This is a list of seasons competed by the Melbourne Football Club. The team was founded in 1858, and was fundamental in developing the rules of Australian rules football and organizing the first competitions. Melbourne was a founding member of the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1877, which, alongside the South Australian Football Association (SAFA), were the first ever Australian rules football associations.[1] In 1897, Melbourne was a founding member of the breakaway Victorian Football League (VFL) – renamed the Australian Football League (AFL) in 1990 – which they have remained in ever since.
In their long history, Melbourne have had long periods of success but also long periods of failure. During the nine VFA premiership seasons in which Melbourne took part, they never won the premiership. They have won the VFL premiership 13 times, most recently in 2021, which was the club's first premiership since 1964. After their 1964 premiership, Melbourne missed the finals for 22 consecutive seasons, the third-longest such drought in VFL/AFL history.[2]
| Premiership | Runners-up | Minor premiership | Finals berth | Wooden spoon |
| League Season | Melbourne Season | League | Home-and-away season results | Finals results | Coach | Captain | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Wins | Losses | Draws | ||||||
| (VFA) | |||||||||
| 1877 | 1877 | VFA | — | 16 | 3 | 4 | Not held | — | Bob Sillett |
| 1878 | 1878 | VFA | — | 11 | 7 | 5 | Not held | — | Bob Sillett |
| 1879 | 1879 | VFA | — | 11 | 6 | 4 | Not held | — | Bob Sillett |
| 1880 | 1880 | VFA | — | 9 | 5 | 8 | Not held | — | James Bennie |
| 1881 | 1881 | VFA | — | 14 | 6 | 4 | Not held | — | Sam Lamrock |
| 1882 | 1882 | VFA | — | 6 | 13 | 4 | Not held | — | Dave Rannard |
| 1883 | 1883 | VFA | — | 12 | 10 | 2 | Not held | — | Murdoch McKenzie |
| 1884 | 1884 | VFA | — | 10 | 13 | 3 | Not held | — | John Macdonald |
| 1885 | 1885 | VFA | — | 6 | 15 | 2 | Not held | — | George Aitken Frederick Franks |
| 1886 | 1886 | VFA | — | 13 | 10 | 1 | Not held | — | Howard Morrison |
| 1887 | 1887 | VFA | — | 7 | 11 | 2 | Not held | — | James Kelly |
| VFA premiership officially established | |||||||||
| 1888 | 1888 | VFA | 11th | 4 | 14 | 1 | Not held | — | Howard King |
| 1889 | 1889 | VFA | 11th | 4 | 16 | 1 | Not held | — | Eddie Fox |
| 1890 | 1890 | VFA | 8th | 6 | 9 | 4 | Not held | — | Eddie Fox |
| 1891 | 1891 | VFA | 6th | 8 | 6 | 5 | Not held | — | Eddie Fox |
| 1892 | 1892 | VFA | 4th | 10 | 5 | 3 | Not held | — | William Aitken Eddie Fox |
| 1893 | 1893 | VFA | 2nd | 16 | 3 | 2 | Not held | — | Eddie Fox |
| 1894 | 1894 | VFA | 2nd | 13 | 5 | 0 | Not held | — | Eddie Fox |
| 1895 | 1895 | VFA | 2nd | 13 | 5 | 0 | Not held | — | Eddie Fox Joe Wilson |
| 1896 | 1896 | VFA | 4th | 12 | 6 | 0 | Not held | — | Joe Wilson |
| (VFL) | |||||||||
| 1897 | 1897 | VFL | 3rd | 10 | 4 | 0 | Lost round-robin match (Collingwood) 51–47 Lost round-robin match (Geelong) 46–37 Lost round-robin match (Essendon) 14–8 | — | Ned Sutton |
| 1898 | 1898 | VFL | 6th | 6 | 10 | 1 | Lost round-robin match (Geelong) 78–16 Won round-robin match (St Kilda) 38–17 Lost round-robin match (Collingwood) 55–41 | — | Ned Sutton |
| 1899 | 1899 | VFL | 5th | 8 | 9 | 0 | Lost round-robin match (Collingwood) 45–25 Lost round-robin match (Fitzroy) 40–2 Lost round-robin match (Carlton) 41–16 | — | Eddie Sholl |
| 1900 | 1900 | VFL | 6th | 8 | 9 | 0 | Won round-robin match (Geelong) 45–28 Won round-robin match (St Kilda) 86–15 Lost round-robin match (Collingwood) 30–24 Won semi-final (Essendon) 45–43 Won Grand Final (Fitzroy) 34–30 | — | Dick Wardill |
| 1901 | 1901 | VFL | 5th | 9 | 7 | 1 | — | William C. McClelland | |
| 1902 | 1902 | VFL | 4th | 9 | 8 | 0 | Lost semi-final (Essendon) 61–51 | — | William C. McClelland |
| 1903 | 1903 | VFL | 7th | 3 | 14 | 0 | — | William C. McClelland | |
| 1904 | 1904 | VFL | 6th | 8 | 9 | 0 | — | William C. McClelland | |
| 1905 | 1905 | VFL | 8th | 3 | 14 | 0 | — | Frank Langley | |
| 1906 | 1906 | VFL | 8th | 1 | 16 | 0 | — | Arthur Sowden | |
| 1907 | 1907 | VFL | 7th | 7 | 10 | 0 | Alec Hall | Vin Coutie | |
| 1908 | 1908 | VFL | 8th | 7 | 11 | 0 | Alec Hall | Hugh Purse | |
| 1909 | 1909 | VFL | 5th | 10 | 7 | 1 | Alec Hall | Bernie Nolan | |
| 1910 | 1910 | VFL | 9th | 4 | 14 | 0 | Eddie Drohan | Vin Coutie | |
| 1911 | 1911 | VFL | 7th | 7 | 10 | 1 | — | Vin Coutie | |
| 1912 | 1912 | VFL | 6th | 9 | 9 | 0 | Alec Hall | Alf George | |
| 1913 | 1913 | VFL | 9th | 4 | 14 | 0 | Alec Hall | Alf George | |
| 1914 | 1914 | VFL | 9th | 2 | 16 | 0 | Len Incigneri | ||
| 1915 | 1915 | VFL | 4th | 9 | 7 | 0 | Lost semi-final (Carlton) 78–67 | Jack McKenzie | |
| 1916 | Did not play due to World War I | ||||||||
| 1917 | |||||||||
| 1918 | |||||||||
| 1919 | 1919 | VFL | 9th | 0 | 16 | 0 | George Heinz | ||
| 1920 | 1920 | VFL | 8th | 5 | 11 | 0 | Gerald Brosnan | George Heinz | |
| 1921 | 1921 | VFL | 6th | 6 | 8 | 2 | Percy Wilson | ||
| 1922 | 1922 | VFL | 6th | 7 | 9 | 0 | Percy Wilson | ||
| 1923 | 1923 | VFL | 9th | 3 | 13 | 0 | Percy Wilson | ||
| 1924 | 1924 | VFL | 8th | 4 | 12 | 0 | Gordon Rattray | Bert Chadwick | |
| 1925 | 1925 | VFL | 3rd | 12 | 4 | 1 | Won semi-final (Geelong) 101–86 Lost preliminary final (Collingwood) 63–26 | Bert Chadwick | |
| 1926 | 1926 | VFL | 3rd | 14 | 4 | 0 | Won semi-final (Collingwood) 95–84 Won Preliminary Final (Essendon) 42–39 Won Grand Final (Collingwood) 119–62 | Bert Chadwick | |
| 1927 | 1927 | VFL | 5th | 12 | 6 | 0 | Bert Chadwick | ||
| 1928 | 1928 | VFL | 3rd | 14 | 4 | 0 | Drew Semi-final (Collingwood) 62–62 Lost semi-final replay (Collingwood) 68–64 | Ivor Warne-Smith | |
| 1929 | 1929 | VFL | 5th | 11 | 6 | 1 | Ivor Warne-Smith | ||
| 1930 | 1930 | VFL | 5th | 11 | 7 | 0 | Ivor Warne-Smith | ||
| 1931 | 1931 | VFL | 8th | 8 | 10 | 0 | Ivor Warne-Smith | ||
| 1932 | 1932 | VFL | 9th | 4 | 14 | 0 | Ivor Warne-Smith | Francis Vine | |
| 1933 | 1933 | VFL | 10th | 3 | 15 | 0 | Frank Hughes | Francis Vine | |
| 1934 | 1934 | VFL | 6th | 9 | 9 | 0 | Frank Hughes | Colin Niven | |
| 1935 | 1935 | VFL | 6th | 8 | 9 | 1 | Frank Hughes | Colin Niven | |
| 1936 | 1936 | VFL | 4th | 12 | 6 | 0 | Won semi-final (Carlton) 97–88 Lost preliminary final (South Melbourne) 89–63 | Frank Hughes | Allan La Fontaine |
| 1937 | 1937 | VFL | 2nd | 15 | 3 | 0 | Lost semi-final (Geelong) 125–113 Lost preliminary final (Collingwood) 107–52 | Frank Hughes | Allan La Fontaine |
| 1938 | 1938 | VFL | 5th | 11 | 7 | 0 | Frank Hughes | Allan La Fontaine | |
| 1939 | 1939 | VFL | 1st | 15 | 3 | 0 | Won semi-final (Collingwood) 104–90 Won Grand Final (Collingwood) 148–95 | Frank Hughes | Allan La Fontaine |
| 1940 | 1940 | VFL | 1st | 14 | 4 | 0 | Lost semi-final (Richmond) 107–101 Won Preliminary Final (Essendon) 90–85 Won Grand Final (Richmond) 107–68 | Frank Hughes | Allan La Fontaine |
| 1941 | 1941 | VFL | 2nd | 14 | 4 | 0 | Won semi-final (Carlton) 109–82 Won Grand Final (Essendon) 127–98 | Frank Hughes | Allan La Fontaine |
| 1942 | 1942 | VFL | 8th | 5 | 10 | 0 | Percy Beames | ||
| 1943 | 1943 | VFL | 7th | 7 | 8 | 0 | Percy Beames | ||
| 1944 | 1944 | VFL | 8th | 7 | 11 | 0 | Percy Beames | ||
| 1945 | 1945 | VFL | 9th | 8 | 12 | 0 | Frank Hughes | Norm Smith | |
| 1946 | 1946 | VFL | 4th | 13 | 6 | 0 | Won semi-final (Footscray) 120–102 Won Preliminary Final (Collingwood) 113–100 Lost Grand Final (Essendon) 150–87 | Frank Hughes | Norm Smith |
| 1947 | 1947 | VFL | 6th | 11 | 8 | 0 | Frank Hughes | Norm Smith | |
| 1948 | 1948 | VFL | 2nd | 13 | 6 | 0 | Lost semi-final (Essendon) 94–58 Won Preliminary Final (Collingwood) 166–101 Drew Grand Final (Essendon) 69–69 Won Grand Final replay (Essendon) 89–50 | Frank Hughes | Don Cordner |
| 1949 | 1949 | VFL | 5th | 12 | 7 | 0 | Allan La Fontaine | Don Cordner | |
| 1950 | 1950 | VFL | 3rd | 12 | 6 | 0 | Lost semi-final (Geelong) 88–44 | Allan La Fontaine | Shane McGrath |
| 1951 | 1951 | VFL | 12th | 1 | 17 | 0 | Allan La Fontaine | Denis Cordner | |
| 1952 | 1952 | VFL | 6th | 9 | 9 | 1 | Norm Smith | Denis Cordner | |
| 1953 | 1953 | VFL | 11th | 3 | 14 | 1 | Norm Smith | Denis Cordner | |
| 1954 | 1954 | VFL | 4th | 11 | 7 | 0 | Won semi-final (North Melbourne) 110–80 Won Preliminary Final (Geelong) 67–50 Lost Grand Final (Footscray) 102–51 | Norm Smith | Geoff Collins |
| 1955 | 1955 | VFL | 1st | 15 | 3 | 0 | Won semi-final (Collingwood) 56–45 Won Grand Final (Collingwood) 64–36 | Norm Smith | Noel McMahen |
| 1956 | 1956 | VFL | 1st | 16 | 2 | 0 | Won semi-final (Collingwood) 80–64 Won Grand Final (Collingwood) 121–48 | Norm Smith | Noel McMahen |
| 1957 | 1957 | VFL | 1st | 12 | 5 | 1 | Lost semi-final (Essendon) 83–67 Won Preliminary Final (Hawthorn) 144–76 Won Grand Final (Essendon) 116–55 | Norm Smith | John Beckwith |
| 1958 | 1958 | VFL | 1st | 15 | 3 | 0 | Won semi-final (Collingwood) 78–33 Lost Grand Final (Collingwood) 82–64 | Norm Smith | John Beckwith |
| 1959 | 1959 | VFL | 1st | 13 | 4 | 1 | Won semi-final (Carlton) 81–37 Won Grand Final (Essendon) 115–78 | Norm Smith | John Beckwith |
| 1960 | 1960 | VFL | 1st | 14 | 4 | 0 | Won semi-final (Fitzroy) 102–40 Won Grand Final (Collingwood) 62–14 | Norm Smith | Ron Barassi |
| 1961 | 1961 | VFL | 2nd | 12 | 5 | 1 | Lost semi-final (Hawthorn) 80–73 Lost preliminary final (Footscray) 85–58 | Norm Smith | Ron Barassi |
| 1962 | 1962 | VFL | 3rd | 14 | 4 | 0 | Lost semi-final (Carlton) 78–76 | Norm Smith | Ron Barassi |
| 1963 | 1963 | VFL | 3rd | 13 | 5 | 0 | Won semi-final (St Kilda) 71–64 Lost preliminary final (Hawthorn) 77–68 | Norm Smith | Ron Barassi |
| 1964 | 1964 | VFL | 1st | 14 | 4 | 0 | Won semi-final (Collingwood) 134–45 Won Grand Final (Collingwood) 64–60 | Norm Smith | Ron Barassi |
| 1965 | 1965 | VFL | 7th | 10 | 8 | 0 | Norm Smith | Hassa Mann | |
| 1966 | 1966 | VFL | 11th | 3 | 15 | 0 | Norm Smith | Hassa Mann | |
| 1967 | 1967 | VFL | 7th | 8 | 10 | 0 | Norm Smith | Hassa Mann | |
| 1968 | 1968 | VFL | 8th | 8 | 12 | 0 | John Beckwith | Hassa Mann | |
| 1969 | 1969 | VFL | 12th | 3 | 17 | 0 | John Beckwith | Tassie Johnson | |
| 1970 | 1970 | VFL | 10th | 6 | 16 | 0 | John Beckwith | Frank Davis | |
| 1971 | 1971 | VFL | 7th | 11 | 10 | 1 | Ian Ridley | Frank Davis | |
| 1972 | 1972 | VFL | 8th | 10 | 12 | 0 | Ian Ridley | Frank Davis | |
| 1973 | 1973 | VFL | 10th | 7 | 15 | 0 | Ian Ridley | Stan Alves | |
| 1974 | 1974 | VFL | 12th | 3 | 19 | 0 | Bob Skilton | Stan Alves | |
| 1975 | 1975 | VFL | 10th | 9 | 13 | 0 | Bob Skilton | Stan Alves | |
| 1976 | 1976 | VFL | 6th | 11 | 11 | 0 | Bob Skilton | Stan Alves | |
| 1977 | 1977 | VFL | 11th | 5 | 17 | 0 | Bob Skilton | Greg Wells | |
| 1978 | 1978 | VFL | 12th | 5 | 17 | 0 | Dennis Jones | Greg Wells | |
| 1979 | 1979 | VFL | 11th | 6 | 16 | 0 | Carl Ditterich | ||
| 1980 | 1980 | VFL | 9th | 5 | 17 | 0 | Carl Ditterich | ||
| 1981 | 1981 | VFL | 12th | 1 | 21 | 0 | Ron Barassi | Robert Flower | |
| 1982 | 1982 | VFL | 8th | 8 | 14 | 0 | Ron Barassi | Robert Flower | |
| 1983 | 1983 | VFL | 8th | 9 | 13 | 0 | Ron Barassi | Robert Flower | |
| 1984 | 1984 | VFL | 9th | 9 | 13 | 0 | Ron Barassi | Robert Flower | |
| 1985 | 1985 | VFL | 11th | 6 | 16 | 0 | Ron Barassi | Robert Flower | |
| 1986 | 1986 | VFL | 11th | 7 | 15 | 0 | John Northey | Robert Flower | |
| 1987 | 1987 | VFL | 5th | 12 | 10 | 0 | Won Elimination Final (North Melbourne) 158–40 Won semi-final (Sydney) 149–73 Lost preliminary final (Hawthorn) 80–78 | John Northey | Robert Flower |
| 1988 | 1988 | VFL | 5th | 13 | 9 | 0 | Won Elimination Final (West Coast) 73–71 Won semi-final (Collingwood) 95–82 Won Preliminary Final (Carlton) 120–98 Lost Grand Final (Hawthorn) 152–56 | John Northey | Greg Healy |
| 1989 | 1989 | VFL | 4th | 14 | 8 | 0 | Won Elimination Final (Collingwood) 111–88 Lost semi-final (Geelong) 153–90 | John Northey | Greg Healy |
| (AFL) | |||||||||
| 1990 | 1990 | AFL | 4th | 16 | 6 | 0 | Won Elimination Final (Hawthorn) 73–64 Lost semi-final (West Coast) 130–100 | John Northey | Greg Healy |
| 1991 | 1991 | AFL | 5th | 13 | 9 | 0 | Won Elimination Final (Essendon) 113–75 Lost semi-final (West Coast) 117–79 | John Northey | Garry Lyon |
| 1992 | 1992 | AFL | 11th | 7 | 14 | 1 | John Northey | Garry Lyon | |
| 1993 | 1993 | AFL | 10th | 10 | 10 | 0 | Neil Balme | Garry Lyon | |
| 1994 | 1994 | AFL | 7th | 12 | 10 | 0 | Won Qualifying Final (Carlton) 123–96 Won semi-final (Footscray) 144–65 Lost preliminary final (West Coast) 117–52 | Neil Balme | Garry Lyon |
| 1995 | 1995 | AFL | 9th | 9 | 13 | 0 | Neil Balme | Garry Lyon | |
| 1996 | 1996 | AFL | 14th | 7 | 15 | 0 | Neil Balme | Garry Lyon | |
| 1997 | 1997 | AFL | 16th | 4 | 18 | 0 | Neil Balme Greg Hutchison | Garry Lyon | |
| 1998 | 1998 | AFL | 4th | 14 | 8 | 0 | Won Qualifying Final (Adelaide) 115–67 Won semi-final (St Kilda) 107–56 Lost preliminary final (North Melbourne) 114–84 | Neale Daniher | Todd Viney |
| 1999 | 1999 | AFL | 14th | 6 | 16 | 0 | Neale Daniher | Todd Viney | |
| 2000 | 2000 | AFL | 3rd | 14 | 8 | 0 | Won Qualifying Final (Carlton) 96–87 Won Preliminary Final (North Melbourne) 156–106 Lost Grand Final (Essendon) 135–75 | Neale Daniher | David Neitz |
| 2001 | 2001 | AFL | 11th | 10 | 12 | 0 | Neale Daniher | David Neitz | |
| 2002 | 2002 | AFL | 6th | 12 | 10 | 0 | Won Elimination Final (North Melbourne) 122–84 Lost semi-final (Adelaide) 130–118 | Neale Daniher | David Neitz |
| 2003 | 2003 | AFL | 14th | 5 | 17 | 0 | Neale Daniher | David Neitz | |
| 2004 | 2004 | AFL | 5th | 14 | 8 | 0 | Lost Elimination Final (Essendon) 104–99 | Neale Daniher | David Neitz |
| 2005 | 2005 | AFL | 7th | 12 | 10 | 0 | Lost Elimination Final (Geelong) 116–61 | Neale Daniher | David Neitz |
| 2006 | 2006 | AFL | 7th | 13 | 8 | 1 | Won Elimination Final (St Kilda) 90–72 Lost semi-final (Fremantle) 102–74 | Neale Daniher | David Neitz |
| 2007 | 2007 | AFL | 14th | 5 | 17 | 0 | Neale Daniher Mark Riley | David Neitz | |
| 2008 | 2008 | AFL | 16th | 3 | 19 | 0 | Dean Bailey | David Neitz | |
| 2009 | 2009 | AFL | 16th | 4 | 18 | 0 | Dean Bailey | James McDonald | |
| 2010 | 2010 | AFL | 12th | 8 | 13 | 1 | Dean Bailey | James McDonald | |
| 2011 | 2011 | AFL | 13th | 8 | 13 | 1 | Dean Bailey Todd Viney | Brad Green | |
| 2012 | 2012 | AFL | 16th | 4 | 18 | 0 | Mark Neeld | Jack Grimes Jack Trengove | |
| 2013 | 2013 | AFL | 17th | 2 | 20 | 0 | Mark Neeld Neil Craig | Jack Grimes Jack Trengove | |
| 2014 | 2014 | AFL | 17th | 4 | 18 | 0 | Paul Roos | Jack Grimes Nathan Jones | |
| 2015 | 2015 | AFL | 13th | 7 | 15 | 0 | Paul Roos | Nathan Jones | |
| 2016 | 2016 | AFL | 11th | 10 | 12 | 0 | Paul Roos | Nathan Jones | |
| 2017 | 2017 | AFL | 9th | 12 | 10 | 0 | Simon Goodwin | Nathan Jones Jack Viney | |
| 2018 | 2018 | AFL | 5th | 14 | 8 | 0 | Won Elimination Final (Geelong) 75–46 Won semi-final (Hawthorn) 104–71 Lost preliminary final (West Coast) 121–55 | Simon Goodwin | Nathan Jones Jack Viney |
| 2019 | 2019 | AFL | 17th | 5 | 17 | 0 | Simon Goodwin | Nathan Jones Jack Viney | |
| 2020 | 2020 | AFL | 9th | 9 | 8 | 0 | Simon Goodwin | Max Gawn | |
| 2021* | 2021 | AFL | 1st | 17 | 4 | 1 | Won Qualifying Final (Brisbane) 134–45 Won Preliminary Final (Geelong) 125–42 Won Grand Final (Western) 140–66 | Simon Goodwin | Max Gawn |
| 2022 | 2021 | AFL | 2nd | 16 | 6 | 0 | Lost Qualifying Final (Sydney) 91–69 Lost semi-final (Brisbane) 92–79 | Simon Goodwin | Max Gawn |
| League | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win % | Premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VFA (1877–1896) | 201 | 168 | 55 | .539 | 0 premierships |
| VFL/AFL (1897–2021) home-and-away season | 1081 | 1294 | 20 | .456 | 13 premierships 10 minor premierships |
| VFL/AFL (1897–2021) finals | 57 | 42 | 2 | .574 | |
| All-time results (1877–2021) | 1339 | 1504 | 77 | .472 | |