthorn 2013, 2014, 2015
2 Fitzroy 1898, 1899
Collingwood 1902, 1903
Fitzroy 1904, 1905
Essendon 1911, 1912
Carlton 1914, 1915
Richmond 1920, 1921
Essendon 1923, 1924
Collingwood 1935, 1936
Essendon 1949, 1950
Geelong 1951, 1952
Melbourne 1959, 1960
Richmond 1973, 1974
Carlton 1981, 1982
Essendon 1984, 1985
Hawthorn 1988, 1989
Adelaide 1997, 1998
Richmond 2019, 2020

Table correct to the end of the 2023 season.

Consecutive grand finals

#ClubYearsWin/loss
7 Melbourne 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960L, W, W, W, L, W, W
Hawthorn 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989W, L, L, W, L, W, W
6 Collingwood 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930L, L, W, W, W, W
Essendon 1946, 1947, 19481, 1949, 1950, 1951W, L, L, W, W, L
5 Carlton 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910W, W, W, L, L
Collingwood 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939W, W, L, L, L
North Melbourne 1974, 1975, 1976, 19772, 1978L, W, L, W, L
4 Fitzroy 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906L, W, W, L
Collingwood 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920W, L, W, L
Richmond 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934L, W, L, W
South Melbourne 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936W, L, L, L
Brisbane Lions 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004W, W, W, L
Hawthorn 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015L, W, W, W
3 Fitzroy 1898, 1899, 1900W, W, L
Collingwood 1901, 1902, 1903L, W, W
Carlton 1914, 1915, 1916W, W, L
Richmond 1919, 1920, 1921L, W, W
Richmond 1927, 1928, 1929L, L, L
Melbourne 1939, 1940, 1941W, W, W
Essendon 1941, 1942, 1943L, W, L
Richmond 1942, 1943, 1944L, W, L
Geelong 1951, 1952, 1953W, W, L
Carlton 1968, 1969, 1970W, L, W
Richmond 1972, 1973, 1974L, W, W
Collingwood 1979, 1980, 1981L, L, L
Essendon 1983, 1984, 1985L, W, W
Geelong 2007, 2008, 2009W, L, W

1 Essendon drew the 1948 VFL Grand Final, and was defeated by Melbourne in the replay.
2 North Melbourne drew the 1977 VFL Grand Final, and defeated Collingwood in the replay.

Table correct to the end of the 2022 season.

Most common match-ups

The following table summarises the most common grand final match-ups (not including grand final replays).

#Match-upGrand final appearances
7 Collingwood vs Melbourne 1926, 1939, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1964
6 Carlton vs Collingwood 1910, 1915, 1938, 1970, 1979, 1981
Carlton vs Essendon 1908, 1947, 1949, 1962, 1968, 1993
Carlton vs Richmond 1921, 1932, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1982
Collingwood vs Geelong 1925, 1930, 1937, 1952, 1953, 2011
Collingwood vs Richmond 1919, 1920, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1980
Essendon vs Melbourne 1941, 1946, 1948, 1957, 1959, 2000
4 Carlton vs South Melbourne 1907, 1909, 1914, 1945
Collingwood vs Essendon 1901, 1902, 1911, 1990
Collingwood vs Fitzroy 1903, 1905, 1917, 1922

Table correct to the end of the 2023 season.

Premierships at all levels

This table summarises premierships won at all levels of the VFL/AFL competition: the seniors, seconds/reserves (1919–1999), thirds/under-19s (1946–1991), night series (1956–2013) and AFL Women's (since 2017). Only AFL and AFLW premierships can currently be won; excluded from this table are premierships won by reserves teams competing in state leagues (including the VFL from 2000 onwards).

ClubSeniorsReservesUnder-19sNightAFLWTotal
Essendon 16856035
Melbourne 131263135
Carlton 16864034
Richmond 139111034
Collingwood 16742028
Geelong 101313027
Hawthorn 13419027
North Melbourne 4775023
Fitzroy 8322—15
Footscray / Western Bulldogs 2614114
South Melbourne / Sydney 5014010
St Kilda 131409
Adelaide 2——226
Brisbane Lions 3——126
West Coast 4——004
Port Adelaide 1——203
Brisbane Bears 01—0—1
University 00———0
Fremantle 0——000
Gold Coast 01—001
Greater Western Sydney 0——000

Table correct to the end of the 2023 AFL season.

Premierships across multiple grades in a season

A club has won premierships in three grades in a single year on only two occasions – Essendon in 1950, and Richmond in 1973. During the years that it was achievable, no club ever won a senior, reserves, under-19s and night premiership in a single year.

SeasonClubSeniorsReservesUnder-19sNightAFLWTotal
1950 Essendon Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgN/AN/A3/3
1951 Carlton Red x.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgN/AN/A2/3
1952 Essendon Red x.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgN/AN/A2/3
1956 South Melbourne Red x.svgRed x.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
[note 1] 		N/A2/4
1965 Collingwood Red x.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgN/A
[note 2] 		N/A2/3
1971 Melbourne Red x.svgRed x.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
[note 3] 		N/A2/4
1972 Hawthorn Red x.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgN/AN/A2/3
1973 Richmond Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgN/AN/A3/3
1977 Richmond Red x.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgRed x.svgN/A2/4
1984 Essendon Yes check.svgRed x.svgRed x.svgYes check.svgN/A2/4
1985 Hawthorn Red x.svgYes check.svgRed x.svgYes check.svgN/A2/4
1986 Hawthorn Yes check.svgRed x.svgRed x.svgYes check.svgN/A2/4
1988 Hawthorn Yes check.svgRed x.svgRed x.svgYes check.svgN/A2/4
1991 Hawthorn Yes check.svgRed x.svgRed x.svgYes check.svgN/A2/4
1993 Essendon Yes check.svgRed x.svgN/AYes check.svgN/A2/3
1995 North Melbourne Red x.svgYes check.svgN/AYes check.svgN/A2/3
1996 North Melbourne Yes check.svgYes check.svgN/ARed x.svgN/A2/3
2000 Essendon Yes check.svgN/AN/AYes check.svgN/A2/2
2009 Geelong Yes check.svgN/AN/AYes check.svgN/A2/2

Table correct to the end of the 2023 AFL season.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The 1956 VFL Night Series Competition was only for the teams who missed the finals (5th to 12th on ladder).
  2. ↑ The 1965 VFL Night Series Competition was only for the teams who missed the finals (5th to 12th on ladder).
  3. ↑ The 1971 VFL Night Series Competition was only for the teams who missed the finals (5th to 12th on ladder).

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References

  1. ↑ NAB AFL Draft Archived 2008-07-25 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ "An object lesson in the perils of hindsight". The Age. 2 October 2003.

Sources

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