The 1997 AFL season was the 101st season of the

Australian Football League The Australian Football League (AFL) is the only fully professional competition of Australian rules football. Through the AFL Commission, the AFL also serves as the sport's governing body and is responsible for controlling the laws of the gam ...

(AFL), the highest level senior

Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...

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 Port Adelaide Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, Alberton, South Australia. The club's senior men's team plays in the Australian Football League (AFL), where they are nicknamed ...

(

SANFL The South Australian National Football League, or SANFL ( or ''S-A-N-F-L''), is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the state's governing body for the sport. Originally formed as the ...

) was admitted to the league, increasing the South Australian membership to two clubs. Foundation club

Fitzroy Fitzroy or FitzRoy may refer to: People As a given name *Several members of the Somerset family (Dukes of Beaufort) have this as a middle-name: **FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788–1855) ** Henry Charles FitzRoy Somerset, 8th Duke of Beau ...

, which had gone into

administration Administration may refer to: Management of organizations * Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal ** Administrative assistant, Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an admini ...

in 1996, merged with the

Brisbane Bears The Brisbane Football Club, nicknamed the Bears, was a professional Australian rules football club based in Queensland on the Gold Coast (relocated to Brisbane in 1993). The club participated in the Victorian/Australian Football League (VFL/A ...

to form a new Queensland-based club known as the

Brisbane Lions The Brisbane Lions is a professional Australian rules football club based in Brisbane, Queensland, that plays in the Australian Football League (AFL). The club was formed in late 1996 via a merger of the Melbourne-based 1883 foundation VFL c ...

. The

Footscray Football Club The Western Bulldogs are a professional Australian rules football team that competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's premier competition. Founded in 1877 as the Footscray Football Club, and based in West Footscray in the ...

changed its name to the

Western Bulldogs The Western Bulldogs are a professional Australian rules football team that competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's premier competition. Founded in 1877 as the Footscray Football Club, and based in West Footscray in the o ...

. With these changes, the league's size remained at sixteen clubs. The premiership was won by the

Adelaide Football Club The Adelaide Crows (officially the Adelaide Football Club) are a professional Australian rules football team based in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1990. The Crows has fielded a men's team in the Australian Football League (AFL) since ...

for the first time, after it defeated by 31 points in the

1997 AFL Grand Final The 1997 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Adelaide Football Club and the St Kilda Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 27 September 1997. It was the 101st annual gran ...

Premiership season

Round 1

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 The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...

, , 61,138 , , Friday 4, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 19.14 (128) , , , , 15.10 (100) , ,

, , 32,880 , , Saturday 5, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 11.12 (78) , , , , 11.6 (72) , ,

Kardinia Park Kardinia Park is a major public park located in South Geelong, Victoria. A number of public and sporting facilities are located in the park: a major AFL stadium, a secondary football oval, a cricket field, an open air swimming pool, a number of ...

, , 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 Football Park, known commercially as AAMI Stadium, was an Australian rules football stadium located in West Lakes, South Australia, West Lakes, a western suburb of Adelaide, the state capital of South Australia, Australia. It was built in 197 ...

, , 32,747 , , Sunday 6, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 13.9 (87) , , , , 10.13 (73) , ,

Subiaco Oval Subiaco Oval (; nicknamed Subi) was a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia, located in the suburb of Subiaco. It was opened in 1908 and closed in 2017 after the completion of the new Perth Stadium in Burswood. Subiaco Oval was the high ...

, , 19,057 , , Sunday 6, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 12.14 (86) , , , , 8.12 (60) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 35,438 , , Saturday 12, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 19.11 (125) , , , , 17.16 (118) , ,

Waverley Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football ...

, , 54,699 , , Saturday 12, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 18.21 (129) , , , , 14.6 (90) , ,

, , 32,074 , , Saturday 12, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 18.14 (122) , , , , 12.8 (80) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 27,947 , , Sunday 13, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 16.15 (111) , , , , 9.17 (71) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 28,043 , , Friday 18, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 12.12 (84) , , , , 15.11 (101) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 38,222 , , Saturday 19, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 12.9 (81) , , , , 18.19 (127) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 47,256 , , Sunday 20, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 11.19 (85) , , , , 11.12 (78) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 83,271 , , Friday 25, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 16.11 (107) , , , , 15.11 (101) , ,

, , 23,504 , , Friday 25, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 12.6 (78) , , , , 19.12 (126) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 37,576 , , Saturday 26, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 10.13 (73) , , , , 10.11 (71) , ,

, , 31,757 , , Sunday 27, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 21.15 (141) , , , , 7.4 (46) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 37,642 , , Saturday 3, May , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 13.6 (84) , , , , 11.17 (83) , ,

Victoria Park Victoria Park may refer to: Places Australia * Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a protected area in Northern Rivers region, New South Wales * Victoria Park, Adelaide, a park and racecourse * Victoria Park, Brisbane, a public park and former golf ...

, , 24,663 , , Saturday 3, May , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 14.13 (97) , , , , 6.7 (43) , ,

, , 16,467 , , Saturday 3, May , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 14.9 (93) , , , , 16.7 (103) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 21,104 , , Sunday 4, May , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 19.8 (122) , , , , 8.10 (58) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 54,901 , , Friday 9, May , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 10.16 (76) , , , , 14.14 (98) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 61,014 , , Friday 16, May , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 7.7 (49) , , , , 19.14 (128) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 40,147 , , Saturday 17, May , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 14.16 (100) , , , , 18.16 (124) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 14,721 , , Sunday 18, May , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 18.11 (119) , , , , 9.13 (67) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 38,984 , , Sunday 25, May , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 16.7 (103) , , , , 10.11 (71) , ,

, , 29,307 , , Sunday 25, May , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 22.9 (141) , , , , 14.10 (94) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 51,494 , , Saturday 31, May , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 16.11 (107) , , , , 11.13 (79) , ,

, , 22,731 , , Saturday 31, May , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 9.13 (67) , , , , 14.8 (92) , ,

, , 28,879 , , Saturday 31, May , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 17.12 (114) , , , , 20.16 (136) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 70,350 , , Friday 6, June , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 13.13 (91) , , , , 17.22 (124) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 35,669 , , Saturday 7, June , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 5.15 (45) , , , , 14.13 (97) , ,

, , 27,463 , , Sunday 8, June , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 11.7 (73) , , , , 13.11 (89) , ,

, , 29,390 , , Sunday 8, June , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 15.15 (105) , , , , 12.7 (79) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 25,323 , , Saturday 14, June , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 12.10 (82) , , , , 13.10 (88) , ,

, , 22,871 , , Saturday 14, June , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 16.20 (116) , , , , 12.13 (85) , ,

, , 44,883 , , Sunday 15, June , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 12.11 (83) , , , , 16.9 (105) , ,

, , 43,345 , , Sunday 15, June , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 7.8 (50) , , , , 21.9 (135) , ,

, , 13,392 , , Sunday 15, June , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 24.13 (157) , , , , 9.6 (60) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 37,854 , , Friday 27, June , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 4.10 (34) , , , , 19.13 (127) , ,

, , 58,812 , , Saturday 28, June , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 11.18 (84) , , , , 15.11 (101) , ,

, , 32,370 , , Saturday 28, June , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 17.8 (110) , , , , 7.12 (54) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 30,827 , , Saturday 28, June , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 17.16 (118) , , , , 7.13 (55) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 39,221 , , Friday 4, July , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 9.26 (80) , , , , 10.12 (72) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 44,803 , , Sunday 6, July , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 18.16 (124) , , , , 13.14 (92) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 45,120 , , Friday 11, July , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 18.11 (119) , , , , 15.10 (100) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 23,433 , , Saturday 12, July , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 10.16 (76) , , , , 9.12 (66) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 29,723 , , Sunday 13, July , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 22.13 (145) , , , , 10.9 (69) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 58,512 , , Saturday 19, July , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 9.8 (62) , , , , 20.21 (141) , ,

, , 43,181 , , Saturday 19, July , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 16.14 (110) , , , , 12.6 (78) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 37,790 , , Saturday 19, July , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 7.16 (58) , , , , 17.12 (114) , ,

, , 23,309 , , Sunday 20, July , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 15.7 (97) , , , , 13.13 (91) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 36,297 , , Saturday 26, July , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 12.20 (92) , , , , 5.14 (44) , ,

, , 34,859 , , Sunday 27, July , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 20.14 (134) , , , , 12.10 (82) , ,

, , 37,779 , , Sunday 27, July , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 20.9 (129) , , , , 12.10 (82) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 38,614 , , Friday 1, August , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 7.11 (53) , , , , 25.19 (169) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 42,548 , , Sunday 3, August , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 12.17 (89) , , , , 15.21 (111) , ,

, , 68,036 , , Sunday 3, August , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 7.7 (49) , , , , 13.4 (82) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 27,021 , , Friday 8, August , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 14.23 (107) , , , , 13.13 (91) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 53,901 , , Sunday 10, August , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 9.4 (58) , , , , 9.11 (65) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 50,944 , , Saturday 16, August , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 12.5 (77) , , , , 9.10 (64) , ,

, , 26,201 , , Saturday 16, August , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 13.17 (95) , , , , 9.13 (67) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 29,620 , , Sunday 17, August , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 7.18 (60) , , , , 16.7 (103) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 32,935 , , Friday 22, August , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 10.21 (81) , , , , 6.7 (43) , ,

, , 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 Whitten Oval (also known as Victoria University Whitten Oval under a naming rights agreement) is a stadium in the inner-western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in Barkly Street, West Footscray. It is the training and administra ...

, , 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) , ,

, , 22,516 , , Sunday 24, August , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 9.14 (68) , , , , 14.16 (100) , ,

, , 28,751 , , Sunday 24, August , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 6.12 (48) , , , , 5.9 (39) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 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) , ,

, , 38,589 , , Sunday 31, August

Ladder

Ladder progression

Finals series

Week one

Week two

Week three

Week four

Attendance

Notable events

*The last AFL game at

was played. * 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. would also play in their first preliminary final since

1972 Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, me ...

and reach their first grand final since

1971 * The year 1971 had three partial solar eclipses ( February 25, July 22 and August 20) and two total lunar eclipses (February 10, and August 6). The world population increased by 2.1% this year, the highest increase in history. Events Ja ...

. *The first qualifying final between and was rescheduled from Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon to allow the

Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...

to screen the funeral of Princess Diana live across Australia. This meant that it was played at the same time as the fourth qualifying final between minor premiers and the

, 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. *A finals abnormality in the second week saw and host their semi final matches at their home venues, despite both playing against higher ranked opponents. The finals system was reviewed and altered in season 2000, preventing this from occurring again in week 2. * 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.