1997 AFL season

101st season of the Australian Football League (AFL)

For the 1997 season of the Arena Football League, see 1997 Arena Football League season.

Australian rules football season

1997 AFL premiership season

Teams| 16
Premiers| Adelaide
1st premiership
Minor premiers| St Kilda
2nd minor premiership
Pre-season cup| Carlton
1st pre-season cup win
Brownlow Medallist| Robert Harvey (St Kilda)
Leading goalkicker| Tony Modra (Adelaide)
Attendance
Matches played| 185
Total attendance| 6,402,997 (34,611 per match)
Highest| 99,645 (Grand Final, Adelaide vs. St Kilda)

<- 1996

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 St Kilda by 31 points in the 1997 AFL Grand Final.

## Home-and-away season

[edit]

### Round 1

[edit]

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| Round 1  |  |
Thursday, 27 March (7:40 pm)  | North Melbourne 7.13 (55)  | def. by  | Melbourne 10.10 (70)  | MCG (crowd: 35,802)  | Report
Saturday, 29 March (2:10 pm)  | Collingwood 26.10 (166)  | def.  | Port Adelaide 13.9 (87)  | MCG (crowd: 51,883)  | Report
Saturday, 29 March (2:10 pm)  | Western Bulldogs 11.10 (76)  | def. by  | Fremantle 10.20 (80)  | Optus Oval (crowd: 8,664)  | Report
Saturday, 29 March (7:40 pm)  | St Kilda 10.11 (71)  | def. by  | Hawthorn 11.11 (77)  | Waverley Park (crowd: 35,732)  | Report
Saturday, 29 March (6:40 pm)  | West Coast 12.6 (78)  | def.  | Sydney 5.7 (37)  | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 29,965)  | Report
Sunday, 30 March (1:40 pm)  | Adelaide 20.12 (132)  | def.  | Brisbane Lions 14.12 (96)  | Football Park (crowd: 36,602)  | Report
Sunday, 30 March (2:10 pm)  | Richmond 15.14 (104)  | def.  | Geelong 13.17 (95)  | MCG (crowd: 48,358)  | Report
Monday, 31 March (2:10 pm)  | Essendon 16.10 (106)  | def.  | Carlton 15.9 (99)  | MCG (crowd: 82,363)  | Report

* Port Adelaide endured a disappointing AFL debut at the MCG in front of over 50,000 spectators, with Collingwood jumping out to a 22-point lead at quarter time and extending the lead at each change to run out comfortable 79-point winners. Speedy midfielder Paul Williams was considered best-on-ground with 30 touches and 4 goals, while Nathan Buckley (who won a Magarey with Port in the SANFL) racked up 23 kicks and Saverio Rocca made the most of limited opportunities to kick six goals. For Port, Donald Dickie (26 touches), Fabian Francis (20 touches, 2 goals) and eventual Rising Star winner Michael Wilson were among Port's better players.
* The Easter Monday clash between Essendon and Carlton is best remembered not for its close finish but for what happened after the game. The ongoing feud between Sean Denham and Greg Williams (which had stemmed from the 1993 Grand final) had reached a critical point, with both players engaged in a heated argument before umpire Andrew Coates tried to intervene, only to be pushed away by Williams. Despite the innocuous nature of the contact, the AFL Tribunal suspended Williams for nine matches.[1] The incident was one of football's major talking points that year, leading to a Supreme Court battle between Carlton and the AFL, and eventually the establishment of the AFL Appeals Board.

### Round 2

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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Melbourne | 7.14 (56) | Collingwood | 24.19 (163) | MCG | 61,138 | Friday 4, April
Richmond | 19.14 (128) | Adelaide | 15.10 (100) | MCG | 32,880 | Saturday 5, April
Geelong | 11.12 (78) | West Coast | 11.6 (72) | Kardinia Park | 17,988 | Saturday 5, April
Western Bulldogs | 13.12 (90) | Sydney | 12.11 (83) | Princes Park | 12,604 | Saturday 5, April
Brisbane Lions | 23.16 (154) | St Kilda | 7.15 (57) | Gabba | 17,123 | Sunday 6, April
Port Adelaide | 8.12 (60) | Essendon | 14.9 (93) | Football Park | 32,747 | Sunday 6, April
Fremantle | 13.9 (87) | Hawthorn | 10.13 (73) | Subiaco Oval | 19,057 | Sunday 6, April
North Melbourne | 12.14 (86) | Carlton | 8.12 (60) | MCG | 38,170 | Monday 7, April

### Round 3

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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Sydney | 15.9 (99) | Melbourne | 14.7 (91) | SCG | 23,598 | Friday 11, April
Western Bulldogs | 16.9 (105) | Richmond | 12.14 (86) | MCG | 35,438 | Saturday 12, April
St Kilda | 19.11 (125) | Collingwood | 17.16 (118) | Waverley Park | 54,699 | Saturday 12, April
Port Adelaide | 18.21 (129) | Geelong | 14.6 (90) | Football Park | 32,074 | Saturday 12, April
Essendon | 18.14 (122) | North Melbourne | 12.8 (80) | MCG | 57,978 | Sunday 13, April
Carlton | 15.18 (108) | Adelaide | 12.8 (80) | Princes Park | 25,966 | Sunday 13, April
Hawthorn | 12.15 (87) | Brisbane Lions | 11.9 (75) | Waverley Park | 27,947 | Sunday 13, April
West Coast | 16.15 (111) | Fremantle | 9.17 (71) | Subiaco Oval | 39,294 | Sunday 13, April

### Round 4

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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Melbourne | 13.9 (87) | Western Bulldogs | 13.11 (89) | MCG | 28,043 | Friday 18, April
Collingwood | 12.12 (84) | Carlton | 15.11 (101) | MCG | 78,704 | Saturday 19, April
Richmond | 10.12 (72) | Fremantle | 10.7 (67) | Princes Park | 15,461 | Saturday 19, April
West Coast | 17.10 (112) | Hawthorn | 13.10 (88) | Subiaco Oval | 38,222 | Saturday 19, April
St Kilda | 12.9 (81) | Sydney | 18.19 (127) | Waverley Park | 35,061 | Saturday 19, April
Brisbane Lions | 15.19 (109) | North Melbourne | 12.11 (83) | Gabba | 18,575 | Sunday 20, April
Adelaide | 11.6 (72) | Port Adelaide | 11.17 (83) | Football Park | 47,256 | Sunday 20, April
Geelong | 11.19 (85) | Essendon | 11.12 (78) | MCG | 54,922 | Sunday 20, April

### Round 5

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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Essendon | 10.10 (70) | Collingwood | 14.15 (99) | MCG | 83,271 | Friday 25, April
Fremantle | 16.11 (107) | St Kilda | 15.11 (101) | Subiaco Oval | 23,504 | Friday 25, April
Melbourne | 12.6 (78) | West Coast | 19.12 (126) | MCG | 19,655 | Saturday 26, April
Western Bulldogs | 9.17 (71) | Adelaide | 19.7 (121) | Princes Park | 12,694 | Saturday 26, April
Hawthorn | 15.9 (99) | Sydney | 11.8 (74) | Waverley Park | 37,576 | Saturday 26, April
Port Adelaide | 10.13 (73) | Brisbane Lions | 10.11 (71) | Football Park | 31,757 | Sunday 27, April
North Melbourne | 21.15 (141) | Richmond | 7.4 (46) | MCG | 44,449 | Sunday 27, April
Carlton | 12.14 (86) | Geelong | 13.16 (94) | Princes Park | 25,801 | Sunday 27, April

### Round 6

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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West Coast | 14.15 (99) | Western Bulldogs | 17.11 (113) | WACA | 29,838 | Friday 2, May
Essendon | 15.12 (102) | Brisbane Lions | 9.17 (71) | MCG | 37,642 | Saturday 3, May
Collingwood | 13.6 (84) | Adelaide | 11.17 (83) | Victoria Park | 24,663 | Saturday 3, May
Geelong | 14.13 (97) | Fremantle | 6.7 (43) | Kardinia Park | 16,467 | Saturday 3, May
Hawthorn | 14.9 (93) | North Melbourne | 16.7 (103) | Waverley Park | 38,953 | Saturday 3, May
Sydney | 21.16 (142) | Carlton | 11.17 (83) | SCG | 37,933 | Sunday 4, May
St Kilda | 17.19 (121) | Melbourne | 4.11 (35) | Waverley Park | 21,104 | Sunday 4, May
Port Adelaide | 19.8 (122) | Richmond | 8.10 (58) | Football Park | 36,090 | Sunday 4, May

### Round 7

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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North Melbourne | 9.14 (68) | Collingwood | 17.9 (111) | MCG | 54,901 | Friday 9, May
Richmond | 10.16 (76) | Carlton | 14.14 (98) | MCG | 48,833 | Saturday 10, May
Western Bulldogs | 19.19 (133) | Hawthorn | 13.10 (88) | Princes Park | 18,860 | Saturday 10, May
Geelong | 11.10 (76) | Sydney | 6.8 (44) | Kardinia Park | 22,151 | Saturday 10, May
Fremantle | 17.22 (124) | Melbourne | 10.9 (69) | WACA | 18,198 | Saturday 10, May
St Kilda | 20.6 (126) | Port Adelaide | 8.13 (61) | Waverley Park | 17,752 | Saturday 10, May
Brisbane Lions | 8.12 (60) | West Coast | 21.13 (139) | Gabba | 17,524 | Sunday 11, May
Adelaide | 18.18 (126) | Essendon | 11.7 (73) | Football Park | 39,275 | Sunday 11, May

### Round 8

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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Collingwood | 19.15 (129) | Western Bulldogs | 11.17 (83) | MCG | 61,014 | Friday 16, May
Melbourne | 7.7 (49) | Geelong | 19.14 (128) | MCG | 28,989 | Saturday 17, May
North Melbourne | 19.14 (128) | Port Adelaide | 15.10 (100) | Princes Park | 13,056 | Saturday 17, May
Adelaide | 22.12 (144) | Sydney | 8.7 (55) | Football Park | 40,147 | Saturday 17, May
Essendon | 14.16 (100) | St Kilda | 18.16 (124) | MCG | 51,928 | Sunday 18, May
Carlton | 15.16 (106) | Hawthorn | 12.9 (81) | Princes Park | 29,783 | Sunday 18, May
Fremantle | 14.14 (98) | Brisbane Lions | 15.3 (93) | Subiaco Oval | 14,721 | Sunday 18, May
Richmond | 18.11 (119) | West Coast | 9.13 (67) | MCG | 26,721 | Monday 19, May

### Round 9

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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Port Adelaide | 10.18 (78) | Melbourne | 3.9 (27) | Football Park | 32,958 | Friday 23, May
Carlton | 16.9 (105) | Fremantle | 14.4 (88) | Princes Park | 18,187 | Saturday 24, May
Hawthorn | 13.10 (88) | Adelaide | 14.18 (102) | Waverley Park | 23,463 | Saturday 24, May
Sydney | 16.15 (111) | Collingwood | 11.8 (74) | SCG | 39,780 | Saturday 24, May
Brisbane Lions | 19.12 (126) | Geelong | 15.8 (98) | Gabba | 19,828 | Sunday 25, May
West Coast | 16.14 (110) | Essendon | 13.7 (85) | Subiaco Oval | 38,984 | Sunday 25, May
Western Bulldogs | 16.7 (103) | North Melbourne | 10.11 (71) | MCG | 29,307 | Sunday 25, May
St Kilda | 22.9 (141) | Richmond | 14.10 (94) | Waverley Park | 52,257 | Sunday 25, May

### Round 10

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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Port Adelaide | 14.9 (93) | Carlton | 7.13 (55) | Football Park | 40,116 | Friday 30, May
North Melbourne | 15.13 (103) | West Coast | 9.4 (58) | Princes Park | 13,614 | Saturday 31, May
Hawthorn | 16.12 (108) | Collingwood | 8.7 (55) | Waverley Park | 51,494 | Saturday 31, May
Geelong | 16.11 (107) | St Kilda | 11.13 (79) | Kardinia Park | 22,731 | Saturday 31, May
Richmond | 9.13 (67) | Melbourne | 14.8 (92) | MCG | 28,879 | Saturday 31, May
Essendon | 17.12 (114) | Western Bulldogs | 20.16 (136) | MCG | 50,138 | Sunday 1, June
Brisbane Lions | 13.14 (92) | Sydney | 13.11 (89) | Gabba | 20,403 | Sunday 1, June
Fremantle | 10.12 (72) | Adelaide | 16.9 (105) | Subiaco Oval | 22,464 | Monday 2, June

### Round 11

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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Collingwood | 10.11 (71) | Richmond | 11.11 (77) | MCG | 70,350 | Friday 6, June
Essendon | 13.13 (91) | Hawthorn | 17.22 (124) | MCG | 60,594 | Saturday 7, June
Western Bulldogs | 14.12 (96) | Geelong | 11.9 (75) | Princes Park | 24,897 | Saturday 7, June
Port Adelaide | 4.17 (41) | Sydney | 10.16 (76) | Football Park | 35,669 | Saturday 7, June
Melbourne | 5.15 (45) | Adelaide | 14.13 (97) | MCG | 27,463 | Sunday 8, June
West Coast | 11.7 (73) | St Kilda | 13.11 (89) | Subiaco Oval | 29,390 | Sunday 8, June
North Melbourne | 15.15 (105) | Fremantle | 12.7 (79) | MCG | 20,585 | Monday 9, June
Carlton | 12.12 (84) | Brisbane Lions | 9.9 (63) | Princes Park | 27,904 | Monday 9, June

### Round 12

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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Sydney | 26.8 (164) | Richmond | 16.14 (110) | SCG | 35,033 | Friday 13, June
Western Bulldogs | 12.10 (82) | Port Adelaide | 14.10 (94) | Princes Park | 14,025 | Saturday 14, June
Collingwood | 7.13 (55) | West Coast | 11.5 (71) | Victoria Park | 25,323 | Saturday 14, June
Geelong | 12.10 (82) | Hawthorn | 13.10 (88) | Kardinia Park | 22,871 | Saturday 14, June
St Kilda | 16.20 (116) | Carlton | 12.13 (85) | Waverley Park | 44,883 | Sunday 15, June
Adelaide | 12.11 (83) | North Melbourne | 16.9 (105) | Football Park | 43,345 | Sunday 15, June
Melbourne | 7.8 (50) | Brisbane Lions | 21.9 (135) | MCG | 13,392 | Sunday 15, June
Fremantle | 24.13 (157) | Essendon | 9.6 (60) | Subiaco Oval | 21,956 | Sunday 15, June

### Round 13

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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West Coast | 11.13 (79) | Carlton | 12.14 (86) | Subiaco Oval | 37,854 | Friday 27, June
Richmond | 4.10 (34) | Essendon | 19.13 (127) | MCG | 58,812 | Saturday 28, June
St Kilda | 11.18 (84) | Western Bulldogs | 15.11 (101) | Waverley Park | 32,370 | Saturday 28, June
Geelong | 17.8 (110) | Adelaide | 7.12 (54) | Kardinia Park | 20,236 | Saturday 28, June
Brisbane Lions | 11.22 (88) | Collingwood | 11.7 (73) | Gabba | 19,560 | Saturday 28, June
Port Adelaide | 10.9 (69) | Fremantle | 7.12 (54) | Football Park | 30,827 | Saturday 28, June
Hawthorn | 17.16 (118) | Melbourne | 7.13 (55) | Waverley Park | 31,517 | Sunday 29, June
Sydney | 8.17 (65) | North Melbourne | 7.13 (55) | SCG | 30,160 | Sunday 29, June

### Round 14

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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Adelaide | 16.10 (106) | West Coast | 4.7 (31) | Football Park | 39,221 | Friday 4, July
Geelong | 9.26 (80) | Collingwood | 10.12 (72) | MCG | 65,228 | Saturday 5, July
Carlton | 11.8 (74) | Western Bulldogs | 16.14 (110) | Princes Park | 32,183 | Saturday 5, July
St Kilda | 20.13 (133) | North Melbourne | 11.13 (79) | Waverley Park | 32,635 | Saturday 5, July
Fremantle | 6.12 (48) | Sydney | 3.15 (33) | WACA | 19,290 | Saturday 5, July
Essendon | 18.12 (120) | Melbourne | 8.9 (57) | MCG | 44,803 | Sunday 6, July
Hawthorn | 18.16 (124) | Port Adelaide | 13.14 (92) | Waverley Park | 29,886 | Sunday 6, July
Brisbane Lions | 7.26 (68) | Richmond | 7.8 (50) | Gabba | 19,155 | Sunday 6, July

### Round 15

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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North Melbourne | 14.8 (92) | Geelong | 15.12 (102) | MCG | 45,120 | Friday 11, July
Melbourne | 18.11 (119) | Carlton | 15.10 (100) | MCG | 27,992 | Saturday 12, July
Western Bulldogs | 11.7 (73) | Brisbane Lions | 21.11 (137) | Princes Park | 16,430 | Saturday 12, July
Collingwood | 25.10 (160) | Fremantle | 9.6 (60) | Victoria Park | 23,433 | Saturday 12, July
Adelaide | 10.16 (76) | St Kilda | 9.12 (66) | Football Park | 39,921 | Saturday 12, July
Sydney | 11.13 (79) | Essendon | 11.12 (78) | SCG | 36,077 | Sunday 13, July
West Coast | 12.13 (85) | Port Adelaide | 9.13 (67) | Subiaco Oval | 29,723 | Sunday 13, July
Richmond | 22.13 (145) | Hawthorn | 10.9 (69) | MCG | 49,217 | Sunday 13, July

### Round 16

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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Brisbane Lions | 17.16 (118) | Adelaide | 13.9 (87) | Gabba | 21,348 | Friday 18, July
Carlton | 25.15 (165) | Essendon | 13.9 (87) | MCG | 58,512 | Saturday 19, July
Hawthorn | 9.8 (62) | St Kilda | 20.21 (141) | Waverley Park | 43,181 | Saturday 19, July
Geelong | 16.14 (110) | Richmond | 12.6 (78) | Kardinia Park | 24,099 | Saturday 19, July
Sydney | 15.22 (112) | West Coast | 11.9 (75) | SCG | 39,318 | Saturday 19, July
Port Adelaide | 17.9 (111) | Collingwood | 8.10 (58) | Football Park | 37,790 | Saturday 19, July
Melbourne | 7.16 (58) | North Melbourne | 17.12 (114) | MCG | 23,309 | Sunday 20, July
Fremantle | 15.7 (97) | Western Bulldogs | 13.13 (91) | Subiaco Oval | 18,392 | Sunday 20, July

### Round 17

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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Essendon | 10.12 (72) | Port Adelaide | 18.14 (122) | MCG | 33,076 | Friday 25, July
Carlton | 7.16 (58) | North Melbourne | 14.12 (96) | Princes Park | 27,689 | Saturday 26, July
Hawthorn | 9.8 (62) | Fremantle | 10.11 (71) | Waverley Park | 15,939 | Saturday 26, July
Sydney | 22.17 (149) | Western Bulldogs | 7.10 (52) | SCG | 32,534 | Saturday 26, July
Adelaide | 29.11 (185) | Richmond | 7.6 (48) | Football Park | 36,297 | Saturday 26, July
St Kilda | 12.20 (92) | Brisbane Lions | 5.14 (44) | Waverley Park | 34,859 | Sunday 27, July
Collingwood | 20.14 (134) | Melbourne | 12.10 (82) | MCG | 37,779 | Sunday 27, July
West Coast | 20.9 (129) | Geelong | 12.10 (82) | Subiaco Oval | 34,565 | Sunday 27, July

### Round 18

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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North Melbourne | 11.17 (83) | Essendon | 8.16 (64) | MCG | 38,614 | Friday 1, August
Melbourne | 7.11 (53) | Sydney | 25.19 (169) | MCG | 26,901 | Saturday 2, August
Richmond | 17.13 (115) | Western Bulldogs | 15.10 (100) | Princes Park | 18,373 | Saturday 2, August
Geelong | 25.9 (159) | Port Adelaide | 11.8 (74) | Kardinia Park | 21,867 | Saturday 2, August
Brisbane Lions | 21.15 (141) | Hawthorn | 11.5 (71) | Gabba | 19,635 | Saturday 2, August
Adelaide | 18.19 (127) | Carlton | 13.8 (86) | Football Park | 42,548 | Sunday 3, August
Collingwood | 12.17 (89) | St Kilda | 15.21 (111) | MCG | 68,036 | Sunday 3, August
Fremantle | 7.7 (49) | West Coast | 13.4 (82) | Subiaco Oval | 39,711 | Sunday 3, August

### Round 19

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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North Melbourne | 17.14 (116) | Brisbane Lions | 9.5 (59) | MCG | 27,021 | Friday 8, August
Carlton | 14.23 (107) | Collingwood | 13.13 (91) | MCG | 61,650 | Saturday 9, August
Western Bulldogs | 14.18 (102) | Melbourne | 9.10 (64) | Princes Park | 13,058 | Saturday 9, August
Hawthorn | 10.6 (66) | West Coast | 13.9 (87) | Waverley Park | 20,517 | Saturday 9, August
Fremantle | 12.13 (85) | Richmond | 5.12 (42) | WACA | 15,757 | Saturday 9, August
Sydney | 17.17 (119) | St Kilda | 18.20 (128) | SCG | 39,287 | Sunday 10, August
Essendon | 11.7 (73) | Geelong | 9.14 (68) | MCG | 53,901 | Sunday 10, August
Port Adelaide | 9.4 (58) | Adelaide | 9.11 (65) | Football Park | 45,498 | Sunday 10, August

### Round 20

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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West Coast | 15.7 (97) | Melbourne | 7.17 (59) | WACA | 21,164 | Friday 15, August
Collingwood | 13.13 (91) | Essendon | 12.9 (81) | MCG | 50,944 | Saturday 16, August
St Kilda | 12.5 (77) | Fremantle | 9.10 (64) | Waverley Park | 26,201 | Saturday 16, August
Geelong | 13.17 (95) | Carlton | 9.13 (67) | Kardinia Park | 23,007 | Saturday 16, August
Brisbane Lions | 13.15 (93) | Port Adelaide | 13.15 (93) | Gabba | 20,835 | Saturday 16, August
Sydney | 20.15 (135) | Hawthorn | 11.11 (77) | SCG | 34,111 | Sunday 17, August
Richmond | 14.13 (97) | North Melbourne | 14.12 (96) | MCG | 29,620 | Sunday 17, August
Adelaide | 7.18 (60) | Western Bulldogs | 16.7 (103) | Football Park | 39,632 | Sunday 17, August

### Round 21

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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Melbourne | 8.14 (62) | St Kilda | 17.12 (114) | MCG | 32,935 | Friday 22, August
North Melbourne | 10.21 (81) | Hawthorn | 6.7 (43) | MCG | 26,393 | Saturday 23, August
Carlton | 11.10 (76) | Sydney | 5.11 (41) | Princes Park | 27,375 | Saturday 23, August
Western Bulldogs | 12.14 (86) | West Coast | 10.8 (68) | Whitten Oval | 26,704 | Saturday 23, August
Brisbane Lions | 15.12 (102) | Essendon | 16.10 (106) | Gabba | 21,065 | Saturday 23, August
Richmond | 22.14 (146) | Port Adelaide | 8.13 (61) | MCG | 22,516 | Sunday 24, August
Fremantle | 9.14 (68) | Geelong | 14.16 (100) | Subiaco Oval | 28,751 | Sunday 24, August
Adelaide | 6.12 (48) | Collingwood | 5.9 (39) | Football Park | 37,661 | Monday 25, August

### Round 22

[edit]

Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date

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West Coast | 18.12 (120) | Brisbane Lions | 11.15 (81) | WACA | 29,402 | Friday 29, August
Melbourne | 18.11 (119) | Fremantle | 11.13 (79) | MCG | 15,036 | Saturday 30, August
Carlton | 13.11 (89) | Richmond | 13.13 (91) | Princes Park | 34,922 | Saturday 30, August
Hawthorn | 13.9 (87) | Western Bulldogs | 15.15 (105) | Waverley Park | 35,706 | Saturday 30, August
Sydney | 13.12 (90) | Geelong | 15.10 (100) | SCG | 46,168 | Saturday 30, August
Collingwood | 18.14 (122) | North Melbourne | 15.21 (111) | MCG | 43,660 | Sunday 31, August
Essendon | 16.6 (102) | Adelaide | 14.14 (98) | Princes Park | 25,636 | Sunday 31, August
Port Adelaide | 12.12 (84) | St Kilda | 17.15 (117) | Football Park | 38,589 | Sunday 31, August

## Ladder

[edit]

(P) | Premiers

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| Qualified for finals
#  | Team  | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | %  | Pts

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1 | St Kilda | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2294 | 1918 | 119.6 | 60
2 | Geelong | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2111 | 1791 | 117.9 | 60
3 | Western Bulldogs | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 2100 | 2062 | 101.8 | 56
4 | Adelaide (P) | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 2151 | 1769 | 121.6 | 52
5 | West Coast | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 1969 | 1770 | 111.2 | 52
6 | Sydney | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2093 | 1801 | 116.2 | 48
7 | North Melbourne | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2051 | 1835 | 111.8 | 48
8 | Brisbane Lions | 22 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 2076 | 1973 | 105.2 | 42
9 | Port Adelaide | 22 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 1852 | 2017 | 91.8 | 42
10 | Collingwood | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 2138 | 1919 | 111.4 | 40
11 | Carlton | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 1978 | 2045 | 96.7 | 40
12 | Fremantle | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 1748 | 1902 | 91.9 | 40
13 | Richmond | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 1883 | 2253 | 83.6 | 40
14 | Essendon | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 2004 | 2170 | 92.4 | 36
15 | Hawthorn | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1873 | 2144 | 87.4 | 32
16 | Melbourne | 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

## Progression by round

[edit]

Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 8.

Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.

Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round.

Team ╲ Round| 1| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6| 7| 8| 9| 10| 11| 12| 13| 14| 15| 16| 17| 18| 19| 20| 21| 22

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St Kilda| 0| 0| 4| 4| 4| 8| 12| 16| 20| 20| 24| 28| 28| 32| 32| 36| 40| 44| 48| 52| 56| 60
Geelong| 0| 4| 4| 8| 12| 16| 20| 24| 24| 28| 28| 28| 32| 36| 40| 44| 44| 48| 48| 52| 56| 60
Western Bulldogs| 0| 4| 8| 12| 12| 16| 20| 20| 24| 28| 32| 32| 36| 40| 40| 40| 40| 40| 44| 48| 52| 56
Adelaide| 4| 4| 4| 4| 8| 8| 12| 16| 20| 24| 28| 28| 28| 32| 36| 36| 40| 44| 48| 48| 52| 52
West Coast| 4| 4| 8| 12| 16| 16| 20| 20| 24| 24| 24| 28| 28| 28| 32| 32| 36| 40| 44| 48| 48| 52
Sydney| 0| 0| 4| 8| 8| 12| 12| 12| 16| 16| 20| 24| 28| 28| 32| 36| 40| 44| 44| 48| 48| 48
North Melbourne| 0| 4| 4| 4| 8| 12| 12| 16| 16| 20| 24| 28| 28| 28| 28| 32| 36| 40| 44| 44| 48| 48
Brisbane Lions| 0| 4| 4| 8| 8| 8| 8| 8| 12| 16| 16| 20| 24| 28| 32| 36| 36| 40| 40| 42| 42| 42
Port Adelaide| 0| 0| 4| 8| 12| 16| 16| 16| 20| 24| 24| 28| 32| 32| 32| 36| 40| 40| 40| 42| 42| 42
Collingwood| 4| 8| 8| 8| 12| 16| 20| 24| 24| 24| 24| 24| 24| 24| 28| 28| 32| 32| 32| 36| 36| 40
Carlton| 0| 0| 4| 8| 8| 8| 12| 16| 20| 20| 24| 24| 28| 28| 28| 32| 32| 32| 36| 36| 40| 40
Fremantle| 4| 8| 8| 8| 12| 12| 16| 20| 20| 20| 20| 24| 24| 28| 28| 32| 36| 36| 40| 40| 40| 40
Richmond| 4| 8| 8| 12| 12| 12| 12| 16| 16| 16| 20| 20| 20| 20| 24| 24| 24| 28| 28| 32| 36| 40
Essendon| 4| 8| 12| 12| 12| 16| 16| 16| 16| 16| 16| 16| 20| 24| 24| 24| 24| 24| 28| 28| 32| 36
Hawthorn| 4| 4| 8| 8| 12| 12| 12| 12| 12| 16| 20| 24| 28| 32| 32| 32| 32| 32| 32| 32| 32| 32
Melbourne| 4| 4| 4| 4| 4| 4| 4| 4| 4| 8| 8| 8| 8| 8| 12| 12| 12| 12| 12| 12| 12| 16

Source: [citation needed]

## Finals series

[edit]

### Week one

[edit]

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| Qualifying finals  |  |
QF2: Saturday, 6 September (2:30 pm)  | Western Bulldogs 18.11 (119)  | def.  | Sydney 12.12 (84)  | MCG (crowd: 62,432)  | Report
QF1: Sunday, 7 September (2:30 pm)  | Adelaide 14.15 (99)  | def.  | West Coast 9.12 (66)  | Football Park (crowd: 43,761)  | Report
QF4: Sunday, 7 September (2:30 pm)  | St Kilda 20.15 (135)  | def.  | Brisbane Lions 13.11 (89)  | Waverley Park (crowd: 50,035)  | Report
QF3: Sunday, 7 September (7:00 pm)  | Geelong 9.7 (61)  | def. by  | North Melbourne 11.13 (79)  | MCG (crowd: 55,561)  | Report

The St Kilda versus Brisbane Lions finals match was the last ever finals match to be played at Waverley Park.

### Week two

[edit]

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| Semi-finals  |  |
SF1: Saturday, 13 September (2:30 pm)  | North Melbourne 15.8 (98)  | def.  | West Coast 12.13 (85)  | MCG (crowd: 55,781)  | Report
SF2: Saturday, 13 September (7:45 pm)  | Adelaide 11.10 (76)  | def.  | Geelong 9.14 (68)  | Football Park (crowd: 46,319)  | Report

The Adelaide versus Geelong semi final was notable due to an incident in the third quarter, when a clear forward 50 mark to Geelong's Leigh Colbert was not awarded by field umpire Grant Vernon, denying Geelong a crucial shot at goal. This incident was later confirmed as a significant error by the AFL umpiring association, and Grant Vernon was not selected to umpire in any remaining 1997 finals matches as a result. [2]

### Week three

[edit]

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| Preliminary finals  |  |
PF2: Friday, 19 September (7:45 pm)  | St Kilda 15.14 (104)  | def.  | North Melbourne 11.7 (73)  | MCG (crowd: 77,531)  | Report
PF1: Saturday, 20 September (2:30 pm)  | Western Bulldogs 13.13 (91)  | def. by  | Adelaide 12.21 (93)  | MCG (crowd: 70,088)  | Report

### Week four

[edit]

Main article: 1997 AFL Grand Final

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| Grand final  |  |
Saturday, 27 September (2:45 pm)  | St Kilda 13.16 (94)  | def. by  | Adelaide 19.11 (125)  | MCG (crowd: 99,645)  | Report

* This was the first appearance in a grand final for Adelaide.

## Attendance

[edit]

Team | Hosted | Average | Highest | Lowest | Total | Last Season | +/-

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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 | +/-

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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

[edit]

* The last AFL game at Whitten Oval was played.
* St Kilda finished on top of the ladder (prior to the finals) to claim the minor premiership, despite losing 7 matches in the home and away season. No team before or since has finished on top with that many losses, which highlights the evenness of the 1997 season. St Kilda would also play in their first preliminary final since 1972 and reach their first grand final since 1971.
* The first qualifying final between Adelaide and West Coast was rescheduled from Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon to allow the Seven Network to screen the funeral of Princess Diana live across Australia.[3] This meant that it was played at the same time as the fourth qualifying final between minor premiers St Kilda and the Brisbane Lions, who were competing in their first season as a merged entity. The game is also notable for being the first ever final between two non-Victorian teams.
* Gary Ablett Sr., arguably one of the games best and most well known players, officially announced his retirement during the Preliminary Final weekend. Ablett failed to play a game in 1997 due to a knee injury.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Eight of the longest AFL suspensions". Zero Hanger. 7 August 2018.
2. ^ "Colbert non-screamer cruelled Cats in AFL".
3. ^ Warner, Michael; Ralph, Jon; Wade, Nick (4 July 2015). "Cats game cancelled". Geelong Advertiser. Retrieved 30 October 2015.

## Sources

[edit]

* 1997 AFL season at AFL Tables
* 1997 AFL season at Australian Football

* v
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Australian Football League

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Known as the Victorian Football League from 1897–1989; no grand finals were held in 1897 and 1924
*[P]: Played
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