This page is a complete chronological listing of VFL/AFL premiers. The Australian Football League (AFL), known as the Victorian Football League (VFL) until 1989, is the elite national competition in men's Australian rules football.[1]
The inaugural premiership was awarded as a result of a round-robin finals system;[2] this format was replaced after the first season, and a grand final has been held every season since 1898 to determine the premiers,[3] with the exception of 1924 when a modified round-robin system was used.[4][5] The formation of a national competition, beginning in 1987,[6] has resulted in the league attempting to develop "an even and stable competition"[7] through a range of equalisation policies, such as a salary cap and draft (introduced in 1985 and 1986, respectively).[7][8] This has had a significant impact on the spread of premierships: since 1990, thirteen clubs have won a premiership,[9] compared with only five clubs between 1967 and 1989.[10]
Essendon won the inaugural VFL premiership in 1897
Fitzroy won the inaugural grand final in 1898
Carlton has won the equal-most premierships with 16, with their first coming in the 1906 season
Collingwood's premiership win in 1930 was the club's fourth successive premiership, a record for the league
Geelong players doing a lap of honour with the premiership cup after their grand final win in 2009
Premierships by club
Minor grade premierships
In addition to the seniors, VFL/AFL clubs have competed in premierships in three minor grades.
Night premierships
The pre-season and night premiership covers three competitions which are considered historically equivalent in status:
VFL night series, a consolation competition played amongst non-finalists between 1956 and 1971, and again in 1977, 1978 and 1987.
Australian Football Championships night series, a mid-season knock-out competition played concurrently with the premiership and involving teams from interstate, played between 1979 and 1986.
VFL/AFL pre-season competition, played before each season from 1988 until 2013.
Seconds/reserves premierships
The reserve grade premiership was held in various formats between 1919 and 1999. It was known as the Victorian Junior Football League from 1919 until 1923, the Seconds from 1924 until 1959, the VFL Reserves from 1960 until 1989, and as the AFL reserves from 1990 until 1999.[13] Until 1991, the competition was run by the VFL/AFL, and from 1992 until 1999 it was administered by the Victorian State Football League.
Thirds/under-19s premierships
The VFL/AFL under-19s competition was held between 1946 and 1991. It was known as the VFL thirds from 1946 until 1959, and as the under-19s from 1960 until 1991.[13]
↑McFarlane, Glenn (9 June 2016). "AFL allows clubs to include VFA flags in their own VFL-AFL premiership records". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
↑"1897 Premiership". essendonfc.com.au. Essendon Football Club. 26 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
↑McGarry, Andrew (29 September 2017). "Adelaide, Richmond to make AFL grand final history, with no players having previous experience". ABC News (Australia). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
↑"Essendon premiers". The Argus. Melbourne. 29 September 1924. p.14. Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018– via Trove.
↑"1924 Premiership". essendonfc.com.au. Telstra Media. 12 October 2017. Archived from the original on 20 March 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
↑"Chronology of Australian Football". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
12"NAB AFL Draft". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League & BigPond. 10 February 2002. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
↑Warner, Michael; Ralph, Jon (11 July 2012). "Stars say salary cap is old hat, urge AFL to look to US". news.com.au. News Limited. Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
↑Rise, Brayden (8 May 2018). "The best two clubs of the AFL era (and no, neither is Hawthorn)". The Roar. Conversant Media. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
↑"An object lesson in the perils of hindsight". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. 2 October 2003. Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
↑Lerner, Ronny (22 October 2017). "The race for AFL premiership No.17 between Essendon and Carlton has resumed". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
↑Lerner, Ronny (8 January 2019). "Record premiership droughts spurring AFL clubs in 2019". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 8 January 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
12"New name likely for thirds". The Sun News-Pictorial. Melbourne, VIC. 2 April 1960. p.66.
↑Stephen Rodgers (1992), Every Game Ever Played – VFL/AFL results 1897–1991 (3rded.), Viking O'Neil
Sources
Australian Football League
Full Points Footy
AFL Tables
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