premierships 1897 - 2023

premiership flag

The premiers are awarded a large pennant which is unfurled at their first home game of the following season.

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The current flag is blue with the AFL logo, the word "premiers" and the year of the premiership.

Although the cup features much more prominently in celebrations immediately following the grand final, the flag has far greater symbolic significance.

trophies

The winner of the grand final is presented with the Cup and is recorded on the perpetual E. L. Wilson Shield, which resides at AFL House.

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The cup was first introduced in 1959 by the VFL, and the AFL has since retrospectively awarded all prior premiership winners trophies based on the current design.

The current premiership cup is silver, manufactured by Cash's International at their metalworks in Frankston, Victoria.
A gold cup was awarded in 1996 in recognition of the AFL/VFL's 100th season.

prize money

The current cash prize for the winning club is A$1 million.
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However the amount is probably not reflective of the magnitude of participating in the event. It is often assumed simply that the winner of the premiership typically experiences an increase in revenue through increases in membership and merchandise sales.

Before 2006, a cash prize to the winning club of A$200,000 was awarded.
In contrast, the winner of the NAB Cup, the far less important pre-season competition which was held from 1998 to 2013, was awarded a similar amount, A$210,000.

how the premiership is won

Grand Final

Premiership decided by a conventional Grand Final, in which neither team had any right to challenge.

Has been played every year, except for 1897 and 1924.

Grand Final Replay

Premiership decided by a Grand Final Replay after the scheduled Grand Final was drawn.

Has been played in 1948, 1977, and 2010.

Challenge Final

Premiership decided by a Challenge Final under the Argus finals system.

No Challenge Final

Premiership decided without a Challenge Final being required under the Argus finals system.

Had the other team won the match a rematch would have been played the following weekend.

-
season venue premiers runners-up
season venue premiers runners-up

1897

1

Premiership decided without a Grand Final

a

Essendon

image

no grand final

Geelong

image

no grand final

1898

24 September

016538

Junction Oval

Crowd: 16 538

h

Fitzroy

image

38

5.8		 a

Essendon

image

23

3.5

1899

16 September

004823

Junction Oval

Crowd: 4 823

Fitzroy

image

27

3.9

South Melbourne

image

26

3.8

1900

22 September

020181

E.M.C.G.

Crowd: 20 181

Melbourne

image

34

4.1

Fitzroy

image

30

3.12

1901

7 September

030031

Lake Oval

Crowd: 30 031

Essendon

image

43

6.7

Collingwood

image

16

2.4

1902

20 September

035202

M.C.G.

Crowd: 35 202

Collingwood

image

60

9.6

Essendon

image

27

3.9

1903

12 September

032263

M.C.G.

Crowd: 32 263

Collingwood

image

31

4.7

Fitzroy

image

29

3.11

1904

17 September

032688

M.C.G.

Crowd: 32 688

Fitzroy

image

61

9.7

Collingwood

image

37

5.7

1905

30 September

030000

M.C.G.

Crowd: 30 000

Fitzroy

image

30

4.6

Collingwood

image

17

2.5

1906

22 September

044437

M.C.G.

Crowd: 44 437

Carlton

image

94

15.4

Fitzroy

image

45

6.9

1907

21 September

045477

M.C.G.

Crowd: 45 477

Carlton

image

50

6.14

South Melbourne

image

45

6.9

1908

26 September

050261

M.C.G.

Crowd: 50 261

Carlton

image

35

5.5

Essendon

image

26

3.8

1909

2 October

037759

M.C.G.

Crowd: 37 759

South Melbourne

image

38

4.14

Carlton

image

36

4.12

1910

1 October

042790

M.C.G.

Crowd: 42 790

Collingwood

image

61

9.7

Carlton

image

47

6.11

1911

23 September

043905

M.C.G.

Crowd: 43 905

Essendon

image

41

5.11

Collingwood

image

35

4.11

1912

28 September

054434

M.C.G.

Crowd: 54 434

Essendon

image

47

5.17

South Melbourne

image

33

4.9

1913

27 September

059556

M.C.G.

Crowd: 59 556

Fitzroy

image

56

7.14

St Kilda

image

43

5.13

1914

26 September

030495

M.C.G.

Crowd: 30 495

Carlton

image

45

6.9

South Melbourne

image

39

4.15

1915

18 September

039343

M.C.G.

Crowd: 39 343

Carlton

image

78

11.12

Collingwood

image

45

6.9

1916

2 September

021130

M.C.G.

Crowd: 21 130

Fitzroy

image

85

12.13

Carlton

image

56

8.8

1917

22 September

025512

M.C.G.

Crowd: 25 512

Collingwood

image

74

9.20

Fitzroy

image

39

5.9

1918

7 September

039262

M.C.G.

Crowd: 39 262

South Melbourne

image

62

9.8

Collingwood

image

57

7.15

1919

11 October

045413

M.C.G.

Crowd: 45 413

Collingwood

image

78

11.12

Richmond

image

53

7.11

1920

2 October

053908

M.C.G.

Crowd: 53 908

Richmond

image

52

7.10

Collingwood

image

35

5.5

1921

15 October

043122

M.C.G.

Crowd: 43 122

Richmond

image

36

5.6

Carlton

image

32

4.8

1922

14 October

050054

M.C.G.

Crowd: 50 054

Fitzroy

image

79

11.13

Collingwood

image

68

9.14

1923

20 October

046566

M.C.G.

Crowd: 46 566

Essendon

image

63

8.15

Fitzroy

image

46

6.10

1924

1

Premiership decided without a Grand Final

Essendon

image

no grand final

Richmond

image

no grand final

1925

10 October

064288

M.C.G.

Crowd: 64 288

Geelong

image

79

10.19

Collingwood

image

69

9.15

1926

9 October

059632

M.C.G.

Crowd: 59 632

Melbourne

image

119

17.17

Collingwood

image

62

9.8

1927

1 October

034551

M.C.G.

Crowd: 34 551

Collingwood

image

25

2.13

Richmond

image

13

1.7

1928

29 September

050026

M.C.G.

Crowd: 50 026

Collingwood

image

96

13.18

Richmond

image

63

9.9

1929

28 September

063336

M.C.G.

Crowd: 63 336

Collingwood

image

79

11.13

Richmond

image

50

7.8

1930

11 October

045022

M.C.G.

Crowd: 45 022

Collingwood

image

100

14.16

Geelong

image

70

9.16

1931

10 October

060712

M.C.G.

Crowd: 60 712

Geelong

image

68

9.14

Richmond

image

48

7.6

1932

1 October

069724

M.C.G.

Crowd: 69 724

Richmond

image

92

13.14

Carlton

image

83

12.11

1933

30 September

075754

M.C.G.

Crowd: 75 754

South Melbourne

image

71

9.17

Richmond

image

29

4.5

1934

13 October

065335

M.C.G.

Crowd: 65 335

Richmond

image

128

19.14

South Melbourne

image

89

12.17

1935

5 October

054194

M.C.G.

Crowd: 54 194

Collingwood

image

78

11.12

South Melbourne

image

58

7.16

1936

3 October

074091

M.C.G.

Crowd: 74 091

Collingwood

image

89

11․23

South Melbourne

image

78

10.18

1937

25 September

088540

M.C.G.

Crowd: 88 540

Geelong

image

122

18.14

Collingwood

image

90

12.18

1938

24 September

096486

M.C.G.

Crowd: 96 486

Carlton

image

100

15.10

Collingwood

image

85

13.7

1939

30 September

078110

M.C.G.

Crowd: 78 110

Melbourne

image

148

21.22

Collingwood

image

95

14.11

1940

30 September

070330

M.C.G.

Crowd: 70 330

Melbourne

image

107

15.17

Richmond

image

68

10.8

1941

30 September

079687

M.C.G.

Crowd: 79 687

Melbourne

image

127

19.13

Essendon

image

98

13.20

1942

19 September

049000

Princes Park

Crowd: 49 000

Essendon

image

131

19.18

Richmond

image

79

11.13

1943

25 September

042100

Princes Park

Crowd: 42 100

Richmond

image

86

12.14

Essendon

image

81

11.15

1944

30 September

043000

Junction Oval

Crowd: 43 000

Fitzroy

image

66

9.12

Richmond

image

51

7.9

1945

29 September

062986

Princes Park

Crowd: 62 986

Carlton

image

103

15.13

South Melbourne

image

75

10.15

1946

5 October

073743

M.C.G.

Crowd: 73 743

Essendon

image

150

22.18

Melbourne

image

87

13.9

1947

27 September

085815

M.C.G.

Crowd: 85 815

Carlton

image

86

13.8

Essendon

image

85

11.19

1948

2 October

086198

M.C.G.

Crowd: 86 198

Melbourne

image

69

10.9

Essendon

image

69

7.27

1948

Replay
9 October

052266

M.C.G.

Crowd: 52 266

Melbourne

image

89

13.11

Essendon

image

50

7.8

1949

24 September

090453

M.C.G.

Crowd: 90 453

Essendon

image

125

18.17

Carlton

image

52

6.16

1950

23 September

087601

M.C.G.

Crowd: 87 601

Essendon

image

92

13.14

North Melbourne

image

54

7.12

1951

29 September

084109

M.C.G.

Crowd: 84 109

Geelong

image

81

11.15

Essendon

image

70

10.10

1952

27 September

081304

M.C.G.

Crowd: 81 304

Geelong

image

86

13.8

Collingwood

image

40

5.10

1953

26 September

089060

M.C.G.

Crowd: 89 060

Collingwood

image

77

11.11

Geelong

image

65

8.17

1954

25 September

080897

M.C.G.

Crowd: 80 897

Footscray

image

102

15.12

Melbourne

image

51

7.9

1955

17 September

088053

M.C.G.

Crowd: 88 053

Melbourne

image

64

8.16

Collingwood

image

36

5.6

1956

15 September

115803

M.C.G.

Crowd: 115 803

Melbourne

image

121

17.19

Collingwood

image

48

6.12

1957

21 September

100324

M.C.G.

Crowd: 100 324

Melbourne

image

116

17.14

Essendon

image

55

7.13

1958

20 September

097956

M.C.G.

Crowd: 97 956

Collingwood

image

82

12.10

Melbourne

image

64

9.10

1959

26 September

103506

M.C.G.

Crowd: 103 506

Melbourne

image

115

17.13

Essendon

image

78

11.12

1960

24 September

097457

M.C.G.

Crowd: 97 457

Melbourne

image

62

8.14

Collingwood

image

14

2.2

1961

23 September

107935

M.C.G.

Crowd: 107 935

Hawthorn

image

94

13.16

Footscray

image

51

7.9

1962

29 September

098385

M.C.G.

Crowd: 98 385

Essendon

image

90

13.12

Carlton

image

58

8.10

1963

5 October

101452

M.C.G.

Crowd: 101 452

Geelong

image

109

15.19

Hawthorn

image

60

8.12

1964

19 September

102469

M.C.G.

Crowd: 102 469

Melbourne

image

64

8.16

Collingwood

image

60

8.12

1965

25 September

104846

M.C.G.

Crowd: 104 846

Essendon

image

105

14.21

St Kilda

image

70

9.16

1966

24 September

101655

M.C.G.

Crowd: 101 655

St Kilda

image

74

10.14

Collingwood

image

73

10.13

1967

23 September

109396

M.C.G.

Crowd: 109 396

Richmond

image

114

16.18

Geelong

image

105

15.15

1968

28 September

116828

M.C.G.

Crowd: 116 828

Carlton

image

56

7.14

Essendon

image

53

8.5

1969

27 September

119165

M.C.G.

Crowd: 119 165

Richmond

image

85

12.13

Carlton

image

60

8.12

1970

26 September

121696

M.C.G.

Crowd: 121 696

Carlton

image

111

17.9

Collingwood

image

101

14.17

1971

25 September

118192

M.C.G.

Crowd: 118 192

Hawthorn

image

82

12.10

St Kilda

image

75

11.9

1972

7 October

112393

M.C.G.

Crowd: 112 393

Carlton

image

177

28.9

Richmond

image

150

22.18

1973

29 September

116956

M.C.G.

Crowd: 116 956

Richmond

image

116

16.20

Carlton

image

86

12.14

1974

28 September

113839

M.C.G.

Crowd: 113 839

Richmond

image

128

18.20

North Melbourne

image

87

13.9

1975

27 September

110551

M.C.G.

Crowd: 110 551

North Melbourne

image

122

19.8

Hawthorn

image

67

9.13

1976

25 September

110143

M.C.G.

Crowd: 110 143

Hawthorn

image

100

13.22

North Melbourne

image

70

10.10

1977

24 September

108224

M.C.G.

Crowd: 108 224

North Melbourne

image

76

9.22

Collingwood

image

76

10.16

1977

Replay
1 October

098366

M.C.G.

Crowd: 98 366

North Melbourne

image

151

21.25

Collingwood

image

124

19.10

1978

30 September

101704

M.C.G.

Crowd: 101 704

Hawthorn

image

121

18.13

North Melbourne

image

103

15.13

1979

29 September

M.C.G.

Crowd: 113 545

Carlton

image

82

11.16

Collingwood

image

77

11.11

1980

27 September

M.C.G.

Crowd: 113 461

Richmond

image

159

23.21

Collingwood

image

78

9.24

1981

26 September

M.C.G.

Crowd: 112 964

Carlton

image

92

12.20

Collingwood

image

72

10.12

1982

25 September

M.C.G.

Crowd: 107 537

Carlton

image

103

14.19

Richmond

image

85

12.13

1983

24 September

110332

M.C.G.

Crowd: 110 332

Hawthorn

image

140

20.20

Essendon

image

57

8.9

1984

29 September

092685

M.C.G.

Crowd: 92 685

Essendon

image

105

14.21

Hawthorn

image

81

12.9

1985

28 September

100042

M.C.G.

Crowd: 100 042

Essendon

image

170

26.14

Hawthorn

image

92

14.8

1986

27 September

101861

M.C.G.

Crowd: 101 861

Hawthorn

image

110

16.14

Carlton

image

68

9.14

1987

26 September

092754

M.C.G.

Crowd: 92 754

Carlton

image

104

15.14

Hawthorn

image

71

9.17

1988

24 September

093754

M.C.G.

Crowd: 93 754

Hawthorn

image

152

22.20

Melbourne

image

56

6.20

1989

30 September

094796

M.C.G.

Crowd: 94 796

Hawthorn

image

144

21.18

Geelong

image

138

21.12

1990

6 October

098944

M.C.G.

Crowd: 98 944

Collingwood

image

89

13.11

Essendon

image

41

5.11

1991

28 September

075230

V.F.L. Park

Crowd:75 230

Hawthorn

image

139

20.19

West Coast

image

86

13.8

1992

26 September

095007

M.C.G.

Crowd: 95 007

West Coast

image

113

16.17

Geelong

image

85

12.13

1993

25 September

096862

M.C.G.

Crowd: 96 862

Essendon

image

133

20.13

Carlton

image

89

13.11

1994

1 October

093860

M.C.G.

Crowd: 93 860

West Coast

image

143

20.23

Geelong

image

63

8.15

1995

30 September

093670

M.C.G.

Crowd: 93 670

Carlton

image

141

21.15

Geelong

image

80

11.14

1996

28 September

093102

M.C.G.

Crowd: 93 102

North Melbourne

image

131

19.17

Sydney

image

88

13.10

1997

27 September

099645

M.C.G.

Crowd: 99 645

Adelaide

image

125

19.11

St Kilda

image

94

13.16

1998

26 September

094431

M.C.G.

Crowd: 94 431

Adelaide

image

105

15.15

North Melbourne

image

70

8.22

1999

25 September

094228

M.C.G.

Crowd: 94 228

North Melbourne

image

124

19.10

Carlton

image

89

12.17

2000

2 September

096249

M.C.G.

Crowd: 96 249

Essendon

image

135

19.21

Melbourne

image

75

11.9

2001

29 September

091482

M.C.G.

Crowd: 91 482

Brisbane

image

108

15.18

Essendon

image

82

12.10

2002

28 September

091817

M.C.G.

Crowd: 91 817

Brisbane

image

75

10.15

Collingwood

image

66

9.12

2003

27 September

079451

M.C.G.

Crowd: 79 451

Brisbane

image

134

20.14

Collingwood

image

84

12.12

2004

25 September

077671

M.C.G.

Crowd: 77 671

Port Adelaide

image

113

17.11

Brisbane

image

73

10.13

2005

24 September

091828

M.C.G.

Crowd: 91 828

Sydney

image

58

8.10

West Coast

image

54

7.12

2006

30 September

097431

M.C.G.

Crowd: 97 431

West Coast

image

85

12.13

Sydney

image

84

12.12

2007

29 September

097302

M.C.G.

Crowd: 97 312

Geelong

image

163

24.19

Port Adelaide

image

44

6.8

2008

27 September

100012

M.C.G.

Crowd: 100 012

Hawthorn

image

115

18.7

Geelong

image

89

11.23

2009

26 September

099251

M.C.G.

Crowd: 99 251

Geelong

image

80

12.8

St Kilda

image

68

9.14

2010

25 September

100016

M.C.G.

Crowd: 100 016

Collingwood

image

68

9.14

St Kilda

image

68

10.8

2010

Replay
2 October

093853

M.C.G.

Crowd: 93 853

Collingwood

image

108

16.12

St Kilda

image

52

7.10

2011

1 October

099537

M.C.G.

Crowd: 99 537

Geelong

image

119

18.11

Collingwood

image

81

12.9

2012

29 September

099683

M.C.G.

Crowd: 99 683

Sydney

image

91

14.7

Hawthorn

image

81

11.15

2013

28 September

100007

M.C.G.

Crowd: 100 007

Hawthorn

image

77

11.11

Fremantle

image

62

8.14

2014

27 September

099454

M.C.G.

Crowd: 99 454

Hawthorn

image

137

21.11

Sydney

image

74

11.8

2015

3 October

098633

M.C.G.

Crowd: 98 633

Hawthorn

image

107

16.11

West Coast

image

61

8.13

2016

1 October

099981

M.C.G.

Crowd: 99 981

Western Bulldogs

image

89

13.11

Sydney

image

67

10.7

2017

30 September

0

M.C.G.

Crowd: 100 021

Richmond

image

108

16.12

Adelaide

image

60

8.12

2018

29 September

0

M.C.G.

Crowd: 100 022

West Coast

image

79

11.13

Collingwood

image

73

11.8

2019

28 September

0

M.C.G.

Crowd: 100 014

Richmond

image

114

17.12

Greater Western Sydney

image

25

3.7

2020

24 October

0

The Gabba

Crowd: 30 014

Richmond

image

81

12.19

Geelong

image

50

7.8

2021

25 September

0

Perth Stadium

Crowd: 61 118

Melbourne

image

140

21.14

Western Bulldogs

image

66

10.6

2022

24 September

100024

M.C.G.

Crowd: 100 024

geelong

133

20.13

sydney

52

8.4

2023

30 September

100024

M.C.G.

Crowd: 100 024

collingwood

90

12.18

brisbane

86

13.8