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.

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

Club Years in
competition		 Premierships Runners-up
Total Years Total Years
Collingwood1897–present161902, 1903, 1910, 1917, 1919, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1935, 1936, 1953, 1958, 1990, 2010, 2023271901, 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
Essendon1897–present161897, 1901, 1911, 1912, 1923, 1924, 1942, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1962, 1965, 1984, 1985, 1993, 2000141898, 1902, 1908, 1941, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1957, 1959, 1968, 1983, 1990, 2001
Carlton1897–present161906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995131904, 1909, 1910, 1916, 1921, 1932, 1949, 1962, 1969, 1973, 1986, 1993, 1999
Richmond1908–present131920, 1921, 1932, 1934, 1943, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1980, 2017, 2019, 2020121919, 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1940, 1942, 1944, 1972, 1982
Hawthorn1925–present131961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008, 2013, 2014, 201561963, 1975, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2012
Melbourne1897–present131900, 1926, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1948, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1964, 202151946, 1954, 1958, 1988, 2000
Geelong1897–present101925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2022101897, 1930, 1953, 1967, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2008, 2020
Fitzroy1897–199681898, 1899, 1904, 1905, 1913, 1916, 1922, 194451900, 1903, 1906, 1917, 1923
South Melbourne / Sydney1897–present51909, 1918, 1933, 2005, 2012131899, 1907, 1912, 1914, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1945, 1996, 2006, 2014, 2016, 2022
North Melbourne1925–present41975, 1977, 1996, 199951950, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1998
West Coast1987–present41992, 1994, 2006, 201831991, 2005, 2015
Brisbane Lions1997–present32001, 2002, 200322004, 2023
Footscray / Western Bulldogs1925–present21954, 201621961, 2021
Adelaide1991–present21997, 199812017
St Kilda1897–present1196661913, 1965, 1971, 1997, 2009, 2010
Port Adelaide1997–present1200412007
Fremantle1995–present0—12013
Greater Western Sydney2012–present0—12019
University1908–19140—0—
Brisbane Bears1987–19960—0—
Gold Coast2011–present0—0—

Table correct to the end of the 2023 season.

Premiership frequency

Club Years in competition Seasons Premierships Runners-up Strike rate (based on
seasons in competition)		 Average years per
Premiership Grand final
Hawthorn1925–present9913613.13%7.625.21
Essendon1897–1915, 1918–present125161412.80%7.814.17
Collingwood1897–present127162712.60%7.942.95
Carlton1897–present127161312.60%7.944.38
Richmond1908–present116131211.21%8.924.64
Brisbane Lions1997–present273211.11%9.005.40
West Coast1987–present374310.81%9.255.29
Melbourne1897–1915, 1919–present12413510.48%9.546.89
Geelong1897–1915, 1917–1941, 1944–present12410108.06%12.406.20
Fitzroy1897–1996100858.00%12.507.69
Adelaide1991–present33216.06%16.5011.00
North Melbourne1925–present99454.04%24.7511.00
South Melbourne / Sydney1897–1915, 1917–present1265133.97%25.207.00
Port Adelaide1997–present27113.70%27.0013.50
Footscray / Western Bulldogs1925–present99222.02%49.5024.75
St Kilda1897–1915, 1918–present125160.80%125.0017.86
Greater Western Sydney2012–present1201——12.00
Fremantle1995–present2901——29.00
University1908–1914700———
Brisbane Bears1987–19961000———
Gold Coast2011–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

Club Seasons Start End Grand final appearances
during drought
South Melbourne / Sydney72193320051934, 1935, 1936, 1945, 1996
St Kilda68[lower-alpha 1]1897+19661913, 1965
Footscray / Western Bulldogs62195420161961
St Kilda571966—1971, 1997, 2009, 2010
Melbourne57196420211988, 2000
Fitzroy5219441996†—
North Melbourne511925+19751950, 1974

Table correct to the end of the 2023 season.

Longest club premiership droughts

Club Seasons Start End Grand final appearances during drought
Adelaide251998—2017
Brisbane Bears101987+1996†—
Brisbane Lions202003—2004, 2023
Carlton281995—1999
Collingwood32195819901960, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981
Essendon232000—2001
Fitzroy5219441996†—
Footscray / Western Bulldogs62195420161961
Fremantle291995+—2013
Geelong44196320071967, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1995
Gold Coast132011+——
Greater Western Sydney122012+—2019
Hawthorn371925+1961—
Melbourne57196420211988, 2000
North Melbourne511925+19751950, 1974
Port Adelaide192004—2007
Richmond37198020171982
St Kilda68[lower-alpha 1]1897+19661913, 1965
South Melbourne / Sydney72193320051934, 1935, 1936, 1945, 1996
University71908+1914†—
West Coast12199420062005
200620182015

Table correct to the end of the 2023 season.

Current club premiership droughts

Club Seasons Start Grand final appearances
during drought
Adelaide25*19982017
Brisbane Lions20*20032004, 2023
Carlton28*19951999
Collingwood02023—
Essendon23*20002001
Fremantle28*1995+2013
Geelong12022—
Gold Coast12*2011+—
Greater Western Sydney11*2012+2019
Hawthorn82015—
Melbourne22021—
North Melbourne241999—
Port Adelaide19*20042007
Richmond32020—
St Kilda5719661971, 1997, 2009, 2010
Sydney1120122014, 2016, 2022
West Coast52018—
Western Bulldogs720162021

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
Club Seasons Entry to
league		 First
premiership		 Grand final appearances
during drought
Adelaide719911997—
Brisbane Bears10×1987——
Brisbane Lions519972001—
Carlton10189719061904
Collingwood6189719021901
Essendon118971897—
Fitzroy218971898—
Footscray / Western Bulldogs3019251954—
Fremantle28°1995—2013
Geelong29189719251897
Gold Coast12°2011——
Greater Western Sydney11°2012—2019
Hawthorn37*19251961—
Melbourne418971900—
North Melbourne51*192519751950, 1974
Port Adelaide819972004—
Richmond13190819201919
St Kilda68*[lower-alpha 1]189719661913, 1965
South Melbourne / Sydney13189719091899, 1907
University7×1908——
West Coast6198719921991

Table correct to the end of the 2022 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

# Club Years
4Collingwood1927, 1928, 1929, 1930
3Carlton1906, 1907, 1908
Melbourne1939, 1940, 1941
Melbourne1955, 1956, 1957
Brisbane Lions2001, 2002, 2003
Hawthorn2013, 2014, 2015
2Fitzroy1898, 1899
Collingwood1902, 1903
Fitzroy1904, 1905
Essendon1911, 1912
Carlton1914, 1915
Richmond1920, 1921
Essendon1923, 1924
Collingwood1935, 1936
Essendon1949, 1950
Geelong1951, 1952
Melbourne1959, 1960
Richmond1973, 1974
Carlton1981, 1982
Essendon1984, 1985
Hawthorn1988, 1989
Adelaide1997, 1998
Richmond2019, 2020

Table correct to the end of the 2023 season.

Consecutive grand finals

# Club Years Win/loss
7Melbourne1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960L, W, W, W, L, W, W
Hawthorn1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989W, L, L, W, L, W, W
6Collingwood1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930L, L, W, W, W, W
Essendon1946, 1947, 19481, 1949, 1950, 1951W, L, L, W, W, L
5Carlton1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910W, W, W, L, L
Collingwood1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939W, W, L, L, L
North Melbourne1974, 1975, 1976, 19772, 1978L, W, L, W, L
4Fitzroy1903, 1904, 1905, 1906L, W, W, L
Collingwood1917, 1918, 1919, 1920W, L, W, L
Richmond1931, 1932, 1933, 1934L, W, L, W
South Melbourne1933, 1934, 1935, 1936W, L, L, L
Brisbane Lions2001, 2002, 2003, 2004W, W, W, L
Hawthorn2012, 2013, 2014, 2015L, W, W, W
3Fitzroy1898, 1899, 1900W, W, L
Collingwood1901, 1902, 1903L, W, W
Carlton1914, 1915, 1916W, W, L
Richmond1919, 1920, 1921L, W, W
Richmond1927, 1928, 1929L, L, L
Melbourne1939, 1940, 1941W, W, W
Essendon1941, 1942, 1943L, W, L
Richmond1942, 1943, 1944L, W, L
Geelong1951, 1952, 1953W, W, L
Carlton1968, 1969, 1970W, L, W
Richmond1972, 1973, 1974L, W, W
Collingwood1979, 1980, 1981L, L, L
Essendon1983, 1984, 1985L, W, W
Geelong2007, 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-up Grand final appearances
7Collingwood vs Melbourne1926, 1939, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1964
6Carlton vs Collingwood1910, 1915, 1938, 1970, 1979, 1981
Carlton vs Essendon1908, 1947, 1949, 1962, 1968, 1993
Carlton vs Richmond1921, 1932, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1982
Collingwood vs Geelong1925, 1930, 1937, 1952, 1953, 2011
Collingwood vs Richmond1919, 1920, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1980
Essendon vs Melbourne1941, 1946, 1948, 1957, 1959, 2000
4Carlton vs South Melbourne1907, 1909, 1914, 1945
Collingwood vs Essendon1901, 1902, 1911, 1990
Collingwood vs Fitzroy1903, 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).

Club Seniors Reserves Under-19s Night AFLW Total
Essendon168560 35
Melbourne1312631 35
Carlton168640 34
Richmond1391110 34
Collingwood167420 28
Geelong1013130 27
Hawthorn134190 27
North Melbourne47750 23
Fitzroy8322— 15
Footscray / Western Bulldogs26141 14
South Melbourne / Sydney50140 10
St Kilda13140 9
Adelaide2——22 6
Brisbane Lions3——11 5
West Coast4——00 4
Port Adelaide1——20 3
Brisbane Bears01—0— 1
University00——— 0
Fremantle0——00 0
Gold Coast01—00 1
Greater Western Sydney0——00 0

Table correct to the end of the 2022 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.

Season Club Seniors Reserves Under-19s Night AFLW Total
1950 Essendon Yes Yes Yes N/A N/A 3/3
1951 Carlton No Yes Yes N/A N/A 2/3
1952 Essendon No Yes Yes N/A N/A 2/3
1956 South Melbourne No No Yes Yes
[note 1]		 N/A 2/4
1965 Collingwood No Yes Yes N/A
[note 2]		 N/A 2/3
1971 Melbourne No No Yes Yes
[note 3]		 N/A 2/4
1972 Hawthorn No Yes Yes N/A N/A 2/3
1973 Richmond Yes Yes Yes N/A N/A 3/3
1977 Richmond No Yes Yes No N/A 2/4
1984 Essendon Yes No No Yes N/A 2/4
1985 Hawthorn No Yes No Yes N/A 2/4
1986 Hawthorn Yes No No Yes N/A 2/4
1988 Hawthorn Yes No No Yes N/A 2/4
1991 Hawthorn Yes No No Yes N/A 2/4
1993 Essendon Yes No N/A Yes N/A 2/3
1995 North Melbourne No Yes N/A Yes N/A 2/3
1996 North Melbourne Yes Yes N/A No N/A 2/3
2000 Essendon Yes N/A N/A Yes N/A 2/2
2009 Geelong Yes N/A N/A Yes N/A 2/2

Table correct to the end of the 2022 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).

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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