| Tourney Name: | AFC Night Series |
| Year: | 1981 |
| Other Titles: | AFC Escort Championships |
| Dates: | 7 March – 14 July 1981 |
| Num Teams: | 34 |
| Venues: | 8 |
| Cities: | 6 |
| Champion Other: | Essendon |
| Count: | 1 |
| Second Other: | Carlton |
| Matches: | 35 |
| Prevseason: | 1980 |
| Nextseason: | 1982 |
The 1981 Australian Football Championships Night Series was the 3rd edition of the AFC Night Series, a VFL-organised national club Australian rules football tournament between the leading clubs from the VFL, the SANFL, the WAFL and State Representative Teams.[1]
A total of 34 teams from across Australia played 35 matches over five months, with the qualifying rounds held during the pre-season and the main draw held midweek throughout the premiership season.
1 Includes previous appearances in the Championship of Australia and NFL Night Series.
| Melbourne | Adelaide | Perth | Brisbane | Canberra | Hobart | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waverley Park | Norwood Oval | Subiaco Oval | Claremont Oval | Leederville Oval | Chelmer Oval | Phillip Oval | North Hobart Oval | |
| Capacity: 72,000 | Capacity: 22,000 | Capacity: 53,000 | Capacity: 15,000 | Capacity: 22,000 | Capacity: 10,000 | Capacity: 15,000 | Capacity: 26,000 | |