1996 AFL season


The 1996 Australian Football League season was the 100th season of the elite Australian rules football competition and the 7th under the name 'Australian Football League', having switched from 'Victorian Football League' after 1989.
See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.

AFL Draft

See 1996 AFL Draft.

Lightning Premiership

In the 1996 AFL Lightning Premiership final, defeated the 6.2 to 2.9 at Waverley Park.

Ansett Australia Cup

In the 1996 Ansett Australia Cup final, defeated 20.10 to 10.12 at Waverley Park.

Premiership Season

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Note: The opening four matches of this round replicated the opening round of the inaugural 1897 VFL season, with Essendon and Geelong playing each other on the day of the 99th anniversary.

Round 8

Note: Ben Hart took the mark of the year in Adelaide's win over St Kilda.

Note: Fitzroy's victory was the last win they had as a club.

Round 9

Round 10

Round 11

Round 12

Round 13

Round 14

Round 15

Round 16

Round 17

Round 18

Round 19

Round 20

Round 21

Round 22

Note: Last game of Fitzroy Lions before merger with Brisbane Bears to become Brisbane Lions.

Ladder

Ladder progression

Finals

Qualifying Finals

Note: The SCG match was the Swans’ first finals win since the 1945 Second-Semi-Final, when they were known as South Melbourne. This is the longest period for any club in VFL/AFL history without winning even one final, although St. Kilda won only one final between 1914 and 1964 inclusive.

Semi Finals

Note: West Coast Eagles played its “home” final at the MCG despite being ranked above Essendon due to 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.

Preliminary Finals

Note: Last game of Brisbane Bears before merger with Fitzroy Lions to become Brisbane Lions.
Note: Tony Lockett kicked a behind after the siren to send the Swans to the Grand Final for the first time since South Melbourne’s last appearance in 1945.
Note: Essendon became the first team in VFL/AFL history to lose two finals in the same season by one point.

Grand Final

Attendance

TeamHostedAverageHighestLowestTotal
Essendon1149,52687,54915,794544,789
Collingwood1144,72371,66321,126491,953
Adelaide1139,42845,26631,880433,713
Richmond1138,62461,74017,157424,859
Carlton1135,89170,15215,277394,802
North Melbourne1134,62768,53715,453380,899
West Coast1132,44840,08522,044356,932
Melbourne1130,31563,1968747333,465
St Kilda1127,13743,92513,824298,512
Geelong1125,16150,07417,538276,775
Sydney1124,57444,04710,965270,309
Hawthorn1123,62438,26314,286259,868
Fremantle1122,47333,04117,513247,204
Brisbane1118,08821,64414,222198,968
Footscray1118,07336,7667677198,800
Fitzroy11948213,4975083104,300
Totals17629,63787,54950835,216,148

VenueHostedAverageHighestLowestTotal
MCG5146,11487,54915,4942351,808
Football Park1139,42845,26631,880433,713
Subiaco Oval1628,28940,08517,513452,616
Waverley Park2425,54543,92513,824613,079
WACA625,25331,41119,360151,520
SCG1124,57444,04710,965270,309
Victoria Park423,58126,45921,12694,322
Kardinia Park1022,67027,65917,538226,701
Gabba1118,08821,64414,222198,968
Optus Oval1715,64121,6746469265,892
Whitten Oval1510,48216,8045083157,224
Totals17629,63787,54950835,216,148

Awards