The 1997 AFL season was the 101st season of the

Australian Football League The Australian Football League (AFL) is the pre-eminent professional sports, professional competition of Australian rules football. It was originally named the Victorian Football League (VFL) and was founded in 1896 as a breakaway competition ...

(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 Australian rules football playing field, oval field, often a modified ...

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 it is nicknamed the ...

(

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 sports governing body, governing body for the sport. ...

) was admitted to the league, increasing the South Australian membership to two clubs. Foundation club Fitzroy, which had gone into

administration Administration may refer to: Management of organizations * Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal: the process of dealing with or controlling things or people. ** Administrative assistant, traditionally known as a se ...

in 1996, merged with the

Brisbane Bears The Brisbane Bears were a professional Australian rules football club based in Brisbane, Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, now known as the Brisbane Lions. Granted a Australian Football League, Victorian Football League (VFL), licence in 1986, ...

to form a new Queensland-based team known as the

Brisbane Lions The Brisbane Lions are a professional Australian rules football in Australia, Australian rules football club based in Brisbane, Queensland, that compete in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's elite competition. Brisbane are the ...

. The

Footscray Football Club The Western Bulldogs are a professional Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Footscray. The club competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's premier competition. Originally named the Footscray F ...

changed its name to the

Western Bulldogs The Western Bulldogs are a professional Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Footscray. The club competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's premier competition. Originally named the Footscray F ...

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

Adelaide Football Club The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed the Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia that was founded in 1990. The Crows have fielded a men's team in the Australian Football League (AFL) since 199 ...

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 AFL Gran ...

Home-and-away 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, , 61,138 , , Friday 4, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 19.14 (128) , , , , 15.10 (100) , , MCG, , 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, South Geelong, Victoria (Australia), Victoria. A number of public and sporting facilities are located in the park: a major Australian Football League, AFL stadium, a seco ...

, , 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, a western suburb of Adelaide, the state capital of South Australia, Australia. It was built in 1973 by the South Australian N ...

, , 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, Western Australia, Subiaco. It was opened in 1908 and closed in 2017 after the completion of the new Perth Stadium in Burswood, ...

, , 19,057 , , Sunday 6, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 12.14 (86) , , , , 8.12 (60) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 35,438 , , Saturday 12, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 19.11 (125) , , , , 17.16 (118) , ,

Waverley Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) is an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. The first venue to be designed and built specifically for Australian Rules football, for most of its history, its pu ...

, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 28,043 , , Friday 18, April , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 12.12 (84) , , , , 15.11 (101) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 37,642 , , Saturday 3, May , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 13.6 (84) , , , , 11.17 (83) , , Victoria Park, , 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) , , MCG, , 54,901 , , Friday 9, May , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 10.16 (76) , , , , 14.14 (98) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 61,014 , , Friday 16, May , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 7.7 (49) , , , , 19.14 (128) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 28,879 , , Saturday 31, May , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 17.12 (114) , , , , 20.16 (136) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 70,350 , , Friday 6, June , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 13.13 (91) , , , , 17.22 (124) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , Victoria Park, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 45,120 , , Friday 11, July , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 18.11 (119) , , , , 15.10 (100) , , MCG, , 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) , , Victoria Park, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 38,614 , , Friday 1, August , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 7.11 (53) , , , , 25.19 (169) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 27,021 , , Friday 8, August , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 14.23 (107) , , , , 13.13 (91) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 32,935 , , Friday 22, August , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , , 10.21 (81) , , , , 6.7 (43) , , MCG, , 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 Mission Whitten Oval under a naming rights agreement) is a stadium in the inner-western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in Barkly Street, Footscray. It is the training and administrative headquart ...

, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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) , , MCG, , 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

, - style=background:#FFFFBB , 1 , , align=left , , , 22 , , 15 , , 7 , , 0 , , 2294 , , 1918 , , 119.6 , , 60 , - style=background:#FFFFBB , 2 , , align=left , , , 22 , , 15 , , 7 , , 0 , , 2111 , , 1791 , , 117.9 , , 60 , - style=background:#FFFFBB , 3 , , align=left , , , 22 , , 14 , , 8 , , 0 , , 2100 , , 2062 , , 101.8 , , 56 , - style=background:#FFFFBB , 4 , , align=left , (P) , , 22 , , 13 , , 9 , , 0 , , 2151 , , 1769 , , 121.6 , , 52 , - style=background:#FFFFBB , 5 , , align=left , , , 22 , , 13 , , 9 , , 0 , , 1969 , , 1770 , , 111.2 , , 52 , - style=background:#FFFFBB , 6 , , align=left , , , 22 , , 12 , , 10 , , 0 , , 2093 , , 1801 , , 116.2 , , 48 , - style=background:#FFFFBB , 7 , , align=left , , , 22 , , 12 , , 10 , , 0 , , 2051 , , 1835 , , 111.8 , , 48 , - style=background:#FFFFBB , 8 , , align=left , , , 22 , , 10 , , 11 , , 1 , , 2076 , , 1973 , , 105.2 , , 42 , - , 9 , , align=left , , , 22 , , 10 , , 11 , , 1 , , 1852 , , 2017 , , 91.8 , , 42 , - , 10 , , align=left , , , 22 , , 10 , , 12 , , 0 , , 2138 , , 1919 , , 111.4 , , 40 , - , 11 , , align=left , , , 22 , , 10 , , 12 , , 0 , , 1978 , , 2045 , , 96.7 , , 40 , - , 12 , , align=left , , , 22 , , 10 , , 12 , , 0 , , 1748 , , 1902 , , 91.9 , , 40 , - , 13 , , align=left , , , 22 , , 10 , , 12 , , 0 , , 1883 , , 2253 , , 83.6 , , 40 , - , 14 , , align=left , , , 22 , , 9 , , 13 , , 0 , , 2004 , , 2170 , , 92.4 , , 36 , - , 15 , , align=left , , , 22 , , 8 , , 14 , , 0 , , 1873 , , 2144 , , 87.4 , , 32 , - , 16 , , align=left , , , 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
/onlyinclude>

Progression by round

Finals series

Week one

Week two

Week three

Week four

Attendance

Notable events

*The last AFL regular season game at

was played in Round 21, with hosts the defeating by 18 points. * finished on top of the ladder (prior to the finals) to claim the

minor premiership A minor premiership is the title given to the team which finishes a sporting competition first in the league standings after the regular season but prior to commencement of the finals in several Australian sports leagues. Origins The etymolo ...

, 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, ...

and reach their first grand final since

1971 * The year 1971 had three partial solar eclipses (Solar eclipse of February 25, 1971, February 25, Solar eclipse of July 22, 1971, July 22 and Solar eclipse of August 20, 1971, August 20) and two total lunar eclipses (February 1971 lunar eclip ...

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

Seven Network Seven Network (stylised 7Network, and commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is an Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, ...

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. *

Gary Ablett Sr. Gary Robert Ablett Sr. (born 1 October 1961) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who represented and in the Australian Football League (AFL). Nicknamed "God", Ablett is widely regarded as one of Australian football's greatest ...

, 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

Sources

1997 AFL season
at AFL Tables
1997 AFL season
at Australian Football {{DEFAULTSORT:1997 AFL season 1997 Australian Football League season Australian Football League seasons AFL season