The VFL/AFL finals have long delivered some of the most dramatic moments in Australian sport, with grand finals etched into history for their intensity and unpredictability.

Over time, the competition has evolved to ensure a decisive outcome, shaping how champions are crowned on the biggest stage. Find out more about the premiers here.

Overview of AFL Grand Finals

The finals series culminates in a grand final, usually played in the last week of September. From 2026 the finals expanded from eight teams to ten, with a new wildcard round contested by the clubs finishing 7th to 10th in what had previously been the pre-finals bye week; the top six sit that round out. Read about the AFL finals system. The grand final tradition began in 1898, and there have now been 128 grand finals across 130 seasons – the 1897 and 1924 premierships were both decided by a round-robin finals series with no deciding match.

There have been three drawn grand finals (1948, 1977 and 2010), which required a replay match the following week.

Since 2016, the rules have changed so grand finals that are tied after full-time will result in extra time of two five-minute periods. If the scores are still tied at the end of the extra time, play continues until the next score.

“The AFL Grand Final is more than just a most important game; it’s a day where communities come together, where stories are made, and where legends are born. It’s a cultural institution embedded in Australian identity.”
— AFL.com.au

The 2026 AFL Grand Final

The 2026 AFL Grand Final was played on Saturday, 26 September 2026 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of 100,023 people, between minor premiers Fremantle and the two-time defending champions, the Brisbane Lions.

It finished as one of the great grand finals. Fremantle, playing in only the second grand final in the club's history and their first since 2013, led by 17 points inside the last four minutes. Brisbane then kicked four straight goals – through Charlie Cameron, Zac Bailey and two from Logan Morris, the last of them with twelve seconds on the clock – to win 14.12 (96) to 12.17 (89), a margin of seven points.

The victory gave Brisbane a third consecutive premiership and their sixth in all, matching the three-peat the club achieved in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Fremantle's Shai Bolton won the Norm Smith Medal as best afield, becoming the first player from a losing side to take the award since Chris Judd in 2005.

AFL Grand Final parade in 2006 AFL Grand Final parade in 2006

Recent Grand Final Winners and Highlights

2026 - Brisbane Lions

Kicked the last four goals of the match to beat Fremantle by seven points and complete a three-peat.

2025 - Brisbane Lions

Secured a commanding 47-point victory over the Geelong Cats to claim back-to-back premierships.

2024 - Brisbane Lions

Defeated Sydney 120-60 in a dominant display, claiming their first premiership since 2003.

In 2016, the Western Bulldogs appeared in their first Grand Final since 1961, beating the Sydney Swans by 22 points. The Bulldogs won four finals, including three consecutively on their path to the Grand Final, after finishing in a record seventh position on the ladder to ultimately win the premiership.

The 2017 winner Richmond completed the greatest 12-month turnaround in AFL history. After finishing 13th on the ladder in 2016, the Tigers went on to win their first premiership in 37 years in 2017. In 2020, they again won the grand final.

List of AFL Grand Final Winners

Complete List of VFL/AFL Premiers (1897-2026)
Season Premier Runner Up Score
2026 Brisbane Fremantle 14.12 (96) d. 12.17 (89)
2025 Brisbane Geelong 18.14 (122) d. 11.9 (75)
2024 Brisbane Sydney 18.12 (120) d. 9.6 (60)
2023 Collingwood Brisbane 12.18 (90) d. 13.8 (86)
2022 Geelong Sydney 20.13 (133) d. 8.4 (52)
2021 Melbourne Western Bulldogs 21.14 (140) d. 10.6 (66)
2020 Richmond Geelong 12.9 (81) d. 7.8 (50)
2019 Richmond GWS Giants 17.12 (114) d. 3.7 (25)
2018 West Coast Eagles Collingwood 11.13 (79) d. 11.8 (74)
2017 Richmond Adelaide 16.12 (108) d. 8.12 (60)
2016 Western Bulldogs Sydney 13.11 (89) d. 10.7 (67)
2015 Hawthorn West Coast Eagles 16.11 (107) d. 8.13 (61)
2014 Hawthorn Sydney 21.11 (137) d. 11.8 (74)
2013 Hawthorn Fremantle 11.11 (77) d. 8.14 (62)
2012 Sydney Swans Hawthorn 14.7 (91) - 11.15 (81)
2011 Geelong Collingwood 18.11 (119) - 12.9 (81)
2010 Collingwood St Kilda 1. 9.14 (68) - 10.8 (68)
2. 16.12 (108) - 7.10 (52) - replay
2009 Geelong St Kilda 12.8 (80) - 9.14 (68)
2008 Hawthorn Geelong 18.7 (115) - 11.23 (89)
2007 Geelong Port Adelaide 24.19 (163) - 6.8 (44)
2006 West Coast Sydney 12.13 (85) - 12.12 (84)
2005 Sydney West Coast 8.10 (58) - 7.12 (54)
2004 Port Adelaide Brisbane 17.11 (113) - 10.13 (73)
2003 Brisbane Collingwood 20.14 (134) - 12.12 (84)
2002 Brisbane Collingwood 10.15 (75) - 9.12 (66)
2001 Brisbane Essendon 15.18 (108) - 12.10 (82)
2000 Essendon Melbourne 19.21 (135) - 11.9 (75)
1999 North Melbourne Carlton 19.10 (124) - 12.17 (89)
1998 Adelaide North Melbourne 15.15 (105) - 8.22 (70)
1997 Adelaide St Kilda 19.11 (125) - 13.16 (94)
1996 North Melbourne Sydney 19.17 (131) - 13.10 (88)
1995 Carlton Geelong 21.15 (141) - 11.14 (80)
1994 West Coast Geelong 20.23 (143) - 8.15 (63)
1993 Essendon Carlton 20.13 (133) - 13.11 (89)
1992 West Coast Geelong 16.17 (113) - 12.13 (85)
1991 Hawthorn West Coast 20.19 (139) - 13.8 (86)
1990 Collingwood Essendon 13.11 (89) - 5.11 (41)
1989 Hawthorn Geelong 21.18 (144) - 21.12 (138)
1988 Hawthorn Melbourne 22.20 (152) - 6.20 (56)
1987 Carlton Hawthorn 15.14 (104) - 9.17 (71)
1986 Hawthorn Carlton 16.14 (110) - 9.14 (68)
1985 Essendon Hawthorn 26.14 (170) - 14.8 (92)
1984 Essendon Hawthorn 14.21 (105) - 12.9 (81)
1983 Hawthorn Essendon 20.20 (140) - 8.9 (57)
1982 Carlton Richmond 14.19 (103) - 12.13 (85)
1981 Carlton Collingwood 12.20 (92) - 10.12 (72)
1980 Richmond Collingwood 23.21 (159) - 9.24 (78)
1979 Carlton Collingwood 11.16 (82) - 11.11 (77)
1978 Hawthorn North Melbourne 18.13 (121) - 15.13 (103)
1977 North Melbourne Collingwood 1. 9.22 (76) - 10.16 (76)
2. 21.25 (151) - 19.10 (124)
1976 Hawthorn North Melbourne 13.22 (100) - 10.10 (70)
1975 North Melbourne Hawthorn 19.8 (122) - 9.13 (67)
1974 Richmond North Melbourne 18.20 (128) - 13.9 (87)
1973 Richmond Carlton 16.20 (116) - 12.14 (86)
1972 Carlton Richmond 28.9 (177) - 22.18 (150)
1971 Hawthorn St Kilda 12.10 (82) - 11.9 (75)
1970 Carlton Collingwood 17.9 (111) - 14.17 (101)
1969 Richmond Carlton 12.13 (85) - 8.12 (60)
1968 Carlton Essendon 7.14 (56) - 8.5 (53)
1967 Richmond Geelong 16.18 (114) - 15.15 (105)
1966 St Kilda Collingwood 10.14 (74) - 10.13 (73)
1965 Essendon St Kilda 14.21 (105) - 9.16 (70)
1964 Melbourne Collingwood 8.16 (64) - 8.12 (60)
1963 Geelong Hawthorn 15.19 (109) - 8.12 (60)
1962 Essendon Carlton 13.12 (90) - 8.10 (58)
1961 Hawthorn Footscray 13.16 (94) - 7.9 (51)
1960 Melbourne Collingwood 8.14 (62) - 2.2 (14)
1959 Melbourne Essendon 17.13 (115) - 11.12 (78)
1958 Collingwood Melbourne 12.10 (82) - 9.10 (64)
1957 Melbourne Essendon 17.14 (116) - 7.13 (55)
1956 Melbourne Collingwood 17.19 (121) - 6.12 (48)
1955 Melbourne Collingwood 8.16 (64) - 5.6 (36)
1954 Footscray Melbourne 15.12 (102) - 7.9 (51)
1953 Collingwood Geelong 11.11 (77) - 8.17 (65)
1952 Geelong Collingwood 13.8 (86) - 5.10 (40)
1951 Geelong Essendon 11.15 (81) - 10.10 (70)
1950 Essendon North Melbourne 13.14 (92) - 7.12 (54)
1949 Essendon Carlton 18.17 (125) - 6.16 (52)
1948 Melbourne Essendon 1. 10.9 (69) - 7.27 (69)
2. 13.11 (89) - 7.8 (50)
1947 Carlton Essendon 13.8 (86) - 11.19 (85)
1946 Essendon Melbourne 22.18 (150) - 13.9(87)
1945 Carlton South Melbourne 15.13 (103) - 10.15 (75)
1944 Fitzroy Richmond 9.12 (66) - 7.9 (51)
1943 Richmond Essendon 12.14 (86) - 11.15 (81)
1942 Essendon Richmond 19.18 (132) - 11.13 (79)
1941 Melbourne Essendon 19.13 (127) - 13.20 (98)
1940 Melbourne Richmond 15.17 (107) - 10.8 (68)
1939 Melbourne Collingwood 21.22 (148) - 14.11 (95)
1938 Carlton Collingwood 15.10 (100) - 13.7 (85)
1937 Geelong Collingwood 18.14 (122) - 12.18 (90)
1936 Collingwood South Melbourne 11.23 (89) - 10.18 (78)
1935 Collingwood South Melbourne 11.12 (78) - 7.16 (58)
1934 Richmond South Melbourne 19.14 (128) - 12.17 (89)
1933 South Melbourne Richmond 9.17 (71) - 4.5 (29)
1932 Richmond Carlton 13.14 (92) - 12.11 (83)
1931 Geelong Richmond 9.14 (68) - 7.6 (48)
1930 Collingwood Geelong 14.16 (100) - 9.16 (70)
1929 Collingwood Richmond 11.13 (79) - 7.8 (50)
1928 Collingwood Richmond 13.18 (96) - 9.9 (63)
1927 Collingwood Richmond 2.13 (25) - 1.7 (13)
1926 Melbourne Collingwood 17.17 (119) - 9.8 (62)
1925 Geelong Collingwood 10.19 (79) - 9.15 (69)
1924 Essendon Richmond No Grand Final
1923 Essendon Fitzroy 8.15 (63) - 6.10 (46)
1922 Fitzroy Collingwood 11.13 (79) - 9.14 (68)
1921 Richmond Carlton 5.6 (36) - 4.8 (32)
1920 Richmond Collingwood 7.10 (52) - 5.5 (35)
1919 Collingwood Richmond 11.12 (78) - 7.11 (53)
1918 South Melbourne Collingwood 9.8 (62) - 7.15 (57)
1917 Collingwood Fitzroy 9.20 (74) - 5.9 (39)
1916 Fitzroy Carlton 12.13 (85) - 8.8 (56)
1915 Carlton Collingwood 11.12 (78) - 6.9 (45)
1914 Carlton South Melbourne 6.9 (45) - 4.15 (39)
1913 Fitzroy St Kilda 7.14 (56) - 5.13 (43)
1912 Essendon South Melbourne 5.17 (47) - 4.9 (33)
1911 Essendon Collingwood 5.11 (41) - 4.11 (35)
1910 Collingwood Carlton 9.7 (61) - 6.11 (47)
1909 South Melbourne Carlton 4.14 (38) - 4.12 (36)
1908 Carlton Essendon 5.5 (35) - 3.8 (26)
1907 Carlton South Melbourne 6.14 (50) - 6.9 (45)
1906 Carlton Fitzroy 15.4 (94) - 6.9 (45)
1905 Fitzroy Collingwood 4.6 (30) - 2.5 (17)
1904 Fitzroy Carlton 9.7 (61) - 5.7 (37)
1903 Collingwood Fitzroy 4.7 (31) - 3.11 (29)
1902 Collingwood Essendon 9.6 (60) - 3.9 (27)
1901 Essendon Collingwood 6.7 (43) - 2.4 (16)
1900 Melbourne Fitzroy 4.10 (34) - 3.12 (30)
1899 Fitzroy South Melbourne 3.9 (27) - 3.8 (26)
1898 Fitzroy Essendon 5.8 (38) - 3.5 (23)
1897 Essendon Geelong No Grand Final

Key Finding: The table above covers 130 seasons of VFL/AFL history, with Collingwood appearing in the most grand finals (43) and sharing the record for most premierships (16) with Essendon and Carlton.

Grand Final Records and Statistics

Most Premierships Won

  • 16 Premierships: Collingwood, Essendon, Carlton
  • 13 Premierships: Melbourne, Richmond, Hawthorn

Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton have each been premiers 16 times. Only one team has won four consecutive grand finals, Collingwood in 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930. Brisbane have now won three in a row twice over, in 2001–2003 and again in 2024–2026. Gold Coast is the only current team not to have played in a grand final.

Pro Tip: When analyzing AFL grand final statistics, consider both the total number of premierships and the percentage of grand finals won, as teams like Essendon have 16 premierships from fewer grand final appearances than Collingwood.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which AFL teams have won the most grand finals?

Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton have each won 16 premierships, making them the most successful teams in VFL/AFL history.

Who won the 2026 AFL Grand Final?

The Brisbane Lions won the 2026 AFL Grand Final, beating Fremantle 14.12 (96) to 12.17 (89) at the MCG on 26 September 2026. It was their third premiership in a row.

How many teams play in the AFL finals?

From 2026 the finals series expanded from eight teams to ten. The clubs finishing 7th to 10th contest a wildcard round in the week that used to be the pre-finals bye, while the top six advance straight to the first week proper.

What happens if an AFL Grand Final is drawn?

Since 2016, grand finals tied after full-time go to extra time with two five-minute periods. If still tied after extra time, play continues until the next score, ensuring a winner on the day.

Which team has played in the most AFL Grand Finals?

Collingwood has played in the most Grand Finals with 43 appearances, winning 16 of them.

Has any team won four consecutive AFL premierships?

Yes, Collingwood is the only team to win four consecutive grand finals, achieving this feat in 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930. The Brisbane Lions have twice won three in a row, in 2001-2003 and again in 2024-2026.

Which current AFL team has never played in a grand final?

Gold Coast Suns is the only current AFL team never to have played in a grand final. The club joined the competition in 2011 and reached the finals for the first time in 2025, winning its first final that September.