1997 was one of the most memorable seasons ever, and one of the closest. For those of you who enjoyed it all as we did here in North America, this is the tale of Season '97.
Pre-season: The 1997 Ansett Cup
| Match | Clubs | Date | Venue | Day/Night | Local/AEST Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | |||||
| 1 | Adelaide 17.14 (116) d. Collingwood 9.8 (62) | Fri 21 Feb | Football Park | Night | 8:10pm /8:40pm |
| 2 | Geelong 9.10 (64) d. West Coast 5.4 (34) | Sat 22 Feb | Waverley Park | Night | 8:40pm/8:40pm |
| 3 | Hawthorn 9.12 (66) lt. Richmond 11.12 (78) | Sun 23 Feb | Waverley Park | Night | 8:40pm/8:40pm |
| 4 | North Melb. 13.9 (87) d.Wstn. Bulldogs 11.8 (74) | Mon 24 Feb | Waverley Park | Night | 8:40pm/8:40pm |
| 5 | Melbourne 9.10 (64) lt. Carlton 13.9 (87) | Wed 26 Feb | Waverley Park | Night | 8:40pm/8:40pm |
| 6 | Port Adelaide 4.15 (39) lt. Fremantle 11.9 (75) | Fri 28 Feb | Football Park | Night | 8:10pm/8:40pm |
| 7 | Sydney 10.7 (67) lt. St. Kilda 9.14 (68) | Sat 1 Mar | Bruce Stadium | Day | 2:10pm/2:10pm |
| Quarter Final No. 1 | |||||
| 9 | Adelaide 7.10 (52) lt. Geelong 11.14 (80) | Sun 2 Mar | Football Park | Night | 8:10pm/8:40pm |
| Round 1 | |||||
| 8 | Brisbane 15.13 (103) d. Essendon 8.7 (55) | Mon 3 Mar | Gabba | Night | 7:40pm/8:40pm |
| Quarter Final Nos. 2-4 | |||||
| 10 | Richmond 9.9 (63)lt. North Melb. 22.10 (142) | Fri 7 Mar | Waverley Park | Night | 8:40pm/8:40pm |
| 11 | Carlton 15.13 (103) d. Fremantle 9.11 (65) | Sat 8 Mar | Waverley Park | Night | 8:40pm/8:40pm |
| 12 | St. Kilda 11.10 (76)d. Brisbane 11.7 (73) | Sun 9 Mar | Waverley Park | Night | 8:40pm/8:40pm |
| Semi Finals | |||||
| 13 | Geelong 14.13 (97) d. North Melb. 14.12 (96) | Fri 14 Mar | Waverley Park | Night | 8:40pm/8:40pm |
| 14 | Carlton 12.11 (83) d. St. Kilda 10.13 (73) | Sat 15 Mar | Waverley Park | Night | 8:40pm/8:40pm |
| Grand Final | |||||
| 15 | Geelong 5.10 (40)lt. Carlton 14.13 (97) | Sat 22 Mar | MCG | Night | 8:40pm/8:40pm |
Regular season: The 1997 Coca Cola AFL Season
ROUND 1
Thursday 27 March
North Melbourne 7.13 (55)lt. Melbourne 10.10 (70) MCG (night)
Saturday 29 March
Collingwood 26.10 (166) d Port Adelaide 13.9 (87) - Relocated to MCG from Victoria Park
Western Bulldogs 11.10 (76)lt. Fremantle 10.20 (80) - Relocated to Optus Oval from Whitten Oval
St Kilda 10.11 (71) lt. Hawthorn 11.11 (77) - Waverley Park (night)
West Coast 12.6 (78) d Sydney 5.7 (37) - Subiaco (night)
Sunday 30 March
Richmond 15.14 (104) d Geelong 13.17 (95) - MCG
Adelaide 20.12 (132) d Brisbane 14.12 (96) - Football Park
Monday 31 March
Essendon 16.10 (106) d Carlton 15.9 (99) - MCG
ROUND 2
Friday 4 April
Melbourne 7.14 (56) lt. Collingwood 24.19 (163)- MCG (night)
Saturday 5 April
Richmond 19.14 (128) d Adelaide 15.10 (100) - MCG
Geelong 11.12 (78) d West Coast 11.6 (72) - Kardinia Park
Sydney 12.11 (83) lt Western Bulldogs 13.12 (90) - Relocated to Optus Oval from the SCG
Sunday 6 April
Brisbane 23.16 (154) d St Kilda 7.15 (57) - Gabba
Port Adelaide 8.12 (60) lt Essendon 14.9 (93) - Football Park
Fremantle 13.9 (87) d Hawthorn 10.13 (73) - Subiaco
Monday 7 April
North Melbourne 12.14 (86) d Carlton 8.12 (60) - MCG (night)
ROUND 3
Friday 11 April
Sydney 15.9 (99) d Melbourne 14.7 (91)- SCG (night)
Saturday 12 April
Western Bulldogs 16.9 (105) d Richmond 12.14 (86)- Relocated to the MCG from Optus Oval
St Kilda 19.11 (125) d Collingwood 17.16 (118) - Waverley Park
Port Adelaide 18.21 (129) d Geelong 14.6 (90) - Football Park (night)
Sunday 13 April
West Coast 16.15 (111) d Fremantle 9.17 (71) - Subiaco
Essendon 18.14 (122) d North Melbourne 12.8 (80) - MCG
Carlton 15.18 (108) d Adelaide 12.8 (80) - Optus Oval
Hawthorn 12.15 (87) d Brisbane 11.9 (75) - Waverley Park
ROUND 4
Friday 18 April
Melbourne 13.9 (87) lt. Western Bulldogs 13.11 (89) - MCG (night)
Saturday 19 April
Collingwood 12.12 (84) lt. Carlton 15.11 (101) - MCG
Richmond 10.12 (72) d Fremantle 10.7 (67) - Optus Oval
St Kilda 12.9 (81) lt. Sydney 18.19 (127)- Waverley Park (night)
West Coast 17.10 (112) d Hawthorn 13.11 (89) - Subiaco (night)
Sunday 20 April
Geelong 11.19 (85) d Essendon 11.12 (78) - MCG (moved from Saturday, April 19)
Brisbane 15.19 (109) d North Melbourne 12.11 (83)- Gabba
Adelaide 11.6 (72) lt Port Adelaide 11.17 (83) - Football Park
ROUND 5
Friday 25 April (Anzac Day)
Essendon 10.10 (70) lt. Collingwood 14.15 (99) - MCG
Fremantle 16.11 (107) d. St Kilda 15.11 (101) - Subiaco (night)
Saturday 26 April
Melbourne 12.6 (78) lt. West Coast 19.12 (126) - MCG
Western Bulldogs 9.11 (65) lt. Adelaide 19.7 (121) - Optus Oval
Hawthorn 15.9 (99) d. Sydney 11.8 (74)- Waverley Park (night)
Sunday 27 April
Port Adelaide 10.13 (71) d. Brisbane 10.11 (71) - Football Park
North Melbourne 21.15 (141) d. Richmond 7.4 (46) - MCG
Carlton 12.14 (86) d. Geelong 13.16 (94) - Optus Oval
ROUND 6
Friday 2 May
West Coast 14.15 (99) lt. Western Bulldogs 17.11 (113) - WACA (night)
Saturday 3 May
Essendon 15.12 (102) d. Brisbane 9.17 (71) - MCG
Collingwood 13.6 (84) d. Adelaide 11.17 (83) - Victoria Park
Geelong 14.13 (97) d. Fremantle 6.7 (43) - Kardinia Park
Hawthorn 14.9 (93) lt. North Melbourne 16.7 (103)- Waverley Park (night)
Sunday 4 May
Sydney 21.16 (142)d. Carlton 11.17 (83) - SCG
St Kilda 17.10 (121) d. Melbourne 4.11 (35) - Waverley Park
Port Adelaide 19.8 (122) d. Richmond 8.10 (58) - Football Park
ROUND 7
Friday 9 May
North Melbourne 9.14 (68) lt. Collingwood 17.9 (111) MCG (night)
Saturday 10 May
Richmond 10.16 (76) lt. Carlton 14.14 (98)- MCG
Western Bulldogs 19.19 (133) d. Hawthorn 13.10 (88) - Optus Oval
Geelong 11.10 (76) d. Sydney 6.8 (44) - Kardinia Park
St Kilda 20.6 (126) d. Port Adelaide 8.13 (61) - Waverley Park (night)
Fremantle 17.22 (124) d. Melbourne 10.9 (69) - WACA Ground (night)
Sunday 11 May
Brisbane 8.12 (60) lt. West Coast 21.13 (139) - Gabba
Adelaide 18.18 (126) d. Essendon 11.7 (73)- Football Park
ROUND 8
Friday 16 May
Collingwood 19.15 (129) d. Western Bulldogs 11.17 (83) - MCG (night)
Saturday 17 May
Melbourne 7.7 (49) lt. Geelong 19.14 (128)- MCG
North Melbourne 19.14 (128) d. Port Adelaide 15.10 (100)- Optus Oval
Adelaide 22.12 (144) d. Sydney 8.7 (55) - Football Park (night)
Sunday 18 May
Essendon 14.16 (100) lt. St Kilda 18.16 (124) - MCG
Carlton 15.16 (106) d. Hawthorn 12.9 (81)- Optus Oval
Fremantle 14.14 (98) d. Brisbane 15.3 (93) - Subiaco
Monday 19 May
Richmond v West Coast - MCG (night)
ROUND 9
Friday 23 May
Port Adelaide 10.18 (78) d. Melbourne 3.9 (27) - Football Park (night)
Saturday 24 May
Carlton 16.9 (105) d. Fremantle 14.4 (88)- Optus Oval
Hawthorn 13.10 (88) lt. Adelaide 14.18 (102) - Waverley Park
Sydney 16.15 (111) d. Collingwood 11.8 (74) - SCG (night)
Sunday 25 May
Brisbane 19.12 (126) d. Geelong 15.8 (98) - Gabba
Western Bulldogs 16.7 (103) d. North Melbourne 10.11 (71)- MCG
St Kilda 22.9 (141) d. Richmond 14.10 (94) - Waverley Park
West Coast 16.14 (110) d. Essendon 13.7 (85)- Subiaco
ROUND 10
Friday 30 May
Port Adelaide 14.9 (93) d. Carlton 7.13 (55) - Football Park (night)
Saturday 31 May
North Melbourne 15.13 (103) d. West Coast 9.4 (58)- Optus Oval
Hawthorn 16.12 (108) d. Collingwood 8.7 (55) - Waverley Park
Geelong 16.11 (107) d. St Kilda 11.13 (79) - Kardinia Park
Richmond 9.13 (67) lt. Melbourne 14.8 (92) - MCG (night)
Sunday 1 June
Essendon 17.12 (114) lt. Western Bulldogs 20.16 (136) - MCG
Brisbane 13.14 (92) d. Sydney 13.11 (89) - Gabba
Monday 2 June
Fremantle 10.12 (72) lt. Adelaide 16.9 (105)- Subiaco (night)
ROUND 11
Friday 6 June
Collingwood 10.11 (71) lt. Richmond 11.11 (77) - MCG (night)
Saturday 7 June
Essendon 13.13 (91) lt. Hawthorn 17.22 (124)- MCG
Western Bulldogs 14.12 (96) d. Geelong 11.9 (75)- Optus Oval
Port Adelaide 4.17 (41) lt. Sydney 10.16 (76) - Football Park (night)
Sunday 8 June
West Coast 11.7 (73) lt. St Kilda 13.11 (89) - Subiaco (early start)
Melbourne 5.15 (45) lt. Adelaide 14.13 (97) - MCG
Monday 9 June
North Melbourne 15.15 (105) d. Fremantle 12.7 (79) - MCG
Carlton 12.12 (84) d. Brisbane 9.9 (63) - Optus Oval
ROUND 12
Friday 13 June
Sydney 26.8 (164) d. Richmond 16.14 (110) - SCG (night)
Saturday 14 June
Western Bulldogs 12.10 (82) lt. Port Adelaide 14.10 (94) - Optus Oval
Collingwood 7.13 (55) lt. West Coast 11.5 (71)- Victoria Park
Geelong 12.10 (82) lt. Hawthorn 13.10 (88) - Kardinia Park
Sunday 15 June
Fremantle 24.13 (157) d. Essendon 9.6 (60) - Subiaco
St Kilda 16.20 (116) d. Carlton 12.13 (85) - Waverley Park
Adelaide 12.11 (83) lt. North Melbourne 16.9 (105) - Football Park
Melbourne 7.8 (50) lt. Brisbane 21.9 (135) - MCG
STATE OF ORIGIN
Friday 20 June
Western Australia 16.12 (108) lt. Allies 18.8 (116) - Subiaco
Saturday 21 June
South Australia 12.13 (85) lt. Victoria 13.15 (93) - Football Park (night)
ROUND 13
Friday 27 June
West Coast 11.13 (79) lt. Carlton 12.14 (86)- Subiaco (night)
Saturday 28 June
Richmond 4.10 (34) lt. Essendon 19.13 (127)- MCG
St Kilda 11.18 (84) lt. Western Bulldogs 16.11 (101) - Waverley Park
Geelong 17.8 (110) d. Adelaide 7.12 (54)- Kardinia Park
Port Adelaide 10.9 (69) d. Fremantle 7.12 (54) - Football Park (night)
Sunday 29 June
Hawthorn 17.16 (118) d. Melbourne 7.13 (55) - Waverley Park
Sydney 8.17 (65) d. North Melbourne 7.13 (55) - SCG
Brisbane 11.22 (88) d. Collingwood 11.7 (73) - Gabba (night)
ROUND 14
Friday 4 July
Adelaide 16.10 (106) d. West Coast 4.7 (31) - Football Park (night)
Saturday 5 July
Geelong 9.26 (80) d. Collingwood 10.12 (72) - MCG
Carlton 11.8 (74) lt. Western Bulldogs 16.14 (110) - Optus Oval
St Kilda 20.13 (133) d. North Melbourne 11.13 (79) - Waverley Park
Fremantle 6.12 (48) d. Sydney 3.15 (33) - WACA (night)
Sunday 6 July
Essendon 18.12 (120) d. Melbourne 8.9 (57) -MCG
Hawthorn 18.16 (124) d. Port Adelaide 13.14 (92) - Waverly Park
Brisbane 7.26 (68) d. Richmond 7.8 (50) - Gabba
ROUND 15
Friday 11 July
North Melbourne 14.8 (92) lt. Geelong 15.12 (102) - MCG (night)
Saturday 12 July
Melbourne 18.11 (119) d. Carlton 15.10 (100) - MCG
Western Bulldogs 11.7 (73) lt. Brisbane 21.11 (137) - Optus Oval
Collingwood 25.10 (160) d. Fremantle 9.6 (60) - Victoria Park
Adelaide 10.16 (76) d. St Kilda 9.12 (66) - Football Park (night)
Sunday 13 July
Sydney 11.13 (79) d. Essendon 11.12 (78)- SCG
Richmond 22.13 (145) d. Hawthorn 10.9 (69) - MCG
West Coast 12.13 (85) d. Port Adelaide 9.13 (67) - Subiaco
ROUND 16
Friday 18 July
Brisbane 17.16 (118) d. Adelaide 13.9 (87) - Gabba (night)
Saturday 19 July
Carlton 25.12 (165) d. Essendon 13.9 (87)- MCG
Hawthorn 9.8 (62) lt. St Kilda 20.21 (141) - Waverley Park
Geelong 16.14 (110) d. Richmond 12.6 (78) - Kardinia Park
Sydney 15.22 (112) d. West Coast 11.9 (75) - SCG (night)
Port Adelaide 17.9 (111) d. Collingwood 8.10 (58) - Football Park (night)
Sunday 20 July
Fremantle 15.7 (97) d. Western Bulldogs 13.13 (91) - Subiaco
Melbourne 7.16 (58) lt. North Melbourne 17.12 (114) - MCG
ROUND 17
Friday 25 July
Essendon 10.12 (72) lt. Port Adelaide 18.14 (122) - MCG (night)
Saturday 26 July
Carlton 7.16 (58) lt. North Melbourne 14.12 (96) - Optus Oval
Hawthorn 9.8 (62) lt. Fremantle 10.11 (71) - Waverley Park
Adelaide 29.11 (185) d. Richmond 7.6 (48) - Football Park (night)
Sunday 27 July
Collingwood 20.14 (134) d. Melbourne 12.10 (82) - Relocated from Victoria Park to the MCG (moved from Saturday, July 26, also)
West Coast 20.9 (129) d. Geelong 12.10 (82)- Subiaco (early start)
Western Bulldogs 7.10 (52) lt. Sydney 22.17 (149)- Relocated from Optus Oval to the SCG (Night)
St Kilda 12.20 (92) d. Brisbane 5.14 (44) - Waverley Park
ROUND 18
Friday 1 August
Essendon 8.16 (64) lt. North Melbourne 11.17 (83)- MCG
Saturday 2 August
Melbourne 7.11 (53) l. Sydney 25.19 (169)- MCG
Richmond 17.13 (115) d. Western Bulldogs 15.10 (100)- Optus Oval
Geelong 25.9 (159) d. Port Adelaide 11.8 (74)- Kardinia Park
Brisbane 21.15 (141) d. Hawthorn 11.5 (71)- Gabba (night)
Sunday 3 August
Adelaide 18.19 (127) d. Carlton 13.8 (86)- Football Park
Collingwood 12.17 (89) lt. St Kilda 15.21 (111)- MCG
Fremantle 7.7 (49) lt. West Coast 13.4 (82)- Subiaco
ROUND 19
Friday 8 August
North Melbourne 17.14 (116) d. Brisbane 9.5 (59)- MCG (night)
Saturday 9 August
Carlton 14.23 (107) d. Collingwood 13.13 (91)- MCG
Western Bulldogs 14.18 (102) d. Melbourne 9.8 (62)- Optus Oval
Hawthorn 10.6 (66) lt. West Coast 13.9 (87)- Waverley Park
Fremantle 12.13 (85) d. Richmond 5.12 (42)- WACA (night)
Sunday 10 August
Sydney 17.17 (119) lt. St Kilda 18.20 (128) - SCG
Essendon 11.7 (73) d. Geelong 9.14 (68)- MCG
Port Adelaide 9.4 (58) lt. Adelaide 9.11 (65)- Football Park
ROUND 20
Friday 15 August
West Coast 15.7 (97) d. Melbourne 7.17 (59) - WACA (night)
Saturday 16 August
Collingwood 13.13 (91) d. Essendon 12.9 (81) - MCG
St Kilda 12.5 (77) d. Fremantle 9.10 (64) - Waverley Park
Geelong 13.17 (95) d. Carlton 9.13 (67) - Kardinia Park
Brisbane 13.15 (93) drew Port Adelaide 13.15 (93) - Gabba (night)
Sunday 17 August
Sydney 20.15 (135) d. Hawthorn 11.11 (77) - SCG
Richmond 14.13 (97) d. North Melbourne 14.12 (96) - MCG
Adelaide 7.18 (60) lt. Western Bulldogs 16.7 (103) - Football Park
ROUND 21
Friday 22 August
Melbourne 8.14 (62) lt. St Kilda 17.12 (114) - MCG (night)
Saturday 23 August
North Melbourne 10.21 (81) d. Hawthorn 6.7 (43) - MCG
Carlton 11.10 (76) d. Sydney 5.11 (41)- Optus Oval
Western Bulldogs 12.14 (86) d. West Coast 10.8 (68) - Whitten Oval
Brisbane 15.12 (102) lt. Essendon 16.10 (106) - Gabba (night)
Sunday 24 August
Fremantle 9.14 (68) lt. Geelong 14.16 (100) - Subiaco
Richmond 22.14 (146) d. Port Adelaide 8.13 (61) - MCG
Monday 25 August
Adelaide 6.12 (48) d. Collingwood 5.9 (39) - Football Park (night)
ROUND 22
Friday 29 August
West Coast 18.12 (120) d. Brisbane 11.15 (81) - WACA (night)
Saturday 30 August
Melbourne 18.11 (119) d. Fremantle 11.13 (79) - MCG
Carlton 13.11 (89) lt. Richmond 13.13 (91) - Optus Oval
Hawthorn 13.9 (87) lt. Western Bulldogs 15.15 (105) - Waverley Park
Sydney 13.12 (90) lt. Geelong 15.10 (100) - SCG (night)
Sunday 31 August
Collingwood 18.14 (122) d. North Melbourne 15.21 (111) - MCG
Essendon 16.6 (102) d. Adelaide 14.14 (98) - Optus Oval
Port Adelaide 12.12 (84) lt. St Kilda 17.15 (117) - Football Park
FINALS
September 5,6,7
Qualifying Finals
First qualifying final: Adelaide 14.15 (99) d. West Coast 9.12 (66)
Second qualifying final: Western Bulldogs 18.11 (119) d. Sydney 12.12 (84)
Third qualifying final: North Melbourne 11.13 (79) d. Geelong 9.7 (61)
Fourth qualifying final: St. Kilda 20.15 (135) d. Brisbane 13.11 (89)
September 13,14
Semi Finals
First semi final: North Melbourne 15.8 (98) d. West Coast 12.13 (85)
Second semi final: Adelaide 11.10 (76) d. Geelong 9.14 (68)
September 20
Preliminary Finals
First preliminary final: St. Kilda 15.14 (104) d. North Melbourne 11.7 (73)
Second preliminary final: Adelaide 12.21 (93) d. Western Bulldogs 13.13 (91)
September 27
The Grand Final
Adelaide 19.11 (125) d. St Kilda 13.16 (94)
1997 Grand Final Results
Final 1997 ladder
(Alterations made due to finals results).
Team P W L D For Agn % Pts
Adelaide 22 13 9 - 2151 1769 121.6 52 (was 4th)
St Kilda 22 15 7 - 2294 1918 119.6 60 (was 1st)
Western Bulldogs 22 14 8 - 2100 2062 101.8 56
North Melbourne 22 12 10 - 2051 1837 111.6 48 (was 7th)
Geelong 22 15 7 - 2112 1791 117.9 60 (was 2nd)
West Coast 22 13 9 - 1969 1771 111.2 52 (was 5th)
Sydney 22 12 10 - 2093 1801 116.2 48 (was 6th)
Brisbane 22 10 11 1 2076 1973 105.2 42
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Port Adelaide 22 10 11 1 1852 2017 91.8 42
Collingwood 22 10 12 - 2138 1919 111.4 40
Carlton 22 10 12 - 1978 2045 96.7 40
Fremantle 22 10 12 - 1748 1902 91.9 40
Richmond 22 10 12 - 1883 2253 83.6 40
Essendon 22 9 13 - 2004 2170 92.4 36
Hawthorn 22 8 14 - 1875 2144 87.5 32
Melbourne 22 4 18 - 1477 2429 60.8 16