2003 AFL premiership season
Teams16
PremiersBrisbane
3rd premiership
Minor premiersPort Adelaide
2nd minor premiership
Pre-season cupAdelaide
1st pre-season cup win
Brownlow MedallistNathan Buckley (Collingwood)
Adam Goodes (Sydney)
Mark Ricciuto (Adelaide)
Coleman MedallistMatthew Lloyd (Essendon)
Attendance
Matches played185
Total attendance6,351,655 (34,333 per match)
Highest79,451 (Grand Final, Brisbane Lions vs. Collingwood)
← 2002
2004 →

The 2003 AFL season was the 107th season of the Australian Football League (AFL), the highest level of senior Australian rules football competition in Australia, which was known as the Victorian Football League until 1989. The season featured sixteen clubs, ran from 28 March until 27 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs.

The premiership was won by the Brisbane Lions for the third time and third time consecutively, after it defeated Collingwood by 50 points in the AFL Grand Final.

AFL Draft

See 2003 AFL Draft.

Wizard Home Loans Cup

Main article: 2003 Wizard Home Loans Cup

The 2003 Wizard Home Loans Cup saw Adelaide defeat Collingwood 15.14 (104) to 10.13 (73) in the final.

Premiership season

Round 1

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Collingwood 13.16 (94) Richmond 8.18 (66) MCG 61,058 Friday, 28 March West Coast 17.20 (122) Port Adelaide 11.8 (74) Subiaco Oval 35,083 Saturday, 29 March Kangaroos 14.12 (96) St Kilda 10.10 (70) MCG 28,361 Saturday, 29 March Brisbane Lions 14.20 (104) Essendon 8.13 (61) The Gabba 36,197 Saturday, 29 March Sydney 22.14 (146) Carlton 10.12 (72) Telstra Stadium 30,803 Saturday, 29 March Adelaide 22.13 (145) Fremantle 13.11 (89) AAMI Stadium 45,436 Sunday, 30 March Melbourne 16.10 (106) Hawthorn 15.10 (100) MCG 41,888 Sunday, 30 March Western Bulldogs 19.16 (130) Geelong 13.13 (91) Telstra Dome 27,931 Sunday, 30 March

Round 2

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Carlton 13.13 (91) Collingwood 16.11 (107) MCG 51,894 Friday, 4 April Essendon 17.10 (112) Melbourne 10.15 (75) MCG 43,448 Saturday, 5 April St Kilda 15.9 (99) Adelaide 13.13 (91) Telstra Dome 19,131 Saturday, 5 April Fremantle 12.14 (86) Sydney 8.12 (60) Subiaco Oval 24,887 Saturday, 5 April Port Adelaide 10.16 (76) Brisbane Lions 13.8 (86) AAMI Stadium 27,876 Saturday, 5 April Hawthorn 13.13 (91) West Coast 14.5 (89) York Park 16,217 Sunday, 6 April Geelong 9.17 (71) Kangaroos 13.16 (94) Skilled Stadium 22,588 Sunday, 6 April Richmond 16.15 (111) Western Bulldogs 13.11 (89) Telstra Dome 28,847 Sunday, 6 April

Round 3

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Essendon 13.16 (94) Carlton 15.15 (105) MCG 44,268 Friday, 11 April West Coast 21.18 (144) St Kilda 11.8 (74) Subiaco Oval 32,009 Saturday, 12 April Collingwood 18.8 (116) Geelong 10.9 (69) MCG 43,979 Saturday, 12 April Kangaroos 16.13 (109) Brisbane Lions 16.13 (109) Telstra Dome 24,359 Saturday, 12 April Port Adelaide 19.14 (128) Hawthorn 11.5 (71) AAMI Stadium 24,902 Saturday, 12 April Sydney 11.10 (76) Adelaide 15.13 (103) SCG 23,651 Sunday, 13 April Melbourne 20.7 (127) Western Bulldogs 14.11 (95) Telstra Dome 20,790 Sunday, 13 April Richmond 14.10 (94) Fremantle 6.10 (46) MCG 19,677 Sunday, 13 April

Round 4

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Brisbane Lions 14.11 (95) Collingwood 11.15 (81) The Gabba 36,803 Thursday, 17 April Geelong 13.12 (90) Melbourne 6.8 (44) Skilled Stadium 23,001 Saturday, 19 April Hawthorn 17.8 (110) Sydney 10.8 (68) MCG 26,359 Saturday, 19 April Western Bulldogs 16.14 (110) Essendon 20.9 (129) Telstra Dome 35,238 Saturday, 19 April Adelaide 15.16 (106) West Coast 10.13 (73) AAMI Stadium 43,525 Sunday, 20 April Fremantle 25.17 (167) Kangaroos 19.8 (122) Subiaco Oval 25,435 Sunday, 20 April Carlton 12.12 (84) Port Adelaide 17.12 (114) Optus Oval 22,507 Sunday, 20 April St Kilda 11.15 (81) Richmond 17.5 (107) Telstra Dome 44,382 Monday, 21 April

Round 5

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Essendon 23.9 (147) Collingwood 12.9 (81) MCG 62,589 Friday, 25 April Sydney 17.7 (109) Melbourne 13.7 (85) SCG 24,286 Friday, 25 April Hawthorn 14.11 (95) Richmond 18.7 (115) MCG 45,140 Saturday, 26 April Adelaide 9.12 (66) Port Adelaide 12.6 (78) AAMI Stadium 51,140 Saturday, 26 April Kangaroos 16.17 (113) Carlton 18.14 (122) Telstra Dome 38,094 Saturday, 26 April Brisbane Lions 15.16 (106) Western Bulldogs 12.7 (79) The Gabba 24,341 Sunday, 27 April Fremantle 10.13 (73) West Coast 16.12 (108) Subiaco Oval 41,654 Sunday, 27 April St Kilda 18.11 (119) Geelong 11.8 (74) Telstra Dome 27,240 Sunday, 27 April

Round 6

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Kangaroos 9.16 (70) Adelaide 19.10 (124) Telstra Dome 38,469 Friday, 2 May Carlton 9.9 (63) Hawthorn 11.8 (74) Optus Oval 27,725 Saturday, 3 May Melbourne 14.10 (94) West Coast 19.13 (127) MCG 17,534 Saturday, 3 May Collingwood 13.11 (89) Sydney 17.7 (109) Telstra Dome 41,874 Saturday, 3 May Port Adelaide 12.12 (84) Richmond 8.9 (57) AAMI Stadium 29,608 Saturday, 3 May Geelong 12.6 (78) Brisbane Lions 13.14 (92) Skilled Stadium 21,246 Sunday, 4 May Fremantle 20.11 (131) Essendon 15.10 (100) Subiaco Oval 28,492 Sunday, 4 May Western Bulldogs 12.13 (85) St Kilda 15.10 (100) Telstra Dome 27,278 Sunday, 4 May

Round 7

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Hawthorn 13.11 (89) Kangaroos 18.9 (117) Telstra Dome 32,435 Friday, 9 May West Coast 17.11 (113) Geelong 14.13 (97) Subiaco Oval 36,268 Saturday, 10 May Richmond 11.18 (84) Essendon 5.12 (42) MCG 52,196 Saturday, 10 May Adelaide 16.13 (109) Collingwood 18.6 (114) AAMI Stadium 44,706 Saturday, 10 May St Kilda 16.17 (113) Carlton 15.11 (101) Telstra Dome 45,122 Saturday, 10 May Sydney 15.8 (98) Brisbane Lions 11.13 (79) SCG 23,276 Sunday, 11 May Melbourne 16.15 (111) Port Adelaide 12.12 (84) MCG 12,410 Sunday, 11 May Western Bulldogs 10.12 (72) Fremantle 23.17 (155) Telstra Dome 12,542 Sunday, 11 May

Round 8

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Hawthorn 8.5 (53) Essendon 15.16 (106) MCG 48,006 Friday, 16 May Collingwood 15.13 (103) West Coast 18.11 (119) Telstra Dome 39,912 Saturday, 17 May Port Adelaide 15.13 (103) Kangaroos 7.7 (49) AAMI Stadium 24,702 Saturday, 17 May Richmond 17.10 (112) Melbourne 16.7 (103) MCG 38,063 Saturday, 17 May Brisbane Lions 16.11 (107) Adelaide 12.17 (89) The Gabba 34,469 Saturday, 17 May Sydney 17.10 (112) Geelong 11.7 (73) SCG 22,483 Sunday, 18 May Fremantle 18.15 (123) St Kilda 11.16 (82) Subiaco Oval 26,723 Sunday, 18 May Carlton 15.17 (107) Western Bulldogs 14.16 (100) Optus Oval 20,602 Sunday, 18 May

Round 9

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Essendon 14.12 (96) Port Adelaide 23.8 (146) Telstra Dome 35,390 Friday, 23 May Carlton 11.10 (76) Brisbane Lions 23.15 (153) Optus Oval 24,906 Saturday, 24 May Melbourne 10.11 (71) Fremantle 16.5 (101) MCG 17,009 Saturday, 24 May West Coast 18.16 (124) Richmond 11.6 (72) Subiaco Oval 40,313 Saturday, 24 May Collingwood 22.17 (149) St Kilda 12.12 (84) Telstra Dome 46,096 Saturday, 24 May Kangaroos 12.12 (84) Sydney 8.11 (59) Manuka Oval 13,832 Sunday, 25 May Geelong 16.13 (109) Hawthorn 11.9 (75) Telstra Dome 28,001 Sunday, 25 May Adelaide 16.13 (109) Western Bulldogs 14.9 (93) AAMI Stadium 44,342 Sunday, 25 May

Round 10

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Port Adelaide 14.14 (98) Collingwood 10.13 (73) AAMI Stadium 43,321 Friday, 30 May Fremantle 19.13 (127) Carlton 15.9 (99) Subiaco Oval 33,250 Saturday, 31 May Western Bulldogs 22.13 (145) Kangaroos 24.12 (156) Telstra Dome 24,682 Saturday, 31 May Richmond 10.12 (72) Sydney 16.8 (104) MCG 34,569 Saturday, 31 May Melbourne 9.9 (63) Brisbane Lions 18.15 (123) The Gabba 29,634 Saturday, 31 May Geelong 8.11 (59) Adelaide 11.10 (76) Skilled Stadium 19,608 Sunday, 1 June Essendon 19.14 (128) West Coast 16.10 (106) Telstra Dome 32,715 Sunday, 1 June St Kilda 17.16 (118) Hawthorn 14.6 (90) MCG 25,745 Sunday, 1 June

Round 11

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Kangaroos 13.14 (92) Richmond 13.11 (89) Telstra Dome 43,200 Friday, 6 June Hawthorn 11.9 (75) Adelaide 10.10 (70) MCG 25,841 Saturday, 7 June St Kilda 13.12 (90) Brisbane Lions 13.7 (85) Telstra Dome 30,313 Saturday, 7 June Sydney 21.7 (133) Essendon 12.7 (79) Telstra Stadium 45,917 Saturday, 7 June Port Adelaide 16.16 (112) Fremantle 9.9 (63) AAMI Stadium 30,745 Sunday, 8 June West Coast 19.10 (124) Western Bulldogs 19.10 (124) Subiaco Oval 38,540 Sunday, 8 June Geelong 17.13 (115) Carlton 12.3 (75) Telstra Dome 43,587 Sunday, 8 June Melbourne 10.17 (77) Collingwood 20.13 (133) MCG 60,010 Monday, 9 June

Round 12

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Essendon 13.10 (88) Kangaroos 14.12 (96) Telstra Dome 45,331 Friday, 13 June St Kilda 7.15 (57) Port Adelaide 15.9 (99) York Park 17,763 Saturday, 14 June Richmond 12.14 (86) Carlton 14.9 (93) MCG 36,557 Saturday, 14 June Fremantle 13.10 (88) Geelong 10.12 (72) Subiaco Oval 30,127 Saturday, 14 June Western Bulldogs 9.9 (63) Sydney 19.13 (127) SCG 21,742 Saturday, 14 June Brisbane Lions 13.13 (91) West Coast 24.16 (160) The Gabba 31,185 Sunday, 15 June Adelaide 21.12 (138) Melbourne 10.5 (65) AAMI Stadium 40,178 Sunday, 15 June Collingwood 6.15 (51) Hawthorn 12.12 (84) MCG 47,365 Sunday, 15 June

Round 13

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Essendon 20.9 (129) Geelong 15.3 (93) Telstra Dome 48,374 Friday, 27 June Melbourne 21.10 (136) St Kilda 14.10 (94) MCG 29,339 Saturday, 28 June Port Adelaide 14.15 (99) Sydney 8.12 (60) AAMI Stadium 24,272 Saturday, 28 June Western Bulldogs 12.13 (85) Collingwood 18.20 (128) Telstra Dome 42,952 Saturday, 28 June Brisbane Lions 15.14 (104) Richmond 9.7 (61) The Gabba 32,623 Saturday, 28 June Hawthorn 15.8 (98) Fremantle 10.8 (68) York Park 17,212 Sunday, 29 June West Coast 11.10 (76) Kangaroos 10.7 (67) Subiaco Oval 36,641 Sunday, 29 June Carlton 7.8 (50) Adelaide 13.14 (92) Optus Oval 19,242 Sunday, 29 June

Round 14

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date St Kilda 7.9 (51) Essendon 17.17 (119) Telstra Dome 49,148 Friday, 4 July Fremantle 10.15 (75) Brisbane Lions 10.12 (72) Subiaco Oval 28,450 Saturday, 5 July Hawthorn 23.16 (154) Western Bulldogs 12.11 (83) MCG 31,390 Saturday, 5 July Kangaroos 7.8 (50) Collingwood 19.12 (126) Telstra Dome 53,312 Saturday, 5 July Adelaide 10.12 (72) Richmond 6.8 (44) AAMI Stadium 44,809 Saturday, 5 July Sydney 13.14 (92) West Coast 12.12 (84) SCG 31,121 Sunday, 6 July Carlton 14.6 (90) Melbourne 14.13 (97) Optus Oval 24,289 Sunday, 6 July Geelong 10.10 (70) Port Adelaide 10.9 (69) Skilled Stadium 19,770 Sunday, 6 July

Round 15

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Adelaide 13.12 (90) Essendon 7.7 (49) AAMI Stadium 41,758 Friday, 11 July Collingwood 15.9 (99) Fremantle 7.16 (58) MCG 40,964 Saturday, 12 July Richmond 15.7 (97) Geelong 15.11 (101) Telstra Dome 38,546 Saturday, 12 July West Coast 28.19 (187) Carlton 10.11 (71) Subiaco Oval 39,129 Saturday, 12 July Sydney 15.22 (112) St Kilda 9.7 (61) SCG 27,550 Saturday, 12 July Brisbane Lions 14.9 (93) Hawthorn 11.15 (81) The Gabba 29,684 Sunday, 13 July Kangaroos 15.11 (101) Melbourne 14.10 (94) MCG 24,618 Sunday, 13 July Western Bulldogs 14.9 (93) Port Adelaide 15.18 (108) Telstra Dome 14,784 Sunday, 13 July

Round 16

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Richmond 9.8 (62) Collingwood 20.11 (131) MCG 54,655 Friday, 18 July Carlton 12.12 (84) Sydney 18.7 (115) Optus Oval 21,463 Saturday, 19 July Hawthorn 17.11 (113) Melbourne 15.16 (106) MCG 32,029 Saturday, 19 July Essendon 14.10 (94) Brisbane Lions 12.14 (86) Telstra Dome 47,744 Saturday, 19 July Port Adelaide 17.12 (114) West Coast 7.8 (50) AAMI Stadium 37,624 Saturday, 19 July Geelong 11.15 (81) Western Bulldogs 15.9 (99) Skilled Stadium 22,067 Sunday, 20 July Fremantle 13.13 (91) Adelaide 13.12 (90) Subiaco Oval 31,225 Sunday, 20 July St Kilda 21.6 (132) Kangaroos 19.13 (127) Telstra Dome 25,381 Sunday, 20 July

Round 17

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date West Coast 14.14 (98) Hawthorn 5.12 (42) Subiaco Oval 40,127 Friday, 25 July Kangaroos 16.8 (104) Geelong 12.14 (86) Manuka Oval 10,253 Saturday, 26 July Melbourne 10.11 (71) Essendon 13.10 (88) MCG 33,368 Saturday, 26 July Western Bulldogs 14.11 (95) Richmond 24.11 (155) Telstra Dome 25,204 Saturday, 26 July Brisbane Lions 15.13 (103) Port Adelaide 15.14 (104) The Gabba 32,043 Saturday, 26 July Sydney 17.9 (111) Fremantle 14.13 (97) SCG 30,228 Sunday, 27 July Adelaide 22.11 (143) St Kilda 13.8 (86) AAMI Stadium 44,667 Sunday, 27 July Collingwood 20.15 (135) Carlton 8.14 (62) MCG 54,500 Sunday, 27 July

Round 18

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Western Bulldogs 14.17 (101) Melbourne 12.8 (80) Telstra Dome 20,714 Friday, 1 August Fremantle 15.14 (104) Richmond 11.15 (81) Subiaco Oval 31,725 Saturday, 2 August Carlton 7.14 (56) Essendon 13.12 (90) MCG 40,697 Saturday, 2 August Geelong 10.13 (73) Collingwood 14.13 (97) Telstra Dome 45,887 Saturday, 2 August Brisbane Lions 20.17 (137) Kangaroos 11.17 (83) The Gabba 28,044 Saturday, 2 August Adelaide 14.13 (97) Sydney 14.9 (93) AAMI Stadium 46,945 Sunday, 3 August Hawthorn 11.14 (80) Port Adelaide 12.12 (84) MCG 21,415 Sunday, 3 August St Kilda 19.14 (128) West Coast 9.13 (67) Telstra Dome 21,531 Sunday, 3 August

Round 19

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Melbourne 6.9 (45) Geelong 11.18 (84) MCG 22,508 Friday, 8 August West Coast 10.7 (67) Adelaide 13.13 (91) Subiaco Oval 39,681 Saturday, 9 August Collingwood 8.14 (62) Brisbane Lions 15.11 (101) MCG 61,868 Saturday, 9 August Richmond 7.8 (50) St Kilda 20.10 (130) Telstra Dome 41,514 Saturday, 9 August Sydney 14.9 (93) Hawthorn 17.8 (110) SCG 33,473 Saturday, 9 August Port Adelaide 18.17 (125) Carlton 12.9 (81) AAMI Stadium 31,083 Sunday, 10 August Essendon 22.15 (147) Western Bulldogs 12.8 (80) Telstra Dome 36,138 Sunday, 10 August Kangaroos 15.8 (98) Fremantle 15.9 (99) MCG 18,486 Sunday, 10 August

Mathew Lloyd would kick 11 goals to surpass Simon Madden as the Essendon Football Club's greatest ever goal scorer.

Round 20

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Collingwood 15.18 (108) Adelaide 11.5 (71) Telstra Dome 45,367 Friday, 15 August Carlton 11.9 (75) St Kilda 26.10 (166) Optus Oval 22,361 Saturday, 16 August Geelong 9.9 (63) West Coast 9.9 (63) Skilled Stadium 19,202 Saturday, 16 August Kangaroos 14.12 (96) Hawthorn 16.14 (110) Telstra Dome 29,234 Saturday, 16 August Port Adelaide 17.10 (112) Melbourne 15.8 (98) AAMI Stadium 28,032 Saturday, 16 August Brisbane Lions 10.16 (76) Sydney 14.6 (90) The Gabba 32,988 Sunday, 17 August Fremantle 18.25 (133) Western Bulldogs 12.5 (77) Subiaco Oval 35,518 Sunday, 17 August Essendon 13.14 (92) Richmond 7.11 (53) MCG 40,846 Sunday, 17 August

Round 21

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Hawthorn 20.18 (138) Carlton 10.4 (64) MCG 30,406 Friday, 22 August Adelaide 10.4 (64) Kangaroos 9.20 (74) AAMI Stadium 42,259 Saturday, 23 August Essendon 20.13 (133) Fremantle 11.7 (73) Telstra Dome 42,256 Saturday, 23 August Brisbane Lions 19.9 (123) Geelong 13.8 (86) The Gabba 30,515 Saturday, 23 August Sydney 12.9 (81) Collingwood 14.15 (99) Telstra Stadium 72,393 Saturday, 23 August St Kilda 13.17 (95) Western Bulldogs 3.12 (30) York Park 15,637 Sunday, 24 August West Coast 21.17 (143) Melbourne 14.7 (91) Subiaco Oval 38,029 Sunday, 24 August Richmond 16.8 (104) Port Adelaide 18.16 (124) Telstra Dome 15,920 Sunday, 24 August

The Sydney vs. Collingwood game is notable as it is the highest attended Australian rules football match ever played outside of Victoria.

Round 22

Home team Score Away team Score Venue Attendance Date Collingwood 12.11 (83) Essendon 9.13 (67) MCG 68,381 Friday, 29 August Geelong 12.12 (84) St Kilda 9.11 (65) Skilled Stadium 20,728 Saturday, 30 August Melbourne 9.6 (60) Sydney 14.10 (94) MCG 22,969 Saturday, 30 August West Coast 11.16 (82) Fremantle 14.12 (96) Subiaco Oval 43,027 Saturday, 30 August Western Bulldogs 13.8 (86) Brisbane Lions 26.14 (170) Telstra Dome 22,361 Saturday, 30 August Port Adelaide 14.10 (94) Adelaide 12.6 (78) AAMI Stadium 48,131 Sunday, 31 August Carlton 9.9 (63) Kangaroos 28.19 (187) Telstra Dome 26,138 Sunday, 31 August Richmond 11.8 (74) Hawthorn 11.12 (78) MCG 31,389 Sunday, 31 August

Ladder

2003 AFL ladder
Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts
1 Port Adelaide 22 18 4 0 2229 1752 127.2 72 Finals series
2 Collingwood 22 15 7 0 2259 1858 121.6 60
3 Brisbane Lions (P) 22 14 7 1 2295 1882 121.9 57
4 Sydney 22 14 8 0 2142 1862 115.0 56
5 Fremantle 22 14 8 0 2143 2078 103.1 56
6 Adelaide 22 13 9 0 2114 1754 120.5 52
7 West Coast 22 12 8 2 2326 1982 117.4 50
8 Essendon 22 13 9 0 2190 1960 111.7 52
9 Hawthorn 22 12 10 0 2011 1999 100.6 48
10 Kangaroos 22 11 10 1 2185 2223 98.3 45
11 St Kilda 22 11 11 0 2095 2187 95.8 44
12 Geelong 22 7 14 1 1819 2025 89.8 29
13 Richmond 22 7 15 0 1846 2078 88.8 28
14 Melbourne 22 5 17 0 1899 2344 81.0 20
15 Carlton 22 4 18 0 1784 2674 66.7 16
16 Western Bulldogs 22 3 18 1 2014 2693 74.8 13
Source: AFL ladder
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

This marks the first time that Fremantle played a finals match and the first, and only time to date that all non-Victorian teams played in a finals series.

Ladder progression

  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
Port Adelaide0048121616202428323640404448525660646872
Collingwood481212121216162024242428323640444848525660
Brisbane Lions481014182222263034343438384242424650505458
Sydney444481216202024283232364044484848525256
Fremantle044881216202428283232363640404448525256
Adelaide44812121616162024242832364040444852525252
West Coast4488121620242828303438384242464646485252
Essendon0448121212161620202024282832364044485252
Hawthorn044881212121212162024282832323236404448
North Melbourne481010101014141822263030343434383838384246
St Kilda044481216161620242424242428283236404444
Geelong0004444488121212162020202024262630
Richmond04812161620242424242424242424282828282828
Melbourne44888812121212121216202020202020202020
Carlton0044888121212121616161616161616161616
Western Bulldogs44444444446666610101414141414
Source:[citation needed]

Finals series

Qualifying and elimination finalsSemi-finalsPreliminary finalsGrand Final
7 Sep, AAMI Stadium
1Port Adelaide13.10 (88)
4Sydney15.10 (100)13 Sep, AAMI Stadium
Port Adelaide12.11 (83)
5 Sep, Subiaco OvalEssendon6.8 (44)20 Sep, Telstra Stadium
5Fremantle8.9 (57)Sydney8.8 (56)
8Essendon15.11 (101)Brisbane Lions14.16 (100)27 Sep, MCG
Brisbane Lions20.14 (134)
6 Sep, AAMI Stadium20 Sep, MCGCollingwood12.12 (84)
6Adelaide16.17 (113)Collingwood17.10 (112)
7West Coast8.9 (57)12 Sep, The GabbaPort Adelaide9.14 (68)
Brisbane Lions18.16 (124)
6 Sep, MCGAdelaide12.10 (82)
2Collingwood9.12 (66)
3Brisbane Lions7.9 (51)

Week one

Qualifying Finals
7 September (2:30 pm) Port Adelaide 13.10 (88) def. by Sydney 15.10 (100) AAMI Stadium (crowd: 33,968)
6 September (7:30 pm) Collingwood 9.12 (66) def. Brisbane Lions 7.9 (51) MCG (crowd: 66,092)
Elimination Finals
5 September (6:40 pm) Fremantle 8.9 (57) def. by Essendon 15.11 (101) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 42,770)
6 September (2:30 pm) Adelaide 16.17 (113) def. West Coast 8.9 (57) AAMI Stadium (crowd: 38,641)
  • Fremantle played in its first ever final, losing to Essendon by 44 points.

Week two

Semi-finals
12 September (7:30 pm) Brisbane Lions 18.16 (124) def. Adelaide 12.10 (82) The Gabba (crowd: 32,432)
13 September (7:30 pm) Port Adelaide 12.11 (83) def. Essendon 6.8 (44) AAMI Stadium (crowd: 36,557)
  • No game was played at the MCG this week, despite 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. Neither match was considered a viable option to be moved, as one match featured two non-Victorian teams (Brisbane and Adelaide), and the other match featured a first-placed non-Victorian side (Port Adelaide) versus an eighth-placed Victorian side (Essendon).

Week three

Preliminary Finals
20 September (2:30 pm) Collingwood 17.10 (112) def. Port Adelaide 9.14 (68) MCG (crowd: 77,405)
20 September (7:30 pm) Sydney 8.8 (56) def. by Brisbane Lions 14.16 (100) Telstra Stadium (crowd: 71,019)
  • The attendance of 71,019 for the final between Sydney and Brisbane is the largest attendance ever for an AFL game not featuring a Victorian team played outside Victoria.
  • As of 2023, this remains the last time two finals matches were played on the same day after the first week.

Week four

Main article: 2003 AFL Grand Final
Grand Final
27 September (2:40 pm) Brisbane Lions 20.14 (134) def. Collingwood 12.12 (84) MCG (crowd: 79,451) Report
  • The Brisbane Lions victory was the clubs third successive premiership and were the fourth team to achieve three or more premierships in a row.

Match attendance

Total match attendance for all games was 5,872,352 people. Attendance at the grand final was 79,451 people. The largest non-finals attendance was 72,393 people for the Sydney vs Collingwood game in round 21.

Awards

Notable events

External links

References

  1. ^ Whiting, Michael (11 April 2016). "Dogs can learn from history on Murphy injury". Australian Football League. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  2. ^ Pierik, Jon (11 April 2016). "AFL 2016: 'I felt the pop,' says Bob Murphy". Redland City Bulletin. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
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