2003 AFL season

107th season of the Australian Football League (AFL)

For the 2003 season of the Arena Football League, see 2003 Arena Football League season.

Australian rules football season

2003 AFL premiership season

Teams| 16
Premiers| Brisbane
3rd premiership
Minor premiers| Port Adelaide
2nd minor premiership
Pre-season cup| Adelaide
1st pre-season cup win
Brownlow Medallist| Nathan Buckley (Collingwood)
Adam Goodes (Sydney)
Mark Ricciuto (Adelaide)
Coleman Medallist| Matthew Lloyd (Essendon)
Attendance
Matches played| 185
Total attendance| 6,351,655 (34,333 per match)
Highest| 79,451 (Grand Final, Brisbane Lions vs. Collingwood)

<- 2002

2004 ->

The 2003 AFL season was the 107th season of the Australian Football League (AFL), the highest level of senior Australian rules football competition in Australia, which was known as the Victorian Football League until 1989. The season featured sixteen clubs, ran from 28 March until 27 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs.

The premiership was won by the Brisbane Lions for the third time and third time consecutively, after it defeated Collingwood by 50 points in the AFL Grand Final.

## AFL Draft

[edit]

See 2003 AFL Draft.

## Wizard Home Loans Cup

[edit]

Main article: 2003 Wizard Home Loans Cup

The 2003 Wizard Home Loans Cup saw Adelaide defeat Collingwood 15.14 (104) to 10.13 (73) in the final.

## Premiership season

[edit]

### Round 1

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Collingwood | 13.16 (94) | Richmond | 8.18 (66)  | MCG | 61,058  | Friday, 28 March
West Coast | 17.20 (122) | Port Adelaide | 11.8 (74)  | Subiaco Oval | 35,083  | Saturday, 29 March
Kangaroos | 14.12 (96) | St Kilda | 10.10 (70)  | MCG | 28,361  | Saturday, 29 March
Brisbane Lions | 14.20 (104) | Essendon | 8.13 (61)  | The Gabba | 36,197  | Saturday, 29 March
Sydney | 22.14 (146) | Carlton | 10.12 (72)  | Telstra Stadium | 30,803  | Saturday, 29 March
Adelaide | 22.13 (145) | Fremantle | 13.11 (89)  | AAMI Stadium | 45,436  | Sunday, 30 March
Melbourne | 16.10 (106) | Hawthorn | 15.10 (100)  | MCG | 41,888  | Sunday, 30 March
Western Bulldogs | 19.16 (130) | Geelong | 13.13 (91)  | Telstra Dome | 27,931  | Sunday, 30 March

### Round 2

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Carlton | 13.13 (91)  | Collingwood | 16.11 (107) | MCG | 51,894  | Friday, 4 April
Essendon | 17.10 (112) | Melbourne | 10.15 (75)  | MCG | 43,448  | Saturday, 5 April
St Kilda | 15.9 (99) | Adelaide | 13.13 (91)  | Telstra Dome | 19,131  | Saturday, 5 April
Fremantle | 12.14 (86) | Sydney | 8.12 (60)  | Subiaco Oval | 24,887  | Saturday, 5 April
Port Adelaide | 10.16 (76)  | Brisbane Lions | 13.8 (86) | AAMI Stadium | 27,876  | Saturday, 5 April
Hawthorn | 13.13 (91) | West Coast | 14.5 (89)  | York Park | 16,217  | Sunday, 6 April
Geelong | 9.17 (71)  | Kangaroos | 13.16 (94) | Skilled Stadium | 22,588  | Sunday, 6 April
Richmond | 16.15 (111) | Western Bulldogs | 13.11 (89)  | Telstra Dome | 28,847  | Sunday, 6 April

### Round 3

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Essendon | 13.16 (94)  | Carlton | 15.15 (105) | MCG | 44,268  | Friday, 11 April
West Coast | 21.18 (144) | St Kilda | 11.8 (74)  | Subiaco Oval | 32,009  | Saturday, 12 April
Collingwood | 18.8 (116) | Geelong | 10.9 (69)  | MCG | 43,979  | Saturday, 12 April
Kangaroos | 16.13 (109)  | Brisbane Lions | 16.13 (109)  | Telstra Dome | 24,359  | Saturday, 12 April
Port Adelaide | 19.14 (128) | Hawthorn | 11.5 (71)  | AAMI Stadium | 24,902  | Saturday, 12 April
Sydney | 11.10 (76)  | Adelaide | 15.13 (103) | SCG | 23,651  | Sunday, 13 April
Melbourne | 20.7 (127) | Western Bulldogs | 14.11 (95)  | Telstra Dome | 20,790  | Sunday, 13 April
Richmond | 14.10 (94) | Fremantle | 6.10 (46)  | MCG | 19,677  | Sunday, 13 April

### Round 4

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Brisbane Lions | 14.11 (95) | Collingwood | 11.15 (81)  | The Gabba | 36,803  | Thursday, 17 April
Geelong | 13.12 (90) | Melbourne | 6.8 (44)  | Skilled Stadium | 23,001  | Saturday, 19 April
Hawthorn | 17.8 (110) | Sydney | 10.8 (68)  | MCG | 26,359  | Saturday, 19 April
Western Bulldogs | 16.14 (110)  | Essendon | 20.9 (129) | Telstra Dome | 35,238  | Saturday, 19 April
Adelaide | 15.16 (106) | West Coast | 10.13 (73)  | AAMI Stadium | 43,525  | Sunday, 20 April
Fremantle | 25.17 (167) | Kangaroos | 19.8 (122)  | Subiaco Oval | 25,435  | Sunday, 20 April
Carlton | 12.12 (84)  | Port Adelaide | 17.12 (114) | Optus Oval | 22,507  | Sunday, 20 April
St Kilda | 11.15 (81)  | Richmond | 17.5 (107) | Telstra Dome | 44,382  | Monday, 21 April

### Round 5

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Essendon | 23.9 (147) | Collingwood | 12.9 (81)  | MCG | 62,589  | Friday, 25 April
Sydney | 17.7 (109) | Melbourne | 13.7 (85)  | SCG | 24,286  | Friday, 25 April
Hawthorn | 14.11 (95)  | Richmond | 18.7 (115) | MCG | 45,140  | Saturday, 26 April
Adelaide | 9.12 (66)  | Port Adelaide | 12.6 (78) | AAMI Stadium | 51,140  | Saturday, 26 April
Kangaroos | 16.17 (113)  | Carlton | 18.14 (122) | Telstra Dome | 38,094  | Saturday, 26 April
Brisbane Lions | 15.16 (106) | Western Bulldogs | 12.7 (79)  | The Gabba | 24,341  | Sunday, 27 April
Fremantle | 10.13 (73)  | West Coast | 16.12 (108) | Subiaco Oval | 41,654  | Sunday, 27 April
St Kilda | 18.11 (119) | Geelong | 11.8 (74)  | Telstra Dome | 27,240  | Sunday, 27 April

### Round 6

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Kangaroos | 9.16 (70)  | Adelaide | 19.10 (124) | Telstra Dome | 38,469  | Friday, 2 May
Carlton | 9.9 (63)  | Hawthorn | 11.8 (74) | Optus Oval | 27,725  | Saturday, 3 May
Melbourne | 14.10 (94)  | West Coast | 19.13 (127) | MCG | 17,534  | Saturday, 3 May
Collingwood | 13.11 (89)  | Sydney | 17.7 (109) | Telstra Dome | 41,874  | Saturday, 3 May
Port Adelaide | 12.12 (84) | Richmond | 8.9 (57)  | AAMI Stadium | 29,608  | Saturday, 3 May
Geelong | 12.6 (78)  | Brisbane Lions | 13.14 (92) | Skilled Stadium | 21,246  | Sunday, 4 May
Fremantle | 20.11 (131) | Essendon | 15.10 (100)  | Subiaco Oval | 28,492  | Sunday, 4 May
Western Bulldogs | 12.13 (85)  | St Kilda | 15.10 (100) | Telstra Dome | 27,278  | Sunday, 4 May

### Round 7

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Hawthorn | 13.11 (89)  | Kangaroos | 18.9 (117) | Telstra Dome | 32,435  | Friday, 9 May
West Coast | 17.11 (113) | Geelong | 14.13 (97)  | Subiaco Oval | 36,268  | Saturday, 10 May
Richmond | 11.18 (84) | Essendon | 5.12 (42)  | MCG | 52,196  | Saturday, 10 May
Adelaide | 16.13 (109)  | Collingwood | 18.6 (114) | AAMI Stadium | 44,706  | Saturday, 10 May
St Kilda | 16.17 (113) | Carlton | 15.11 (101)  | Telstra Dome | 45,122  | Saturday, 10 May
Sydney | 15.8 (98) | Brisbane Lions | 11.13 (79)  | SCG | 23,276  | Sunday, 11 May
Melbourne | 16.15 (111) | Port Adelaide | 12.12 (84)  | MCG | 12,410  | Sunday, 11 May
Western Bulldogs | 10.12 (72)  | Fremantle | 23.17 (155) | Telstra Dome | 12,542  | Sunday, 11 May

### Round 8

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Hawthorn | 8.5 (53)  | Essendon | 15.16 (106) | MCG | 48,006  | Friday, 16 May
Collingwood | 15.13 (103)  | West Coast | 18.11 (119) | Telstra Dome | 39,912  | Saturday, 17 May
Port Adelaide | 15.13 (103) | Kangaroos | 7.7 (49)  | AAMI Stadium | 24,702  | Saturday, 17 May
Richmond | 17.10 (112) | Melbourne | 16.7 (103)  | MCG | 38,063  | Saturday, 17 May
Brisbane Lions | 16.11 (107) | Adelaide | 12.17 (89)  | The Gabba | 34,469  | Saturday, 17 May
Sydney | 17.10 (112) | Geelong | 11.7 (73)  | SCG | 22,483  | Sunday, 18 May
Fremantle | 18.15 (123) | St Kilda | 11.16 (82)  | Subiaco Oval | 26,723  | Sunday, 18 May
Carlton | 15.17 (107) | Western Bulldogs | 14.16 (100)  | Optus Oval | 20,602  | Sunday, 18 May

### Round 9

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Essendon | 14.12 (96)  | Port Adelaide | 23.8 (146) | Telstra Dome | 35,390  | Friday, 23 May
Carlton | 11.10 (76)  | Brisbane Lions | 23.15 (153) | Optus Oval | 24,906  | Saturday, 24 May
Melbourne | 10.11 (71)  | Fremantle | 16.5 (101) | MCG | 17,009  | Saturday, 24 May
West Coast | 18.16 (124) | Richmond | 11.6 (72)  | Subiaco Oval | 40,313  | Saturday, 24 May
Collingwood | 22.17 (149) | St Kilda | 12.12 (84)  | Telstra Dome | 46,096  | Saturday, 24 May
Kangaroos | 12.12 (84) | Sydney | 8.11 (59)  | Manuka Oval | 13,832  | Sunday, 25 May
Geelong | 16.13 (109) | Hawthorn | 11.9 (75)  | Telstra Dome | 28,001  | Sunday, 25 May
Adelaide | 16.13 (109) | Western Bulldogs | 14.9 (93)  | AAMI Stadium | 44,342  | Sunday, 25 May

### Round 10

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Port Adelaide | 14.14 (98) | Collingwood | 10.13 (73)  | AAMI Stadium | 43,321  | Friday, 30 May
Fremantle | 19.13 (127) | Carlton | 15.9 (99)  | Subiaco Oval | 33,250  | Saturday, 31 May
Western Bulldogs | 22.13 (145)  | Kangaroos | 24.12 (156) | Telstra Dome | 24,682  | Saturday, 31 May
Richmond | 10.12 (72)  | Sydney | 16.8 (104) | MCG | 34,569  | Saturday, 31 May
Melbourne | 9.9 (63)  | Brisbane Lions | 18.15 (123) | The Gabba | 29,634  | Saturday, 31 May
Geelong | 8.11 (59)  | Adelaide | 11.10 (76) | Skilled Stadium | 19,608  | Sunday, 1 June
Essendon | 19.14 (128) | West Coast | 16.10 (106)  | Telstra Dome | 32,715  | Sunday, 1 June
St Kilda | 17.16 (118) | Hawthorn | 14.6 (90)  | MCG | 25,745  | Sunday, 1 June

### Round 11

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Kangaroos | 13.14 (92) | Richmond | 13.11 (89)  | Telstra Dome | 43,200  | Friday, 6 June
Hawthorn | 11.9 (75) | Adelaide | 10.10 (70)  | MCG | 25,841  | Saturday, 7 June
St Kilda | 13.12 (90) | Brisbane Lions | 13.7 (85)  | Telstra Dome | 30,313  | Saturday, 7 June
Sydney | 21.7 (133) | Essendon | 12.7 (79)  | Telstra Stadium | 45,917  | Saturday, 7 June
Port Adelaide | 16.16 (112) | Fremantle | 9.9 (63)  | AAMI Stadium | 30,745  | Sunday, 8 June
West Coast | 19.10 (124)  | Western Bulldogs | 19.10 (124)  | Subiaco Oval | 38,540  | Sunday, 8 June
Geelong | 17.13 (115) | Carlton | 12.3 (75)  | Telstra Dome | 43,587  | Sunday, 8 June
Melbourne | 10.17 (77)  | Collingwood | 20.13 (133) | MCG | 60,010  | Monday, 9 June

* The Kangaroos-Tigers game was especially notable as the comeback of Kangaroos player Jason McCartney from life-threatening burns suffered in the 2002 Bali bombings. McCartney retired immediately after the match.

### Round 12

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Essendon | 13.10 (88)  | Kangaroos | 14.12 (96) | Telstra Dome | 45,331  | Friday, 13 June
St Kilda | 7.15 (57)  | Port Adelaide | 15.9 (99) | York Park | 17,763  | Saturday, 14 June
Richmond | 12.14 (86)  | Carlton | 14.9 (93) | MCG | 36,557  | Saturday, 14 June
Fremantle | 13.10 (88) | Geelong | 10.12 (72)  | Subiaco Oval | 30,127  | Saturday, 14 June
Western Bulldogs | 9.9 (63)  | Sydney | 19.13 (127) | SCG | 21,742  | Saturday, 14 June
Brisbane Lions | 13.13 (91)  | West Coast | 24.16 (160) | The Gabba | 31,185  | Sunday, 15 June
Adelaide | 21.12 (138) | Melbourne | 10.5 (65)  | AAMI Stadium | 40,178  | Sunday, 15 June
Collingwood | 6.15 (51)  | Hawthorn | 12.12 (84) | MCG | 47,365  | Sunday, 15 June

### Round 13

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Essendon | 20.9 (129) | Geelong | 15.3 (93)  | Telstra Dome | 48,374  | Friday, 27 June
Melbourne | 21.10 (136) | St Kilda | 14.10 (94)  | MCG | 29,339  | Saturday, 28 June
Port Adelaide | 14.15 (99) | Sydney | 8.12 (60)  | AAMI Stadium | 24,272  | Saturday, 28 June
Western Bulldogs | 12.13 (85)  | Collingwood | 18.20 (128) | Telstra Dome | 42,952  | Saturday, 28 June
Brisbane Lions | 15.14 (104) | Richmond | 9.7 (61)  | The Gabba | 32,623  | Saturday, 28 June
Hawthorn | 15.8 (98) | Fremantle | 10.8 (68)  | York Park | 17,212  | Sunday, 29 June
West Coast | 11.10 (76) | Kangaroos | 10.7 (67)  | Subiaco Oval | 36,641  | Sunday, 29 June
Carlton | 7.8 (50)  | Adelaide | 13.14 (92) | Optus Oval | 19,242  | Sunday, 29 June

### Round 14

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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St Kilda | 7.9 (51)  | Essendon | 17.17 (119) | Telstra Dome | 49,148  | Friday, 4 July
Fremantle | 10.15 (75) | Brisbane Lions | 10.12 (72)  | Subiaco Oval | 28,450  | Saturday, 5 July
Hawthorn | 23.16 (154) | Western Bulldogs | 12.11 (83)  | MCG | 31,390  | Saturday, 5 July
Kangaroos | 7.8 (50)  | Collingwood | 19.12 (126) | Telstra Dome | 53,312  | Saturday, 5 July
Adelaide | 10.12 (72) | Richmond | 6.8 (44)  | AAMI Stadium | 44,809  | Saturday, 5 July
Sydney | 13.14 (92) | West Coast | 12.12 (84)  | SCG | 31,121  | Sunday, 6 July
Carlton | 14.6 (90)  | Melbourne | 14.13 (97) | Optus Oval | 24,289  | Sunday, 6 July
Geelong | 10.10 (70) | Port Adelaide | 10.9 (69)  | Skilled Stadium | 19,770  | Sunday, 6 July

### Round 15

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Adelaide | 13.12 (90) | Essendon | 7.7 (49)  | AAMI Stadium | 41,758  | Friday, 11 July
Collingwood | 15.9 (99) | Fremantle | 7.16 (58)  | MCG | 40,964  | Saturday, 12 July
Richmond | 15.7 (97)  | Geelong | 15.11 (101) | Telstra Dome | 38,546  | Saturday, 12 July
West Coast | 28.19 (187) | Carlton | 10.11 (71)  | Subiaco Oval | 39,129  | Saturday, 12 July
Sydney | 15.22 (112) | St Kilda | 9.7 (61)  | SCG | 27,550  | Saturday, 12 July
Brisbane Lions | 14.9 (93) | Hawthorn | 11.15 (81)  | The Gabba | 29,684  | Sunday, 13 July
Kangaroos | 15.11 (101) | Melbourne | 14.10 (94)  | MCG | 24,618  | Sunday, 13 July
Western Bulldogs | 14.9 (93)  | Port Adelaide | 15.18 (108) | Telstra Dome | 14,784  | Sunday, 13 July

### Round 16

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Richmond | 9.8 (62)  | Collingwood | 20.11 (131) | MCG | 54,655  | Friday, 18 July
Carlton | 12.12 (84)  | Sydney | 18.7 (115) | Optus Oval | 21,463  | Saturday, 19 July
Hawthorn | 17.11 (113) | Melbourne | 15.16 (106)  | MCG | 32,029  | Saturday, 19 July
Essendon | 14.10 (94) | Brisbane Lions | 12.14 (86)  | Telstra Dome | 47,744  | Saturday, 19 July
Port Adelaide | 17.12 (114) | West Coast | 7.8 (50)  | AAMI Stadium | 37,624  | Saturday, 19 July
Geelong | 11.15 (81)  | Western Bulldogs | 15.9 (99) | Skilled Stadium | 22,067  | Sunday, 20 July
Fremantle | 13.13 (91) | Adelaide | 13.12 (90)  | Subiaco Oval | 31,225  | Sunday, 20 July
St Kilda | 21.6 (132) | Kangaroos | 19.13 (127)  | Telstra Dome | 25,381  | Sunday, 20 July

### Round 17

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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West Coast | 14.14 (98) | Hawthorn | 5.12 (42)  | Subiaco Oval | 40,127  | Friday, 25 July
Kangaroos | 16.8 (104) | Geelong | 12.14 (86)  | Manuka Oval | 10,253  | Saturday, 26 July
Melbourne | 10.11 (71)  | Essendon | 13.10 (88) | MCG | 33,368  | Saturday, 26 July
Western Bulldogs | 14.11 (95)  | Richmond | 24.11 (155) | Telstra Dome | 25,204  | Saturday, 26 July
Brisbane Lions | 15.13 (103)  | Port Adelaide | 15.14 (104) | The Gabba | 32,043  | Saturday, 26 July
Sydney | 17.9 (111) | Fremantle | 14.13 (97)  | SCG | 30,228  | Sunday, 27 July
Adelaide | 22.11 (143) | St Kilda | 13.8 (86)  | AAMI Stadium | 44,667  | Sunday, 27 July
Collingwood | 20.15 (135) | Carlton | 8.14 (62)  | MCG | 54,500  | Sunday, 27 July

### Round 18

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Western Bulldogs | 14.17 (101) | Melbourne | 12.8 (80)  | Telstra Dome | 20,714  | Friday, 1 August
Fremantle | 15.14 (104) | Richmond | 11.15 (81)  | Subiaco Oval | 31,725  | Saturday, 2 August
Carlton | 7.14 (56)  | Essendon | 13.12 (90) | MCG | 40,697  | Saturday, 2 August
Geelong | 10.13 (73)  | Collingwood | 14.13 (97) | Telstra Dome | 45,887  | Saturday, 2 August
Brisbane Lions | 20.17 (137) | Kangaroos | 11.17 (83)  | The Gabba | 28,044  | Saturday, 2 August
Adelaide | 14.13 (97) | Sydney | 14.9 (93)  | AAMI Stadium | 46,945  | Sunday, 3 August
Hawthorn | 11.14 (80)  | Port Adelaide | 12.12 (84) | MCG | 21,415  | Sunday, 3 August
St Kilda |  19.14 (128) | West Coast | 9.13 (67)  | Telstra Dome | 21,531  | Sunday, 3 August

### Round 19

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Melbourne | 6.9 (45)  | Geelong | 11.18 (84) | MCG | 22,508  | Friday, 8 August
West Coast | 10.7 (67)  | Adelaide | 13.13 (91) | Subiaco Oval | 39,681  | Saturday, 9 August
Collingwood | 8.14 (62)  | Brisbane Lions | 15.11 (101) | MCG | 61,868  | Saturday, 9 August
Richmond | 7.8 (50)  | St Kilda | 20.10 (130) | Telstra Dome | 41,514  | Saturday, 9 August
Sydney | 14.9 (93)  | Hawthorn | 17.8 (110) | SCG | 33,473  | Saturday, 9 August
Port Adelaide | 18.17 (125) | Carlton | 12.9 (81)  | AAMI Stadium | 31,083  | Sunday, 10 August
Essendon | 22.15 (147) | Western Bulldogs | 12.8 (80)  | Telstra Dome | 36,138  | Sunday, 10 August
Kangaroos | 15.8 (98)  | Fremantle | 15.9 (99) | MCG | 18,486  | Sunday, 10 August

Mathew Lloyd would kick 11 goals to surpass Simon Madden as the Essendon Football Club's greatest ever goal scorer.

### Round 20

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

|
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Collingwood | 15.18 (108) | Adelaide | 11.5 (71)  | Telstra Dome | 45,367  | Friday, 15 August
Carlton | 11.9 (75)  | St Kilda | 26.10 (166) | Optus Oval | 22,361  | Saturday, 16 August
Geelong | 9.9 (63)  | West Coast | 9.9 (63)  | Skilled Stadium | 19,202  | Saturday, 16 August
Kangaroos | 14.12 (96)  | Hawthorn | 16.14 (110) | Telstra Dome | 29,234  | Saturday, 16 August
Port Adelaide | 17.10 (112) | Melbourne | 15.8 (98)  | AAMI Stadium | 28,032  | Saturday, 16 August
Brisbane Lions | 10.16 (76)  | Sydney | 14.6 (90) | The Gabba | 32,988  | Sunday, 17 August
Fremantle | 18.25 (133) | Western Bulldogs | 12.5 (77)  | Subiaco Oval | 35,518  | Sunday, 17 August
Essendon | 13.14 (92) | Richmond | 7.11 (53)  | MCG | 40,846  | Sunday, 17 August

### Round 21

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

|
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|
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Hawthorn | 20.18 (138) | Carlton | 10.4 (64)  | MCG | 30,406  | Friday, 22 August
Adelaide | 10.4 (64)  | Kangaroos | 9.20 (74) | AAMI Stadium | 42,259  | Saturday, 23 August
Essendon | 20.13 (133) | Fremantle | 11.7 (73)  | Telstra Dome | 42,256  | Saturday, 23 August
Brisbane Lions | 19.9 (123) | Geelong | 13.8 (86)  | The Gabba | 30,515  | Saturday, 23 August
Sydney | 12.9 (81)  | Collingwood | 14.15 (99) | Telstra Stadium | 72,393  | Saturday, 23 August
St Kilda | 13.17 (95) | Western Bulldogs | 3.12 (30)  | York Park | 15,637  | Sunday, 24 August
West Coast | 21.17 (143) | Melbourne | 14.7 (91)  | Subiaco Oval | 38,029  | Sunday, 24 August
Richmond | 16.8 (104)  | Port Adelaide | 18.16 (124) | Telstra Dome | 15,920  | Sunday, 24 August

The Sydney vs. Collingwood game is notable as it is the highest attended Australian rules football match ever played outside of Victoria.

### Round 22

[edit]

Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date

|
|
|
|
|
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Collingwood | 12.11 (83) | Essendon | 9.13 (67)  | MCG | 68,381  | Friday, 29 August
Geelong | 12.12 (84) | St Kilda | 9.11 (65)  | Skilled Stadium | 20,728  | Saturday, 30 August
Melbourne | 9.6 (60)  | Sydney | 14.10 (94) | MCG | 22,969  | Saturday, 30 August
West Coast | 11.16 (82)  | Fremantle | 14.12 (96) | Subiaco Oval | 43,027  | Saturday, 30 August
Western Bulldogs | 13.8 (86)  | Brisbane Lions | 26.14 (170) | Telstra Dome | 22,361  | Saturday, 30 August
Port Adelaide | 14.10 (94) | Adelaide | 12.6 (78)  | AAMI Stadium | 48,131  | Sunday, 31 August
Carlton | 9.9 (63)  | Kangaroos | 28.19 (187) | Telstra Dome | 26,138  | Sunday, 31 August
Richmond | 11.8 (74)  | Hawthorn | 11.12 (78) | MCG | 31,389  | Sunday, 31 August

## Ladder

[edit]

2003 AFL ladder  Pos | Team  | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |

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1  | Port Adelaide | 22  | 18  | 4  | 0  | 2229  | 1752  | 127.2  | 72  | Finals series
2  | Collingwood | 22  | 15  | 7  | 0  | 2259  | 1858  | 121.6  | 60
3  | Brisbane Lions (P) | 22  | 14  | 7  | 1  | 2295  | 1882  | 121.9  | 58
4  | Sydney | 22  | 14  | 8  | 0  | 2142  | 1862  | 115.0  | 56
5  | Fremantle | 22  | 14  | 8  | 0  | 2143  | 2078  | 103.1  | 56
6  | Adelaide | 22  | 13  | 9  | 0  | 2114  | 1754  | 120.5  | 52
7  | West Coast | 22  | 12  | 8  | 2  | 2326  | 1982  | 117.4  | 52
8  | Essendon | 22  | 13  | 9  | 0  | 2190  | 1960  | 111.7  | 52
9  | Hawthorn | 22  | 12  | 10  | 0  | 2011  | 1999  | 100.6  | 48  |
10  | Kangaroos | 22  | 11  | 10  | 1  | 2185  | 2223  | 98.3  | 46
11  | St Kilda | 22  | 11  | 11  | 0  | 2095  | 2187  | 95.8  | 44
12  | Geelong | 22  | 7  | 14  | 1  | 1819  | 2025  | 89.8  | 30
13  | Richmond | 22  | 7  | 15  | 0  | 1846  | 2078  | 88.8  | 28
14  | Melbourne | 22  | 5  | 17  | 0  | 1899  | 2344  | 81.0  | 20
15  | Carlton | 22  | 4  | 18  | 0  | 1784  | 2674  | 66.7  | 16
16  | Western Bulldogs | 22  | 3  | 18  | 1  | 2014  | 2693  | 74.8  | 14

Source: AFL ladder
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

This marks the first time that Fremantle played a finals match and the first, and only time to date that all non-Victorian teams played in a finals series.

### Ladder progression

[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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Port Adelaide| 0| 0| 4| 8| 12| 16| 16| 20| 24| 28| 32| 36| 40| 40| 44| 48| 52| 56| 60| 64| 68| 72
Collingwood| 4| 8| 12| 12| 12| 12| 16| 16| 20| 24| 24| 24| 28| 32| 36| 40| 44| 48| 48| 52| 56| 60
Brisbane Lions| 4| 8| 10| 14| 18| 22| 22| 26| 30| 34| 34| 34| 38| 38| 42| 42| 42| 46| 50| 50| 54| 58
Sydney| 4| 4| 4| 4| 8| 12| 16| 20| 20| 24| 28| 32| 32| 36| 40| 44| 48| 48| 48| 52| 52| 56
Fremantle| 0| 4| 4| 8| 8| 12| 16| 20| 24| 28| 28| 32| 32| 36| 36| 40| 40| 44| 48| 52| 52| 56
Adelaide| 4| 4| 8| 12| 12| 16| 16| 16| 20| 24| 24| 28| 32| 36| 40| 40| 44| 48| 52| 52| 52| 52
West Coast| 4| 4| 8| 8| 12| 16| 20| 24| 28| 28| 30| 34| 38| 38| 42| 42| 46| 46| 46| 48| 52| 52
Essendon| 0| 4| 4| 8| 12| 12| 12| 16| 16| 20| 20| 20| 24| 28| 28| 32| 36| 40| 44| 48| 52| 52
Hawthorn| 0| 4| 4| 8| 8| 12| 12| 12| 12| 12| 16| 20| 24| 28| 28| 32| 32| 32| 36| 40| 44| 48
North Melbourne| 4| 8| 10| 10| 10| 10| 14| 14| 18| 22| 26| 30| 30| 34| 34| 34| 38| 38| 38| 38| 42| 46
St Kilda| 0| 4| 4| 4| 8| 12| 16| 16| 16| 20| 24| 24| 24| 24| 24| 28| 28| 32| 36| 40| 44| 44
Geelong| 0| 0| 0| 4| 4| 4| 4| 4| 8| 8| 12| 12| 12| 16| 20| 20| 20| 20| 24| 26| 26| 30
Richmond| 0| 4| 8| 12| 16| 16| 20| 24| 24| 24| 24| 24| 24| 24| 24| 24| 28| 28| 28| 28| 28| 28
Melbourne| 4| 4| 8| 8| 8| 8| 12| 12| 12| 12| 12| 12| 16| 20| 20| 20| 20| 20| 20| 20| 20| 20
Carlton| 0| 0| 4| 4| 8| 8| 8| 12| 12| 12| 12| 16| 16| 16| 16| 16| 16| 16| 16| 16| 16| 16
Western Bulldogs| 4| 4| 4| 4| 4| 4| 4| 4| 4| 4| 6| 6| 6| 6| 6| 10| 10| 14| 14| 14| 14| 14

Source: [citation needed]

## Finals series

[edit]

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Qualifying and elimination finals| | | Semi-finals| | | | Preliminary finals| | | Grand final
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| 7 Sep, AAMI Stadium
| 1| Port Adelaide| 13.10 (88)|
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| 4| Sydney| 15.10 (100)| | | 13 Sep, AAMI Stadium| | |
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| | Port Adelaide| 12.11 (83)
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| 5 Sep, Subiaco Oval| | | Essendon| 6.8 (44)| | | | 20 Sep, Telstra Stadium
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| 5| Fremantle| 8.9 (57)| | Sydney| 8.8 (56)
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| 8| Essendon| 15.11 (101)| | | | | | Brisbane Lions| 14.16 (100)| | | 27 Sep, MCG
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| | | Brisbane Lions| 20.14 (134)
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| 6 Sep, AAMI Stadium| 20 Sep, MCG| | | Collingwood| 12.12 (84)
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| 6| Adelaide| 16.17 (113)| Collingwood| 17.10 (112)|
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| 7| West Coast| 8.9 (57)| | | 12 Sep, The Gabba| | | | Port Adelaide| 9.14 (68)| |
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| | Brisbane Lions| 18.16 (124)|
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| 6 Sep, MCG| | | Adelaide| 12.10 (82)| | |
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| 2| Collingwood| 9.12 (66)|
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| 3| Brisbane Lions| 7.9 (51)| | | | | |
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### Week one

[edit]

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| Qualifying Finals  |  |
7 September (2:30 pm)  | Port Adelaide 13.10 (88)  | def. by  | Sydney 15.10 (100)  | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 33,968)  |
6 September (7:30 pm)  | Collingwood 9.12 (66)  | def.  | Brisbane Lions 7.9 (51)  | MCG (crowd: 66,092)  |
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| Elimination Finals  |  |
5 September (6:40 pm)  | Fremantle 8.9 (57)  | def. by  | Essendon 15.11 (101)  | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 42,770)  |
6 September (2:30 pm)  | Adelaide 16.17 (113)  | def.  | West Coast 8.9 (57)  | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 38,641)  |

* Fremantle played in its first ever final, losing to Essendon by 44 points.

### Week two

[edit]

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| Semi-finals  |  |
12 September (7:30 pm)  | Brisbane Lions 18.16 (124)  | def.  | Adelaide 12.10 (82)  | The Gabba (crowd: 32,432)  |
13 September (7:30 pm)  | Port Adelaide 12.11 (83)  | def.  | Essendon 6.8 (44)  | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 36,557)  |

* No game was played at the MCG this week, despite the agreement then in place with the Melbourne Cricket Club that at least one game each week of the finals be played at the MCG. Neither match was considered a viable option to be moved, as one match featured two non-Victorian teams (Brisbane and Adelaide), and the other match featured a first-placed non-Victorian side (Port Adelaide) versus an eighth-placed Victorian side (Essendon).

### Week three

[edit]

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| Preliminary Finals  |  |
20 September (2:30 pm)  | Collingwood 17.10 (112)  | def.  | Port Adelaide 9.14 (68)  | MCG (crowd: 77,405)  |
20 September (7:30 pm)  | Sydney 8.8 (56)  | def. by  | Brisbane Lions 14.16 (100)  | Telstra Stadium (crowd: 71,019)  |

* The attendance of 71,019 for the final between Sydney and Brisbane is the largest attendance ever for an AFL game not featuring a Victorian team played outside Victoria.
* As of 2023, this remains the last time two finals matches were played on the same day after the first week.

### Week four

[edit]

Main article: 2003 AFL Grand Final

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| Grand Final  |  |
27 September (2:40 pm)  | Brisbane Lions 20.14 (134)  | def.  | Collingwood 12.12 (84)  | MCG (crowd: 79,451)  | Report

* The Brisbane Lions victory was the clubs third successive premiership and were the fourth team to achieve three or more premierships in a row.

## Match attendance

[edit]

Total match attendance for all games was 5,872,352 people. Attendance at the grand final was 79,451 people. The largest non-finals attendance was 72,393 people for the Sydney vs Collingwood game in round 21.

## Awards

[edit]

* The Brownlow Medal was awarded to Mark Ricciuto of Adelaide, Nathan Buckley of Collingwood, and Adam Goodes of Sydney.
* The Leigh Matthews Trophy was awarded to Michael Voss of the Brisbane Lions.
* The Coleman Medal was awarded to Matthew Lloyd of Essendon.
* The Norm Smith Medal was awarded to Simon Black of the Brisbane Lions.
* The AFL Rising Star award was awarded to Sam Mitchell of Hawthorn.
* The Wooden Spoon was "awarded" to the Western Bulldogs for coming last.

## Notable events

[edit]

* Western Bulldogs captain Chris Grant suffered a season-ending knee injury in his side's round one win over Geelong. His absence in the team was severely felt as the Bulldogs ended up finishing last on the AFL ladder.[1][2]

* Essendon Forward Matthew Lloyd would kick 11 goals in his sides 67 point win over the Western Bulldogs to surpass Simon Madden as the recorder holder for most goals kicked by an Essendon player in the club's history.

## External links

[edit]

* 2003 Season – AFL Tables

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Whiting, Michael (11 April 2016). "Dogs can learn from history on Murphy injury". Australian Football League. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
2. ^ Pierik, Jon (11 April 2016). "AFL 2016: 'I felt the pop,' says Bob Murphy". Redland City Bulletin. Retrieved 22 June 2020.

* v
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Australian Football League

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|

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Venues|

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Second-tier and
junior competitions|

| Current|

* AFL National Championships
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|

Former|

* AFL reserves
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Related articles|

* AFL Coaches Association
* AFL Commission
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* AFL Record
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Known as the Victorian Football League from 1897–1989; no grand finals were held in 1897 and 1924
*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[L]: Lost
*[D]: Drawn
*[PF]: Points for
*[PA]: Points against
*[PP]: Point percentage
*[Pts]: Points
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template