2021 AFL season
The 2021 Australian Football League season will be the 125th season of the elite Australian rules football competition and the 32nd under the name "Australian Football League", having changed from "Victorian Football League" after the 1989 season. There will be 18 teams competing in the league, the same as the previous nine seasons.
| 2021 AFL premiership season | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 18 |
Rule changes
The following rule changes were made in the 2021 season:[1]
- The maximum number of interchanges allowed was reduced from 90 to 75 per team. Like previous steps taken to reduce interchange numbers, this was designed to alleviate congested play by giving teams less fatigue management.
- The distance between man on the mark and the kick-off line at a kick-in was increased from 10m to 15m.
- The duration of each quarter of play was returned to 20 minutes plus time-on, as it had been since 1994. Quarters had been played at a reduced 16 minutes plus time-on in 2020, specifically as a fatigue and injury management strategy to cope with pandemic-related interruptions to the season.[2]
Additionally, umpires were directed to use a more stringent interpretation of existing rules when preventing players from cribbing over the mark, giving only a one metre level of tolerance before awarding a 50-metre penalty.
Pre-season
AFL Community Series
The pre-season series of games will return as the 2021 AFL Community Series, with teams playing two games each. The games will be stand-alone, with no overall winner of the series. Each team will play two games, many at suburban or regional venues, while all games will be televised on Fox Footy.[3]
Premiership season
The full fixture for the 2021 season was released in December 2020; but dates, times and broadcasters were initially revealed only for the first six rounds, with the remaining dates to be revealed in four-to-six weeks blocks with at least a month's notice during the season. This is to allow flexible scheduling in the event of further state border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]
Round 1
| Round 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 18 March (7:25 pm) | Richmond | vs. | Carlton | MCG | |
| Friday, 19 March (7:40 pm) | Collingwood | vs. | Western Bulldogs | MCG | |
| Saturday, 20 March (1:45 pm) | Melbourne | vs. | Fremantle | MCG | |
| Saturday, 20 March (4:05 pm) | Adelaide | vs. | Geelong | Adelaide Oval | |
| Saturday, 20 March (7:25 pm) | Essendon | vs. | Hawthorn | Marvel Stadium | |
| Saturday, 20 March (6:45 pm) | Brisbane Lions | vs. | Sydney | Gabba | |
| Sunday, 21 March (1:10 pm) | North Melbourne | vs. | Port Adelaide | Marvel Stadium | |
| Sunday, 21 March (3:20 pm) | Greater Western Sydney | vs. | St Kilda | Giants Stadium | |
| Sunday, 21 March (3:10 pm) | West Coast | vs. | Gold Coast | Optus Stadium | |
Round 2
| Round 2 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 25 March (7:20 pm) | Carlton | vs. | Collingwood | MCG | |
| Friday, 26 March (7:50 pm) | Geelong | vs. | Brisbane Lions | GMHBA Stadium | |
| Saturday, 27 March (1:45 pm) | Sydney | vs. | Adelaide | SCG | |
| Saturday, 27 March (4:05 pm) | Port Adelaide | vs. | Essendon | Adelaide Oval | |
| Saturday, 27 March (7:25 pm) | St Kilda | vs. | Melbourne | Marvel Stadium | |
| Saturday, 27 March (7:10 pm) | Gold Coast | vs. | North Melbourne | Metricon Stadium | |
| Sunday, 28 March (1:10 pm) | Hawthorn | vs. | Richmond | MCG | |
| Sunday, 28 March (3:20 pm) | Western Bulldogs | vs. | West Coast | Marvel Stadium | |
| Sunday, 28 March (3:10 pm) | Fremantle | vs. | Greater Western Sydney | Optus Stadium | |
Round 3
| Round 3 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 1 April (6:40 pm) | Brisbane Lions | vs. | Collingwood | Gabba | |
| Friday, 2 April (4:20 pm) | North Melbourne | vs. | Western Bulldogs | Marvel Stadium | |
| Friday, 2 April (7:20 pm) | Adelaide | vs. | Gold Coast | Adelaide Oval | |
| Saturday, 3 April (1:45 pm) | Richmond | vs. | Sydney | MCG | |
| Saturday, 3 April (4:35 pm) | Essendon | vs. | St Kilda | Marvel Stadium | |
| Saturday, 3 April (5:10 pm) | West Coast | vs. | Port Adelaide | Optus Stadium | |
| Sunday, 4 April (3:20 pm) | Carlton | vs. | Fremantle | Marvel Stadium | |
| Sunday, 4 April (6:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney | vs. | Melbourne | UNSW Canberra Oval | |
| Monday, 5 April (3:20 pm) | Geelong | vs. | Hawthorn | MCG | |
Round 4
| Round 4 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 8 April (7:20 pm) | Sydney | vs. | Essendon | SCG | |
| Friday, 9 April (7:20 pm) | Port Adelaide | vs. | Richmond | Adelaide Oval | |
| Saturday, 10 April (1:45 pm) | Western Bulldogs | vs. | Brisbane Lions | Mars Stadium | |
| Saturday, 10 April (4:35 pm) | St Kilda | vs. | West Coast | Marvel Stadium | |
| Saturday, 10 April (7:25 pm) | Gold Coast | vs. | Carlton | Metricon Stadium | |
| Saturday, 10 April (7:25 pm) | Collingwood | vs. | Greater Western Sydney | MCG | |
| Sunday, 11 April (1:10 pm) | North Melbourne | vs. | Adelaide | Marvel Stadium | |
| Sunday, 11 April (3:20 pm) | Melbourne | vs. | Geelong | MCG | |
| Sunday, 11 April (2:40 pm) | Fremantle | vs. | Hawthorn | Optus Stadium | |
Round 5
| Round 5 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 15 April (7:20 pm) | St Kilda | vs. | Richmond | Marvel Stadium | |
| Friday, 16 April (6:10 pm) | West Coast | vs. | Collingwood | Optus Stadium | |
| Saturday, 17 April (1:45 pm) | Western Bulldogs | vs. | Gold Coast | Marvel Stadium | |
| Saturday, 17 April (4:35 pm) | Sydney | vs. | Greater Western Sydney | SCG | |
| Saturday, 17 April (7:25 pm) | Carlton | vs. | Port Adelaide | MCG | |
| Saturday, 17 April (7:25 pm) | Brisbane Lions | vs. | Essendon | Gabba | |
| Sunday, 18 April (12:40 pm) | Adelaide | vs. | Fremantle | Adelaide Oval | |
| Sunday, 18 April (3:20 pm) | Hawthorn | vs. | Melbourne | MCG | |
| Sunday, 18 April (4:40 pm) | Geelong | vs. | North Melbourne | GMHBA Stadium | |
Round 6
| Round 6 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, 23 April (7:50 pm) | Greater Western Sydney | vs. | Western Bulldogs | UNSW Canberra Oval | |
| Saturday, 24 April (1:45 pm) | Geelong | vs. | West Coast | GMHBA Stadium | |
| Saturday, 24 April (1:45 pm) | Gold Coast | vs. | Sydney | Metricon Stadium | |
| Saturday, 24 April (4:35 pm) | Carlton | vs. | Brisbane Lions | Marvel Stadium | |
| Saturday, 24 April (7:25 pm) | Melbourne | vs. | Richmond | MCG | |
| Saturday, 24 April (6:10 pm) | Fremantle | vs. | North Melbourne | Optus Stadium | |
| Sunday, 25 April (12:30 pm) | Hawthorn | vs. | Adelaide | University of Tasmania Stadium | |
| Sunday, 25 April (3:20 pm) | Collingwood | vs. | Essendon | MCG | |
| Sunday, 25 April (6:10 pm) | Port Adelaide | vs. | St Kilda | Adelaide Oval | |
Round 7
| Round 7 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | vs. | Greater Western Sydney | Adelaide Oval | ||
| Brisbane Lions | vs. | Port Adelaide | Gabba | ||
| Collingwood | vs. | Gold Coast | MCG | ||
| Essendon | vs. | Carlton | MCG | ||
| North Melbourne | vs. | Melbourne | Blundstone Arena | ||
| Richmond | vs. | Western Bulldogs | MCG | ||
| St Kilda | vs. | Hawthorn | Marvel Stadium | ||
| Sydney | vs. | Geelong | SCG | ||
| West Coast | vs. | Fremantle | Optus Stadium | ||
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
| Round 10 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | vs. | Melbourne | Adelaide Oval | ||
| Brisbane Lions | vs. | Richmond | Gabba | ||
| Carlton | vs. | Hawthorn | MCG | ||
| Collingwood | vs. | Port Adelaide | MCG | ||
| Essendon | vs. | North Melbourne | Marvel Stadium | ||
| Fremantle | vs. | Sydney | Optus Stadium | ||
| Geelong | vs. | Gold Coast | GMHBA Stadium | ||
| Greater Western Sydney | vs. | West Coast | GIANTS Stadium | ||
| Western Bulldogs | vs. | St Kilda | Marvel Stadium | ||
Round 11
| Round 11 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane Lions | vs. | Greater Western Sydney | Gabba | ||
| Collingwood | vs. | Geelong | MCG | ||
| Gold Coast | vs. | Hawthorn | TIO Stadium | ||
| Port Adelaide | vs. | Fremantle | Adelaide Oval | ||
| Richmond | vs. | Adelaide | MCG | ||
| St Kilda | vs. | North Melbourne | Marvel Stadium | ||
| Sydney | vs. | Carlton | SCG | ||
| West Coast | vs. | Essendon | Optus Stadium | ||
| Western Bulldogs | vs. | Melbourne | Marvel Stadium | ||
Round 12
| Round 12 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | vs. | Collingwood | Adelaide Oval | ||
| Carlton | vs. | West Coast | MCG | ||
| Essendon | vs. | Richmond | MCG | ||
| Fremantle | vs. | Western Bulldogs | Optus Stadium | ||
| Melbourne | vs. | Brisbane Lions | TIO Traeger Park | ||
| St Kilda | vs. | Sydney | Marvel Stadium | ||
| Bye: Geelong, Gold Coast, Greater Western Sydney, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide | |||||
Round 13
| Round 13 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fremantle | vs. | Gold Coast | Optus Stadium | ||
| Melbourne | vs. | Collingwood | MCG | ||
| North Melbourne | vs. | Greater Western Sydney | Blundstone Arena | ||
| Port Adelaide | vs. | Geelong | Adelaide Oval | ||
| St Kilda | vs. | Adelaide | Cazalys Stadium | ||
| Sydney | vs. | Hawthorn | SCG | ||
| Bye: Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Essendon, Richmond, West Coast, Western Bulldogs | |||||
Round 14
| Round 14 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geelong | vs. | Western Bulldogs | GMHBA Stadium | ||
| Gold Coast | vs. | Port Adelaide | Metricon Stadium | ||
| Greater Western Sydney | vs. | Carlton | GIANTS Stadium | ||
| Hawthorn | vs. | Essendon | MCG | ||
| North Melbourne | vs. | Brisbane Lions | Marvel Stadium | ||
| West Coast | vs. | Richmond | Optus Stadium | ||
| Bye: Adelaide, Collingwood, Fremantle, Melbourne, St Kilda, Sydney | |||||
Round 15
| Round 15 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane Lions | vs. | Geelong | Gabba | ||
| Carlton | vs. | Adelaide | Marvel Stadium | ||
| Collingwood | vs. | Fremantle | Marvel Stadium | ||
| Essendon | vs. | Melbourne | MCG | ||
| Greater Western Sydney | vs. | Hawthorn | GIANTS Stadium | ||
| North Melbourne | vs. | Gold Coast | Blundstone Arena | ||
| Port Adelaide | vs. | Sydney | Adelaide Oval | ||
| Richmond | vs. | St Kilda | MCG | ||
| West Coast | vs. | Western Bulldogs | Optus Stadium | ||
Round 16
| Round 16 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | vs. | Brisbane Lions | Adelaide Oval | ||
| Collingwood | vs. | St Kilda | MCG | ||
| Fremantle | vs. | Carlton | Optus Stadium | ||
| Geelong | vs. | Essendon | GMHBA Stadium | ||
| Gold Coast | vs. | Richmond | Metricon Stadium | ||
| Hawthorn | vs. | Port Adelaide | Marvel Stadium | ||
| Melbourne | vs. | Greater Western Sydney | MCG | ||
| Sydney | vs. | West Coast | SCG | ||
| Western Bulldogs | vs. | North Melbourne | Marvel Stadium | ||
Round 17
Round 18
| Round 18 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | vs. | West Coast | Adelaide Oval | ||
| Collingwood | vs. | Carlton | MCG | ||
| Fremantle | vs. | Geelong | Optus Stadium | ||
| Gold Coast | vs. | Western Bulldogs | Metricon Stadium | ||
| Greater Western Sydney | vs. | Sydney | GIANTS Stadium | ||
| Melbourne | vs. | Hawthorn | MCG | ||
| North Melbourne | vs. | Essendon | Marvel Stadium | ||
| Richmond | vs. | Brisbane Lions | MCG | ||
| St Kilda | vs. | Port Adelaide | Marvel Stadium | ||
Round 19
| Round 19 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlton | vs. | North Melbourne | Marvel Stadium | ||
| Essendon | vs. | Greater Western Sydney | Marvel Stadium | ||
| Geelong | vs. | Richmond | MCG | ||
| Gold Coast | vs. | Melbourne | Metricon Stadium | ||
| Hawthorn | vs. | Brisbane Lions | MCG | ||
| Port Adelaide | vs. | Collingwood | Adelaide Oval | ||
| Sydney | vs. | Fremantle | SCG | ||
| West Coast | vs. | St Kilda | Optus Stadium | ||
| Western Bulldogs | vs. | Adelaide | Mars Stadium | ||
Round 20
Round 21
| Round 21 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | vs. | Port Adelaide | Adelaide Oval | ||
| Brisbane Lions | vs. | Fremantle | Gabba | ||
| Carlton | vs. | Gold Coast | Marvel Stadium | ||
| Geelong | vs. | Greater Western Sydney | GMHBA Stadium | ||
| Hawthorn | vs. | Collingwood | MCG | ||
| Richmond | vs. | North Melbourne | MCG | ||
| Sydney | vs. | St Kilda | SCG | ||
| West Coast | vs. | Melbourne | Optus Stadium | ||
| Western Bulldogs | vs. | Essendon | Marvel Stadium | ||
Round 22
Round 23
| Round 23 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | vs. | North Melbourne | Adelaide Oval | ||
| Brisbane Lions | vs. | West Coast | Gabba | ||
| Carlton | vs. | Greater Western Sydney | Marvel Stadium | ||
| Essendon | vs. | Collingwood | MCG | ||
| Geelong | vs. | Melbourne | GMHBA Stadium | ||
| Richmond | vs. | Hawthorn | MCG | ||
| St Kilda | vs. | Fremantle | Marvel Stadium | ||
| Sydney | vs. | Gold Coast | SCG | ||
| Western Bulldogs | vs. | Port Adelaide | Marvel Stadium | ||
Ladder
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | Finals series |
| 2 | Brisbane Lions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | |
| 3 | Carlton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | |
| 4 | Collingwood | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | |
| 5 | Essendon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | |
| 6 | Fremantle | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | |
| 7 | Geelong | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | |
| 8 | Gold Coast | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | |
| 9 | Greater Western Sydney | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | |
| 10 | Hawthorn | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | |
| 11 | Melbourne | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | |
| 12 | North Melbourne | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | |
| 13 | Port Adelaide | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | |
| 14 | Richmond | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | |
| 15 | St Kilda | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | |
| 16 | Sydney | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | |
| 17 | West Coast | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | |
| 18 | Western Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 20 December 2020. Source: AFL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
Club leadership
References
- David Zita (18 November 2021). "Revealed: AFL's sweeping changes for 2021 season". Fox Sports. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- Mitch Cleary (10 December 2020). "Full-time footy is back: 20-min quarters, AFL to reveal floating fixture". Australian Football League. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- "18 games, 18 venues: Pre-season footy's back in 2021". Australian Football League. Telstra Media. 18 December 2020.
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