1997 AFL season

{{Short description|101st season of the Australian Football League (AFL)}}

{{for|the 1997 season of the Arena Football League|1997 Arena Football League season}}

{{Infobox Australian rules football season|competition=AFL|year=1997|image=|imagesize=100px|caption=AFL logo 1990-1999|teams=16|premiers={{AFL Ade}}|count=1|minor premiers={{AFL|StK}}|mpcount=2|pre-season cup={{AFL Car}}|pscount=1|matches=185|attendance=6403814| highattendha=83,247 (round 5, {{AFL Ess}} vs. {{AFL Col}})| highattendfinals=99,645 (Grand Final, {{AFL Ade}} vs. {{AFL|StK}})|top goal scorer=Tony Modra ({{AFL Ade}})
84 goals|brownlow medal=Robert Harvey

({{AFL|StK}})
26 votes|prevseason=1996|nextseason=1998}}

The 1997 AFL season was the 101st season of the Australian Football League (AFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Australia, which was known as the Victorian Football League until 1989. The season ran from 27 March until 27 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs.

Before the season, the Port Adelaide Football Club (SANFL) was admitted to the league, increasing the South Australian membership to two clubs. Foundation club Fitzroy, which had gone into administration in 1996, merged with the Brisbane Bears to form a new Queensland-based team known as the Brisbane Lions. The Footscray Football Club changed its name to the Western Bulldogs. With these changes, the league's size remained at sixteen clubs.

The premiership was won by the Adelaide Football Club for the first time, after it defeated {{AFL|StK}} by 31 points in the 1997 AFL Grand Final.

Home-and-away season

=Round 1=

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 27 March (7:40 pm)|{{AFL NM}}|7.13 (55)|A|{{AFL Mel}}|10.10 (70)|MCG|35,802|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1997/111219970327.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 29 March (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Col}}|26.10 (166)|H|{{AFL|PA}}|13.9 (87)|MCG|51,883|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1997/041319970329.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 29 March (2:10 pm)|{{AFL WB}}|11.10 (76)|A|{{AFL Fre}}|10.20 (80)|Optus Oval|8,664|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1997/070819970329.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 29 March (7:40 pm)|{{AFL|StK}}|10.11 (71)|A|{{AFL Haw}}|11.11 (77)|Waverley Park|35,732|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1997/101519970329.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 29 March (6:40 pm)|{{AFL WC}}|12.6 (78)|H|{{AFL Syd}}|5.7 (37)|Subiaco Oval|29,965|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1997/161819970329.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 30 March (1:40 pm)|{{AFL Ade}}|20.12 (132)|H|{{AFL BL}}|14.12 (96)|Football Park|36,602|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1997/011919970330.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 30 March (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Ric}}|15.14 (104)|H|{{AFL Gee}}|13.17 (95)|MCG|48,358|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1997/091419970330.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 31 March (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Ess}}|16.10 (106)|H|{{AFL Car}}|15.9 (99)|MCG|82,363|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1997/030519970331.html Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

{{AFL PA}} endured a disappointing AFL debut at the MCG in front of over 50,000 spectators, with {{AFL Col}} jumping out to a 22-point lead at quarter time and extending the lead at each change to run out comfortable 79-point winners. Speedy midfielder Paul Williams was considered best-on-ground with 30 touches and 4 goals, while Nathan Buckley (who won a Magarey with Port in the SANFL) racked up 23 kicks and Saverio Rocca made the most of limited opportunities to kick six goals. For Port, Donald Dickie (26 touches), Fabian Francis (20 touches, 2 goals) and eventual Rising Star winner Michael Wilson were among Port's better players.
The Easter Monday clash between {{AFL Ess}} and {{AFL Car}} is best remembered not for its close finish but for what happened after the game. The ongoing feud between Sean Denham and Greg Williams (which had stemmed from the 1993 Grand final) had reached a critical point, with both players engaged in a heated argument before umpire Andrew Coates tried to intervene, only to be pushed away by Williams. Despite the innocuous nature of the contact, the AFL Tribunal suspended Williams for nine matches.{{cite web|title=Eight of the longest AFL suspensions|date=7 August 2018|url=https://www.zerohanger.com/eight-long-afl-suspensions-14743|publisher=Zero Hanger}} The incident was one of football's major talking points that year, leading to a Supreme Court battle between Carlton and the AFL, and eventually the establishment of the AFL Appeals Board.

}}

=Round 2=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Mel}}|| 7.14 (56) ||{{AFL Col}}|| 24.19 (163) ||MCG|| 61,138 ||Friday 4, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ric}}|| 19.14 (128) ||{{AFL Ade}}|| 15.10 (100) ||MCG|| 32,880 ||Saturday 5, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Gee}}|| 11.12 (78) ||{{AFL WC}}|| 11.6 (72) ||Kardinia Park|| 17,988 ||Saturday 5, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WB}}|| 13.12 (90) ||{{AFL Syd}}|| 12.11 (83) ||Princes Park|| 12,604 ||Saturday 5, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL BL}}|| 23.16 (154) ||{{AFL|StK}}|| 7.15 (57) ||Gabba|| 17,123 ||Sunday 6, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|PA}}|| 8.12 (60) ||{{AFL Ess}}|| 14.9 (93) ||Football Park|| 32,747 ||Sunday 6, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Fre}}|| 13.9 (87) ||{{AFL Haw}}|| 10.13 (73) ||Subiaco Oval|| 19,057 ||Sunday 6, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL NM}}|| 12.14 (86) ||{{AFL Car}}|| 8.12 (60) ||MCG|| 38,170 ||Monday 7, April

=Round 3=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Syd}}|| 15.9 (99) ||{{AFL Mel}}|| 14.7 (91) ||SCG|| 23,598 ||Friday 11, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WB}}|| 16.9 (105) ||{{AFL Ric}}|| 12.14 (86) ||MCG|| 35,438 ||Saturday 12, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|StK}}|| 19.11 (125) ||{{AFL Col}}|| 17.16 (118) ||Waverley Park|| 54,699 ||Saturday 12, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|PA}}|| 18.21 (129) ||{{AFL Gee}}|| 14.6 (90) ||Football Park|| 32,074 ||Saturday 12, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ess}}|| 18.14 (122) ||{{AFL NM}}|| 12.8 (80) ||MCG|| 57,978 ||Sunday 13, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Car}}|| 15.18 (108) ||{{AFL Ade}}|| 12.8 (80) ||Princes Park|| 25,966 ||Sunday 13, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Haw}}|| 12.15 (87) ||{{AFL BL}}|| 11.9 (75) ||Waverley Park|| 27,947 ||Sunday 13, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WC}}|| 16.15 (111) ||{{AFL Fre}}|| 9.17 (71) ||Subiaco Oval|| 39,294 ||Sunday 13, April

=Round 4=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Mel}}|| 13.9 (87) ||{{AFL WB}}|| 13.11 (89) ||MCG|| 28,043 ||Friday 18, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Col}}|| 12.12 (84) ||{{AFL Car}}|| 15.11 (101) ||MCG|| 78,704 ||Saturday 19, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ric}}|| 10.12 (72) ||{{AFL Fre}}|| 10.7 (67) ||Princes Park|| 15,461 ||Saturday 19, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WC}}|| 17.10 (112) ||{{AFL Haw}}|| 13.10 (88) ||Subiaco Oval|| 38,222 ||Saturday 19, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|StK}}|| 12.9 (81) ||{{AFL Syd}}|| 18.19 (127) ||Waverley Park|| 35,061 ||Saturday 19, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL BL}}|| 15.19 (109) ||{{AFL NM}}|| 12.11 (83) ||Gabba|| 18,575 ||Sunday 20, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ade}}|| 11.6 (72) ||{{AFL|PA}}|| 11.17 (83) ||Football Park|| 47,256 ||Sunday 20, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Gee}}|| 11.19 (85) ||{{AFL Ess}}|| 11.12 (78) ||MCG|| 54,922 ||Sunday 20, April

=Round 5=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ess}}|| 10.10 (70) ||{{AFL Col}}|| 14.15 (99) ||MCG|| 83,271 ||Friday 25, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Fre}}|| 16.11 (107) ||{{AFL|StK}}|| 15.11 (101) ||Subiaco Oval|| 23,504 ||Friday 25, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Mel}}|| 12.6 (78) ||{{AFL WC}}|| 19.12 (126) ||MCG|| 19,655 ||Saturday 26, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WB}}|| 9.17 (71) ||{{AFL Ade}}|| 19.7 (121) ||Princes Park|| 12,694 ||Saturday 26, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Haw}}|| 15.9 (99) ||{{AFL Syd}}|| 11.8 (74) ||Waverley Park|| 37,576 ||Saturday 26, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|PA}}|| 10.13 (73) ||{{AFL BL}}|| 10.11 (71) ||Football Park|| 31,757 ||Sunday 27, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL NM}}|| 21.15 (141) ||{{AFL Ric}}|| 7.4 (46) ||MCG|| 44,449 ||Sunday 27, April

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Car}}|| 12.14 (86) ||{{AFL Gee}}|| 13.16 (94) ||Princes Park|| 25,801 ||Sunday 27, April

=Round 6=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WC}}|| 14.15 (99) ||{{AFL WB}}|| 17.11 (113) ||WACA|| 29,838 ||Friday 2, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ess}}|| 15.12 (102) ||{{AFL BL}}|| 9.17 (71) ||MCG|| 37,642 ||Saturday 3, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Col}}|| 13.6 (84) ||{{AFL Ade}}|| 11.17 (83) ||Victoria Park|| 24,663 ||Saturday 3, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Gee}}|| 14.13 (97) ||{{AFL Fre}}|| 6.7 (43) ||Kardinia Park|| 16,467 ||Saturday 3, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Haw}}|| 14.9 (93) ||{{AFL NM}}|| 16.7 (103) ||Waverley Park|| 38,953 ||Saturday 3, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Syd}}|| 21.16 (142) ||{{AFL Car}}|| 11.17 (83) ||SCG|| 37,933 ||Sunday 4, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|StK}}|| 17.19 (121) ||{{AFL Mel}}|| 4.11 (35) ||Waverley Park|| 21,104 ||Sunday 4, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|PA}}|| 19.8 (122) ||{{AFL Ric}}|| 8.10 (58) ||Football Park|| 36,090 ||Sunday 4, May

=Round 7=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL NM}}|| 9.14 (68) ||{{AFL Col}}|| 17.9 (111) ||MCG|| 54,901 ||Friday 9, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ric}}|| 10.16 (76) ||{{AFL Car}}|| 14.14 (98) ||MCG|| 48,833 ||Saturday 10, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WB}}|| 19.19 (133) ||{{AFL Haw}}|| 13.10 (88) ||Princes Park|| 18,860 ||Saturday 10, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Gee}}|| 11.10 (76) ||{{AFL Syd}}|| 6.8 (44) ||Kardinia Park|| 22,151 ||Saturday 10, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Fre}}|| 17.22 (124) ||{{AFL Mel}}|| 10.9 (69) ||WACA|| 18,198 ||Saturday 10, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|StK}}|| 20.6 (126) ||{{AFL|PA}}|| 8.13 (61) ||Waverley Park|| 17,752 ||Saturday 10, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL BL}}|| 8.12 (60) ||{{AFL WC}}|| 21.13 (139) ||Gabba|| 17,524 ||Sunday 11, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ade}}|| 18.18 (126) ||{{AFL Ess}}|| 11.7 (73) ||Football Park|| 39,275 ||Sunday 11, May

=Round 8=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Col}}|| 19.15 (129) ||{{AFL WB}}|| 11.17 (83) ||MCG|| 61,014 ||Friday 16, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Mel}}|| 7.7 (49) ||{{AFL Gee}}|| 19.14 (128) ||MCG|| 28,989 ||Saturday 17, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL NM}}|| 19.14 (128) ||{{AFL|PA}}|| 15.10 (100) ||Princes Park|| 13,056 ||Saturday 17, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ade}}|| 22.12 (144) ||{{AFL Syd}}|| 8.7 (55) ||Football Park|| 40,147 ||Saturday 17, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ess}}|| 14.16 (100) ||{{AFL|StK}}|| 18.16 (124) ||MCG|| 51,928 ||Sunday 18, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Car}}|| 15.16 (106) ||{{AFL Haw}}|| 12.9 (81) ||Princes Park|| 29,783 ||Sunday 18, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Fre}}|| 14.14 (98) ||{{AFL BL}}|| 15.3 (93) ||Subiaco Oval|| 14,721 ||Sunday 18, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ric}}|| 18.11 (119) ||{{AFL WC}}|| 9.13 (67) ||MCG|| 26,721 ||Monday 19, May

=Round 9=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|PA}}|| 10.18 (78) ||{{AFL Mel}}|| 3.9 (27) ||Football Park|| 32,958 ||Friday 23, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Car}}|| 16.9 (105) ||{{AFL Fre}}|| 14.4 (88) ||Princes Park|| 18,187 ||Saturday 24, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Haw}}|| 13.10 (88) ||{{AFL Ade}}|| 14.18 (102) ||Waverley Park|| 23,463 ||Saturday 24, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Syd}}|| 16.15 (111) ||{{AFL Col}}|| 11.8 (74) ||SCG|| 39,780 ||Saturday 24, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL BL}}|| 19.12 (126) ||{{AFL Gee}}|| 15.8 (98) ||Gabba|| 19,828 ||Sunday 25, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WC}}|| 16.14 (110) ||{{AFL Ess}}|| 13.7 (85) ||Subiaco Oval|| 38,984 ||Sunday 25, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WB}}|| 16.7 (103) ||{{AFL NM}}|| 10.11 (71) ||MCG|| 29,307 ||Sunday 25, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|StK}}|| 22.9 (141) ||{{AFL Ric}}|| 14.10 (94) ||Waverley Park|| 52,257 ||Sunday 25, May

=Round 10=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|PA}}|| 14.9 (93) ||{{AFL Car}}|| 7.13 (55) ||Football Park|| 40,116 ||Friday 30, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL NM}}|| 15.13 (103) ||{{AFL WC}}|| 9.4 (58) ||Princes Park|| 13,614 ||Saturday 31, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Haw}}|| 16.12 (108) ||{{AFL Col}}|| 8.7 (55) ||Waverley Park|| 51,494 ||Saturday 31, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Gee}}|| 16.11 (107) ||{{AFL|StK}}|| 11.13 (79) ||Kardinia Park|| 22,731 ||Saturday 31, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ric}}|| 9.13 (67) ||{{AFL Mel}}|| 14.8 (92) ||MCG|| 28,879 ||Saturday 31, May

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ess}}|| 17.12 (114) ||{{AFL WB}}|| 20.16 (136) ||MCG|| 50,138 ||Sunday 1, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL BL}}|| 13.14 (92) ||{{AFL Syd}}|| 13.11 (89) ||Gabba|| 20,403 ||Sunday 1, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Fre}}|| 10.12 (72) ||{{AFL Ade}}|| 16.9 (105) ||Subiaco Oval|| 22,464 ||Monday 2, June

=Round 11=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Col}}|| 10.11 (71) ||{{AFL Ric}}|| 11.11 (77) ||MCG|| 70,350 ||Friday 6, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ess}}|| 13.13 (91) ||{{AFL Haw}}|| 17.22 (124) ||MCG|| 60,594 ||Saturday 7, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WB}}|| 14.12 (96) ||{{AFL Gee}}|| 11.9 (75) ||Princes Park|| 24,897 ||Saturday 7, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|PA}}|| 4.17 (41) ||{{AFL Syd}}|| 10.16 (76) ||Football Park|| 35,669 ||Saturday 7, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Mel}}|| 5.15 (45) ||{{AFL Ade}}|| 14.13 (97) ||MCG|| 27,463 ||Sunday 8, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WC}}|| 11.7 (73) ||{{AFL|StK}}|| 13.11 (89) ||Subiaco Oval|| 29,390 ||Sunday 8, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL NM}}|| 15.15 (105) ||{{AFL Fre}}|| 12.7 (79) ||MCG|| 20,585 ||Monday 9, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Car}}|| 12.12 (84) ||{{AFL BL}}|| 9.9 (63) ||Princes Park|| 27,904 ||Monday 9, June

=Round 12=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Syd}}|| 26.8 (164) ||{{AFL Ric}}|| 16.14 (110) ||SCG|| 35,033 ||Friday 13, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WB}}|| 12.10 (82) ||{{AFL|PA}}|| 14.10 (94) ||Princes Park|| 14,025 ||Saturday 14, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Col}}|| 7.13 (55) ||{{AFL WC}}|| 11.5 (71) ||Victoria Park|| 25,323 ||Saturday 14, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Gee}}|| 12.10 (82) ||{{AFL Haw}}|| 13.10 (88) ||Kardinia Park|| 22,871 ||Saturday 14, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|StK}}|| 16.20 (116) ||{{AFL Car}}|| 12.13 (85) ||Waverley Park|| 44,883 ||Sunday 15, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ade}}|| 12.11 (83) ||{{AFL NM}}|| 16.9 (105) ||Football Park|| 43,345 ||Sunday 15, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Mel}}|| 7.8 (50) ||{{AFL BL}}|| 21.9 (135) ||MCG|| 13,392 ||Sunday 15, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Fre}}|| 24.13 (157) ||{{AFL Ess}}|| 9.6 (60) ||Subiaco Oval|| 21,956 ||Sunday 15, June

=Round 13=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WC}}|| 11.13 (79) ||{{AFL Car}}|| 12.14 (86) ||Subiaco Oval|| 37,854 ||Friday 27, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ric}}|| 4.10 (34) ||{{AFL Ess}}|| 19.13 (127) ||MCG|| 58,812 ||Saturday 28, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|StK}}|| 11.18 (84) ||{{AFL WB}}|| 15.11 (101) ||Waverley Park|| 32,370 ||Saturday 28, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Gee}}|| 17.8 (110) ||{{AFL Ade}}|| 7.12 (54) ||Kardinia Park|| 20,236 ||Saturday 28, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL BL}}|| 11.22 (88) ||{{AFL Col}}|| 11.7 (73) ||Gabba|| 19,560 ||Saturday 28, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|PA}}|| 10.9 (69) ||{{AFL Fre}}|| 7.12 (54) ||Football Park|| 30,827 ||Saturday 28, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Haw}}|| 17.16 (118) ||{{AFL Mel}}|| 7.13 (55) ||Waverley Park|| 31,517 ||Sunday 29, June

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Syd}}|| 8.17 (65) ||{{AFL NM}}|| 7.13 (55) ||SCG|| 30,160 ||Sunday 29, June

=Round 14=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ade}}|| 16.10 (106) ||{{AFL WC}}|| 4.7 (31) ||Football Park|| 39,221 ||Friday 4, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Gee}}|| 9.26 (80) ||{{AFL Col}}|| 10.12 (72) ||MCG|| 65,228 ||Saturday 5, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Car}}|| 11.8 (74) ||{{AFL WB}}|| 16.14 (110) ||Princes Park|| 32,183 ||Saturday 5, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|StK}}|| 20.13 (133) ||{{AFL NM}}|| 11.13 (79) ||Waverley Park|| 32,635 ||Saturday 5, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Fre}}|| 6.12 (48) ||{{AFL Syd}}|| 3.15 (33) ||WACA|| 19,290 ||Saturday 5, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ess}}|| 18.12 (120) ||{{AFL Mel}}|| 8.9 (57) ||MCG|| 44,803 ||Sunday 6, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Haw}}|| 18.16 (124) ||{{AFL|PA}}|| 13.14 (92) ||Waverley Park|| 29,886 ||Sunday 6, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL BL}}|| 7.26 (68) ||{{AFL Ric}}|| 7.8 (50) ||Gabba|| 19,155 ||Sunday 6, July

=Round 15=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL NM}}|| 14.8 (92) ||{{AFL Gee}}|| 15.12 (102) ||MCG|| 45,120 ||Friday 11, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Mel}}|| 18.11 (119) ||{{AFL Car}}|| 15.10 (100) ||MCG|| 27,992 ||Saturday 12, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WB}}|| 11.7 (73) ||{{AFL BL}}|| 21.11 (137) ||Princes Park|| 16,430 ||Saturday 12, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Col}}|| 25.10 (160) ||{{AFL Fre}}|| 9.6 (60) ||Victoria Park|| 23,433 ||Saturday 12, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ade}}|| 10.16 (76) ||{{AFL|StK}}|| 9.12 (66) ||Football Park|| 39,921 ||Saturday 12, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Syd}}|| 11.13 (79) ||{{AFL Ess}}|| 11.12 (78) ||SCG|| 36,077 ||Sunday 13, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WC}}|| 12.13 (85) ||{{AFL|PA}}|| 9.13 (67) ||Subiaco Oval|| 29,723 ||Sunday 13, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ric}}|| 22.13 (145) ||{{AFL Haw}}|| 10.9 (69) ||MCG|| 49,217 ||Sunday 13, July

=Round 16=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL BL}}|| 17.16 (118) ||{{AFL Ade}}|| 13.9 (87) ||Gabba|| 21,348 ||Friday 18, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Car}}|| 25.15 (165) ||{{AFL Ess}}|| 13.9 (87) ||MCG|| 58,512 ||Saturday 19, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Haw}}|| 9.8 (62) ||{{AFL|StK}}|| 20.21 (141) ||Waverley Park|| 43,181 ||Saturday 19, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Gee}}|| 16.14 (110) ||{{AFL Ric}}|| 12.6 (78) ||Kardinia Park|| 24,099 ||Saturday 19, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Syd}}|| 15.22 (112) ||{{AFL WC}}|| 11.9 (75) ||SCG|| 39,318 ||Saturday 19, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|PA}}|| 17.9 (111) ||{{AFL Col}}|| 8.10 (58) ||Football Park|| 37,790 ||Saturday 19, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Mel}}|| 7.16 (58) ||{{AFL NM}}|| 17.12 (114) ||MCG|| 23,309 ||Sunday 20, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Fre}}|| 15.7 (97) ||{{AFL WB}}|| 13.13 (91) ||Subiaco Oval|| 18,392 ||Sunday 20, July

=Round 17=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ess}}|| 10.12 (72) ||{{AFL|PA}}|| 18.14 (122) ||MCG|| 33,076 ||Friday 25, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Car}}|| 7.16 (58) ||{{AFL NM}}|| 14.12 (96) ||Princes Park|| 27,689 ||Saturday 26, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Haw}}|| 9.8 (62) ||{{AFL Fre}}|| 10.11 (71) ||Waverley Park|| 15,939 ||Saturday 26, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Syd}}|| 22.17 (149) ||{{AFL WB}}|| 7.10 (52) ||SCG|| 32,534 ||Saturday 26, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ade}}|| 29.11 (185) ||{{AFL Ric}}|| 7.6 (48) ||Football Park|| 36,297 ||Saturday 26, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|StK}}|| 12.20 (92) ||{{AFL BL}}|| 5.14 (44) ||Waverley Park|| 34,859 ||Sunday 27, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Col}}|| 20.14 (134) ||{{AFL Mel}}|| 12.10 (82) ||MCG|| 37,779 ||Sunday 27, July

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WC}}|| 20.9 (129) ||{{AFL Gee}}|| 12.10 (82) ||Subiaco Oval|| 34,565 ||Sunday 27, July

=Round 18=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL NM}}|| 11.17 (83) ||{{AFL Ess}}|| 8.16 (64) ||MCG|| 38,614 ||Friday 1, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Mel}}|| 7.11 (53) ||{{AFL Syd}}|| 25.19 (169) ||MCG|| 26,901 ||Saturday 2, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ric}}|| 17.13 (115) ||{{AFL WB}}|| 15.10 (100) ||Princes Park|| 18,373 ||Saturday 2, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Gee}}|| 25.9 (159) ||{{AFL|PA}}|| 11.8 (74) ||Kardinia Park|| 21,867 ||Saturday 2, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL BL}}|| 21.15 (141) ||{{AFL Haw}}|| 11.5 (71) ||Gabba|| 19,635 ||Saturday 2, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ade}}|| 18.19 (127) ||{{AFL Car}}|| 13.8 (86) ||Football Park|| 42,548 ||Sunday 3, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Col}}|| 12.17 (89) ||{{AFL|StK}}|| 15.21 (111) ||MCG|| 68,036 ||Sunday 3, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Fre}}|| 7.7 (49) ||{{AFL WC}}|| 13.4 (82) ||Subiaco Oval|| 39,711 ||Sunday 3, August

=Round 19=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL NM}}|| 17.14 (116) ||{{AFL BL}}|| 9.5 (59) ||MCG|| 27,021 ||Friday 8, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Car}}|| 14.23 (107) ||{{AFL Col}}|| 13.13 (91) ||MCG|| 61,650 ||Saturday 9, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WB}}|| 14.18 (102) ||{{AFL Mel}}|| 9.10 (64) ||Princes Park|| 13,058 ||Saturday 9, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Haw}}|| 10.6 (66) ||{{AFL WC}}|| 13.9 (87) ||Waverley Park|| 20,517 ||Saturday 9, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Fre}}|| 12.13 (85) ||{{AFL Ric}}|| 5.12 (42) ||WACA|| 15,757 ||Saturday 9, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Syd}}|| 17.17 (119) ||{{AFL|StK}}|| 18.20 (128) ||SCG|| 39,287 ||Sunday 10, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ess}}|| 11.7 (73) ||{{AFL Gee}}|| 9.14 (68) ||MCG|| 53,901 ||Sunday 10, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|PA}}|| 9.4 (58) ||{{AFL Ade}}|| 9.11 (65) ||Football Park|| 45,498 ||Sunday 10, August

=Round 20=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WC}}|| 15.7 (97) ||{{AFL Mel}}|| 7.17 (59) ||WACA|| 21,164 ||Friday 15, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Col}}|| 13.13 (91) ||{{AFL Ess}}|| 12.9 (81) ||MCG|| 50,944 ||Saturday 16, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|StK}}|| 12.5 (77) ||{{AFL Fre}}|| 9.10 (64) ||Waverley Park|| 26,201 ||Saturday 16, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Gee}}|| 13.17 (95) ||{{AFL Car}}|| 9.13 (67) ||Kardinia Park|| 23,007 ||Saturday 16, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL BL}}|| 13.15 (93) ||{{AFL|PA}}|| 13.15 (93) ||Gabba|| 20,835 ||Saturday 16, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Syd}}|| 20.15 (135) ||{{AFL Haw}}|| 11.11 (77) ||SCG|| 34,111 ||Sunday 17, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ric}}|| 14.13 (97) ||{{AFL NM}}|| 14.12 (96) ||MCG|| 29,620 ||Sunday 17, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ade}}|| 7.18 (60) ||{{AFL WB}}|| 16.7 (103) ||Football Park|| 39,632 ||Sunday 17, August

=Round 21=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Mel}}|| 8.14 (62) ||{{AFL|StK}}|| 17.12 (114) ||MCG|| 32,935 ||Friday 22, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL NM}}|| 10.21 (81) ||{{AFL Haw}}|| 6.7 (43) ||MCG|| 26,393 ||Saturday 23, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Car}}|| 11.10 (76) ||{{AFL Syd}}|| 5.11 (41) ||Princes Park|| 27,375 ||Saturday 23, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WB}}|| 12.14 (86) ||{{AFL WC}}|| 10.8 (68) ||Whitten Oval|| 26,704 ||Saturday 23, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL BL}}|| 15.12 (102) ||{{AFL Ess}}|| 16.10 (106) ||Gabba|| 21,065 ||Saturday 23, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ric}}|| 22.14 (146) ||{{AFL|PA}}|| 8.13 (61) ||MCG|| 22,516 ||Sunday 24, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Fre}}|| 9.14 (68) ||{{AFL Gee}}|| 14.16 (100) ||Subiaco Oval|| 28,751 ||Sunday 24, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ade}}|| 6.12 (48) ||{{AFL Col}}|| 5.9 (39) ||Football Park|| 37,661 ||Monday 25, August

=Round 22=

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Ground

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL WC}}|| 18.12 (120) ||{{AFL BL}}|| 11.15 (81) ||WACA|| 29,402 ||Friday 29, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Mel}}|| 18.11 (119) ||{{AFL Fre}}|| 11.13 (79) ||MCG|| 15,036 ||Saturday 30, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Car}}|| 13.11 (89) ||{{AFL Ric}}|| 13.13 (91) ||Princes Park|| 34,922 ||Saturday 30, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Haw}}|| 13.9 (87) ||{{AFL WB}}|| 15.15 (105) ||Waverley Park|| 35,706 ||Saturday 30, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Syd}}|| 13.12 (90) ||{{AFL Gee}}|| 15.10 (100) ||SCG|| 46,168 ||Saturday 30, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Col}}|| 18.14 (122) ||{{AFL NM}}|| 15.21 (111) ||MCG|| 43,660 ||Sunday 31, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL Ess}}|| 16.6 (102) ||{{AFL Ade}}|| 14.14 (98) ||Princes Park|| 25,636 ||Sunday 31, August

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

|{{AFL|PA}}|| 12.12 (84) ||{{AFL|StK}}|| 17.15 (117) ||Football Park|| 38,589 ||Sunday 31, August

Ladder

class=wikitable

| (P)

Premiers

bgcolor=FFFFBB |

Qualified for finals

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 1 || align=left | {{AFL|StK}} || 22 || 15 || 7 || 0 || 2294 || 1918 || 119.6 || 60

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 2 || align=left | {{AFL Gee}} || 22 || 15 || 7 || 0 || 2111 || 1791 || 117.9 || 60

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 3 || align=left | {{AFL WB}} || 22 || 14 || 8 || 0 || 2100 || 2062 || 101.8 || 56

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 4 || align=left | {{AFL Ade}} (P) || 22 || 13 || 9 || 0 || 2151 || 1769 || 121.6 || 52

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 5 || align=left | {{AFL WC}} || 22 || 13 || 9 || 0 || 1969 || 1770 || 111.2 || 52

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 6 || align=left | {{AFL Syd}} || 22 || 12 || 10 || 0 || 2093 || 1801 || 116.2 || 48

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 7 || align=left | {{AFL NM}} || 22 || 12 || 10 || 0 || 2051 || 1835 || 111.8 || 48

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 8 || align=left | {{AFL BL}} || 22 || 10 || 11 || 1 || 2076 || 1973 || 105.2 || 42

| 9 || align=left | {{AFL PA}} || 22 || 10 || 11 || 1 || 1852 || 2017 || 91.8 || 42

| 10 || align=left | {{AFL Col}} || 22 || 10 || 12 || 0 || 2138 || 1919 || 111.4 || 40

| 11 || align=left | {{AFL Car}} || 22 || 10 || 12 || 0 || 1978 || 2045 || 96.7 || 40

| 12 || align=left | {{AFL Fre}} || 22 || 10 || 12 || 0 || 1748 || 1902 || 91.9 || 40

| 13 || align=left | {{AFL Ric}} || 22 || 10 || 12 || 0 || 1883 || 2253 || 83.6 || 40

| 14 || align=left | {{AFL Ess}} || 22 || 9 || 13 || 0 || 2004 || 2170 || 92.4 || 36

| 15 || align=left | {{AFL Haw}} || 22 || 8 || 14 || 0 || 1873 || 2144 || 87.4 || 32

| 16 || align=left | {{AFL Mel}} || 22 || 4 || 18 || 0 || 1477 || 2429 || 60.8 || 16

Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Average score: 90.3
Source: [https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1997.html#lad AFL Tables]

Progression by round

{{#invoke:sports rbr table|table|sortable=y

|toptext=

{{legend|#ccffcc|outline=#aaa|Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 8.}}

{{legend|#99ccff|outline=#aaa|Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.}}

{{legend|#ffcccc|outline=#aaa|Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round.}}

|color_B=#99ccff|color_F=#ccffcc|color_R=#ffcccc

|update=complete

|source=

|team1=St Kilda

|res1=0/0R/4/4R/4/8/12/16F/20F/20F/24F/28F/28F/32F/32F/36F/40F/44F/48F/52F/56B/60B

|team2=Geelong

|res2=0/4/4/8/12F/16F/20F/24F/24F/28B/28F/28F/32F/36F/40B/44B/44B/48B/48F/52B/56F/60F

|team3=Western Bulldogs

|res3=0/4/8F/12F/12F/16F/20F/20F/24F/28F/32B/32B/36B/40B/40F/40F/40F/40/44F/48F/52F/56F

|team4=Adelaide

|res4=4F/4F/4/4/8/8/12F/16F/20F/24F/28F/28F/28F/32F/36F/36F/40F/44F/48B/48F/52F/52F

|team5=West Coast

|res5=4B/4F/8F/12B/16B/16F/20B/20F/24F/24F/24F/28F/28F/28F/32F/32/36/40F/44F/48F/48F/52F

|team6=Sydney

|res6=0R/0/4/8F/8/12F/12/12/16/16/20/24/28/28/32F/36F/40F/44F/44F/48F/48F/48F

|team7=North Melbourne

|res7=0/4F/4/4/8/12F/12/16F/16/20F/24F/28F/28F/28/28/32F/36F/40F/44F/44F/48F/48F

|team8=Brisbane Lions

|res8=0/4F/4F/8F/8/8/8/8/12/16/16/20/24/28F/32F/36F/36F/40F/40F/42F/42F/42F

|team9=Port Adelaide

|res9=0/0/4/8/12F/16F/16F/16/20/24F/24/28F/32F/32F/32/36F/40F/40F/40/42/42/42

|team10=Collingwood

|res10=4F/8B/8F/8F/12F/16B/20F/24B/24B/24F/24F/24F/24/24/28/28/32/32/32/36/36/40

|team11=Carlton

|res11=0/0/4/8F/8/8/12/16/20F/20/24F/24/28/28/28/32/32/32/36/36/40/40

|team12=Fremantle

|res12=4F/8F/8F/8/12F/12/16F/20F/20F/20/20/24/24/28/28/32/36/36/40/40/40/40

|team13=Richmond

|res13=4F/8F/8F/12F/12/12/12/16/16/16/20/20/20/20/24/24/24/28/28/32/36/40

|team14=Essendon

|res14=4F/8F/12B/12F/12F/16F/16F/16/16/16/16/16/20/24/24/24/24/24/28/28/32/36

|team15=Hawthorn

|res15=4F/4/8F/8/12F/12/12/12/12/16/20/24/28F/32F/32F/32/32/32/32/32/32/32

|team16=Melbourne

|res16=4F/4/4R/4/4R/4R/4R/4R/4R/8R/8R/8R/8R/8R/12R/12R/12R/12R/12R/12R/12R/16R

}}

Finals series

=Week one=

{{AFLGame|QF2: Saturday, 6 September (2:30 pm)|{{AFL WB}}|18.11 (119)|H|{{AFL Syd}}|12.12 (84)|MCG|62,432|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1997/071619970906.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|QF1: Sunday, 7 September (2:30 pm)|{{AFL Ade}}|14.15 (99)|H|{{AFL WC}}|9.12 (66)|Football Park|43,761|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1997/011819970907.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|QF4: Sunday, 7 September (2:30 pm)|{{AFL|StK}}|20.15 (135)|H|{{AFL BL}}|13.11 (89)|Waverley Park|50,035|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1997/151919970907.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|QF3: Sunday, 7 September (7:00 pm)|{{AFL Gee}}|9.7 (61)|A|{{AFL NM}}|11.13 (79)|MCG|55,561|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1997/091219970907.html Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

The {{AFL|StK}} versus {{AFL BL}} finals match was the last ever finals match to be played at Waverley Park.
The {{AFL Ade}} versus {{AFL WC}} match was originally scheduled as a night match on Saturday, but to avoid a television conflict with the funeral of Princess Diana, the game was rescheduled as a Sunday afternoon fixture.

}}

=Week two=

{{AFLGame|SF1: Saturday, 13 September (2:30 pm) |{{AFL NM}}|15.8 (98)|H|{{AFL|WC}}|12.13 (85)|MCG|55,781|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1997/121819970913.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|SF2: Saturday, 13 September (7:45 pm) |{{AFL Ade}}|11.10 (76)|H|{{AFL Gee}}|9.14 (68)|Football Park|46,319|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1997/010919970913.html Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=The {{AFL Ade}} versus {{AFL Gee}} semi final was notable due to an incident in the third quarter, when a clear forward 50 mark to Geelong's Leigh Colbert was not awarded by field umpire Grant Vernon, denying Geelong a crucial shot at goal. This incident was later confirmed as a significant error by the AFL umpiring association, and Grant Vernon was not selected to umpire in any remaining 1997 finals matches as a result. {{cite web | url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/colbert-non-screamer-cruelled-cats-in-afl/svol6qv4d | title=Colbert non-screamer cruelled Cats in AFL }}

}}

=Week three=

{{AFLGame|PF2: Friday, 19 September (7:45 pm)|{{AFL|StK}}|15.14 (104)|H|{{AFL NM}}|11.7 (73)|MCG|77,531|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1997/121519970919.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|PF1: Saturday, 20 September (2:30 pm)|{{AFL WB}}|13.13 (91)|A|{{AFL Ade}}|12.21 (93)|MCG|70,088|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1997/010719970920.html Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

}}

=Week four=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 27 September (2:45 pm)|{{AFL|StK}}|13.16 (94)|A|{{AFL Ade}}|19.11 (125)|MCG|99,645|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1997/011519970927.html Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes= * This was the first appearance in a grand final for {{AFL Ade}}.

}}

Attendance

Team	Hosted	Average	Highest	Lowest	Total	Last Season	+/-
class="wikitable sortable"
Essendon	11	52,848	83,271	25,636	581,330	49,526	+ 3322
Collingwood	11	48,708	78,704	23,433	535,789	44,723	+ 3985
Adelaide	11	40,173	47,256	36,297	441,905	39,428	+ 745
Port Adelaide	11	35,829	45,498	31,757	394,115	11,017*	+ 24812*
Sydney	11	35,818	46,168	23,598	393,999	24,574	+ 11244
St Kilda	11	35,232	54,699	17,752	387,553	27,137	+ 8095
Richmond	11	34,515	58,812	15,461	379,670	38,624	- 4109
Carlton	11	33,634	61,650	18,187	369,972	35,891	- 2257
West Coast	11	32,582	39,294	21,164	358,401	32,448	+ 134
North Melbourne	11	32,520	54,901	13,056	357,725	34,627	- 2107
Hawthorn	11	32,380	51,494	15,939	356,179	23,624	+ 8756
Geelong	11	28,324	65,228	16,467	311,567	25,161	+ 3163
Melbourne	11	27,714	61,138	13,392	304,853	30,315	- 2601
Fremantle	11	21,982	39,711	14,721	241,801	22,473	- 491
Brisbane Lions	11	19,550	21,348	17,123	215,051	N/A	N/A
Western Bulldogs	11	19,335	35,438	8664	212,681	18,073	+ 1262
Totals	176	33,197	83,271	8664	5842,591	29,637	+ 3560

Venue	Hosted	Average	Highest	Lowest	Total	Last Season	+/-
class="wikitable sortable"
MCG	53	43,488	83,271	13,392	2,304,865	46,114	- 2626
Football Park	22	38,001	47,256	31,757	836,020	39,428	- 1427
SCG	11	35,818	46,168	23,598	393,999	24,574	+ 11,244
Waverley Park	22	33,806	54,699	15,939	743,732	25,545	+ 8261
Subiaco Oval	17	28,371	39,711	14,721	482,310	28,289	+ 82
Whitten Oval	1	26,704	26,704	26,704	26,704	10,482	+ 16,222
Victoria Park	3	24,473	25,323	23,433	73,419	23,581	+ 892
WACA	5	23,578	29,838	18,198	117,892	25,253	- 1675
Kardinia Park	9	21,269	24,099	16,467	191,417	22,670	- 1401
Optus Oval	22	20,781	34,922	8664	457,182	15,641	+ 5140
Gabba	11	19,550	21,348	17,123	215,051	18,088	+ 1462
Totals	176	33,197	83,271	8664	5842,591	29,637	+ 3560

Notable events

The last AFL regular season game at Whitten Oval was played in Round 21, with hosts the {{AFL WB}} defeating {{AFL WC}} by 18 points.{{cite web|url=https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/1182759/it-was-the-perfect-send-off-last-game-at-whitten-oval|title='It was the perfect send-off': Last game at Whitten Oval|publisher=Western Bulldogss|date=27 July 2022|access-date=2 October 2024}}
{{AFL|StK}} finished on top of the ladder (prior to the finals) to claim the minor premiership, despite losing 7 matches in the home and away season. No team before or since has finished on top with that many losses, which highlights the evenness of the 1997 season. {{AFL|StK}} would also play in their first preliminary final since 1972 and reach their first grand final since 1971.
The first qualifying final between {{AFL Ade}} and {{AFL WC}} was rescheduled from Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon to allow the Seven Network to screen the funeral of Princess Diana live across Australia.{{cite web|url=http://www.pressreader.com/australia/geelong-advertiser/20150704/281505044880044/TextView|title=Cats game cancelled|publisher=Geelong Advertiser|first1=Michael|last1=Warner|first2=Jon|last2=Ralph|first3=Nick|last3=Wade|date=4 July 2015|access-date=30 October 2015}} This meant that it was played at the same time as the fourth qualifying final between minor premiers {{AFL|StK}} and the Brisbane Lions, who were competing in their first season as a merged entity. The game is also notable for being the first ever final between two non-Victorian teams.
Gary Ablett Sr., arguably one of the games best and most well known players, officially announced his retirement during the Preliminary Final weekend. Ablett failed to play a game in 1997 due to a knee injury.

References

Sources

[https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1997.html 1997 AFL season] at AFL Tables
[https://www.australianfootball.com/seasons/season/afl/138/premiership%2Bseason/1/1/1997 1997 AFL season] at Australian Football

Category:1997 Australian Football League season

Category:Australian Football League seasons

AFL season