The 2020 AFL season was the 124th season of the Australian Football League (AFL), the highest level senior men's Australian rules football competition in Australia, which was known as the Victorian Football League until 1989. The season featured eighteen clubs.

2020 AFL premiership season
Date19 March – 24 October
Teams18
PremiersRichmond
13th premiership
Runners-upGeelong
(10th runners-up)
Minor premiersPort Adelaide
4th minor premiership
Brownlow MedallistLachie Neale
(Brisbane Lions – 31 votes)
Coleman MedallistTom Hawkins
(Geelong – 42 goals)
Attendance
Matches played162
Total attendance1,033,037 (6,377 per match)
Highest32,865
(First Elimination Final, West Coast vs Collingwood)
← 2019
2021 →

Played during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the season commenced on 19 March and was suspended four days later; it resumed on 11 June and ran until 24 October. A shortened season was played, comprising a 17-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs; all matches were shortened to 80% of their usual length. Virus outbreaks and interstate travel restrictions precluded games in many states for much of the season, with all clubs spending parts of the season temporarily relocated to quarantine hubs, particularly in South East Queensland where almost half of all matches were played – including the Grand Final, the first time it had been played outside Victoria. Health directives resulted in restricted match attendances throughout the year, including thirty matches played behind closed doors.

The premiership was won by the Richmond Football Club for the 13th time and second time consecutively, after it defeated Geelong by 31 points in the 2020 AFL Grand Final.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

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Empty seats at Adelaide Oval prior to the round 18 match between Hawthorn and Gold Coast. Restrictions on venue capacity had been implemented to combat the spread of COVID-19.

The 2020 season was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which was formally declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020, eight days prior to the scheduled start of the premiership season. Restrictions imposed by the different state governments related to social distancing, lockdowns of non-essential services which lasted for three months across the country, and border controls for interstate and international travel, all had significant effects on the completion of the 2020 season.

Fixture

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Prior to the commencement of the season, anticipating that the season would be forced to cease at the peak of the virus, the AFL announced the fixture would be shortened from 22 matches per team to 17, with each team playing each other once and serving one bye.[1] The season then commenced on 19 March as originally scheduled; but as restrictions, followed by periods of formal quarantine, were introduced on interstate travel, the season was suspended after Round 1.[2]

The season was suspended for more than two months. On 15 May, as most states began easing restrictions, the league's plan to resume the season was announced: clubs began non-contact training from 18 May, and full contact training from 25 May ahead of resuming competitive matches from 11 June,[3] with the revised fixture released gradually throughout the year, and changing regularly and often at short notice when the situation forced it.

The first major fixturing challenge occurred in the aftermath of Round 4, when a spike in Victorian COVID-19 cases prompted other states to either impose tighter quarantine restrictions on Victorians, or defer the relaxation of restrictions already in place. Although this forced two planned Round 5 matches—Richmond vs West Coast and Melbourne vs Sydney—to be redrawn at less than a week's notice (Richmond instead faced Melbourne in Victoria, and Sydney faced West Coast in Queensland) and the entire planned Round 6 and 7 fixtures to be redrawn, the season continued without suspension. The gradual release of the fixture also allowed the flexibility to reschedule any games which were postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests among players or staff.[4]

When games were postponed or rescheduled at short notice, other games within the same round were often also rescheduled to ensure the primetime television slots were filled.

Club medical restrictions

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During the peak of the hiatus, players were allowed to train only within the strict limits of the government restrictions on public gatherings; at the height of the pandemic in April and May, when gatherings larger than two were restricted, players could train only in pairs. When the league returned to training and playing, it was done with strict, enforceable protocols and monitoring in place to ensure that the clubs would not suffer a virus outbreak, and that any virus cases could be contained with minimal impact to the wider competition.[3] To this effect, players, umpires and staff were regularly tested for the virus and continued to train mostly in small groups, allowing individual players or small groups to be segregated and contained in the event of positive cases. Players and club personnel were subject to protocols which extended to players' personal lives, which were above and beyond the lockdown guidelines still in place for the general public, in order to protect the AFL season from suffering an outbreak; and families and partners who were part of quarantine hubs came under the same restrictions.[5]

There were many breaches during the season, resulting in fines for the players and clubs involved, or suspensions in the most egregious cases:

Throughout the season, AFL-listed players were not permitted to participate in the state league competitions (the VFL, SANFL, WAFL and NEAFL) due to the greater risk of external threats in the semi-professional state league environment; this meant there was no formal competitive reserves football for players who were not selected in the seniors.[14] (The NEAFL and VFL ended up cancelling their seasons altogether). Clubs based in the same state were permitted to arrange ad hoc scratch matches for their unselected players against each other and in empty stadiums to enable some match practice; these could be stand-alone games or curtain raisers to senior games.[15]

Quarantine hubs and club relocation

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Interstate travel restrictions and quarantine periods were a significant impediment to the completion of the season after the resumption, with many state border crossings subject to mandatory 14-day quarantine periods. Western Australia and Tasmania had the tightest restrictions, requiring quarantine for all entries throughout the entire season;[16][17] South Australia had similar restrictions which were loosened after Round 5. Border crossings around the rest of the country were freer; but, as second waves of virus cases occurred in Victoria (after Round 5)[18] and New South Wales (after Round 10),[19] quarantines were imposed on travellers leaving those states. This precluded a conventional interstate home-and-away fixture, and meant that Queensland – which maintained few virus cases and had the most favourable quarantine arrangements – became critical to the completion of the season.[20]

The border restrictions were managed by requiring several clubs to relocate outside their states; or, to set-up in weeks-long quarantine hubs, in which clubs travelled at the same time to a restricted state for an extended three- or four-week trip, quarantined there and played several games against other teams in the hub. Players' immediate families were permitted to join them at the league's expense, but were subject to the same lifestyle restrictions and virus testing regime as the players.[3][21]

The relocation of all ten Victorian clubs occurred after Round 5. Carlton, Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne, St Kilda, Richmond and Essendon moved to south-east Queensland; and Collingwood, Hawthorn, Geelong and Melbourne moved to New South Wales.[22] The relocation of the six New South Wales based clubs (Sydney, Greater Western Sydney and the four Victorian clubs) to Queensland then occurred after Round 8.[23] These relocations lasted until the end of the season.[20]

The season's first quarantine hub occurred immediately after the resumption, and featured the clubs from South Australia and Western Australia – the most tightly restricted state at that time. The clubs were relocated to south-east Queensland – with the Western Australian teams arriving in Round 2 and the South Australian teams arriving in Round 3 (after their Round 2 Showdown game in Adelaide). The visiting teams played each other and the two Queensland-based clubs in a hub until Round 5.[3] The two West Australian teams remained in the hub for an additional week and flew back to West Australia following Round 6, and the South Australian hub members returned to South Australia after Round 5 but still travelled weekly to Queensland over subsequent weeks.[24]

From that point on, three three-week quarantine hubs were staged in Perth, to allow matches to be played there despite season-long quarantine requirements. Each time, two interstate clubs travelled at once from Queensland, and played each other while in quarantine, then the two Perth clubs while out of quarantine. These hubs were:

Fremantle and West Coast later returned to a Queensland hub for the final four rounds of the home-and-away season.[citation needed]

Teams could also travel from Queensland to the Northern Territory, where three games were played. However, season-long Tasmanian border restrictions to all states resulted in no AFL matches being played in the state for the first time since 2000.[25]

Border restrictions ultimately also precluded the playing of any finals in Victoria or New South Wales – including the Grand Final – and limited finals in Western Australia to the first week only, since the bye week after Round 18 allowed time to quarantine. For the first three weeks of finals, clubs unable to play in their home states were given the option to nominate a preferred home ground from the Gabba, Metricon Stadium and Adelaide Oval for home finals.[26] On 2 September, the Grand Final was formally scheduled for Saturday 24 October, the latest in the year a Grand Final had been played; it was scheduled at night to avoid a clash with the 100th running of the Cox Plate that afternoon, making it the first Grand Final not to be played in the afternoon timeslot; and, it was scheduled at the Gabba, making it the first AFL Grand Final to be played outside of Melbourne.[27]

The hub arrangements resulted in many other fixturing anomalies. Among the most notable occurred in Round 6, when all nine games were played in New South Wales and Queensland, traditionally rugby league territory.[28] Whole rounds were played with no matches in Melbourne, which had only previously occurred in Round 8, 1952 (the promotional National Day Round). Clubs hosted several fixtured home games at interstate venues, and hub stadiums were sometimes used for multiple games on the same day – the first time this had happened in senior VFL/AFL football since a double-header in Round 19, 1986. The desire to compress the schedule meant that the seven-game Round 10 and six-game Round 15 were played entirely on weekdays, the first time this had happened outside of rounds played on a public holiday.[citation needed]

Crowds

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Government restrictions on gatherings meant that, starting in Round 1, crowds were locked out of senior VFL/AFL matches for the first time in the code's history.[29] State governments gradually allowed crowds, often small and restricted in size, into games, starting immediately from the resumption in Round 2 in South Australia and New South Wales, from Round 3 in Queensland, and from football's resumption in Round 7 in Western Australia.[30] The sizes of allowable crowds changed as the season progressed, with early season Queensland and New South Wales crowds limited to only a few hundred, while half-full crowds were allowed in the largely virus-free Western Australia from Round 7.[31]

Starting in Round 2, after the resumption of the season, broadcasters experimented with adding artificial crowd noise to lend a more normal feel to their telecasts to overcome the lack of genuine crowds in stadiums.[32]

All in all, the total attendance for 2020 (1,033,037) was only 13.74% of 2019's unaffected 7,517,677 total. Similarly, due to the shortened season, the average attendance of 6,377 per game was 17.56% of the 2019 season's average of 36,317.

Rule changes

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Throughout the season, matches were played for a shortened length of 16 minutes plus time on per quarter, instead of 20 minutes plus time on. This was originally done at the start of the season, in the hope that playing shorter games could facilitate more frequent games than weekly, maximising the games which could be played before the anticipated suspension of the season;[33] but this did not eventuate, since the season was suspended after only one round. It was then retained after the resumption to lighten the load on players to take account for the compromised training schedule; and, to allow make-up games to be more easily scheduled between rounds when matches were postponed or refixtured.[34] As a direct result of this, it was a very low-scoring season, and several records or long-standing marks in low scoring were set during the season.[35]

Financials

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When the season was suspended, the league and clubs were faced with an acute cash-flow shortage, as the gate and broadcast revenues which had been budgeted for stopped immediately;[36] clubs deriving revenues from gaming and other public venues also saw those revenues drop when public gatherings were restricted.[37] The league and clubs all stood down or severely reduced hours for huge percentages of their staff during the suspension; furthermore, the AFL agreed with both the AFLPA and ALFUA to enact significant play cuts for the players and umpires for the season, amounting to 50% of their wage from the point of the suspension until the end of the season, and increasing to 70% for any period of suspension which extends beyond the end of May.[38][39] The league successfully obtained a $500–600 million line of credit with the National Australia Bank and ANZ Bank, leveraged against its ownership of Marvel Stadium, to cover its and its clubs' cash shortfalls during the suspension.[40]

Resuming the season and playing the shortened 17-game season in full, even without crowds, was important to ensure the league still took in most of its television revenue. Prior to the resumption, the league renegotiated its $417-million-per-year broadcast deals with the Seven Network and Foxtel, ultimately resulting in a total television revenue reduction of approximately $150 million over 2020–2022.[41] On top of this, the cost of running the Queensland hubs, including medical costs for ongoing COVID-19 testing, resulted in a $60 million expense for the league.[26]

The overall financial losses for the league in the 2020 season, compared with the budgeted results prior to the pandemic, were less than but in the order of $100 million – a substantially better result than the $1 billion loss which was feared as a worst-case scenario when the season was originally suspended.[42]

Other effects

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Among the other direct impacts of the pandemic were:

Pre-season

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Marsh Community Series

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The pre-season series of games returned as the 2020 Marsh Community Series, with teams playing two games each. The games were stand-alone, with no overall winner of the series. Each team played two games, many at suburban or regional venues, while all games were televised on Fox Footy.[47]

State of Origin for Bushfire Relief Match

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A one-off benefit match was played on 28 February 2020, as a fundraiser for the relief effort for the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season.[48] The league donated $2.5 million to disaster relief funds in association with the match.[49] Selection for the two teams was under state of origin rules, and it was the first interstate representative match featuring AFL-listed players since the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match held in 2008. Played prior to the pandemic's spread to Australia, it was the highest-attended football match of the year.


State of Origin for Bushfire Relief Match
Friday, 28 February 2020 (7:50 pm) Victoria def. All-Stars Marvel Stadium (crowd: 51,052) Report
4.1 (25)
10.2 (62)
15.7 (97)
24.10 (154)
Q1
Q2
Q3
Final
4.7 (31)
9.14 (68)
15.16 (106)
15.18 (108)
Umpires: Fisher, Stephens, Nicholls, Williamson
Best on Ground Medal: Dustin Martin (Victoria)
Papley 5
Kelly, Greene 4
Martin, Gaff, Bontempelli, Gresham 2
Dangerfield, J Cameron, Lynch 1
Goals C Cameron 3
Coniglio, Breust, Riewoldt, Smith 2
Neale, Weller, Walters, Hill 1
Kelly, Martin, Greene, Papley, Pendlebury, Haynes, Cotchin, Dangerfield Best Coniglio, C Cameron, Mills, Cripps, Neale, Johannisen

Premiership season

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As the coronavirus situation developed, only the first round was played as originally drawn. The rest of the fixture was redrawn into a new seventeen-round season in which each team played each other once.[50][51] The new rescheduled fixture was released gradually through the season, often at short notice, to allow the fixture to respond to developments in the spread of the virus.[52]

Round 1

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Round 1
Thursday, 19 March (7:40 pm) Richmond 16.9 (105) def. Carlton 12.9 (81) MCG (crowd: 0) Report
Friday, 20 March (7:50 pm) Western Bulldogs 5.4 (34) def. by Collingwood 13.8 (86) Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) Report
Saturday, 21 March (2:10 pm) Essendon 9.9 (63) def. Fremantle 8.9 (57) Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) Report
Saturday, 21 March (4:35 pm) Adelaide 11.5 (71) def. by Sydney 11.8 (74) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 0) Report
Saturday, 21 March (7:40 pm) Greater Western Sydney 17.3 (105) def. Geelong 11.7 (73) GIANTS Stadium (crowd: 0) Report
Saturday, 21 March (6:40 pm) Gold Coast 4.5 (29) def. by Port Adelaide 10.16 (76) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 0) Report
Sunday, 22 March (1:05 pm) North Melbourne 8.8 (56) def. St Kilda 7.12 (54) Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) Report
Sunday, 22 March (3:35 pm) Hawthorn 14.6 (90) def. Brisbane Lions 9.8 (62) MCG (crowd: 0) Report
Sunday, 22 March (3:40 pm) West Coast 12.6 (78) def. Melbourne 7.9 (51) Optus Stadium (crowd: 0) Report

Round 2

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Round 2
Thursday, 11 June (7:40 pm) Collingwood 5.6 (36) drew with Richmond 5.6 (36) MCG (crowd: 0) Report
Friday, 12 June (7:50 pm) Geelong 17.6 (108) def. Hawthorn 7.5 (47) GMHBA Stadium (crowd: 0) Report
Saturday, 13 June (1:45 pm) Brisbane Lions 12.9 (81) def. Fremantle 10.9 (69) Gabba (crowd: 0) Report
Saturday, 13 June (4:35 pm) Carlton 7.11 (53) def. by Melbourne 8.6 (54) Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) Report
Saturday, 13 June (7:10 pm) Port Adelaide 17.8 (110) def. Adelaide 5.5 (35) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 2,240) Report
Saturday, 13 June (7:40 pm) Gold Coast 14.6 (90) def. West Coast 6.10 (46) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 0) Report
Sunday, 14 June (1:05 pm) Greater Western Sydney 8.12 (60) def. by North Melbourne 12.8 (80) GIANTS Stadium (crowd: 350) Report
Sunday, 14 June (3:35 pm) Sydney 11.7 (73) def. by Essendon 12.7 (79) SCG (crowd: 337[54]) Report
Sunday, 14 June (6:05 pm) St Kilda 14.4 (88) def. Western Bulldogs 7.7 (49) Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) Report

Round 3

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Round 3
Thursday, 18 June (7:40 pm) Richmond 5.9 (39) def. by Hawthorn 11.5 (71) MCG (crowd: 0) Report
Friday, 19 June (7:50 pm) Western Bulldogs 8.9 (57) def. Greater Western Sydney 4.9 (33) Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) Report
Saturday, 20 June (1:45 pm) North Melbourne 8.12 (60) def. by Sydney 10.11 (71) Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) Report
Saturday, 20 June (4:35 pm) Collingwood 12.9 (81) def. St Kilda 5.7 (37) MCG (crowd: 0) Report
Saturday, 20 June (7:40 pm) Geelong 11.11 (77) def. by Carlton 12.7 (79) GMHBA Stadium (crowd: 0) Report
Saturday, 20 June (7:40 pm) Brisbane Lions 10.14 (74) def. West Coast 6.8 (44) Gabba (crowd: 1,965) Report
Sunday, 21 June (3:05 pm) Gold Coast 12.10 (82) def. Adelaide 4.5 (29) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 1,997[60]) Report
Sunday, 21 June (cancelled) Essendon v Melbourne MCG
Sunday, 21 June (8:10 pm) Fremantle 6.5 (41) def. by Port Adelaide 10.10 (70) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 180) Report
Bye
Essendon, Melbourne
  • Conor McKenna (Essendon) tested positive to COVID-19 in his Saturday pre-match test, resulting in the Essendon vs Melbourne match being postponed indefinitely at 24 hours notice.[61] The match was ultimately rescheduled to Round 18, and Round 3 was retroactively considered Essendon's and Melbourne's bye for the season.[62]
  • Gold Coast defeated Adelaide for the first time, having lost their first thirteen encounters against them. This meant that Gold Coast had now beaten every other team in the league at least once.[63]
  • Adelaide lost at Metricon Stadium for the first time in their history, breaking an eleven-game winning streak at the venue.[64]
  • Adelaide's final score of 4.5 (29) was its lowest score at Metricon Stadium, and the lowest score conceded by Gold Coast.[65][66]
  • Adelaide's three quarter time score of 1.4 (10) was its lowest three quarter time score of all time.[63]

Round 4

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Round 4
Thursday, 25 June (7:40 pm) Sydney 5.9 (39) def. by Western Bulldogs 10.7 (67) SCG (crowd: 605) Report
Friday, 26 June (7:50 pm) Greater Western Sydney 10.6 (66) def. Collingwood 9.10 (64) GIANTS Stadium (crowd: 487) Report
Saturday, 27 June (1:45 pm) Port Adelaide 13.11 (89) def. West Coast 6.5 (41) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 450) Report
Saturday, 27 June (4:35 pm) St Kilda 15.3 (93) def. Richmond 10.7 (67) Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) Report
Saturday, 27 June (7:40 pm) Essendon 8.3 (51) def. by Carlton 7.10 (52) MCG (crowd: 0) Report
Saturday, 27 June (7:40 pm) Gold Coast 10.4 (64) def. Fremantle 8.3 (51) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 5,106) Report
Sunday, 28 June (1:05 pm) Brisbane Lions 10.23 (83) def. Adelaide 7.4 (46) Gabba (crowd: 7,354) Report
Sunday, 28 June (3:35 pm) Melbourne 6.8 (44) def. by Geelong 7.5 (47) MCG (crowd: 0) Report
Sunday, 28 June (6:05 pm) Hawthorn 8.10 (58) def. North Melbourne 8.6 (54) Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) Report
  • In the first half of their game, Gold Coast scored 7.0 (42) and Fremantle scored 6.0 (36), making it the first half of football in VFL/AFL history in which no behinds were scored.[67]

Round 5

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Round 5
Thursday, 2 July (7:40 pm) Carlton 8.7 (55) def. by St Kilda 11.7 (73) Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) Report
Friday, 3 July (7:50 pm) Collingwood 7.6 (48) def. by Essendon 10.3 (63) MCG (crowd: 0) Report
Saturday, 4 July (1:45 pm) West Coast 11.11 (77) def. Sydney 6.7 (43) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 2,238) Report
Saturday, 4 July (4:35 pm) Geelong 13.11 (89) def. Gold Coast 8.4 (52) GMHBA Stadium (crowd: 0) Report
Saturday, 4 July (7:40 pm) Western Bulldogs 13.9 (87) def. North Melbourne 5.8 (38) Marvel Stadium (crowd: 0) Report
Saturday, 4 July (7:40 pm) Brisbane Lions 12.13 (85) def. Port Adelaide 6.12 (48) Gabba (crowd: 10,161) Report
Sunday, 5 July (1:05 pm) Adelaide 4.10 (34) def. by Fremantle 8.6 (54) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 418) Report
Sunday, 5 July (3:35 pm) Melbourne 8.4 (52) def. by Richmond 12.7 (79) MCG (crowd: 0) Report
Sunday, 5 July (6:10 pm) Greater Western Sydney 13.5 (83) def. Hawthorn 7.7 (49) GIANTS Stadium (crowd: 5,674) Report

Round 6

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Round 6
Thursday, 9 July (7:40 pm) Geelong 11.7 (73) def. Brisbane Lions 6.10 (46) SCG (crowd: 1,311) Report
Friday, 10 July (7:50 pm) Collingwood 8.11 (59) def. Hawthorn 3.9 (27) GIANTS Stadium (crowd: 1,772) Report
Saturday, 11 July (12:35 pm) Fremantle 12.7 (79) def. St Kilda 11.7 (73) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 638) Report
Saturday, 11 July (3:05 pm) West Coast 10.7 (67) def. Adelaide 5.4 (34) Gabba (crowd: 210) Report
Saturday, 11 July (6:05 pm) Melbourne 12.8 (80) def. Gold Coast 9.9 (63) GIANTS Stadium (crowd: 250) Report
Saturday, 11 July (7:40 pm) Essendon 9.13 (67) def. North Melbourne 7.11 (53) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 4,271) Report
Sunday, 12 July (1:05 pm) Port Adelaide 9.9 (63) def. Greater Western Sydney 6.10 (46) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 368) Report
Sunday, 12 July (3:35 pm) Richmond 4.10 (34) def. Sydney 3.8 (26) Gabba (crowd: 3,606) Report
Sunday, 12 July (6:45 pm) Carlton 16.7 (103) def. Western Bulldogs 7.9 (51) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 2,178) Report
  • Hawthorn's score of 3.9 (27) was its lowest in a game since Round 21, 1975.[68]
  • The combined score of 7.18 (60) in the rain-affected match between Richmond and Sydney was the lowest in any game since Round 16, 1996.[69]
  • Sydney's score of 3.8 (26) was its lowest in a game since Round 13, 1988.[70]

Round 7

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Round 7
Thursday, 16 July (6:10 pm) Geelong 5.5 (35) def. by Collingwood 8.9 (57) Optus Stadium (crowd: 22,077) Report
Friday, 17 July (7:50 pm) Essendon 7.9 (51) def. by Western Bulldogs 14.9 (93) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 4,949) Report
Saturday, 18 July (1:45 pm) Greater Western Sydney 10.8 (68) def. by Brisbane Lions 13.10 (88) GIANTS Stadium (crowd: 3,168) Report
Saturday, 18 July (4:35 pm) Sydney 9.6 (60) def. by Gold Coast 13.14 (92) SCG (crowd: 6,000) Report
Saturday, 18 July (7:40 pm) Richmond 11.11 (77) def. North Melbourne 2.11 (23) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 4,337) Report
Sunday, 19 July (1:05 pm) Carlton 9.7 (61) def. by Port Adelaide 9.10 (64) Gabba (crowd: 3,510) Report
Sunday, 19 July (3:35 pm) Hawthorn 7.6 (48) def. by Melbourne 14.7 (91) GIANTS Stadium (crowd: 750) Report
Sunday, 19 July (6:35 pm) Fremantle 5.2 (32) def. by West Coast 9.8 (62) Optus Stadium (crowd: 25,306) Report
Monday, 20 July (7:40 pm) Adelaide 8.7 (55) def. by St Kilda 12.6 (78) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 13,579) Report

Round 8

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Round 8
Thursday, 23 July (7:40 pm) Gold Coast 6.10 (46) def. by Western Bulldogs 7.9 (51) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 4,039) Report
Friday, 24 July (7:50 pm) Greater Western Sydney 9.8 (62) def. Richmond 6.14 (50) GIANTS Stadium (crowd: 5,500) Report
Saturday, 25 July (1:05 pm) North Melbourne 9.3 (57) def. by Carlton 9.10 (64) Gabba (crowd: 3,655) Report
Saturday, 25 July (3:35 pm) Sydney 9.6 (60) def. Hawthorn 7.11 (53) SCG (crowd: 4,264) Report
Saturday, 25 July (7:10 pm) Port Adelaide 6.8 (44) def. by St Kilda 12.1 (73) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 16,727) Report
Sunday, 26 July (12:35 pm) Adelaide 8.11 (59) def. by Essendon 9.8 (62) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 15,155) Report
Sunday, 26 July (3:35 pm) West Coast 18.3 (111) def. Collingwood 6.9 (45) Optus Stadium (crowd: 24,824) Report
Sunday, 26 July (6:10 pm) Melbourne 7.7 (49) def. by Brisbane Lions 7.11 (53) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 3,011) Report
Monday, 27 July (6:10 pm) Fremantle 2.4 (16) def. by Geelong 6.12 (48) Optus Stadium (crowd: 20,251) Report

Round 9

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Round 9
Wednesday, 29 July (7:10 pm) Western Bulldogs 7.7 (49) def. by Richmond 13.12 (90) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 2,824) Report
Thursday, 30 July (7:50 pm) Melbourne 4.8 (32) def. by Port Adelaide 12.11 (83) Gabba (crowd: 323) Report
Friday, 31 July (3:40 pm) Carlton 9.4 (58) def. by Hawthorn 14.5 (89) Optus Stadium (crowd: 12,304) Report
Friday, 31 July (8:10 pm) Essendon 3.10 (28) def. by Brisbane Lions 14.7 (91) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 4,860) Report
Saturday, 1 August (2:35 pm) North Melbourne 19.5 (119) def. Adelaide 7.8 (50) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 522) Report
Saturday, 1 August (5:10 pm) St Kilda 15.11 (101) def. Sydney 6.12 (48) Gabba (crowd: 2,978) Report
Saturday, 1 August (6:10 pm) West Coast 11.7 (73) def. Geelong 10.4 (64) Optus Stadium (crowd: 26,211) Report
Sunday, 2 August (3:35 pm) Gold Coast 4.11 (35) def. by Greater Western Sydney 9.7 (61) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 4,363) Report
Sunday, 2 August (4:10 pm) Fremantle 10.1 (61) def. Collingwood 7.7 (49) Optus Stadium (crowd: 20,912) Report

Round 10

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Round 10
Monday, 3 August (6:40 pm) Port Adelaide 8.7 (55) def. Western Bulldogs 5.12 (42) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 14,159) Report
Tuesday, 4 August (7:10 pm) Richmond 12.10 (82) def. Brisbane Lions 4.17 (41) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 5,651) Report
Wednesday, 5 August (5:40 pm) Geelong 13.12 (90) def. North Melbourne 9.3 (57) Gabba (crowd: 2,282) Report
Wednesday, 5 August (7:40 pm) Adelaide 5.7 (37) def. by Melbourne 13.10 (88) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 12,022) Report
Thursday, 6 August (5:40 pm) Collingwood 6.14 (50) def. Sydney 6.5 (41) Gabba (crowd: 4,146) Report
Thursday, 6 August (8:10 pm) Gold Coast 11.8 (74) def. by St Kilda 12.6 (78) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 3,095) Report
Friday, 7 August (7:50 pm) Essendon 8.7 (55) def. by Greater Western Sydney 8.11 (59) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 1,178) Report
Bye
Carlton, Fremantle, Hawthorn, West Coast
  • The aggregate score of 0.4 (4) in first quarter of Essendon v Greater Western Sydney was the lowest-scoring opening quarter of any match since Round 1, 1965.

Round 11

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Round 11
Saturday, 8 August (4:05 pm) Port Adelaide 13.15 (93) def. Richmond 11.6 (72) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 10,256) Report
Saturday, 8 August (7:40 pm) Brisbane Lions 14.12 (96) def. Western Bulldogs 11.6 (72) Gabba (crowd: 11,061) Report
Sunday, 9 August (1:35 pm) West Coast 11.6 (72) def. Carlton 7.8 (50) Optus Stadium (crowd: 19,092) Report
Sunday, 9 August (5:40 pm) Melbourne 13.14 (92) def. North Melbourne 5.5 (35) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 2,172) Report
Monday, 10 August (6:10 pm) St Kilda 4.10 (34) def. by Geelong 14.9 (93) Gabba (crowd: 3,903) Report
Monday, 10 August (6:40 pm) Fremantle 7.6 (48) def. Hawthorn 4.8 (32) Optus Stadium (crowd: 18,512) Report
Tuesday, 11 August (6:05 pm) Adelaide 5.8 (38) def. by Collingwood 10.2 (62) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 8,577) Report
Wednesday, 12 August (7:10 pm) Gold Coast 11.7 (73) drew with Essendon 11.7 (73) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 4,303) Report
Bye
Greater Western Sydney, Sydney

Round 12

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Round 12
Thursday, 13 August (6:10 pm) Sydney 10.6 (66) def. Greater Western Sydney 3.7 (25) Optus Stadium (crowd: 6,464) Report
Friday, 14 August (7:50 pm) Geelong 14.7 (91) def. Port Adelaide 4.7 (31) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 3,378) Report
Saturday, 15 August (2:35 pm) North Melbourne 8.4 (52) def. by Brisbane Lions 7.11 (53) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 2,722) Report
Saturday, 15 August (5:10 pm) Melbourne 16.4 (100) def. Collingwood 6.8 (44) Gabba (crowd: 5,338) Report
Saturday, 15 August (6:10 pm) Fremantle 5.6 (36) def. by Carlton 5.10 (40) Optus Stadium (crowd: 24,114) Report
Sunday, 16 August (1:05 pm) Western Bulldogs 16.15 (111) def. Adelaide 8.6 (54) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 613) Report
Sunday, 16 August (3:35 pm) St Kilda 10.8 (68) def. Essendon 5.3 (33) Gabba (crowd: 4,686)
Sunday, 16 August (4:10 pm) West Coast 12.9 (81) def. Hawthorn 7.7 (49) Optus Stadium (crowd: 22,780)
Monday, 17 August (7:10 pm) Richmond 8.5 (53) def. Gold Coast 4.8 (32) Gabba (crowd: 4,062)

Round 13

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Round 13 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round)
Friday, 21 August (7:20 pm) Gold Coast 4.3 (27) def. by Carlton 7.18 (60) TIO Stadium (crowd: 5,172) Report
Saturday, 22 August (1:45 pm) Western Bulldogs 12.8 (80) def. Melbourne 7.10 (52) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 1,765) Report
Saturday, 22 August (4:05 pm) Port Adelaide 9.14 (68) def. Hawthorn 9.4 (58) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 11,740) Report
Saturday, 22 August (7:10 pm) Essendon 10.1 (61) def. by Richmond 10.13 (73) TIO Stadium (crowd: 5,401) Report
Saturday, 22 August (6:10 pm) Fremantle 7.8 (50) def. Sydney 2.7 (19) Optus Stadium (crowd: 24,714) Report
Sunday, 23 August (12:35 pm) Adelaide 5.7 (37) def. by Geelong 9.11 (65) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 10,431) Report
Sunday, 23 August (3:35 pm) Brisbane Lions 6.14 (50) def. St Kilda 7.6 (48) Gabba (crowd: 13,750) Report
Sunday, 23 August (4:10 pm) West Coast 9.7 (61) def. Greater Western Sydney 7.7 (49) Optus Stadium (crowd: 27,339) Report
Monday, 24 August (7:10 pm) Collingwood 10.5 (65) def. North Melbourne 5.5 (35) Gabba (crowd: 2,443) Report

Round 14

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Round 14
Thursday, 27 August (4:10 pm) Hawthorn 10.11 (71) def. by Essendon 13.9 (87) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 4,973) Report
Thursday, 27 August (7:10 pm) Richmond 14.4 (88) def. West Coast 9.7 (61) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 3,628) Report
Friday, 28 August (7:50 pm) Western Bulldogs 9.7 (61) def. by Geelong 10.12 (72) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 2,156) Report
Saturday, 29 August (1:15 pm) Port Adelaide 11.7 (73) def. Sydney 7.5 (47) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 11,801) Report
Saturday, 29 August (2:35 pm) Fremantle 8.5 (53) def. by Greater Western Sydney 14.7 (91) Optus Stadium (crowd: 24,406) Report
Saturday, 29 August (7:10 pm) Melbourne 8.4 (52) def. St Kilda 7.7 (49) TIO Traeger Park (crowd: 1,917) Report
Sunday, 30 August (3:35 pm) Carlton 7.6 (48) def. by Collingwood 10.12 (72) Gabba (crowd: 9,033) Report
Sunday, 30 August (6:10 pm) Gold Coast 12.19 (91) def. North Melbourne 4.4 (28) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 3,353) Report
Bye
Adelaide, Brisbane Lions

Round 15

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Round 15
Tuesday, 1 September (5:10 pm) Hawthorn 7.6 (48) def. by Adelaide 12.11 (83) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 6,191) Report
Tuesday, 1 September (8:10 pm) West Coast 9.6 (60) def. Essendon 6.9 (45) Gabba (crowd: 1,932) Report
Wednesday, 2 September (7:10 pm) Richmond 8.8 (56) def. Fremantle 4.5 (29) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 1,818) Report
Thursday, 3 September (4:40 pm) Sydney 10.7 (67) def. Melbourne 6.10 (46) Cazalys Stadium (crowd: 3,199) Report
Thursday, 3 September (7:10 pm) Greater Western Sydney 6.12 (48) def. Carlton 5.9 (39) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 1,469) Report
Friday, 4 September (7:50 pm) Brisbane Lions 6.6 (42) def. Collingwood 5.4 (34) Gabba (crowd: 15,036) Report
Bye
Geelong, Gold Coast, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs

Round 16

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Round 16
Saturday, 5 September (7:40 pm) North Melbourne 6.6 (42) def. by Port Adelaide 11.12 (78) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 592) Report
Sunday, 6 September (1:05 pm) St Kilda 11.14 (80) def. Hawthorn 9.12 (66) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 2,740) Report
Sunday, 6 September (3:35 pm) Geelong 17.6 (108) def. Essendon 5.12 (42) Gabba (crowd: 5,011) Report
Sunday, 6 September (6:10 pm) Western Bulldogs 6.13 (49) def. West Coast 7.5 (47) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 532) Report
Monday, 7 September (7:10 pm) Melbourne 4.9 (33) def. by Fremantle 6.11 (47) Cazalys Stadium (crowd: 3,279) Report
Tuesday, 8 September (5:10 pm) Adelaide 8.11 (59) def. Greater Western Sydney 7.5 (47) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 12,436) Report
Tuesday, 8 September (8:10 pm) Carlton 8.9 (57) def. Sydney 8.4 (52) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 1,580) Report
Wednesday, 9 September (7:10 pm) Brisbane Lions 13.10 (88) def. Gold Coast 6.7 (43) Gabba (crowd: 11,292) Report
Bye
Collingwood, Richmond

Round 17

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Round 17
Thursday, 10 September (7:10 pm) St Kilda 6.14 (50) def. by West Coast 9.11 (65) Gabba (crowd: 1,925) Report
Friday, 11 September (7:50 pm) Geelong 4.7 (31) def. by Richmond 7.15 (57) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 7,061) Report
Saturday, 12 September (2:10 pm) North Melbourne 5.5 (35) def. by Fremantle 15.9 (99) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 308) Report
Saturday, 12 September (4:35 pm) Port Adelaide 11.13 (79) def. Essendon 4.5 (29) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 17,482) Report
Saturday, 12 September (7:40 pm) Greater Western Sydney 11.8 (74) def. by Melbourne 12.7 (79) Gabba (crowd: 1,204) Report
Sunday, 13 September (1:05 pm) Carlton 8.8 (56) def. by Adelaide 10.12 (72) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 2,735) Report
Sunday, 13 September (3:05 pm) Hawthorn 6.4 (40) def. by Western Bulldogs 11.10 (76) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 2,625) Report
Sunday, 13 September (6:10 pm) Sydney 6.5 (41) def. by Brisbane Lions 11.7 (73) Cazalys Stadium (crowd: 3,700) Report
Monday, 14 September (7:10 pm) Collingwood 10.8 (68) def. Gold Coast 6.10 (46) Gabba (crowd: 2,896) Report

Round 18

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Round 18
Thursday, 17 September (7:10 pm) North Melbourne 4.10 (34) def. by West Coast 7.7 (49) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 724) Report
Friday, 18 September (7:50 pm) St Kilda 12.10 (82) def. Greater Western Sydney 3.12 (30) Gabba (crowd: 1,528) Report
Saturday, 19 September (2:10 pm) Essendon 7.7 (49) def. by Melbourne 10.8 (68) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 2,175) Report
Saturday, 19 September (4:40 pm) Adelaide 4.9 (33) def. by Richmond 12.5 (77) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 17,710) Report
Saturday, 19 September (7:40 pm) Brisbane Lions 11.12 (78) def. Carlton 10.1 (61) Gabba (crowd: 14,563) Report
Sunday, 20 September (12:35 pm) Hawthorn 17.6 (108) def. Gold Coast 8.9 (57) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 2,136) Report
Sunday, 20 September (3:35 pm) Sydney 9.9 (63) def. by Geelong 10.9 (69) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 2,798) Report
Sunday, 20 September (6:10 pm) Fremantle 6.8 (44) def. by Western Bulldogs 11.8 (74) Cazalys Stadium (crowd: 3,114) Report
Monday, 21 September (7:15 pm) Collingwood 7.3 (45) def. by Port Adelaide 9.7 (61) Gabba (crowd: 5,424) Report

Season notes

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Win/loss table

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Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 F1 F2 F3 GF Ladder
Adelaide Syd
-3
PA
-75
GCS
-53
BL
-37
Frem
-20
WCE
-33
StK
-23
Ess
-3
NM
-69
Melb
-51
Coll
-24
WB
-57
Geel
-28
X Haw
+35
GWS
+12
Carl
+16
Rich
-44
X X X X 18
Brisbane Lions Haw
-28
Frem
+12
WCE
+30
Adel
+37
PA
+37
Geel
-27
GWS
+20
Melb
+4
Ess
+63
Rich
-41
WB
+24
NM
+1
StK
+2
X Coll
+8
GCS
+45
Syd
+32
Carl
+17
Rich
+15
X Geel
-40
X 2 (4)
Carlton Rich
-24
Melb
-1
Geel
+2
Ess
+1
StK
-18
WB
+52
PA
-3
NM
+7
Haw
-31
X WCE
-22
Frem
+4
GCS
+33
Coll
-24
GWS
-9
Syd
+5
Adel
-16
BL
-17
X X X X 11
Collingwood WB
+52
Rich
0
StK
+44
GWS
-2
Ess
-15
Haw
+32
Geel
+22
WCE
-66
Frem
-12
Syd
+9
Adel
+24
Melb
-56
NM
+30
Carl
+24
BL
-8
X GCS
+22
PA
-16
WCE
+1
Geel
-68
X X 8 (6)
Essendon Frem
+6
Syd
+6
X Carl
-1
Coll
+15
NM
+14
WB
-42
Adel
+3
BL
-63
GWS
-4
GCS
0
StK
-35
Rich
-12
Haw
+16
WCE
-15
Geel
-66
PA
-50
Melb
-19
X X X X 13
Fremantle Ess
-6
BL
-12
PA
-29
GCS
-13
Adel
+20
StK
+6
WCE
-30
Geel
-32
Coll
+12
X Haw
+16
Carl
-4
Syd
+31
GWS
-38
Rich
-27
Melb
+14
NM
+64
WB
-30
X X X X 12
Geelong GWS
-32
Haw
+61
Carl
-2
Melb
+3
GCS
+37
BL
+27
Coll
-22
Frem
+32
WCE
-9
NM
+33
StK
+59
PA
+60
Adel
+28
WB
+11
X Ess
+66
Rich
-26
Syd
+6
PA
-16
Coll
+68
BL
+40
Rich
-31
4 (2)
Gold Coast PA
-47
WCE
+44
Adel
+53
Frem
+13
Geel
-37
Melb
-17
Syd
+32
WB
-5
GWS
-26
StK
-4
Ess
0
Rich
-21
Carl
-33
NM
+63
X BL
-45
Coll
-22
Haw
-51
X X X X 14
Greater Western Sydney Geel
+32
NM
-20
WB
-24
Coll
+2
Haw
+34
PA
-17
BL
-20
Rich
+12
GCS
+26
Ess
+4
X Syd
-41
WCE
-12
Frem
+38
Carl
+9
Adel
-12
Melb
-5
StK
-52
X X X X 10
Hawthorn BL
+28
Geel
-61
Rich
+32
NM
+4
GWS
-34
Coll
-32
Melb
-43
Syd
-7
Carl
+31
X Frem
-16
WCE
-32
PA
-10
Ess
-16
Adel
-35
StK
-14
WB
-36
GCS
+51
X X X X 15
Melbourne WCE
-27
Carl
+1
X Geel
-3
Rich
-27
GCS
+17
Haw
+43
BL
-4
PA
-51
Adel
+51
NM
+57
Coll
+56
WB
-28
StK
+3
Syd
-21
Frem
-14
GWS
+5
Ess
+19
X X X X 9
North Melbourne StK
+2
GWS
+20
Syd
-11
Haw
-4
WB
-49
Ess
-14
Rich
-54
Carl
-7
Adel
+69
Geel
-33
Melb
-57
BL
-1
Coll
-30
GCS
-63
X PA
-36
Frem
-64
WCE
-15
X X X X 17
Port Adelaide GCS
+47
Adel
+75
Frem
+29
WCE
+48
BL
-37
GWS
+17
Carl
+3
StK
-29
Melb
+51
WB
+13
Rich
+21
Geel
-60
Haw
+10
Syd
+26
X NM
+36
Ess
+50
Coll
+16
Geel
+16
X Rich
-6
X 1 (3)
Richmond Carl
+24
Coll
0
Haw
-32
StK
-26
Melb
+27
Syd
+8
NM
+54
GWS
-12
WB
+41
BL
+41
PA
-21
GCS
+21
Ess
+12
WCE
+27
Frem
+27
X Geel
+26
Adel
+44
BL
-15
StK
+31
PA
+6
Geel
+31
3 (1)
St Kilda NM
-2
WB
+39
Coll
-44
Rich
+26
Carl
+18
Frem
-6
Adel
+23
PA
+29
Syd
+53
GCS
+4
Geel
-59
Ess
+35
BL
-2
Melb
-3
X Haw
+14
WCE
-15
GWS
+52
WB
+3
Rich
-31
X X 6 (5)
Sydney Adel
+3
Ess
-6
NM
+11
WB
-28
WCE
-34
Rich
-8
GCS
-32
Haw
+7
StK
-53
Coll
-9
X GWS
+41
Frem
-31
PA
-26
Melb
+21
Carl
-5
BL
+32
Geel
-6
X X X X 16
West Coast Melb
+27
GCS
-44
BL
-30
PA
-48
Syd
+34
Adel
+33
Frem
+30
Coll
+66
Geel
+9
X Carl
+22
Haw
+32
GWS
+12
Rich
-27
Ess
+15
WB
-2
StK
+15
NM
+15
Coll
-1
X X X 5 (7)
Western Bulldogs Coll
-52
StK
-39
GWS
+24
Syd
+28
NM
+49
Carl
-52
Ess
+42
GCS
+5
Rich
-41
PA
-13
BL
-24
Adel
+57
Melb
+28
Geel
-11
X WCE
+2
Haw
+36
Frem
+30
StK
-3
X X X 7 (8)
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 F1 F2 F3 GF Ladder
+ Win Qualified for finals
- Loss X Bye
Draw Eliminated

Bold – Home game
X – Bye
Opponent for round listed above margin

Ladder

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Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts Qualification
1 Port Adelaide 17 14 3 0 1185 869 136.4 56 Finals series
2 Brisbane Lions 17 14 3 0 1184 948 124.9 56
3 Richmond (P) 17 12 4 1 1135 874 129.9 50
4 Geelong 17 12 5 0 1233 901 136.8 48
5 West Coast 17 12 5 0 1095 936 117.0 48
6 St Kilda 17 10 7 0 1159 997 116.2 40
7 Western Bulldogs 17 10 7 0 1103 1034 106.7 40
8 Collingwood 17 9 7 1 965 881 109.5 38
9 Melbourne 17 9 8 0 1063 986 107.8 36
10 Greater Western Sydney 17 8 9 0 1007 1053 95.6 32
11 Carlton 17 7 10 0 1017 1078 94.3 28
12 Fremantle 17 7 10 0 866 924 93.7 28
13 Essendon 17 6 10 1 938 1185 79.2 26
14 Gold Coast 17 5 11 1 996 1099 90.6 22
15 Hawthorn 17 5 12 0 1004 1194 84.1 20
16 Sydney 17 5 12 0 890 1077 82.6 20
17 North Melbourne 17 3 14 0 858 1205 71.2 12
18 Adelaide 17 3 14 0 826 1283 64.4 12
Updated to match(es) played on 21 September 2020. Source: AFL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Ladder progression

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  • Numbers highlighted in green indicates the team finished the round inside the top 8.
  • Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished in first place on the ladder in that round.
  • Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round.
  • Underlined numbers indicates the team did not play during that round, either due to a bye or a postponed game.
  • Subscript numbers indicate ladder position at round's end.
Points by round
Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718
Port Adelaide4181121161161201241241281321361361401441441481521561
Brisbane Lions01541185123162163202242282283322362402403442482522562
Richmond4665696141011146184189225264266306345384423424463503
Geelong0144741086123162165203206245283323363402404443444484
West Coast434124154168151211168205244246284324364365405405445485
St Kilda0104641187124127166204243282285325326327327366367406
Western Bulldogs01701841681312812121692062082092011241028828102810329368407
Collingwood426410210510101451831881810228267267307346346347386388
Melbourne016414414415417815121212131215161220102482492882892810329369
Greater Western Sydney4548412810127121012131612207247248249241128932832832103210
Carlton013016413812812128121116111612161316132012241024122412281128122811
Fremantle0120150170174168148158161216121616141614201320142014241328112812
Essendon47838488125164161020720920102292211221226112611261226132613
Gold Coast0184108312212612916716101611161118121813181422132213221422142214
Hawthorn44413881241291213121412151613161416151616161516151616161616162015
Sydney48498781181481781612141217121712171615161616162015201520152016
North Melbourne498286898138168178171214121512161217121712171217121712171217
Adelaide01101701801801801801801801801801801801801841881812181218
Source: AFL Tables[80]

Positions of teams round by round

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Finals series

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Qualifying and elimination finalsSemi-finalsPreliminary finalsGrand final
1 Oct, Adelaide Oval
1Port Adelaide9.4 (58)
4Geelong5.12 (42)10 Oct, Gabba
Geelong15.10 (100)
3 Oct, Optus StadiumCollingwood5.2 (32)16 Oct, Adelaide Oval
5West Coast11.9 (75)Port Adelaide6.4 (40)
8Collingwood12.4 (76)Richmond6.10 (46)24 Oct, Gabba
Richmond12.9 (81)
3 Oct, Gabba17 Oct, GabbaGeelong7.8 (50)
6St Kilda10.7 (67)Brisbane Lions6.6 (42)
7Western Bulldogs9.10 (64)9 Oct, Metricon StadiumGeelong11.16 (82)
Richmond12.8 (80)
2 Oct, GabbaSt Kilda6.13 (49)
2Brisbane Lions10.9 (69)
3Richmond8.6 (54)

Week one

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Qualifying finals
QF1: Thursday, 1 October (7:10 pm) Port Adelaide 9.4 (58) def. Geelong 5.12 (42) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 22,755) Report
QF2: Friday, 2 October (7:50 pm) Brisbane Lions 10.9 (69) def. Richmond 8.6 (54) Gabba (crowd: 22,104) Report
Elimination finals
EF2: Saturday, 3 October (4:40 pm) St Kilda 10.7 (67) def. Western Bulldogs 9.10 (64) Gabba (crowd: 10,651) Report
EF1: Saturday, 3 October (6:10 pm) West Coast 11.9 (75) def. by Collingwood 12.4 (76) Optus Stadium (crowd: 32,865) Report

Week two

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Semi-finals
SF2: Friday, 9 October (6:50 pm) Richmond 12.8 (80) def. St Kilda 6.13 (49) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 13,778) Report
SF1: Saturday, 10 October (6:40 pm) Geelong 15.10 (100) def. Collingwood 5.2 (32) Gabba (crowd: 21,396) Report

Week three

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Preliminary finals
PF1: Friday, 16 October (7:20 pm) Port Adelaide 6.4 (40) def. by Richmond 6.10 (46) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 24,292) Report
PF2: Saturday, 17 October (6:40 pm) Brisbane Lions 6.6 (42) def. by Geelong 11.16 (82) Gabba (crowd: 29,121) Report

Week four

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Grand final
Saturday, 24 October (6:30 pm) Richmond 12.9 (81) def. Geelong 7.8 (50) Gabba (crowd: 29,707) Report
  • This was the first Grand Final in VFL/AFL history to be hosted outside Victoria, and the first not to be hosted at the MCG since 1991.
  • The crowd of 29,707 was the lowest for a VFL/AFL Grand Final since 1917.
  • Dustin Martin became the first player in VFL/AFL history to win the Norm Smith Medal three times.

Attendance

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By club

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In this table, home matches which were played behind closed doors are not included in the total count of home games, and therefore do not contribute to the home average.

2020 AFL Attendances [83]
Club Home Total Home Games Home Avg.
Adelaide 90,328 8 11,291
Brisbane Lions 85,182 8 10,648
Carlton 31,340 6 5,223
Collingwood 16,681 5 3,336
Essendon 22,834 6 3,806
Fremantle 162,147 10 16,215
Geelong 41,120 6 6,853
Gold Coast 31,428 8 3,929
Greater Western Sydney 17,852 7 2,550
Hawthorn 16,675 5 3,335
Melbourne 16,290 7 2,327
North Melbourne 8,523 6 1,421
Port Adelaide 85,223 9 9,469
Richmond 23,102 6 3,850
St Kilda 17,760 6 2,960
Sydney 27,367 8 3,421
West Coast 124,626 8 15,578
Western Bulldogs 7,890 5 1,578

Club leadership

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Club Coach Captain(s) Vice-captain(s) Leadership group Ref.
Adelaide Matthew Nicks Rory Sloane Matt Crouch, Tom Doedee, Tom Lynch, Brodie Smith [84]
Brisbane Lions Chris Fagan Dayne Zorko Harris Andrews Jarrod Berry, Darcy Gardiner, Ryan Lester, Jarryd Lyons, Stefan Martin, Hugh McCluggage, Lachie Neale [85]
Carlton David Teague Patrick Cripps
Sam Docherty
Ed Curnow, Liam Jones, Marc Murphy, Sam Walsh, Jacob Weitering [86]
Collingwood Nathan Buckley Scott Pendlebury Taylor Adams, Steele Sidebottom, Jeremy Howe Brodie Grundy, Jordan Roughead [87]
Essendon John Worsfold Dyson Heppell Michael Hurley, Dylan Shiel, Devon Smith, David Zaharakis [88]
Fremantle Justin Longmuir Nat Fyfe Reece Conca, Joel Hamling, David Mundy, Alex Pearce, Michael Walters [89]
Geelong Chris Scott Joel Selwood Mark Blicavs, Patrick Dangerfield Mitch Duncan, Mark O'Connor, Tom Stewart, Zach Tuohy [90]
Gold Coast Stuart Dew David Swallow
Jarrod Witts
Touk Miller Sam Collins, Brayden Fiorini, Alex Sexton [91]
Greater Western Sydney Leon Cameron Stephen Coniglio Josh Kelly Jeremy Cameron, Matt de Boer, Toby Greene, Lachie Whitfield [92][93]
Hawthorn Alastair Clarkson Ben Stratton Tom Mitchell, Jaeger O'Meara Jack Gunston, Ben McEvoy, Liam Shiels, Isaac Smith [94]
Melbourne Simon Goodwin Max Gawn Jack Viney [95]
North Melbourne Rhyce Shaw Jack Ziebell Shaun Higgins, Robbie Tarrant Ben Cunnington, Trent Dumont, Jamie Macmillan, Jasper Pittard, Jy Simpkin [96]
Port Adelaide Ken Hinkley Tom Jonas Hamish Hartlett, Ollie Wines [97]
Richmond Damien Hardwick Trent Cotchin Jack Riewoldt [98]
St Kilda Brett Ratten Jarryn Geary Sebastian Ross Jack Billings, Bradley Hill, Tim Membrey, Dylan Roberton [99]
Sydney John Longmire Josh Kennedy
Luke Parker
Dane Rampe
Lance Franklin, Callum Mills [100]
West Coast Adam Simpson Luke Shuey Josh Kennedy, Jeremy McGovern Jack Darling, Andrew Gaff, Nic Naitanui, Elliot Yeo [101]
Western Bulldogs Luke Beveridge Marcus Bontempelli Josh Dunkley, Jason Johannisen, Mitch Wallis, Easton Wood [102]

Awards

edit

Coleman Medal

edit
Player123456789101112131415161718Total
Tom Hawkins2021330323563241242
Charlie Dixon326013112202422132
Josh Kennedy011401474231021031
Jack Gunston022031313122313431
Matt Taberner122112214232210329
Tom Lynch031231102312233128
Jack Riewoldt3001111114322114228
Jack Darling1110222122233202127
Dan Butler0223213224012011127
Tom Papley1324122411001002226
Charlie Cameron2412112241001022126
Source: [citation needed]

Player milestones

edit

[103]

Name Club Milestone Round
Rory Sloane Adelaide 200 AFL games[104] Round 1
Patrick Dangerfield Geelong 250 AFL games[105] Round 2
Shaun Atley North Melbourne 200 AFL games[106] Round 3
Andrew Gaff West Coast 200 AFL games[107] Round 3
Grant Birchall Brisbane Lions 250 AFL games[108] Round 3
Josh P. Kennedy Sydney 250 AFL games[109] Round 4
Brad Ebert Port Adelaide 250 AFL games[110] Round 4
Jack Darling West Coast 200 AFL games[111] Round 4
Lewis Jetta West Coast 200 AFL games[112] Round 4
Luke Parker Sydney 200 AFL games[113] Round 5
Gary Ablett Jr. Geelong 350 AFL games[114] Round 5
Joel Selwood Geelong 300 AFL games[114] Round 5
Jarrod Harbrow Gold Coast 250 AFL games[115] Round 6
Josh J. Kennedy West Coast 250 AFL games[116] Round 7
Jack Gunston Hawthorn 200 AFL games[117] Round 8
Mitch Robinson Brisbane Lions 200 AFL games[118] Round 9
Paddy Ryder St Kilda 250 AFL games[119] Round 10
Ben Stratton Hawthorn 200 AFL games[120] Round 13
Tom Rockliff Port Adelaide 200 AFL games[121] Round 13
Taylor Walker Adelaide 200 AFL games[122] Round 13
Cale Hooker Essendon 200 AFL games[123] Round 15
Shane Mumford Greater Western Sydney 200 AFL games[124] Round 15
Jarryn Geary St Kilda 200 AFL games[125] Round 16
Zach Tuohy Geelong 200 AFL games[126] Round 17
Todd Goldstein North Melbourne 250 AFL games[127] Round 17
Matt de Boer Greater Western Sydney 200 AFL games[128] Round 17
Daniel Talia Adelaide 200 AFL games[129] Round 18
Trent Cotchin Richmond 250 AFL games[130] Preliminary Final
Tom Hawkins Geelong 600 AFL goals[131] Semi-final

Best and fairest

edit
Club Award name Player Times won
Adelaide Malcolm Blight Medal Reilly O'Brien 1
Brisbane Lions Merrett–Murray Medal Lachie Neale 2
Carlton John Nicholls Medal Jacob Weitering 1
Collingwood Copeland Trophy Taylor Adams 1
Essendon W. S. Crichton Medal Jordan Ridley 1
Fremantle Doig Medal Luke Ryan 1
Geelong Carji Greeves Medal Cameron Guthrie 1
Gold Coast Club Champion Sam Collins 1
Greater Western Sydney Kevin Sheedy Medal Nick Haynes 1
Lachie Whitfield 2
Hawthorn Peter Crimmins Medal Jack Gunston 1
Melbourne Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy Christian Petracca 1
North Melbourne Syd Barker Medal Luke McDonald 1
Port Adelaide John Cahill Medal Darcy Byrne-Jones 1
Richmond Jack Dyer Medal Jayden Short 1
St Kilda Trevor Barker Award Jack Steele 1
Sydney Bob Skilton Medal Jake Lloyd 2
West Coast John Worsfold Medal Nic Naitanui 1
Western Bulldogs Charles Sutton Medal Caleb Daniel 1

Coach changes

edit
Outgoing coach Club Date Notes Incoming coach
John Worsfold Essendon 17 September 2019 Stepped down at the conclusion of the club's 2020 season as part of a succession plan.[132] Ben Rutten[132]
Rhyce Shaw North Melbourne 22 October 2020 Stepped down at the conclusion of the club's 2020 season due to personal health issues.[133] David Noble[134]

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