1981 VFL season#Preliminary final
{{Short description|85th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox Australian rules football season
| competition = vfl_premiership
| year = 1981
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| teams = 12
| premiers ={{AFL Car}}
| count = 13
| minor premiers ={{AFL Car}}
| mpcount = 15
| pre-season name = Night series
| pre-season cup ={{AFL Ess}}
| pscount = 1
| matches = 138
| attendance = 3830231
| highattend = 112,964
| top goal scorer =Michael Roach ({{AFL Ric}})
| brownlow medal = Bernie Quinlan ({{AFL Fit}})
Barry Round ({{AFL SM}})
| prevseason = 1980
| nextseason = 1982
}}
The 1981 VFL season was the 85th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 28 March until 26 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top five clubs.
The premiership was won by the Carlton Football Club for the 13th time, after it defeated {{AFL Col}} by 20 points in the 1981 VFL Grand Final.
Night series
{{AFL Ess}} defeated {{AFL Car}} 9.11 (65) to 6.5 (41) in the final.
Home-and-away season
=Round 1=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 21.19 (145)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 12.25 (97)
| 19,437
| 28 March 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 16.12 (108)
| {{AFL StK}}
| 23.19 (157)
| 19,101
| 28 March 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 16.16 (112)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 23.15 (153)
| MCG
| 32,202
| 28 March 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 10.17 (77)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 10.11 (71)
| 37,303
| 28 March 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 20.13 (133)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 22.27 (159)
| 27,200
| 28 March 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 22.12 (144)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 12.10 (82)
| VFL Park
| 56,372
| 28 March 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 2=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 16.15 (111)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 15.9 (99)
| 26,443
| 4 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 26.22 (178)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 13.6 (84)
| 26,512
| 4 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 16.14 (110)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 22.13 (145)
| 17,850
| 4 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL StK}}
| 14.23 (107)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 16.13 (109)
| 24,496
| 4 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 16.11 (107)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 17.21 (123)
| 31,660
| 4 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 23.17 (155)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 16.14 (110)
| VFL Park
| 20,107
| 4 April 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 3=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 18.11 (119)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 18.12 (120)
| 13,256
| 11 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 14.24 (108)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 12.20 (92)
| 24,780
| 11 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 15.26 (116)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 14.5 (89)
| 17,744
| 11 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 17.16 (118)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 16.18 (114)
| MCG
| 61,908
| 11 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL StK}}
| 19.21 (135)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 23.19 (157)
| 33,882
| 11 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 21.13 (139)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 18.9 (117)
| VFL Park
| 21,977
| 11 April 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 4=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 10.16 (76)
| {{AFL StK}}
| 16.32 (128)
| MCG
| 36,488
| 18 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 25.19 (169)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 14.16 (100)
| 15,635
| 18 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 13.17 (95)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 17.22 (124)
| VFL Park
| 48,526
| 18 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 11.13 (79)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 13.16 (94)
| 29,597
| 20 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 9.14 (68)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 11.10 (76)
| 42,395
| 20 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 11.10 (76)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 15.14 (104)
| VFL Park
| 27,299
| 20 April 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 5=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 17.16 (118)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 11.17 (83)
| 16,106
| 25 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 21.20 (146)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 13.5 (83)
| 30,096
| 25 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 15.22 (112)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 11.18 (84)
| MCG
| 46,230
| 25 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 18.22 (130)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 9.14 (68)
| 12,545
| 25 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL StK}}
| 10.13 (73)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 19.23 (137)
| 32,341
| 25 April 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 15.14 (104)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 19.11 (125)
| VFL Park
| 33,465
| 25 April 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 6=
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 6}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 2 May (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Car}}|12.15 (87)|A|{{AFL Col}}|22.12 (144)|Princes Park|36,343|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1981/030419810502.html Report]}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 2 May (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Foo}}|13.13 (91)|H|{{AFL Ess}}|12.11 (83)|Western Oval|19,624|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1981/050719810502.html Report]}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 2 May (2:10 pm)|{{AFL NM}}|27.17 (179)|H|{{AFL Fit}}|19.12 (126)|Arden Street Oval|16,219|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1981/061219810502.html Report]}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 2 May (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Ric}}|10.19 (79)|A|{{AFL Haw}}|23.16 (154)|MCG|45,750|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1981/101419810502.html Report]}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 2 May (2:10 pm)|{{AFL StK}}|13.15 (93)|A|{{AFL SM}}|15.13 (103)|VFL Park|27,250|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1981/151619810502.html Report]}}
{{AFLGame|Sunday, 3 May (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Gee}}|22.21 (153)|H|{{AFL Mel}}|16.8 (104)|SCG|11,077|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1981/091119810503.html Report]}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes=
}}
=Round 7=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 13.14 (92)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 12.16 (88)
| 12,997
| 9 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 14.17 (101)
| {{AFL StK}}
| 11.10 (76)
| 16,828
| 9 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 18.15 (123)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 7.16 (58)
| 20,553
| 9 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 8.8 (56)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 7.17 (59)
| 13,275
| 9 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 8.8 (56)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 12.24 (96)
| MCG
| 22,020
| 9 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 17.16 (118)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 7.12 (54)
| VFL Park
| 10,989
| 9 May 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 8=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL StK}}
| 8.16 (64)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 25.18 (168)
| 16,860
| 16 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 17.25 (127)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 12.11 (83)
| 12,808
| 16 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 25.17 (167)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 17.15 (117)
| MCG
| 21,721
| 16 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 21.18 (144)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 16.19 (115)
| 17,459
| 16 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 12.8 (80)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 12.13 (85)
| 28,396
| 16 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 14.3 (87)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 21.18 (144)
| VFL Park
| 79,326
| 16 May 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 9=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 10.14 (74)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 11.18 (84)
| 13,789
| 23 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 13.15 (93)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 16.18 (114)
| 15,604
| 23 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 25.22 (172)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 11.7 (73)
| 22,445
| 23 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 10.10 (70)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 14.20 (104)
| MCG
| 31,769
| 23 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 12.26 (98)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 16.15 (111)
| 24,625
| 23 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 20.16 (136)
| {{AFL StK}}
| 15.15 (105)
| VFL Park
| 40,240
| 23 May 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 10=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 13.17 (95)
| {{AFL StK}}
| 11.14 (80)
| 14,961
| 30 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 14.8 (92)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 10.10 (70)
| 19,760
| 30 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 22.15 (147)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 10.10 (70)
| 11,630
| 30 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 17.10 (112)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 8.9 (57)
| 37,177
| 30 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 11.13 (79)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 6.8 (44)
| 30,574
| 30 May 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 6.7 (43)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 25.22 (172)
| VFL Park
| 17,015
| 30 May 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 11=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 20.16 (136)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 14.10 (94)
| MCG
| 31,025
| 6 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL StK}}
| 14.15 (99)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 7.17 (59)
| 21,672
| 6 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 17.13 (115)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 11.18 (84)
| 31,808
| 6 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 18.19 (127)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 12.9 (81)
| VFL Park
| 92,935
| 8 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 12.10 (82)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 17.15 (117)
| 24,974
| 8 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 12.8 (80)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 15.18 (108)
| 28,588
| 8 June 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 12=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 19.21 (135)
| {{AFL StK}}
| 4.11 (35)
| 22,154
| 13 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 21.13 (139)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 14.16 (100)
| 27,000
| 13 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 13.12 (90)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 17.32 (134)
| MCG
| 17,691
| 13 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 13.12 (90)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 18.29 (137)
| 22,526
| 13 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 13.15 (93)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 14.14 (98)
| 20,903
| 13 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 19.12 (126)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 16.15 (111)
| VFL Park
| 24,588
| 13 June 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 13=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 20.18 (138)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 15.16 (106)
| 11,657
| 20 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 26.14 (170)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 8.8 (56)
| 27,395
| 20 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 12.22 (94)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 13.12 (90)
| 30,718
| 20 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 19.14 (128)
| {{AFL StK}}
| 10.11 (71)
| 23,669
| 20 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 20.11 (131)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 15.16 (106)
| 18,455
| 20 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 14.10 (94)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 19.11 (125)
| VFL Park
| 15,599
| 20 June 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 14=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 15.25 (115)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 5.4 (34)
| 17,419
| 27 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 21.23 (149)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 15.16 (106)
| MCG
| 31,212
| 27 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL StK}}
| 18.19 (127)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 8.7 (55)
| 14,058
| 27 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 9.16 (70)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 14.9 (93)
| 11,756
| 27 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 13.8 (86)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 9.14 (68)
| VFL Park
| 50,441
| 27 June 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 20.13 (133)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 22.19 (151)
| 20,351
| 28 June 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 15=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 7.13 (55)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 16.19 (115)
| 8,160
| 4 July 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 8.13 (61)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 11.14 (80)
| 18,374
| 4 July 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 6.14 (50)
| {{AFL StK}}
| 5.5 (35)
| VFL Park
| 21,579
| 4 July 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 12.10 (82)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 8.4 (52)
| 26,635
| 11 July 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 7.9 (51)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 17.12 (114)
| 10,478
| 11 July 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 10.6 (66)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 12.16 (88)
| MCG
| 30,803
| 11 July 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 16=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 12.14 (86)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 20.11 (131)
| 19,519
| 18 July 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 22.21 (153)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 8.12 (60)
| 21,588
| 18 July 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 22.19 (151)
| {{AFL StK}}
| 16.4 (100)
| 13,297
| 18 July 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 12.7 (79)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 22.35 (167)
| MCG
| 21,947
| 18 July 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 11.11 (77)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 10.16 (76)
| 30,708
| 18 July 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 18.13 (121)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 12.15 (87)
| VFL Park
| 17,713
| 18 July 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 17=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 10.11 (71)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 8.9 (57)
| 24,750
| 25 July 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 18.8 (116)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 19.11 (125)
| 14,755
| 25 July 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 23.15 (153)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 15.10 (100)
| 15,198
| 25 July 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 16.19 (115)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 17.14 (116)
| MCG
| 37,589
| 25 July 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL StK}}
| 12.4 (76)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 12.21 (93)
| 23,126
| 25 July 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 18.13 (121)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 15.13 (103)
| SCG
| 22,238
| 26 July 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 18=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 16.21 (117)
| {{AFL StK}}
| 12.13 (85)
| 11,517
| 1 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 12.14 (86)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 17.13 (115)
| MCG
| 13,886
| 1 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 10.13 (73)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 7.19 (61)
| 16,013
| 1 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 17.13 (115)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 12.10 (82)
| 31,507
| 1 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 9.15 (69)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 15.13 (103)
| VFL Park
| 19,725
| 1 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 12.16 (88)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 9.15 (69)
| MCG
| 64,149
| 2 August 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 19=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 14.20 (104)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 9.6 (60)
| 15,411
| 8 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 14.19 (103)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 11.13 (79)
| 21,237
| 8 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL StK}}
| 9.11 (65)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 10.11 (71)
| 15,943
| 8 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 15.21 (111)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 13.12 (90)
| 8,058
| 8 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 11.19 (85)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 9.16 (70)
| VFL Park
| 25,565
| 8 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 8.14 (62)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 13.7 (85)
| MCG
| 24,287
| 9 August 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 20=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 15.8 (98)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 14.15 (99)
| 36,736
| 15 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 21.19 (145)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 13.9 (87)
| 7,749
| 15 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 12.14 (86)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 21.13 (139)
| 11,489
| 15 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 12.14 (86)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 22.15 (147)
| 11,770
| 15 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 11.20 (86)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 14.7 (91)
| MCG
| 69,217
| 15 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL StK}}
| 9.14 (68)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 10.17 (77)
| VFL Park
| 20,863
| 15 August 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 21=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 15.9 (99)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 17.14 (116)
| MCG
| 19,567
| 22 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 14.18 (102)
| {{AFL StK}}
| 9.10 (64)
| 12,130
| 22 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 26.23 (179)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 10.8 (68)
| 18,773
| 22 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 22.17 (149)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 11.10 (76)
| 26,680
| 22 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 18.20 (128)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 8.11 (59)
| 17,573
| 22 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 8.14 (62)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 12.12 (84)
| VFL Park
| 25,544
| 22 August 1981
{{s-end}}
=Round 22=
{{s-start}}
|- style="background:#ccf;"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 15.20 (110)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 8.9 (57)
| 7,912
| 29 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 4.9 (33)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 8.11 (59)
| 32,393
| 29 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 10.14 (74)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 15.17 (107)
| 8,484
| 29 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL StK}}
| 12.15 (87)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 5.8 (38)
| 11,948
| 29 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 5.10 (40)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 9.13 (67)
| MCG
| 64,207
| 29 August 1981
|- style="background:#fff;"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 6.11 (47)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 7.13 (55)
| VFL Park
| 75,221
| 29 August 1981
{{s-end}}
Ladder
| class=wikitable
| (P) | Premiers |
| bgcolor=FFFFBB | | Qualified for finals |
{{Australian rules football ladder start}}
|- style=background:#FFFFBB
| 1 || align=left | {{AFL Car}} (P) || 22 || 17 || 5 || 0 || 2303 || 1768 || 130.3 || 68
|- style=background:#FFFFBB
| 2 || align=left | {{AFL Col}} || 22 || 17 || 5 || 0 || 2399 || 1957 || 122.6 || 68
|- style=background:#FFFFBB
| 3 || align=left | {{AFL Gee}} || 22 || 16 || 6 || 0 || 2224 || 1714 || 129.8 || 64
|- style=background:#FFFFBB
| 4 || align=left | {{AFL Ess}} || 22 || 16 || 6 || 0 || 2323 || 1821 || 127.6 || 64
|- style=background:#FFFFBB
| 5 || align=left | {{AFL Fit}} || 22 || 14 || 8 || 0 || 2413 || 2152 || 112.1 || 56
|-
| 6 || align=left | {{AFL Haw}} || 22 || 13 || 9 || 0 || 2313 || 2114 || 109.4 || 52
|-
| 7 || align=left | {{AFL Ric}} || 22 || 13 || 9 || 0 || 2323 || 2207 || 105.3 || 52
|-
| 8 || align=left | {{AFL NM}} || 22 || 10 || 12 || 0 || 2386 || 2293 || 104.1 || 40
|-
| 9 || align=left | {{AFL SM}} || 22 || 8 || 14 || 0 || 2165 || 2522 || 85.8 || 32
|-
| 10 || align=left | {{AFL StK}} || 22 || 5 || 17 || 0 || 1930 || 2266 || 85.2 || 20
|-
| 11 || align=left | {{AFL Foo}} || 22 || 2 || 20 || 0 || 1764 || 2680 || 65.8 || 8
|-
| 12 || align=left | {{AFL Mel}} || 22 || 1 || 21 || 0 || 1824 || 2873 || 63.5 || 4
|}
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Average score: 99.9
Source: [https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1981.html#lad AFL Tables]
Finals series
=Finals week 1=
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Elimination final}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 5 September (2:30 pm)|{{AFL Ess}}|13.16 (94)|A|{{AFL Fit}}|16.13 (109)|VFL Park|58,598|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1981/050619810905.html Report]}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes=
}}
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Qualifying final}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 5 September (2:30 pm)|{{AFL Col}}|13.20 (98)|A|{{AFL Gee}}|16.16 (112)|MCG|83,899|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1981/040919810905.html Report]}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes=
}}
=Finals week 2=
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Semi-finals}}
{{AFLGame|SF1: Saturday, 12 September (2:30 pm) |{{AFL Col}}|19.19 (133)|H|{{AFL Fit}}|19.18 (132)|MCG|85,133|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1981/040619810912.html Report]}}
{{AFLGame|SF2: Saturday, 12 September (2:30 pm) |{{AFL Car}}|16.17 (113)|H|{{AFL Gee}}|11.7 (73)|VFL Park|66,078|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1981/030919810912.html Report]}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes= * {{AFL Fit}} trailed {{AFL Col}} by 38 points at half time, but recovered to lead by eight points entering time-on; but, late goals by Peter Daicos and Ross Brewer saw Collingwood win by one point.
}}
=Preliminary final=
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Preliminary final}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 19 September (2:30 pm)|{{AFL Gee}}|11.9 (75)|A|{{AFL Col}}|12.10 (82)|VFL Park|69,536|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1981/040919810919.html Report]}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes= * In an incident that has become part of football folklore, the {{AFL Gee}} team bus failed to pick up Garry Sidebottom on the way to VFL Park for the Preliminary Final. Apparently, due to a breakdown in communications, no Geelong officials had told Sidebottom that he was going to play, so believing that had not been chosen, Sidebottom was not at his usual stop when the bus passed.{{cite book|last=Atkinson|first=Graeme|title=3AW Book of Footy Records|year=1989|publisher=Magistra Publishing Company Pty Ltd|location=South Melbourne |isbn=1863210091|page=278}}
}}
=Grand final=
{{Main|1981 VFL Grand Final}}
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Grand final}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 26 September (2:50 pm)|{{AFL Car}}|12.20 (92)|H|{{AFL Col}}|10.12 (72)|MCG|112,964|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1981/030419810926.html Report]}}
{{AFLGameFooter|notes=
- Bruce Doull won the Norm Smith Medal.
- This was the third consecutive Grand Final {{AFL Col}} had participated in and lost. This marked their eighth Grand Final defeat since their most recent premiership in 1958.
- {{AFL Car}} full-back Scott Howell became the first (and to date only) VFL/AFL player to represent the third generation of a family to play in Grand Finals. His father Jack E. “Chooka” Howell had played for Carlton in the 1947 VFL Grand Final, and grandfather Jack P. "Chooka" Howell had played in the 1918 Grand Final for {{AFL SM}}.
- The grand final was the last match played with the old MCG scoreboard, which was given to Manuka Oval in 1982 after the MCG installed a new colour video scoreboard. The old scoreboard still resides at Manuka Oval today.{{cite web|url=http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/AFL_Grounds |title=AFL Grounds |publisher=Whirlpool.net.au |date=1997-08-30 |access-date=2012-08-15}}
}}
Season notes
- In the 1980/81 offseason, the East Perth Football Club from the West Australian Football League made a unilateral bid to join the VFL, potentially as early as 1983. East Perth's vision was for two WAFL clubs to join the league, as part of a transition to a national competition, and to limit the drain of talent from and provide an opportunity to play the highest level of football in Western Australia. The application was rejected.{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|first=Peter|last=Simunovich|page=84|date=16 October 1980|edition=Final|title=13 teams? East Perth wants to join VFL}}{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|first=Peter|last=Simunovich|page=71|date=30 October 1980|edition=Final|title=Record finals a help}}
- A protest by Richmond against the eligibility of defender Doug Cox to play for St. Kilda led to the Saints temporarily losing the points for their first two wins after Round 8. They were reinstated after Round 17 due to changes in the relevant rules, but a fine of $5000 remained.
- On 27 May, {{AFL SM}} was fined $20,000 for poaching Stephen Allender from {{AFL Car}}. Although Allender lived in South Melbourne's zone and was playing for VFA club Port Melbourne when recruited, he was residentially tied to {{AFL Car}} and would remain as such until November 1983, because he had lived in Carlton's zone until February 1979. Carlton ended up granting him a clearance to South Melbourne, but South Melbourne was deemed to have broken the league's poaching laws by having "negotiated with an agent acting for a Carlton player".{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|title=South is fined $20,000|author=Ron Carter|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|page=30|date=28 May 1981}}
- In Round 11, Kevin Bartlett became the first to play 350 VFL games, after having broken John Rantall's record for most games played during 1980.
- Malcolm Blight (North Melbourne) and Alex Jesaulenko (St Kilda) became the final ever playing coaches in VFL/AFL history. Jesaulenko retired as player after Round 8,{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1981/121519810516.html |title=AFL Tables - St Kilda v North Melbourne - 16-May-1981 - Match Stats |publisher=AFL Tables |date=1981-05-16 |access-date=2012-08-15}} becoming the last captain-coach;{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/A/Alex_Jesaulenko.html |title=AFL Tables - Alex Jesaulenko - Statistics |publisher=AFL Tables |date=1945-08-02 |access-date=2012-08-15}} Blight was sacked as coach after Round 16, making him the last person ever to be a playing coach of a club.{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1981/061219810718.html |title=AFL Tables - Fitzroy v North Melbourne - 18-Jul-1981 - Match Stats |publisher=AFL Tables |date=1981-07-18 |access-date=2012-08-15}} (Blight was not captain during his time as playing coach.{{cite web |url=http://www.kangaroos.com.au/History/PlayerHistory/MalcolmBlight/tabid/14471/Default.aspx |title=Malcolm Blight - Past Players - Official AFL Website of the North Melbourne Football Club |publisher=Kangaroos.com.au |access-date=2012-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120182806/http://www.kangaroos.com.au/History/PlayerHistory/MalcolmBlight/tabid/14471/Default.aspx |archive-date=20 November 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}) Playing coaches have since been prohibited under salary cap regulations instituted in 1987.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}
- The State Government granted the VFL once-off permission to trial two Sunday matches in Victoria during the season; it was the first time the VFL had been granted this permission since the once-off Sunday match in 1970 which coincided with a royal visit. Under the conditions of the trial, alcohol was not allowed to be sold at or brought to the games, and the games could not be televised.{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|author1=Mark Brolly|author2=Geoff Slattery|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|date=6 May 1981|title=Sunday football is here to stay}} The two matches were {{AFL Ess}} vs {{AFL Col}} in Round 18, and {{AFL SM}} vs {{AFL Car}} in Round 19.
- On 7 August, the VFL's entire senior umpiring panel resigned over a contract dispute, due to the VFL's refusal to commit to negotiating a collective agreement with the Umpires' Association, rather than individual agreements with each umpire. The VFL hastily arranged for Round 19's matches to be umpired by a team of junior umpires, all aged between 18 and 22, from the state's minor leagues; both the junior umpires' association and the VFL umpires' association gave their approval for the juniors to serve as strikebreakers.{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|title=Juniors to umpire matches|date=8 August 1981|author1=Ron Carter|author2=Neil Mitchell|page=40}} The dispute was resolved the following week, and the senior umpires returned for Round 20.{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|page=28|author=Ron Carter|date=13 August 1981|title=Umpires back with a winning score}}
- In Round 22, South Melbourne played its last senior VFL match at the Lake Oval (also known then as Lakeside Oval). The team relocated to Sydney in 1982 and eventually became known as the Sydney Swans.
Awards
- The leading goalkicker was Michael Roach of Richmond with 86 goals
- The Brownlow Medal was shared by Bernie Quinlan and Barry Round
- The reserves premiership was won by {{AFL Gee}} for the second consecutive season. Geelong 21.14 (140) defeated {{AFL Ess}} 18.6 (114) in the grand final, held as a curtain-raiser to the seniors grand final on 26 September.{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|date=28 September 1981|title=Grand final details|page=38}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- Stephen Rogers and Ashley Brown (1998). Every Game Ever Played. 6th ed. Victoria: Penguin Books.
Sources
- [https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1981.html 1981 VFL season] at AFL Tables
- [https://www.australianfootball.com/seasons/season/afl/138/premiership%2Bseason/1/1/1981 1981 VFL season] at Australian Football
{{Australian Football League}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1981 VFL season}}