1996 AFL premiership season
Teams16
PremiersNorth Melbourne
3rd premiership
Minor premiersSydney
7th minor premiership
Pre-season cupSt Kilda
1st pre-season cup win
Brownlow MedallistJames Hird (Essendon)
Michael Voss (Brisbane Bears)
Coleman MedallistTony Lockett (Sydney)
Attendance
Matches played185
Total attendance5,694,921 (30,783 per match)
Highest93,102 (Grand Final, North Melbourne vs. Sydney)
← 1995
1997 →

The 1996 AFL season was the 100th season of the Australian Football League (AFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Australia, which was known as the Victorian Football League until 1989. The season featured sixteen clubs and ran from 29 March until 28 September. It comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs, as well as several celebrations of the league's centenary.

The premiership was won by the North Melbourne Football Club for the third time, after it defeated Sydney by 43 points in the 1996 AFL Grand Final.

AFL Draft

See 1996 AFL Draft.

Lightning Premiership

Main article: 1996 AFL Lightning Premiership

In the 1996 AFL Lightning Premiership final, Essendon defeated the Brisbane Bears 6.2 (38) to 2.9 (21) at Waverley Park.

Ansett Australia Cup

Main article: 1996 Ansett Australia Cup

In the 1996 Ansett Australia Cup final, St Kilda defeated Carlton 20.10 (130) to 10.12 (72) at Waverley Park.

Home-and-away season

Round 1

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Melbourne 8.8 (56) Geelong 27.21 (183) MCG 46,832 Friday, 29 March Richmond 15.14 (104) Essendon 19.8 (122) MCG 52,271 Saturday, 30 March St Kilda 12.13 (85) North Melbourne 15.19 (109) Waverley Park 23,434 Saturday, 30 March Fitzroy 11.5 (71) Hawthorn 13.14 (92) Whitten Oval 10,239 Saturday, 30 March Brisbane Bears 21.15 (141) Footscray 7.12 (54) Gabba 14,222 Saturday, 30 March Carlton 16.13 (109) Collingwood 12.15 (87) MCG 70,152 Sunday, 31 March Fremantle 6.9 (45) West Coast 9.13 (67) Subiaco Oval 33,041 Sunday, 31 March Adelaide 20.10 (130) Sydney 6.4 (40) Football Park 40,665 Sunday, 31 March

Round 2

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date North Melbourne 26.12 (168) Footscray 5.7 (37) MCG 30,873 Saturday, 6 April Geelong 26.8 (164) St Kilda 20.14 (134) Kardinia Park 25,950 Saturday, 6 April Hawthorn 6.15 (51) Richmond 14.14 (98) Waverley Park 38,263 Saturday, 6 April Fitzroy 15.11 (101) Adelaide 21.7 (133) Whitten Oval 8,685 Saturday, 6 April West Coast 11.11 (77) Brisbane Bears 16.7 (103) WACA 29,213 Saturday, 6 April Essendon 10.12 (72) Carlton 15.11 (101) MCG 62,207 Sunday, 7 April Sydney 9.17 (71) Fremantle 13.22 (100) SCG 10,965 Sunday, 7 April Collingwood 27.11 (173) Melbourne 11.13 (79) MCG 53,268 Monday, 8 April

Round 3

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Adelaide 21.16 (142) Geelong 12.6 (78) Football Park 43,766 Friday, 12 April Footscray 17.19 (121) Fitzroy 10.10 (70) Whitten Oval 14,345 Saturday, 13 April Hawthorn 12.8 (80) North Melbourne 22.21 (153) Waverley Park 20,331 Saturday, 13 April Brisbane Bears 13.12 (90) Richmond 15.18 (108) Gabba 20,635 Saturday, 13 April Sydney 15.17 (107) Collingwood 10.13 (73) SCG 17,674 Sunday, 14 April Fremantle 15.12 (102) Carlton 6.13 (49) Subiaco Oval 22,652 Sunday, 14 April Essendon 16.13 (109) West Coast 6.14 (50) Waverley Park 20,852 Sunday, 14 April Melbourne 14.14 (98) St Kilda 13.10 (88) Optus Oval 11,881 Sunday, 14 April

Round 4

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Brisbane Bears 18.17 (125) North Melbourne 14.11 (95) Gabba 17,469 Friday, 19 April Carlton 21.7 (133) Melbourne 12.14 (86) Optus Oval 19,051 Saturday, 20 April Collingwood 14.14 (98) Fremantle 8.13 (61) Victoria Park 23,170 Saturday, 20 April St Kilda 24.16 (160) Fitzroy 11.9 (75) Waverley Park 17,625 Saturday, 20 April Footscray 8.9 (57) Hawthorn 8.9 (57) Whitten Oval 16,804 Saturday, 20 April Adelaide 23.23 (161) Essendon 9.11 (65) Football Park 45,266 Saturday, 20 April Richmond 9.16 (70) Sydney 10.11 (71) Waverley Park 33,847 Sunday, 21 April West Coast 12.16 (88) Geelong 16.10 (106) Subiaco Oval 30,837 Sunday, 21 April

Round 5

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Essendon 16.9 (105) Collingwood 17.15 (117) MCG 87,549 Thursday, 25 April Fremantle 13.18 (96) Melbourne 8.11 (59) WACA 26,618 Friday, 26 April Carlton 12.14 (86) West Coast 12.13 (85) Optus Oval 19,927 Saturday, 27 April Geelong 13.13 (91) Richmond 12.16 (88) Kardinia Park 26,016 Saturday, 27 April North Melbourne 23.14 (152) Adelaide 17.11 (113) MCG 32,215 Saturday, 27 April Sydney 13.10 (88) Hawthorn 11.10 (76) SCG 20,227 Saturday, 27 April Brisbane Bears 24.14 (158) Fitzroy 6.13 (49) Gabba 14,495 Sunday, 28 April St Kilda 16.20 (116) Footscray 13.12 (90) Waverley Park 27,094 Sunday, 28 April

Round 6

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Sydney 14.6 (90) Essendon 12.18 (90) SCG 22,088 Friday, 3 May Geelong 13.15 (93) North Melbourne 15.14 (104) MCG 50,074 Friday, 3 May Collingwood 23.14 (152) Adelaide 12.8 (80) Victoria Park 26,459 Saturday, 4 May Melbourne 7.8 (50) West Coast 24.12 (156) Optus Oval 8,747 Saturday, 4 May Fitzroy 9.8 (62) Richmond 23.16 (154) Whitten Oval 13,497 Saturday, 4 May Hawthorn 9.11 (65) St Kilda 13.8 (86) Waverley Park 30,225 Saturday, 4 May Footscray 9.10 (64) Carlton 12.8 (80) MCG 31,024 Sunday, 5 May Fremantle 12.13 (85) Brisbane Bears 17.8 (110) Subiaco Oval 24,591 Sunday, 5 May

Round 7

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Essendon 22.11 (143) Geelong 17.12 (114) MCG 75,632 Wednesday, 8 May Collingwood 14.11 (95) St Kilda 18.10 (118) MCG 71,663 Friday, 10 May Carlton 18.17 (125) Fitzroy 8.14 (62) Optus Oval 16,176 Saturday, 11 May Melbourne 5.8 (38) Sydney 12.10 (82) MCG 23,660 Saturday, 11 May Brisbane Bears 15.14 (104) Hawthorn 5.11 (41) Gabba 20,053 Saturday, 11 May Richmond 17.11 (113) Footscray 9.8 (62) MCG 25,691 Sunday, 12 May West Coast 19.11 (125) North Melbourne 7.16 (58) Subiaco Oval 32,312 Sunday, 12 May Adelaide 20.12 (132) Fremantle 5.6 (36) Football Park 40,386 Sunday, 12 May

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

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Brisbane Bears 15.18 (108) Collingwood 14.14 (98) Gabba 21,644 Friday, 17 May Carlton 12.14 (86) Geelong 15.8 (98) MCG 67,931 Friday, 17 May Hawthorn 19.8 (122) Melbourne 10.11 (71) Waverley Park 20,527 Saturday, 18 May Fitzroy 16.11 (107) Fremantle 10.16 (76) Whitten Oval 5,083 Saturday, 18 May North Melbourne 20.24 (144) Richmond 14.5 (89) MCG 49,939 Saturday, 18 May West Coast 14.16 (100) Sydney 9.10 (64) WACA 31,411 Saturday, 18 May Adelaide 13.19 (97) St Kilda 11.7 (73) Football Park 43,370 Sunday, 19 May Footscray 13.6 (84) Essendon 23.13 (151) MCG 36,766 Sunday, 19 May

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 in the AFL before departing.

Round 9

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date North Melbourne 25.20 (170) Fitzroy 9.11 (65) MCG 19,964 Friday, 24 May Essendon 11.23 (89) Melbourne 12.5 (77) MCG 37,288 Saturday, 25 May Footscray 18.11 (119) Adelaide 11.13 (79) Whitten Oval 11,140 Saturday, 25 May Hawthorn 8.8 (56) West Coast 14.6 (90) Waverley Park 14,286 Saturday, 25 May Sydney 21.6 (132) Brisbane Bears 10.14 (74) SCG 26,537 Sunday, 26 May Fremantle 17.18 (120) Richmond 10.6 (66) Subiaco Oval 20,934 Sunday, 26 May St Kilda 9.15 (69) Carlton 13.13 (91) Waverley Park 41,023 Sunday, 26 May Collingwood 11.10 (76) Geelong 21.13 (139) MCG 56,609 Monday, 27 May

Round 10

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Footscray 10.9 (69) North Melbourne 12.17 (89) MCG 22,416 Friday, 7 June Carlton 15.11 (101) Richmond 13.12 (90) MCG 59,062 Saturday, 8 June Geelong 14.14 (98) Brisbane Bears 15.8 (98) Kardinia Park 24,800 Saturday, 8 June Fitzroy 10.7 (67) Sydney 21.11 (137) Whitten Oval 9,701 Saturday, 8 June St Kilda 9.13 (67) Essendon 13.11 (89) Waverley Park 43,925 Saturday, 8 June Fremantle 7.11 (53) Hawthorn 17.8 (110) Subiaco Oval 19,350 Sunday, 9 June Adelaide 11.10 (76) West Coast 19.16 (130) Football Park 43,398 Sunday, 9 June Melbourne 17.12 (114) Collingwood 10.16 (76) MCG 48,302 Monday, 10 June

NOTE: St Kilda vs Essendon match on Saturday night was disrupted by a power failure during the third quarter, resulting the match being completed the following week on the Tuesday night with 2 12-minutes halves.

Round 11

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Geelong 20.9 (129) Footscray 12.13 (85) Kardinia Park 21,516 Saturday, 15 June Hawthorn 16.12 (108) Adelaide 14.15 (99) Waverley Park 16,652 Saturday, 15 June North Melbourne 10.13 (73) Sydney 24.8 (152) Optus Oval 18,644 Saturday, 15 June Richmond 21.13 (139) St Kilda 15.15 (105) MCG 39,029 Saturday, 15 June Brisbane Bears 5.8 (38) Carlton 9.8 (62) Gabba 20,225 Saturday, 15 June West Coast 16.19 (115) Collingwood 9.8 (62) Subiaco Oval 34,832 Sunday, 16 June Essendon 13.12 (90) Fremantle 12.17 (89) MCG 31,383 Sunday, 16 June Fitzroy 8.8 (56) Melbourne 18.11 (119) Whitten Oval 10,836 Sunday, 16 June

Round 12

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Richmond 19.14 (128) Adelaide 13.4 (82) MCG 39,044 Friday, 21 June Collingwood 14.11 (95) Carlton 17.14 (116) MCG 61,448 Saturday, 22 June Geelong 17.10 (112) Fremantle 13.15 (93) Kardinia Park 22,116 Saturday, 22 June Hawthorn 17.12 (114) Fitzroy 12.11 (83) Waverley Park 16,217 Saturday, 22 June Brisbane Bears 18.15 (123) Melbourne 6.10 (46) Gabba 14,871 Saturday, 22 June Sydney 18.15 (123) Footscray 11.11 (77) SCG 22,689 Sunday, 23 June North Melbourne 16.11 (107) Essendon 14.11 (95) MCG 39,515 Sunday, 23 June West Coast 22.9 (141) St Kilda 17.6 (108) Subiaco Oval 29,434 Sunday, 23 June

Round 13

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Collingwood 10.9 (69) Richmond 14.8 (92) MCG 69,072 Friday, 28 June Carlton 13.13 (91) Sydney 15.12 (102) Optus Oval 20,030 Saturday, 29 June Fitzroy 6.3 (39) Geelong 25.16 (166) Whitten Oval 10,504 Saturday, 29 June St Kilda 14.12 (96) Brisbane Bears 7.8 (50) Waverley Park 13,824 Saturday, 29 June Essendon 18.13 (121) Hawthorn 15.10 (100) MCG 43,481 Saturday, 29 June Fremantle 8.10 (58) North Melbourne 9.20 (74) WACA 19,360 Saturday, 29 June Adelaide 10.12 (72) Melbourne 19.9 (123) Football Park 37,557 Sunday, 30 June Footscray 9.5 (59) West Coast 11.5 (71) Whitten Oval 11,184 Sunday, 30 June

Round 14

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date North Melbourne 21.18 (144) Carlton 13.11 (89) MCG 68,537 Friday, 5 July Hawthorn 17.12 (114) Collingwood 11.15 (81) Waverley Park 30,886 Saturday, 6 July Fitzroy 7.10 (52) Essendon 17.16 (118) Optus Oval 12,748 Saturday, 6 July Richmond 7.9 (51) West Coast 10.8 (68) MCG 37,482 Saturday, 6 July Adelaide 15.12 (102) Brisbane Bears 14.10 (94) Football Park 34,183 Saturday, 6 July Sydney 18.17 (125) Geelong 11.8 (74) SCG 44,047 Sunday, 7 July Melbourne 14.10 (94) Footscray 10.7 (67) MCG 22,852 Sunday, 7 July Fremantle 11.11 (77) St Kilda 15.10 (100) Subiaco Oval 17,697 Sunday, 7 July

Round 15

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date West Coast 20.11 (131) Fitzroy 9.9 (63) WACA 22,044 Friday, 12 July Carlton 19.17 (131) Adelaide 9.10 (64) Optus Oval 20,102 Saturday, 13 July Collingwood 22.12 (144) North Melbourne 12.11 (83) MCG 34,514 Saturday, 13 July Geelong 10.12 (72) Hawthorn 11.8 (74) Kardinia Park 22,207 Saturday, 13 July St Kilda 11.13 (79) Sydney 14.12 (96) Waverley Park 34,337 Saturday, 13 July Brisbane Bears 15.13 (103) Essendon 10.8 (68) Gabba 20,378 Sunday, 14 July Melbourne 12.9 (81) Richmond 18.19 (127) MCG 41,380 Sunday, 14 July Footscray 18.9 (117) Fremantle 15.9 (99) Whitten Oval 8,674 Sunday, 14 July

Round 16

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date North Melbourne 17.16 (118) St Kilda 4.5 (29) MCG 24,778 Friday, 19 July Essendon 15.18 (108) Richmond 13.10 (88) MCG 58,768 Saturday, 20 July Footscray 3.4 (22) Brisbane Bears 4.12 (36) Whitten Oval 9,994 Saturday, 20 July Geelong 13.10 (88) Melbourne 4.6 (30) Kardinia Park 17,538 Saturday, 20 July Hawthorn 15.8 (98) Carlton 7.7 (49) Waverley Park 28,670 Saturday, 20 July Sydney 16.14 (110) Adelaide 12.16 (88) SCG 29,174 Sunday, 21 July West Coast 12.10 (82) Fremantle 7.6 (48) Subiaco Oval 35,406 Sunday, 21 July Collingwood 17.14 (116) Fitzroy 10.16 (76) Victoria Park 23,567 Sunday, 21 July

Round 17

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Melbourne 11.4 (70) North Melbourne 28.15 (183) MCG 20,955 Friday, 26 July Carlton 13.13 (91) Essendon 11.16 (82) MCG 65,420 Saturday, 27 July St Kilda 14.16 (100) Geelong 11.10 (76) Waverley Park 24,289 Saturday, 27 July Richmond 17.12 (114) Hawthorn 11.7 (73) Optus Oval 19,081 Saturday, 27 July Brisbane Bears 25.13 (163) West Coast 17.14 (116) Gabba 15,772 Saturday, 27 July Footscray 16.12 (108) Collingwood 17.12 (114) MCG 28,776 Sunday, 28 July Fremantle 15.14 (104) Sydney 12.6 (78) Subiaco Oval 17,513 Sunday, 28 July Adelaide 26.10 (166) Fitzroy 9.13 (67) Football Park 31,880 Sunday, 28 July

Round 18

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date North Melbourne 19.16 (130) Hawthorn 15.9 (99) MCG 28,555 Friday, 2 August Carlton 23.7 (145) Fremantle 11.18 (84) Optus Oval 15,277 Saturday, 3 August St Kilda 13.10 (88) Collingwood 11.12 (78) Waverley Park 30,065 Saturday, 3 August Geelong 15.14 (104) Adelaide 10.9 (69) Kardinia Park 17,818 Saturday, 3 August Sydney 17.13 (115) Melbourne 6.16 (52) SCG 18,850 Sunday, 4 August West Coast 14.15 (99) Essendon 14.9 (93) Subiaco Oval 37,669 Sunday, 4 August Fitzroy 6.9 (45) Footscray 8.12 (60) Whitten Oval 8,757 Sunday, 4 August Richmond 7.11 (53) Brisbane Bears 9.16 (70) Optus Oval 17,157 Sunday, 4 August

Round 19

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Fremantle 15.16 (106) Collingwood 11.16 (82) WACA 22,874 Friday, 9 August Melbourne 20.9 (129) Carlton 17.8 (110) MCG 30,166 Saturday, 10 August Essendon 21.17 (143) Adelaide 16.11 (107) Optus Oval 15,794 Saturday, 10 August Geelong 18.19 (127) West Coast 12.10 (82) Kardinia Park 21,081 Saturday, 10 August Fitzroy 5.5 (35) St Kilda 13.10 (88) Whitten Oval 7,781 Saturday, 10 August Hawthorn 20.12 (132) Footscray 10.5 (65) Waverley Park 14,914 Saturday, 10 August Sydney 20.10 (130) Richmond 12.10 (82) SCG 28,541 Sunday, 11 August North Melbourne 8.11 (59) Brisbane Bears 11.11 (77) Optus Oval 15,453 Sunday, 11 August

Round 20

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Melbourne 13.14 (92) Fremantle 10.11 (71) MCG 15,494 Friday, 16 August Richmond 19.18 (132) Geelong 9.13 (67) MCG 50,633 Saturday, 17 August Hawthorn 7.7 (49) Sydney 9.18 (72) Waverley Park 28,897 Saturday, 17 August Fitzroy 14.16 (100) Brisbane Bears 29.13 (187) Optus Oval 6,469 Saturday, 17 August Adelaide 10.10 (70) North Melbourne 10.16 (76) Football Park 33,030 Saturday, 17 August Footscray 14.11 (95) St Kilda 8.9 (57) Optus Oval 7,677 Sunday, 18 August Collingwood 9.10 (64) Essendon 11.11 (77) MCG 51,057 Sunday, 18 August West Coast 19.13 (127) Carlton 10.8 (68) Subiaco Oval 40,085 Sunday, 18 August

Round 21

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date North Melbourne 14.12 (96) Geelong 16.13 (109) MCG 52,426 Friday, 23 August Carlton 13.18 (96) Footscray 9.12 (66) Optus Oval 21,674 Saturday, 24 August Essendon 14.16 (100) Sydney 12.10 (82) MCG 69,237 Saturday, 24 August St Kilda 9.9 (63) Hawthorn 12.8 (80) Waverley Park 28,118 Saturday, 24 August Brisbane Bears 10.11 (71) Fremantle 10.10 (70) Gabba 19,204 Saturday, 24 August Richmond 28.19 (187) Fitzroy 5.6 (36) MCG 48,884 Sunday, 25 August West Coast 24.7 (151) Melbourne 11.12 (78) Subiaco Oval 33,689 Sunday, 25 August Adelaide 14.12 (96) Collingwood 24.9 (153) Football Park 40,212 Sunday, 25 August

Round 22

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Essendon 11.13 (79) Footscray 11.10 (76) MCG 42,598 Friday, 30 August Geelong 9.11 (65) Carlton 16.11 (107) Kardinia Park 27,659 Saturday, 31 August Collingwood 15.10 (100) Brisbane Bears 6.15 (51) Victoria Park 21,126 Saturday, 31 August St Kilda 20.24 (144) Adelaide 11.9 (75) Waverley Park 14,778 Saturday, 31 August Melbourne 15.11 (101) Hawthorn 15.12 (102) MCG 63,196 Saturday, 31 August Sydney 12.13 (85) West Coast 6.14 (50) SCG 29,517 Saturday, 31 August Richmond 16.13 (109) North Melbourne 21.15 (141) MCG 61,740 Sunday, 1 September Fremantle 24.13 (157) Fitzroy 10.11 (71) Subiaco Oval 22,574 Sunday, 1 September

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

Ladder

(P) Premiers
Qualified for finals
# Team P W L D PF PA % Pts
1 Sydney 22 16 5 1 2152 1737 123.9 66
2 North Melbourne (P) 22 16 6 0 2526 1982 127.4 64
3 Brisbane Bears 22 15 6 1 2174 1731 125.6 62
4 West Coast 22 15 7 0 2201 1758 125.2 60
5 Carlton 22 15 7 0 2116 1909 110.8 60
6 Essendon 22 14 7 1 2209 2023 109.2 58
7 Geelong 22 13 8 1 2353 2047 114.9 54
8 Hawthorn 22 11 10 1 1893 1921 98.5 46
9 Richmond 22 11 11 0 2282 1944 117.4 44
10 St Kilda 22 10 12 0 2053 2033 101.0 40
11 Collingwood 22 9 13 0 2203 2142 102.8 36
12 Adelaide 22 8 14 0 2233 2327 96.0 32
13 Fremantle 22 7 15 0 1830 1983 92.3 28
14 Melbourne 22 7 15 0 1743 2463 70.8 28
15 Footscray 22 5 16 1 1654 2139 77.3 22
16 Fitzroy 22 1 21 0 1452 2935 49.5 4

Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Average score: 94.0
Source: AFL Tables

Progression by round

  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 ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122
Sydney0048121418182226303438424650505458626266
North Melbourne (P)481212162020242832323640444448525656606064
Brisbane Bears48812162024282830303434343842465054586262
West Coast Eagles44444812162024283236404448485252566060
Carlton48812162024242832364040404444485252525660
Essendon448881014182226303034383842424246505458
Geelong48812161616202426303438383842424650505454
Hawthorn4446666101014182222263034343438384246
Richmond048881216161616202428283232363636404444
St Kilda000481216161616161620242424283236363640
Collingwood0448121616161616161616162024282828283236
Adelaide481216161620242424242424282828323232323232
Fremantle0488121212121616161616161616202024242428
Melbourne0044444448121216202020202024282828
Footscray004666661010101010101414141818222222
Fitzroy0000000444444444444444
Source:[citation needed]

Finals

Qualifying Finals

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Brisbane Bears 15.11 (101) Essendon 15.10 (100) Gabba 21,964 Friday, 6 September West Coast 18.17 (125) Carlton 10.10 (70) Subiaco Oval 41,501 Saturday, 7 September Sydney 13.12 (90) Hawthorn 12.12 (84) SCG 37,010 Saturday, 7 September North Melbourne 19.17 (131) Geelong 9.17 (71) MCG 69,323 Sunday, 8 September

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 a final.

Semi-finals

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date West Coast 8.19 (67) Essendon 22.12 (144) MCG 85,656 Saturday, 14 September Brisbane Bears 26.14 (170) Carlton 10.13 (73) Gabba 21,767 Saturday, 14 September

Note: West Coast Eagles played its home final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground 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 ground.

Preliminary Finals

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date North Melbourne 17.12 (114) Brisbane Bears 11.10 (76) MCG 66,719 Saturday, 21 September Sydney 10.10 (70) Essendon 10.9 (69) SCG 41,731 Saturday, 21 September

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

Main article: 1996 AFL Grand Final
Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date North Melbourne 19.17 (131) Sydney 13.10 (88) MCG 93,102 Saturday, 28 September

Attendance

Team Hosted Average Highest Lowest Total
Essendon 11 49,526 87,549 15,794 544,789
Collingwood 11 44,723 71,663 21,126 491,953
Adelaide 11 39,428 45,266 31,880 433,713
Richmond 11 38,624 61,740 17,157 424,859
Carlton 11 35,891 70,152 15,277 394,802
North Melbourne 11 34,627 68,537 15,453 380,899
West Coast 11 32,448 40,085 22,044 356,932
Melbourne 11 30,315 63,196 8747 333,465
St Kilda 11 27,137 43,925 13,824 298,512
Geelong 11 25,161 50,074 17,538 276,775
Sydney 11 24,574 44,047 10,965 270,309
Hawthorn 11 23,624 38,263 14,286 259,868
Fremantle 11 22,473 33,041 17,513 247,204
Brisbane 11 18,088 21,644 14,222 198,968
Footscray 11 18,073 36,766 7677 198,800
Fitzroy 11 9482 13,497 5083 104,300
Totals 176 29,637 87,549 5083 5,216,148
Venue Hosted Average Highest Lowest Total
MCG 51 46,114 87,549 15,494 2351,808
Football Park 11 39,428 45,266 31,880 433,713
Subiaco Oval 16 28,289 40,085 17,513 452,616
Waverley Park 24 25,545 43,925 13,824 613,079
WACA 6 25,253 31,411 19,360 151,520
SCG 11 24,574 44,047 10,965 270,309
Victoria Park 4 23,581 26,459 21,126 94,322
Kardinia Park 10 22,670 27,659 17,538 226,701
Gabba 11 18,088 21,644 14,222 198,968
Optus Oval 17 15,641 21,674 6469 265,892
Whitten Oval 15 10,482 16,804 5083 157,224
Totals 176 29,637 87,549 5083 5,216,148

Awards

Notes

References

  1. ^ Tuesday night blockbuster set for 2018 fixture - AFL.com.au
  2. ^ Sherwood, Anthony (1 October 2016). "This Epic 1996 Coach Spray Is All The Motivation The Bulldogs Need". HuffPost. Retrieved 9 October 2018.

Sources

Categories