1997 AFL season explained

Competition:AFL
Year:1997
Teams:16
Count:1
Mpcount:2
Pscount:1
Matches:185
Attendance:6402997
Highattend:99,645 (Grand Final, vs.)
Top Goal Scorer:Tony Modra
Brownlow Medal:Robert Harvey
Prevseason:1996
Nextseason:1998

The 1997 AFL season was the 101st season of the Australian Football League (AFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Australia, which was known as the Victorian Football League until 1989. The season ran from 27 March until 27 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs.

Before the season, the Port Adelaide Football Club (SANFL) was admitted to the league, increasing the South Australian membership to two clubs. Foundation club Fitzroy, which had gone into administration in 1996, merged with the Brisbane Bears to form a new Queensland-based team known as the Brisbane Lions. The Footscray Football Club changed its name to the Western Bulldogs. With these changes, the league's size remained at sixteen clubs.

The premiership was won by the Adelaide Football Club for the first time, after it defeated by 31 points in the 1997 AFL Grand Final.

Home-and-away season

Round 2

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 7.14 (56) |||| 24.19 (163) ||MCG|| 61,138 ||Friday 4, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 19.14 (128) |||| 15.10 (100) ||MCG|| 32,880 ||Saturday 5, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 11.12 (78) |||| 11.6 (72) ||Kardinia Park|| 17,988 ||Saturday 5, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 13.12 (90) |||| 12.11 (83) ||Princes Park|| 12,604 ||Saturday 5, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 23.16 (154) |||| 7.15 (57) ||Gabba|| 17,123 ||Sunday 6, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 8.12 (60) |||| 14.9 (93) ||Football Park|| 32,747 ||Sunday 6, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 13.9 (87) |||| 10.13 (73) ||Subiaco Oval|| 19,057 ||Sunday 6, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 12.14 (86) |||| 8.12 (60) ||MCG|| 38,170 ||Monday 7, April

Round 3

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 15.9 (99) |||| 14.7 (91) ||SCG|| 23,598 ||Friday 11, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 16.9 (105) |||| 12.14 (86) ||MCG|| 35,438 ||Saturday 12, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 19.11 (125) |||| 17.16 (118) ||Waverley Park|| 54,699 ||Saturday 12, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 18.21 (129) |||| 14.6 (90) ||Football Park|| 32,074 ||Saturday 12, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 18.14 (122) |||| 12.8 (80) ||MCG|| 57,978 ||Sunday 13, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 15.18 (108) |||| 12.8 (80) ||Princes Park|| 25,966 ||Sunday 13, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 12.15 (87) |||| 11.9 (75) ||Waverley Park|| 27,947 ||Sunday 13, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 16.15 (111) |||| 9.17 (71) ||Subiaco Oval|| 39,294 ||Sunday 13, April

Round 4

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 13.9 (87) |||| 13.11 (89) ||MCG|| 28,043 ||Friday 18, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 12.12 (84) |||| 15.11 (101) ||MCG|| 78,704 ||Saturday 19, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 10.12 (72) |||| 10.7 (67) ||Princes Park|| 15,461 ||Saturday 19, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 17.10 (112) |||| 13.10 (88) ||Subiaco Oval|| 38,222 ||Saturday 19, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 12.9 (81) |||| 18.19 (127) ||Waverley Park|| 35,061 ||Saturday 19, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 15.19 (109) |||| 12.11 (83) ||Gabba|| 18,575 ||Sunday 20, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 11.6 (72) |||| 11.17 (83) ||Football Park|| 47,256 ||Sunday 20, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 11.19 (85) |||| 11.12 (78) ||MCG|| 54,922 ||Sunday 20, April

Round 5

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 10.10 (70) |||| 14.15 (99) ||MCG|| 83,271 ||Friday 25, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 16.11 (107) |||| 15.11 (101) ||Subiaco Oval|| 23,504 ||Friday 25, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 12.6 (78) |||| 19.12 (126) ||MCG|| 19,655 ||Saturday 26, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 9.17 (71) |||| 19.7 (121) ||Princes Park|| 12,694 ||Saturday 26, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 15.9 (99) |||| 11.8 (74) ||Waverley Park|| 37,576 ||Saturday 26, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 10.13 (73) |||| 10.11 (71) ||Football Park|| 31,757 ||Sunday 27, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 21.15 (141) |||| 7.4 (46) ||MCG|| 44,449 ||Sunday 27, April|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 12.14 (86) |||| 13.16 (94) ||Princes Park|| 25,801 ||Sunday 27, April

Round 6

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 14.15 (99) |||| 17.11 (113) ||WACA|| 29,838 ||Friday 2, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 15.12 (102) |||| 9.17 (71) ||MCG|| 37,642 ||Saturday 3, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 13.6 (84) |||| 11.17 (83) ||Victoria Park|| 24,663 ||Saturday 3, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 14.13 (97) |||| 6.7 (43) ||Kardinia Park|| 16,467 ||Saturday 3, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 14.9 (93) |||| 16.7 (103) ||Waverley Park|| 38,953 ||Saturday 3, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 21.16 (142) |||| 11.17 (83) ||SCG|| 37,933 ||Sunday 4, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 17.19 (121) |||| 4.11 (35) ||Waverley Park|| 21,104 ||Sunday 4, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 19.8 (122) |||| 8.10 (58) ||Football Park|| 36,090 ||Sunday 4, May

Round 7

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 9.14 (68) |||| 17.9 (111) ||MCG|| 54,901 ||Friday 9, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 10.16 (76) |||| 14.14 (98) ||MCG|| 48,833 ||Saturday 10, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 19.19 (133) |||| 13.10 (88) ||Princes Park|| 18,860 ||Saturday 10, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 11.10 (76) |||| 6.8 (44) ||Kardinia Park|| 22,151 ||Saturday 10, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 17.22 (124) |||| 10.9 (69) ||WACA|| 18,198 ||Saturday 10, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 20.6 (126) |||| 8.13 (61) ||Waverley Park|| 17,752 ||Saturday 10, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 8.12 (60) |||| 21.13 (139) ||Gabba|| 17,524 ||Sunday 11, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 18.18 (126) |||| 11.7 (73) ||Football Park|| 39,275 ||Sunday 11, May

Round 8

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 19.15 (129) |||| 11.17 (83) ||MCG|| 61,014 ||Friday 16, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 7.7 (49) |||| 19.14 (128) ||MCG|| 28,989 ||Saturday 17, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 19.14 (128) |||| 15.10 (100) ||Princes Park|| 13,056 ||Saturday 17, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 22.12 (144) |||| 8.7 (55) ||Football Park|| 40,147 ||Saturday 17, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 14.16 (100) |||| 18.16 (124) ||MCG|| 51,928 ||Sunday 18, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 15.16 (106) |||| 12.9 (81) ||Princes Park|| 29,783 ||Sunday 18, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 14.14 (98) |||| 15.3 (93) ||Subiaco Oval|| 14,721 ||Sunday 18, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 18.11 (119) |||| 9.13 (67) ||MCG|| 26,721 ||Monday 19, May

Round 9

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 10.18 (78) |||| 3.9 (27) ||Football Park|| 32,958 ||Friday 23, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 16.9 (105) |||| 14.4 (88) ||Princes Park|| 18,187 ||Saturday 24, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 13.10 (88) |||| 14.18 (102) ||Waverley Park|| 23,463 ||Saturday 24, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 16.15 (111) |||| 11.8 (74) ||SCG|| 39,780 ||Saturday 24, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 19.12 (126) |||| 15.8 (98) ||Gabba|| 19,828 ||Sunday 25, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 16.14 (110) |||| 13.7 (85) ||Subiaco Oval|| 38,984 ||Sunday 25, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 16.7 (103) |||| 10.11 (71) ||MCG|| 29,307 ||Sunday 25, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 22.9 (141) |||| 14.10 (94) ||Waverley Park|| 52,257 ||Sunday 25, May

Round 10

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 14.9 (93) |||| 7.13 (55) ||Football Park|| 40,116 ||Friday 30, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 15.13 (103) |||| 9.4 (58) ||Princes Park|| 13,614 ||Saturday 31, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 16.12 (108) |||| 8.7 (55) ||Waverley Park|| 51,494 ||Saturday 31, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 16.11 (107) |||| 11.13 (79) ||Kardinia Park|| 22,731 ||Saturday 31, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 9.13 (67) |||| 14.8 (92) ||MCG|| 28,879 ||Saturday 31, May|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 17.12 (114) |||| 20.16 (136) ||MCG|| 50,138 ||Sunday 1, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 13.14 (92) |||| 13.11 (89) ||Gabba|| 20,403 ||Sunday 1, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 10.12 (72) |||| 16.9 (105) ||Subiaco Oval|| 22,464 ||Monday 2, June

Round 11

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 10.11 (71) |||| 11.11 (77) ||MCG|| 70,350 ||Friday 6, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 13.13 (91) |||| 17.22 (124) ||MCG|| 60,594 ||Saturday 7, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 14.12 (96) |||| 11.9 (75) ||Princes Park|| 24,897 ||Saturday 7, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 4.17 (41) |||| 10.16 (76) ||Football Park|| 35,669 ||Saturday 7, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 5.15 (45) |||| 14.13 (97) ||MCG|| 27,463 ||Sunday 8, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 11.7 (73) |||| 13.11 (89) ||Subiaco Oval|| 29,390 ||Sunday 8, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 15.15 (105) |||| 12.7 (79) ||MCG|| 20,585 ||Monday 9, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 12.12 (84) |||| 9.9 (63) ||Princes Park|| 27,904 ||Monday 9, June

Round 12

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 26.8 (164) |||| 16.14 (110) ||SCG|| 35,033 ||Friday 13, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 12.10 (82) |||| 14.10 (94) ||Princes Park|| 14,025 ||Saturday 14, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 7.13 (55) |||| 11.5 (71) ||Victoria Park|| 25,323 ||Saturday 14, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 12.10 (82) |||| 13.10 (88) ||Kardinia Park|| 22,871 ||Saturday 14, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 16.20 (116) |||| 12.13 (85) ||Waverley Park|| 44,883 ||Sunday 15, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 12.11 (83) |||| 16.9 (105) ||Football Park|| 43,345 ||Sunday 15, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 7.8 (50) |||| 21.9 (135) ||MCG|| 13,392 ||Sunday 15, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 24.13 (157) |||| 9.6 (60) ||Subiaco Oval|| 21,956 ||Sunday 15, June

Round 13

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 11.13 (79) |||| 12.14 (86) ||Subiaco Oval|| 37,854 ||Friday 27, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 4.10 (34) |||| 19.13 (127) ||MCG|| 58,812 ||Saturday 28, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 11.18 (84) |||| 15.11 (101) ||Waverley Park|| 32,370 ||Saturday 28, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 17.8 (110) |||| 7.12 (54) ||Kardinia Park|| 20,236 ||Saturday 28, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 11.22 (88) |||| 11.7 (73) ||Gabba|| 19,560 ||Saturday 28, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 10.9 (69) |||| 7.12 (54) ||Football Park|| 30,827 ||Saturday 28, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 17.16 (118) |||| 7.13 (55) ||Waverley Park|| 31,517 ||Sunday 29, June|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 8.17 (65) |||| 7.13 (55) ||SCG|| 30,160 ||Sunday 29, June

Round 14

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 16.10 (106) |||| 4.7 (31) ||Football Park|| 39,221 ||Friday 4, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 9.26 (80) |||| 10.12 (72) ||MCG|| 65,228 ||Saturday 5, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 11.8 (74) |||| 16.14 (110) ||Princes Park|| 32,183 ||Saturday 5, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 20.13 (133) |||| 11.13 (79) ||Waverley Park|| 32,635 ||Saturday 5, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 6.12 (48) |||| 3.15 (33) ||WACA|| 19,290 ||Saturday 5, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 18.12 (120) |||| 8.9 (57) ||MCG|| 44,803 ||Sunday 6, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 18.16 (124) |||| 13.14 (92) ||Waverley Park|| 29,886 ||Sunday 6, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 7.26 (68) |||| 7.8 (50) ||Gabba|| 19,155 ||Sunday 6, July

Round 15

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 14.8 (92) |||| 15.12 (102) ||MCG|| 45,120 ||Friday 11, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 18.11 (119) |||| 15.10 (100) ||MCG|| 27,992 ||Saturday 12, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 11.7 (73) |||| 21.11 (137) ||Princes Park|| 16,430 ||Saturday 12, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 25.10 (160) |||| 9.6 (60) ||Victoria Park|| 23,433 ||Saturday 12, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 10.16 (76) |||| 9.12 (66) ||Football Park|| 39,921 ||Saturday 12, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 11.13 (79) |||| 11.12 (78) ||SCG|| 36,077 ||Sunday 13, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 12.13 (85) |||| 9.13 (67) ||Subiaco Oval|| 29,723 ||Sunday 13, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 22.13 (145) |||| 10.9 (69) ||MCG|| 49,217 ||Sunday 13, July

Round 16

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 17.16 (118) |||| 13.9 (87) ||Gabba|| 21,348 ||Friday 18, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 25.15 (165) |||| 13.9 (87) ||MCG|| 58,512 ||Saturday 19, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 9.8 (62) |||| 20.21 (141) ||Waverley Park|| 43,181 ||Saturday 19, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 16.14 (110) |||| 12.6 (78) ||Kardinia Park|| 24,099 ||Saturday 19, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 15.22 (112) |||| 11.9 (75) ||SCG|| 39,318 ||Saturday 19, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 17.9 (111) |||| 8.10 (58) ||Football Park|| 37,790 ||Saturday 19, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 7.16 (58) |||| 17.12 (114) ||MCG|| 23,309 ||Sunday 20, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 15.7 (97) |||| 13.13 (91) ||Subiaco Oval|| 18,392 ||Sunday 20, July

Round 17

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 10.12 (72) |||| 18.14 (122) ||MCG|| 33,076 ||Friday 25, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 7.16 (58) |||| 14.12 (96) ||Princes Park|| 27,689 ||Saturday 26, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 9.8 (62) |||| 10.11 (71) ||Waverley Park|| 15,939 ||Saturday 26, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 22.17 (149) |||| 7.10 (52) ||SCG|| 32,534 ||Saturday 26, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 29.11 (185) |||| 7.6 (48) ||Football Park|| 36,297 ||Saturday 26, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 12.20 (92) |||| 5.14 (44) ||Waverley Park|| 34,859 ||Sunday 27, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 20.14 (134) |||| 12.10 (82) ||MCG|| 37,779 ||Sunday 27, July|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 20.9 (129) |||| 12.10 (82) ||Subiaco Oval|| 34,565 ||Sunday 27, July

Round 18

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 11.17 (83) |||| 8.16 (64) ||MCG|| 38,614 ||Friday 1, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 7.11 (53) |||| 25.19 (169) ||MCG|| 26,901 ||Saturday 2, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 17.13 (115) |||| 15.10 (100) ||Princes Park|| 18,373 ||Saturday 2, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 25.9 (159) |||| 11.8 (74) ||Kardinia Park|| 21,867 ||Saturday 2, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 21.15 (141) |||| 11.5 (71) ||Gabba|| 19,635 ||Saturday 2, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 18.19 (127) |||| 13.8 (86) ||Football Park|| 42,548 ||Sunday 3, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 12.17 (89) |||| 15.21 (111) ||MCG|| 68,036 ||Sunday 3, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 7.7 (49) |||| 13.4 (82) ||Subiaco Oval|| 39,711 ||Sunday 3, August

Round 19

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 17.14 (116) |||| 9.5 (59) ||MCG|| 27,021 ||Friday 8, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 14.23 (107) |||| 13.13 (91) ||MCG|| 61,650 ||Saturday 9, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 14.18 (102) |||| 9.10 (64) ||Princes Park|| 13,058 ||Saturday 9, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 10.6 (66) |||| 13.9 (87) ||Waverley Park|| 20,517 ||Saturday 9, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 12.13 (85) |||| 5.12 (42) ||WACA|| 15,757 ||Saturday 9, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 17.17 (119) |||| 18.20 (128) ||SCG|| 39,287 ||Sunday 10, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 11.7 (73) |||| 9.14 (68) ||MCG|| 53,901 ||Sunday 10, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 9.4 (58) |||| 9.11 (65) ||Football Park|| 45,498 ||Sunday 10, August

Round 20

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 15.7 (97) |||| 7.17 (59) ||WACA|| 21,164 ||Friday 15, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 13.13 (91) |||| 12.9 (81) ||MCG|| 50,944 ||Saturday 16, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 12.5 (77) |||| 9.10 (64) ||Waverley Park|| 26,201 ||Saturday 16, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 13.17 (95) |||| 9.13 (67) ||Kardinia Park|| 23,007 ||Saturday 16, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 13.15 (93) |||| 13.15 (93) ||Gabba|| 20,835 ||Saturday 16, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 20.15 (135) |||| 11.11 (77) ||SCG|| 34,111 ||Sunday 17, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 14.13 (97) |||| 14.12 (96) ||MCG|| 29,620 ||Sunday 17, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 7.18 (60) |||| 16.7 (103) ||Football Park|| 39,632 ||Sunday 17, August

Round 21

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 8.14 (62) |||| 17.12 (114) ||MCG|| 32,935 ||Friday 22, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 10.21 (81) |||| 6.7 (43) ||MCG|| 26,393 ||Saturday 23, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 11.10 (76) |||| 5.11 (41) ||Princes Park|| 27,375 ||Saturday 23, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 12.14 (86) |||| 10.8 (68) ||Whitten Oval|| 26,704 ||Saturday 23, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 15.12 (102) |||| 16.10 (106) ||Gabba|| 21,065 ||Saturday 23, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 22.14 (146) |||| 8.13 (61) ||MCG|| 22,516 ||Sunday 24, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 9.14 (68) |||| 14.16 (100) ||Subiaco Oval|| 28,751 ||Sunday 24, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 6.12 (48) |||| 5.9 (39) ||Football Park|| 37,661 ||Monday 25, August

Round 22

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Home team| Home team score| Away team| Away team score| Ground| Crowd| Date|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 18.12 (120) |||| 11.15 (81) ||WACA|| 29,402 ||Friday 29, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 18.11 (119) |||| 11.13 (79) ||MCG|| 15,036 ||Saturday 30, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 13.11 (89) |||| 13.13 (91) ||Princes Park|| 34,922 ||Saturday 30, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 13.9 (87) |||| 15.15 (105) ||Waverley Park|| 35,706 ||Saturday 30, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 13.12 (90) |||| 15.10 (100) ||SCG|| 46,168 ||Saturday 30, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 18.14 (122) |||| 15.21 (111) ||MCG|| 43,660 ||Sunday 31, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 16.6 (102) |||| 14.14 (98) ||Princes Park|| 25,636 ||Sunday 31, August|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"||| 12.12 (84) |||| 17.15 (117) ||Football Park|| 38,589 ||Sunday 31, August

Ladder

(P) Premiers
bgcolor=FFFFBB Qualified for finals
|- style=background:#FFFFBB| 1 || align=left | || 22 || 15 || 7 || 0 || 2294 || 1918 || 119.6 || 60|- style=background:#FFFFBB| 2 || align=left | || 22 || 15 || 7 || 0 || 2111 || 1791 || 117.9 || 60|- style=background:#FFFFBB| 3 || align=left | || 22 || 14 || 8 || 0 || 2100 || 2062 || 101.8 || 56|- style=background:#FFFFBB| 4 || align=left | (P) || 22 || 13 || 9 || 0 || 2151 || 1769 || 121.6 || 52|- style=background:#FFFFBB| 5 || align=left | || 22 || 13 || 9 || 0 || 1969 || 1770 || 111.2 || 52|- style=background:#FFFFBB| 6 || align=left | || 22 || 12 || 10 || 0 || 2093 || 1801 || 116.2 || 48|- style=background:#FFFFBB| 7 || align=left | || 22 || 12 || 10 || 0 || 2051 || 1835 || 111.8 || 48|- style=background:#FFFFBB| 8 || align=left | || 22 || 10 || 11 || 1 || 2076 || 1973 || 105.2 || 42|-| 9 || align=left | || 22 || 10 || 11 || 1 || 1852 || 2017 || 91.8 || 42|-| 10 || align=left | || 22 || 10 || 12 || 0 || 2138 || 1919 || 111.4 || 40|-| 11 || align=left | || 22 || 10 || 12 || 0 || 1978 || 2045 || 96.7 || 40|-| 12 || align=left | || 22 || 10 || 12 || 0 || 1748 || 1902 || 91.9 || 40|-| 13 || align=left | || 22 || 10 || 12 || 0 || 1883 || 2253 || 83.6 || 40|-| 14 || align=left | || 22 || 9 || 13 || 0 || 2004 || 2170 || 92.4 || 36|-| 15 || align=left | || 22 || 8 || 14 || 0 || 1873 || 2144 || 87.4 || 32|-| 16 || align=left | || 22 || 4 || 18 || 0 || 1477 || 2429 || 60.8 || 16|}

Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Average score: 90.3
Source: AFL Tables

Finals series

Week four

See main article: 1997 AFL Grand Final.

Attendance

Team Hosted Average Highest Lowest Total Last Season +/-
Essendon 11 52,848 83,271 25,636 581,330 49,526 + 3322
Collingwood 11 48,708 78,704 23,433 535,789 44,723 + 3985
Adelaide 11 40,173 47,256 36,297 441,905 39,428 + 745
Port Adelaide 11 35,829 45,498 31,757 394,115 11,017* + 24812*
Sydney 11 35,818 46,168 23,598 393,999 24,574 + 11244
St Kilda 11 35,232 54,699 17,752 387,553 27,137 + 8095
Richmond 11 34,515 58,812 15,461 379,670 38,624 - 4109
Carlton 11 33,634 61,650 18,187 369,972 35,891 - 2257
West Coast 11 32,582 39,294 21,164 358,401 32,448 + 134
North Melbourne 11 32,520 54,901 13,056 357,725 34,627 - 2107
Hawthorn 11 32,380 51,494 15,939 356,179 23,624 + 8756
Geelong 11 28,324 65,228 16,467 311,567 25,161 + 3163
Melbourne 11 27,714 61,138 13,392 304,853 30,315 - 2601
Fremantle 11 21,982 39,711 14,721 241,801 22,473 - 491
Brisbane Lions 11 19,550 21,348 17,123 215,051 N/A N/A
Western Bulldogs 11 19,335 35,438 8664 212,681 18,073 + 1262
Totals 176 33,197 83,271 8664 5842,591 29,637 + 3560
Venue Hosted Average Highest Lowest Total Last Season +/-
MCG 53 43,488 83,271 13,392 2,304,865 46,114 - 2626
Football Park 22 38,001 47,256 31,757 836,020 39,428 - 1427
SCG 11 35,818 46,168 23,598 393,999 24,574 + 11,244
Waverley Park 22 33,806 54,699 15,939 743,732 25,545 + 8261
Subiaco Oval 17 28,371 39,711 14,721 482,310 28,289 + 82
Whitten Oval 1 26,704 26,704 26,704 26,704 10,482 + 16,222
Victoria Park 3 24,473 25,323 23,433 73,419 23,581 + 892
WACA 5 23,578 29,838 18,198 117,892 25,253 - 1675
Kardinia Park 9 21,269 24,099 16,467 191,417 22,670 - 1401
Optus Oval 22 20,781 34,922 8664 457,182 15,641 + 5140
Gabba 11 19,550 21,348 17,123 215,051 18,088 + 1462
Totals 176 33,197 83,271 8664 5842,591 29,637 + 3560

Notable events

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cats game cancelled. Geelong Advertiser. Michael. Warner. Jon. Ralph. Nick. Wade. 4 July 2015. 30 October 2015.