2020 AFL season#Round 16

File:COVID Regulations - No Seats Available (50811794966).jpg prior to the round 18 match between Hawthorn and Gold Coast. Restrictions on venue capacity had been implemented to combat the spread of COVID-19.]]{{See also|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports#Australian rules football}}

The 2020 season was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which was formally declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020, eight days prior to the scheduled start of the premiership season. Restrictions imposed by the different state governments related to social distancing, lockdowns of non-essential services which lasted for three months across the country, and border controls for interstate and international travel, all had significant effects on the completion of the 2020 season.

Prior to the commencement of the season, anticipating that the season would be forced to cease at the peak of the virus, the AFL announced the fixture would be shortened from 22 matches per team to 17, with each team playing each other once and serving one bye.{{Cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/385918/season-cut-to-17-games-call-delayed-on-r1-start|title=Season cut to 17 games, call delayed on R1 start|website=afl.com.au|date=16 March 2020 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-16}} The season then commenced on 19 March as originally scheduled; but as restrictions, followed by periods of formal quarantine, were introduced on interstate travel, the season was suspended after Round 1.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/389109/watch-from-4-30pm-aedt-afl-postpones-season|title=WATCH from 4.30pm AEDT: AFL postpones season|publisher=AFL.com.au|date=22 March 2020|access-date=22 March 2020}}

The season was suspended for more than two months. On 15 May, as most states began easing restrictions, the league's plan to resume the season was announced: clubs began non-contact training from 18 May, and full contact training from 25 May ahead of resuming competitive matches from 11 June, with the revised fixture released gradually throughout the year, and changing regularly and often at short notice when the situation forced it.

The first major fixturing challenge occurred in the aftermath of Round 4, when a spike in Victorian COVID-19 cases prompted other states to either impose tighter quarantine restrictions on Victorians, or defer the relaxation of restrictions already in place. Although this forced two planned Round 5 matches—{{AFL Ric}} vs {{AFL WC}} and {{AFL Mel}} vs {{AFL Syd}}—to be redrawn at less than a week's notice (Richmond instead faced Melbourne in Victoria, and Sydney faced West Coast in Queensland) and the entire planned Round 6 and 7 fixtures to be redrawn, the season continued without suspension. The gradual release of the fixture also allowed the flexibility to reschedule any games which were postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests among players or staff.{{cite news |last1=Cleary |first1=Mitch |title=Dons-Dees postponed after Bomber tests positive |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/455021/dons-dees-postponed-after-bomber-tests-positive |access-date=20 June 2020 |work=AFL.com.au |date=20 June 2020}}

When games were postponed or rescheduled at short notice, other games within the same round were often also rescheduled to ensure the primetime television slots were filled.

During the peak of the hiatus, players were allowed to train only within the strict limits of the government restrictions on public gatherings; at the height of the pandemic in April and May, when gatherings larger than two were restricted, players could train only in pairs. When the league returned to training and playing, it was done with strict, enforceable protocols and monitoring in place to ensure that the clubs would not suffer a virus outbreak, and that any virus cases could be contained with minimal impact to the wider competition. To this effect, players, umpires and staff were regularly tested for the virus and continued to train mostly in small groups, allowing individual players or small groups to be segregated and contained in the event of positive cases. Players and club personnel were subject to protocols which extended to players' personal lives, which were above and beyond the lockdown guidelines still in place for the general public, in order to protect the AFL season from suffering an outbreak; and families and partners who were part of quarantine hubs came under the same restrictions.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/447619/young-demons-forwards-suspended-for-breaching-covid-19-protocols|title=Young Demons forwards suspended for breaching COVID-19 protocols|date=13 June 2020|access-date=14 June 2020|author=Marc McGowan|publisher=Australian Football League}}

There were many breaches during the season, resulting in fines for the players and clubs involved, or suspensions in the most egregious cases:

• {{AFL Ric}}'s Sydney Stack and Callum Coleman-Jones (ten matches each), for being involved in a fight outside a Surfers Paradise kebab shop in the early hours of 4 September.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/495991/stack-coleman-jones-cop-huge-bans-afl-hits-richmond-with-100k-whack|title=Stack, Coleman-Jones cop huge bans, AFL hits Richmond with $100K whack|publisher=AFL.com.au|first=Damian|last=Barrett|date=4 September 2020|access-date=4 September 2020}}
• {{AFL Syd}}'s Elijah Taylor (rest of season, which amounted to six home-and-away matches), for bringing his girlfriend into the club's Perth quarantine hotel.{{cite web |title=Young Swan suspended for rest of season for COVID breach |date=15 August 2020 |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/486030/young-swan-suspended-for-rest-of-season-for-covid-breach |publisher=Australian Football League |access-date=1 September 2024}}
• {{AFL Ade}} assistant coach Ben Hart (six training weeks), for allowing training groups to be too close to each other on a quarantine camp in early May.{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/adelaide/adelaide-to-cop-hefty-fine-but-wont-be-stripped-of-draft-picks-for-breaking-social-distancing-rules/news-story/e60f175d7b00d9a26b8d04b10b8f1cce|title=Adelaide's quarantine-breaking 16 avoid suspension, but assistant coach Ben Hart stood down|author=Jon Ralph|date=11 May 2020|access-date=11 May 2020|newspaper=Herald Sun}}
• {{AFL Col}}'s Steele Sidebottom (four matches) and Lynden Dunn (one match), for travelling in an Uber and visiting more than one unauthorised house, the night concluding with Sidebottom being driven home by police.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/459748/sidebottom-cops-massive-whack-for-covid-breach|title=Pies fume at 'excessive' COVID ban for Steele|date=1 July 2020|access-date=21 August 2020|publisher=Australian Football League|author=Marc McGowan}}
• {{AFL PA}}'s Peter Ladhams (three matches) and Dan Houston (two matches), for inviting non-authorised residents to their house.{{Cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/487946/banned-port-stars-whacked-for-covid-breach-crow-housemate-cleared|title = BANNED: Port stars whacked for COVID breach, Crow housemate cleared| date=20 August 2020 }}
• {{AFL Mel}}'s Charlie Spargo (two matches) and Kysaiah Pickett (one match), for travelling via an Uber to an unauthorised house for a gathering.{{Cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/704946/club-statement-pickett-and-spargo|title = Club Statement: Pickett and Spargo| date=12 June 2020 }}
• {{AFL PA}}'s Ollie Wines (one week), for inviting a non-authorised resident to his house.{{Cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/446924/update-power-star-banned-from-showdown-for-covid-19-breach|title=UPDATE: Power star banned from Showdown for COVID-19 breach|date=11 June 2020 }}
• {{AFL Ess}}'s Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (one week), for breaching living arrangement protocols.{{cite web |last1=Beveridge |first1=Riley |title=Bomber banned after COVID-19 breach |date=11 June 2020 |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/446962/bomber-banned-after-covid-19-breach |publisher=Australian Football League |access-date=1 September 2024}}

Throughout the season, AFL-listed players were not permitted to participate in the state league competitions (the VFL, SANFL, WAFL and NEAFL) due to the greater risk of external threats in the semi-professional state league environment; this meant there was no formal competitive reserves football for players who were not selected in the seniors.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/385888/update-state-league-comps-suspended-due-to-corona-crisis|title=UPDATE: State league comps suspended due to corona crisis|date=16 March 2020|access-date=16 March 2020|author1=Riley Beveridge|author2=Mitch Cleary|publisher=Australian Football League}} (The NEAFL and VFL ended up cancelling their seasons altogether). Clubs based in the same state were permitted to arrange ad hoc scratch matches for their unselected players against each other and in empty stadiums to enable some match practice; these could be stand-alone games or curtain raisers to senior games.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/441279/curtain-raisers-back-afl-gives-clubs-the-green-light-to-organise-scratch-matches|title=Curtain-raisers back? AFL gives clubs the green light to organise scratch matches|author=Marc McGowan|date=3 June 2020|access-date=11 June 2020}}

Interstate travel restrictions and quarantine periods were a significant impediment to the completion of the season after the resumption, with many state border crossings subject to mandatory 14-day quarantine periods. Western Australia and Tasmania had the tightest restrictions, requiring quarantine for all entries throughout the entire season;{{cite web|url=https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/covid-19-coronavirus-travel-advice#wa-state-border-closure|title=COVID-19 coronavirus: Travel advice|website=West Australian Government|year=2020|access-date=September 5, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travellers-and-visitors|title=Travellers and visitors|website=Tasmanian Government|year=2020|access-date=September 5, 2020}} South Australia had similar restrictions which were loosened after Round 5. Border crossings around the rest of the country were freer; but, as second waves of virus cases occurred in Victoria (after Round 5){{cite news|last1=Cleary|first1=Mitch|last2=Beveridge|first2=Riley|title=FIXTURE UPDATE: Tigers shut out of Queensland, new Thursday night game|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/459299/afl-in-fixture-scramble-with-tigers-refused-entry-to-queensland|work=afl.com.au|date=29 June 2020|access-date=29 June 2020}} and New South Wales (after Round 10),{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|title=Swans, Giants to make swift NSW exit for AFL's Queensland hub|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/swans-giants-to-make-swift-nsw-exit-for-afl-s-queensland-hub-20200729-p55gje.html|date=29 July 2020|access-date=8 August 2020|author=Sam McClure}} quarantines were imposed on travellers leaving those states. This precluded a conventional interstate home-and-away fixture, and meant that Queensland – which maintained few virus cases and had the most favourable quarantine arrangements – became critical to the completion of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/afl-wants-to-move-hundreds-of-players-to-queensland-to-keep-season-alive-20200715-p55c6g.html|title=AFL to move all Victorian clubs to Queensland to save season|website=Brisbane Times|last1=Niall|first1=Jake|last2=Ryan|first2=Peter|last3=Crockford|first3=Tony|date=July 15, 2020|access-date=September 4, 2020}}

The border restrictions were managed by requiring several clubs to relocate outside their states; or, to set-up in weeks-long quarantine hubs, in which clubs travelled at the same time to a restricted state for an extended three- or four-week trip, quarantined there and played several games against other teams in the hub. Players' immediate families were permitted to join them at the league's expense, but were subject to the same lifestyle restrictions and virus testing regime as the players.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/433640/revealed-afl-s-first-day-back-full-contact-training-more-covid-tests|title=REVEALED: AFL's first day back, full-contact training, more COVID tests|date=15 May 2020|access-date=15 May 2020|publisher=Australian Football League|author1=Damian Barrett|author2=Mitch Cleary}}{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/435051/new-sa-exemptions-could-make-r2-showdown-a-reality|title=New SA exemptions could make R2 Showdown a reality|date=20 May 2020|access-date=25 May 2020|author=Marc McGowan}}

The relocation of all ten Victorian clubs occurred after Round 5. {{AFL Car}}, {{AFL WB}}, {{AFL NM}}, {{AFL|StK}}, {{AFL Ric}} and {{AFL Ess}} moved to south-east Queensland; and {{AFL Col}}, {{AFL Haw}}, {{AFL Gee}} and {{AFL Mel}} moved to New South Wales.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/460394/fixture-rewrite-vic-clubs-forced-north-for-r6-7-return-date-unknown|title=Fixture rewrite: Vic clubs forced north for R6-7, return date unknown|work=AFL.com.au|date=3 July 2020}} The relocation of the six New South Wales based clubs ({{AFL Syd}}, {{AFL GWS}} and the four Victorian clubs) to Queensland then occurred after Round 8.{{cite web|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/afl-set-to-move-teams-out-of-new-south-wales-due-to-coronavirus-clusters-as-severe-doubt-grows-over-nsw-grand-final-bid-ng-b881607895z#:~:text=The%20Swans%2C%20Giants%2C%20Carlton%20and,been%20forced%20to%20escape%20Melbourne.|title=AFL set to move teams out of New South Wales due to coronavirus clusters as severe doubt grows over NSW grand final bid|website=The West Australian|date=July 14, 2020|access-date=September 5, 2020}} These relocations lasted until the end of the season.

The season's first quarantine hub occurred immediately after the resumption, and featured the clubs from South Australia and Western Australia – the most tightly restricted state at that time. The clubs were relocated to south-east Queensland – with the Western Australian teams arriving in Round 2 and the South Australian teams arriving in Round 3 (after their Round 2 Showdown game in Adelaide). The visiting teams played each other and the two Queensland-based clubs in a hub until Round 5. The two West Australian teams remained in the hub for an additional week and flew back to West Australia following Round 6, and the South Australian hub members returned to South Australia after Round 5 but still travelled weekly to Queensland over subsequent weeks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruise1323.com.au/local/afl-denies-adelaide-crows-request-to-play-at-adelaide-oval/|title=Round 6 Fixture Released, AFL Denies Crows Request to Play at Adelaide Oval|access-date=3 September 2020|archive-date=13 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913033353/https://www.cruise1323.com.au/local/afl-denies-adelaide-crows-request-to-play-at-adelaide-oval/|url-status=dead}}

From that point on, three three-week quarantine hubs were staged in Perth, to allow matches to be played there despite season-long quarantine requirements. Each time, two interstate clubs travelled at once from Queensland, and played each other while in quarantine, then the two Perth clubs while out of quarantine. These hubs were:

• Rounds 7–9: {{AFL Gee}} and {{AFL Col}}
• Rounds 9–12: {{AFL Haw}} and {{AFL Car}} (including a bye)
• Rounds 12–14: {{AFL Syd}} and {{AFL GWS}}

{{AFL Fre}} and {{AFL|WC}} later returned to a Queensland hub for the final four rounds of the home-and-away season.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

Teams could also travel from Queensland to the Northern Territory, where three games were played. However, season-long Tasmanian border restrictions to all states resulted in no AFL matches being played in the state for the first time since 2000.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-24/tasmania-says-no-to-kangaroos-demons-afl-match-in-hobart/12490736#:~:text=Key%20points%3A,host%20city%20for%20the%20match|title=Tasmania's coronavirus border closures mean Hobart AFL match won't go ahead|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=July 24, 2002|access-date=September 5, 2020}}

Border restrictions ultimately also precluded the playing of any finals in Victoria or New South Wales – including the Grand Final – and limited finals in Western Australia to the first week only, since the bye week after Round 18 allowed time to quarantine. For the first three weeks of finals, clubs unable to play in their home states were given the option to nominate a preferred home ground from the Gabba, Metricon Stadium and Adelaide Oval for home finals. On 2 September, the Grand Final was formally scheduled for Saturday 24 October, the latest in the year a Grand Final had been played; it was scheduled at night to avoid a clash with the 100th running of the Cox Plate that afternoon, making it the first Grand Final not to be played in the afternoon timeslot; and, it was scheduled at the Gabba, making it the first AFL Grand Final to be played outside of Melbourne.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-grand-final-2020-date-time-venue-first-bounce-where-will-he-game-be-played-live-press-conference/news-story/7c087c2f58052edc6f82b8ada4a5e139|title=This is a win for Queensland: AFL reveals how QLD won race for historic Grand Final as key fixture details confirmed|work=Fox Sports|last1=Waterworth|first1=Ben|last2=Zita|first2=David|date=2 September 2020}}

The hub arrangements resulted in many other fixturing anomalies. Among the most notable occurred in Round 6, when all nine games were played in New South Wales and Queensland, traditionally rugby league territory.{{cite web|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/round-six-fitures-firm-as-six-melbourne-clubs-relocate-to-queensland-for-bulk-of-2020-season-ng-b881597672z|title=Round six fixtures announced as six Melbourne clubs relocate to Queensland and Fremantle receive new opponent|website=The West Australian|last1=Duffeild|first1=Mark|date=July 3, 2020|access-date=September 5, 2020}} Whole rounds were played with no matches in Melbourne, which had only previously occurred in Round 8, 1952 (the promotional National Day Round). Clubs hosted several fixtured home games at interstate venues, and hub stadiums were sometimes used for multiple games on the same day – the first time this had happened in senior VFL/AFL football since a double-header in Round 19, 1986. The desire to compress the schedule meant that the seven-game Round 10 and six-game Round 15 were played entirely on weekdays, the first time this had happened outside of rounds played on a public holiday.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

Government restrictions on gatherings meant that, starting in Round 1, crowds were locked out of senior VFL/AFL matches for the first time in the code's history.{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/afl-daily-live-rolling-footy-news-from-around-australia-on-friday-march-13/live-coverage/9af397c6e690660ff6924b86abba71fe|title=The AFL season is in limbo with Round 1 to be played without fans|date=13 March 2020|access-date=13 March 2020|newspaper=Herald Sun|author=Jon Ralph}} State governments gradually allowed crowds, often small and restricted in size, into games, starting immediately from the resumption in Round 2 in South Australia and New South Wales, from Round 3 in Queensland, and from football's resumption in Round 7 in Western Australia.{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/giants-cleared-to-host-limited-afl-crowd-c-1090327|title=Port Adelaide's dire warning to fans who scalp 'golden tickets' to Showdown|publisher=Seven News|first=Anna|last=Harrington|date=10 June 2020|access-date=10 June 2020}} The sizes of allowable crowds changed as the season progressed, with early season Queensland and New South Wales crowds limited to only a few hundred, while half-full crowds were allowed in the largely virus-free Western Australia from Round 7.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-16/afl-returns-to-perth-stadium-amid-coronavirus-crowd-fears/12461094|title=AFL returns to Perth Stadium amid fears big crowds could spark coronavirus outbreak|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|last1=O"Flaherty|first1=Alisha|date=July 16, 2020|access-date=September 12, 2020}}

Starting in Round 2, after the resumption of the season, broadcasters experimented with adding artificial crowd noise to lend a more normal feel to their telecasts to overcome the lack of genuine crowds in stadiums.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/434837/vote-is-fake-crowd-noise-a-good-idea-for-footy-s-return-|title=VOTE: Is fake crowd noise a good idea for footy's return?|author=Mitch Cleary|date=18 May 2020|access-date=28 June 2020|publisher=Australian Football League}}

All in all, the total attendance for 2020 (1,033,037) was only 13.74% of 2019's unaffected 7,517,677 total. Similarly, due to the shortened season, the average attendance of 6,377 per game was 17.56% of the 2019 season's average of 36,317.

Throughout the season, matches were played for a shortened length of 16 minutes plus time on per quarter, instead of 20 minutes plus time on. This was originally done at the start of the season, in the hope that playing shorter games could facilitate more frequent games than weekly, maximising the games which could be played before the anticipated suspension of the season;{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/386263/it-s-on-afl-confirms-round-one-will-go-ahead|title=It's on: AFL confirms round one will go ahead|date=18 March 2020|access-date=18 March 2020|author=Damian Barrett|work=Australian Football League}} but this did not eventuate, since the season was suspended after only one round. It was then retained after the resumption to lighten the load on players to take account for the compromised training schedule; and, to allow make-up games to be more easily scheduled between rounds when matches were postponed or refixtured.{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-considering-expanding-interchange-bench-for-season-restart/news-story/0dde39da85dad6401cfeb17ab7c45411|title=AFL considering expanding interchange bench for season restart|newspaper=Herald Sun|date=27 May 2020|access-date=27 May 2020|author=Jon Ralph}} As a direct result of this, it was a very low-scoring season, and several records or long-standing marks in low scoring were set during the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/low-scoring-footy-is-here-to-stay-and-it-s-going-to-get-worse-20200625-p5567a.html|title=Low-scoring footy is here to stay, and it's going to get worse|website=The Age|last1=Duncan|first1=Sam|date=June 25, 2020|access-date=October 19, 2020}}

When the season was suspended, the league and clubs were faced with an acute cash-flow shortage, as the gate and broadcast revenues which had been budgeted for stopped immediately;{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-coronavirus-season-postponed-umpiring-financial-hit-afl-loan-line-of-credit-money/news-story/bc1dd37642175da391d2caa0e233168f|title='Embarrassingly disappointing': AFL legend 'has lost respect' for the players over pay cut debate|work=Fox Sports|date=24 March 2020|access-date=1 April 2020}} clubs deriving revenues from gaming and other public venues also saw those revenues drop when public gatherings were restricted.{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|last1=Plerik|first1=Jon|date=16 March 2020|access-date=26 March 2020|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-clubs-to-face-double-hit-with-pokies-downturn-20200316-p54am3.html|title=AFL clubs to face 'double hit' with pokies downturn}} The league and clubs all stood down or severely reduced hours for huge percentages of their staff during the suspension; furthermore, the AFL agreed with both the AFLPA and ALFUA to enact significant play cuts for the players and umpires for the season, amounting to 50% of their wage from the point of the suspension until the end of the season, and increasing to 70% for any period of suspension which extends beyond the end of May.{{cite news|newspaper=Herald Sun|date=27 March 2020|access-date=27 March 2020|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/done-deal-afl-and-aflpa-agree-to-pay-deal/news-story/09f60691b00514720fe0febed646450d|title=Done deal: AFL and AFLPA for players to take a 50 per cent pay cut until May 31|last1=Warner|first1=Mick}}{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/390738/umpires-agree-to-same-pay-cuts-as-players|title=Umpires agree to same pay cuts as players|date=3 April 2020|access-date=4 April 2020|last1=Barrett|first1=Damien|publisher=Australian Football League}} The league successfully obtained a $500–600 million line of credit with the National Australia Bank and ANZ Bank, leveraged against its ownership of Marvel Stadium, to cover its and its clubs' cash shortfalls during the suspension.{{cite news|newspaper=The Australian|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|title=$600m lifeline via Marvel Stadium saves AFL but where will they play?|date=30 March 2020|access-date=1 April 2020|last1=Landsberger|first1=Sam|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/600m-lifeline-via-marvel-stadium-saves-afl-but-where-will-they-play/news-story/e69a5c7e16dd32a25321dec9dbe15e2f}}

Resuming the season and playing the shortened 17-game season in full, even without crowds, was important to ensure the league still took in most of its television revenue. Prior to the resumption, the league renegotiated its $417-million-per-year broadcast deals with the Seven Network and Foxtel, ultimately resulting in a total television revenue reduction of approximately $150 million over 2020–2022.{{cite news|newspaper=Herald Sun|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/channel-7-bags-bargain-afl-tv-rights-deal-after-coronavirus-crisis/news-story/d9d3d0bb3a7d5e1a4a837969a892a8b5|title=AFL finally reaches new broadcast deals with Channel 7 and Foxtel|last1=Warner|first1=Michael|date=12 June 2020|access-date=14 June 2020}} On top of this, the cost of running the Queensland hubs, including medical costs for ongoing COVID-19 testing, resulted in a $60 million expense for the league.{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-victorian-clubs-given-choice-of-three-interstate-venues-to-host-home-finals/news-story/1166f25208c1d0e67ac51bd6d2dd809f|title=AFL hubs set to cost league $60 million as price of keeping 2020 season afloat hits home|author=Sam Landsberger|date=18 September 2020|access-date=19 September 2020|newspaper=The Courier Mail}}

The overall financial losses for the league in the 2020 season, compared with the budgeted results prior to the pandemic, were less than but in the order of $100 million – a substantially better result than the $1 billion loss which was feared as a worst-case scenario when the season was originally suspended.{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/news/the-afl-reveals-the-financial-cost-of-the-coronavirus-pandemic-which-suspended-the-season-in-march/news-story/30c9c1c7df5e70c847f20281a501015d|title=The AFL reveals the financial cost of the coronavirus pandemic which suspended the season in March|date=23 November 2020|access-date=26 November 2020|author=Nick Smart|newspaper=Herald Sun|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC}}

Among the other direct impacts of the pandemic were:

• The Dreamtime at the 'G match between {{AFL Ric}} and {{AFL Ess}} was not played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground per its name, but instead at TIO Stadium in Darwin.
• {{AFL|StK}} and {{AFL PA}} did not play a match at Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai, China, as scheduled as part of the original Round 11 – this decision was made prior to the season while the virus was still mostly prevalent only within China and prior to its spread in Australia,{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/china-game-won-t-be-moved-to-moorabbin-20200211-p53zu4.html|title=China game won't be moved to Moorabbin|first=Sam|last=McLure|newspaper=The Age|date=11 February 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-cancels-st-kilda-vs-port-adelaide-china-game-for-2020-due-to-coronavirus-meaning-a-potential-bye-week-reshuffle/news-story/2447df03127d10067316e45d8a68122a|title=AFL cancels St Kilda vs Port Adelaide China game for 2020 due to coronavirus, meaning a potential bye week reshuffle|publisher=Fox Sports Australia|first=Tom|last=Morris|date=3 March 2020|access-date=3 March 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.saints.com.au/news/571717/shanghai-game-relocated-to-marvel-stadium|title = Shanghai game relocated to Marvel Stadium| date=4 March 2020 }} but would eventually have been mandated by restrictions on international travel.
• The two-Test international rules football series against Ireland, planned to have been played in Ireland in November, were cancelled.{{cite news|newspaper=Herald Sun|author=Glenn McFarlane|date=5 April 2020|access-date=5 April 2020|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/afl-calls-off-international-rules-series-this-year-with-doubts-on-its-future-viability/news-story/a6d4368ad85aed22410ed4989625d470|title=AFL calls off International Rules series this year, with doubts on its future viability}}

The pre-season series of games returned as the 2020 Marsh Community Series, with teams playing two games each. The games were stand-alone, with no overall winner of the series. Each team played two games, many at suburban or regional venues, while all games were televised on Fox Footy.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/broadcast-guide-marsh|title=Marsh Community Series|website=Australian Football League|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-date=20 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320001933/https://www.afl.com.au/broadcast-guide-marsh|url-status=dead}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Week 1}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 20 February (7:10 pm)|{{AFL StK}}|17.9 (111)|H|{{AFL Haw}}|13.12 (90)|RSEA Park|8,187|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/375795/stand-in-saints-skipper-stars-against-hawks Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 21 February (7:10 pm)|{{AFL WB}}|15.11 (101)|H|{{AFL NM}}|9.3 (57)|Marvel Stadium|5,465|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/376013/young-pup-brilliant-bont-lead-dogs-to-crushing-win-over-roos Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 22 February (4:40 pm)|{{AFL Mel}}|15.13 (103)|H|{{AFL Ade}}|10.10 (70)|Casey Fields|3,095|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/376481/right-on-trac-gun-demon-stars-in-marsh-win-over-crows Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 22 February (6:40 pm)|{{AFL GC}}|17.20 (122)|H|{{AFL Gee}}|7.12 (54)|Metricon Stadium|5,903|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/376812/suns-stunner-new-faces-shine-bright-in-cats-drubbing Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 23 February (3:10 pm)|{{AFL BL}}|12.5 (77)|A|{{AFL|PA}}|14.14 (98)|Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex|2,027|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/377239/port-pair-provide-the-fire-power-to-hunt-down-lions Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Week 2}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 27 February (4:40 pm)|{{AFL|WC}}|13.9 (87)|A|{{AFL Ess}}|14.11 (95)|Mineral Resources Park|4,302|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/378732/star-recruit-shines-as-dons-edge-dramatic-clash Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 29 February (4:10 pm)|{{AFL GWS}}|19.7 (121)|H|{{AFL Syd}}|3.9 (27)|Blacktown International Sportspark|2,022|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/379457/giants-send-early-warning-by-crushing-crosstown-rivals Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 29 February (4:10 pm)|{{AFL Fre}}|13.12 (90)|H|{{AFL Car}}|5.13 (43)|David Grays Arena|5,127|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/379473/new-dockers-hand-longmuir-first-win-over-patchy-blues Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 1 March (4:10 pm)|{{AFL Ric}}|6.8 (44)|A|{{AFL Col}}|13.6 (84)|Norm Minns Oval|7,164|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/380491/pie-mid-s-injury-sours-big-win-over-tigers-as-cult-hero-returns Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Week 3}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 6 March (4:20 pm)|{{AFL Ade}}|9.10 (64)|A|{{AFL GC}}|9.17 (71)|Flinders University Stadium|2,788|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/1988#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 6 March (7:40 pm)|{{AFL Haw}}|6.13 (49)|A|{{AFL Mel}}|12.9 (81)|University of Tasmania Stadium|2,712|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/1989#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 7 March (3:40 pm)|{{AFL|PA}}|14.11 (95)|H|{{AFL WB}}|13.7 (85)|Bennett Oval, Whyalla|4,770|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/1987#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 7 March (4:10 pm)|{{AFL|WC}}|7.12 (54)|A|{{AFL Fre}}|8.7 (55)|HBF Arena|10,384|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/1975#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 8 March (12:40 pm)|{{AFL GWS}}|17.7 (109)|H|{{AFL Ric}}|14.11 (95)|Robertson Oval|6,556|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2014#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 8 March (3:50 pm)|{{AFL Col}}|9.3 (57)|A|{{AFL StK}}|10.8 (68)|Morwell Recreation Reserve|5,431|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/1976#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 8 March (6:40 pm)|{{AFL Car}}|10.6 (66)|A|{{AFL BL}}|16.15 (111)|Ikon Park|7,148|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2018#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 9 March (1:40 pm)|{{AFL NM}}|14.6 (90)|H|{{AFL Syd}}|12.7 (79)|Kingston Twin Ovals, Hobart|2,571|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2017#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 9 March (4:40 pm)|{{AFL Gee}}|9.7 (61)|A|{{AFL Ess}}|9.11 (65)|Central Reserve, Colac|7,598|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/1977#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Week 1}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 20 February (7:10 pm)|{{AFL StK}}|17.9 (111)|H|{{AFL Haw}}|13.12 (90)|RSEA Park|8,187|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/375795/stand-in-saints-skipper-stars-against-hawks Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 21 February (7:10 pm)|{{AFL WB}}|15.11 (101)|H|{{AFL NM}}|9.3 (57)|Marvel Stadium|5,465|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/376013/young-pup-brilliant-bont-lead-dogs-to-crushing-win-over-roos Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 22 February (4:40 pm)|{{AFL Mel}}|15.13 (103)|H|{{AFL Ade}}|10.10 (70)|Casey Fields|3,095|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/376481/right-on-trac-gun-demon-stars-in-marsh-win-over-crows Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 22 February (6:40 pm)|{{AFL GC}}|17.20 (122)|H|{{AFL Gee}}|7.12 (54)|Metricon Stadium|5,903|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/376812/suns-stunner-new-faces-shine-bright-in-cats-drubbing Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 23 February (3:10 pm)|{{AFL BL}}|12.5 (77)|A|{{AFL|PA}}|14.14 (98)|Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex|2,027|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/377239/port-pair-provide-the-fire-power-to-hunt-down-lions Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Week 2}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 27 February (4:40 pm)|{{AFL|WC}}|13.9 (87)|A|{{AFL Ess}}|14.11 (95)|Mineral Resources Park|4,302|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/378732/star-recruit-shines-as-dons-edge-dramatic-clash Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 29 February (4:10 pm)|{{AFL GWS}}|19.7 (121)|H|{{AFL Syd}}|3.9 (27)|Blacktown International Sportspark|2,022|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/379457/giants-send-early-warning-by-crushing-crosstown-rivals Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 29 February (4:10 pm)|{{AFL Fre}}|13.12 (90)|H|{{AFL Car}}|5.13 (43)|David Grays Arena|5,127|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/379473/new-dockers-hand-longmuir-first-win-over-patchy-blues Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 1 March (4:10 pm)|{{AFL Ric}}|6.8 (44)|A|{{AFL Col}}|13.6 (84)|Norm Minns Oval|7,164|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/380491/pie-mid-s-injury-sours-big-win-over-tigers-as-cult-hero-returns Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Week 3}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 6 March (4:20 pm)|{{AFL Ade}}|9.10 (64)|A|{{AFL GC}}|9.17 (71)|Flinders University Stadium|2,788|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/1988#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 6 March (7:40 pm)|{{AFL Haw}}|6.13 (49)|A|{{AFL Mel}}|12.9 (81)|University of Tasmania Stadium|2,712|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/1989#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 7 March (3:40 pm)|{{AFL|PA}}|14.11 (95)|H|{{AFL WB}}|13.7 (85)|Bennett Oval, Whyalla|4,770|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/1987#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 7 March (4:10 pm)|{{AFL|WC}}|7.12 (54)|A|{{AFL Fre}}|8.7 (55)|HBF Arena|10,384|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/1975#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 8 March (12:40 pm)|{{AFL GWS}}|17.7 (109)|H|{{AFL Ric}}|14.11 (95)|Robertson Oval|6,556|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2014#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 8 March (3:50 pm)|{{AFL Col}}|9.3 (57)|A|{{AFL StK}}|10.8 (68)|Morwell Recreation Reserve|5,431|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/1976#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 8 March (6:40 pm)|{{AFL Car}}|10.6 (66)|A|{{AFL BL}}|16.15 (111)|Ikon Park|7,148|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2018#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 9 March (1:40 pm)|{{AFL NM}}|14.6 (90)|H|{{AFL Syd}}|12.7 (79)|Kingston Twin Ovals, Hobart|2,571|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2017#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 9 March (4:40 pm)|{{AFL Gee}}|9.7 (61)|A|{{AFL Ess}}|9.11 (65)|Central Reserve, Colac|7,598|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/1977#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

}}

{{main|State of Origin for Bushfire Relief Match}}

A one-off benefit match was played on 28 February 2020, as a fundraiser for the relief effort for the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-state-of-origin-2020-bushfire-relief-match-date-details-time-venue-first-bounce/news-story/3ec2bde94c7a175b0aa10edef4a737e8|title=It's officially back: AFL confirms details for historic one-off Victoria vs Allies clash|last1=Waterworth|first1=Ben|work=Fox Sports|access-date=9 January 2020}} The league donated $2.5 million to disaster relief funds in association with the match.{{cite news|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/365314/afl-confirms-state-of-origin-match-makes-massive-donation|title=AFL confirms Victoria vs Allies match, makes massive donation|publisher=Australian Football League|access-date=9 January 2020}} Selection for the two teams was under state of origin rules, and it was the first interstate representative match featuring AFL-listed players since the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match held in 2008. Played prior to the pandemic's spread to Australia, it was the highest-attended football match of the year.

{{AFLGameDetailed

|title = State of Origin for Bushfire Relief Match

|date = Friday, 28 February 2020 (7:50 pm)

|home team = Victoria

|home Q1 = 4.1 (25)

|home Q2 = 10.2 (62)

|home Q3 = 15.7 (97)

|home final = 24.10 (154)

|home goals = Papley 5
Kelly, Greene 4
Martin, Gaff, Bontempelli, Gresham 2
Dangerfield, J Cameron, Lynch 1

|home best = Kelly, Martin, Greene, Papley, Pendlebury, Haynes, Cotchin, Dangerfield

|home injuries=

|home reports =

|winner = H

|away team = All-Stars

|away Q1 = 4.7 (31)

|away Q2 = 9.14 (68)

|away Q3 = 15.16 (106)

|away final = 15.18 (108)

|away goals = C Cameron 3
Coniglio, Breust, Riewoldt, Smith 2
Neale, Weller, Walters, Hill 1

|away best = Coniglio, C Cameron, Mills, Cripps, Neale, Johannisen

|away injuries=

|away reports =

|venue = Marvel Stadium

|crowd = 51,052

|report = [https://www.afl.com.au/news/379147/goals-rain-for-bushfire-relief-as-vics-storm-home-over-all-stars Report]

|umpires = Fisher, Stephens, Nicholls, Williamson

|BOG award = Best on Ground Medal

|BOG winner = Dustin Martin (Victoria)

|notes =

}}

{{mapbox|from=AFL grounds 2018.map|text=Map of the grounds to be used during the 2019 AFL season (excluding Jiangwan Stadium, Shanghai)|text-left=yes}}

As the coronavirus situation developed, only the first round was played as originally drawn. The rest of the fixture was redrawn into a new seventeen-round season in which each team played each other once.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/385918/season-cut-to-17-games-call-delayed-on-r1-start|title=Season cut to 17 games, call delayed on R1 start|date=16 March 2020|access-date=16 March 2020|publisher=Australian Football League|author=Mitch Cleary}}{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/432506/old-fixture-binned-traditional-time-slots-a-priority-in-full-rewrite|title=Old fixture binned, traditional time slots a priority in full rewrite|website=Australian Football League|first=Damian|last=Barrett|date=5 May 2020|access-date=5 May 2020}} The new rescheduled fixture was released gradually through the season, often at short notice, to allow the fixture to respond to developments in the spread of the virus.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/435752/monster-r2-unveiled-r3-5-to-be-revealed-at-1pm-aest|title=Monster R2 unveiled, R3-5 to be revealed at 1pm AEST|date=25 May 2020|access-date=25 May 2020|website=Australian Football League|first1=Ben|last1=Sutton}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 1 }}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 19 March (7:40 pm)|{{AFL Ric}}|16.9 (105)|H|{{AFL Car}}|12.9 (81)|MCG|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2214#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 20 March (7:50 pm)|{{AFL WB}}|5.4 (34)|A|{{AFL Col}}|13.8 (86)|Marvel Stadium|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2009#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 21 March (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Ess}}|9.9 (63)|H|{{AFL Fre}}|8.9 (57)|Marvel Stadium|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2010#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 21 March (4:35 pm)|{{AFL Ade}}|11.5 (71)|A|{{AFL Syd}}|11.8 (74)|Adelaide Oval|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2024#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 21 March (7:40 pm)|{{AFL GWS}}|17.3 (105)|H|{{AFL Gee}}|11.7 (73)|GIANTS Stadium|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2041#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 21 March (6:40 pm)|{{AFL GC}}|4.5 (29)|A|{{AFL|PA}}|10.16 (76)|Metricon Stadium|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2027#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 22 March (1:05 pm)|{{AFL NM}}|8.8 (56)|H|{{AFL|StK}}|7.12 (54)|Marvel Stadium|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2028#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 22 March (3:35 pm)|{{AFL Haw}}|14.6 (90)|H|{{AFL BL}}|9.8 (62)|MCG|0| [https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2021#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 22 March (3:40 pm)|{{AFL|WC}}|12.6 (78)|H|{{AFL Mel}}|7.9 (51)|Optus Stadium|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2043#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

• {{AFL GWS}} scored at 85% accuracy, beating its previous highest accuracy of 77.78% (minimum 15 scoring shots) in Round 11, 2016, also against {{AFL GEE}}.{{Cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/teams/gws/gamer.html#12|title=AFL Tables - Greater Western Sydney - Game Records|website=afltables.com}}}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 2}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 11 June (7:40 pm)|{{AFL Col}}|5.6 (36)|D|{{AFL Ric}}|5.6 (36)|MCG|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2026#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 12 June (7:50 pm)|{{AFL Gee}}|17.6 (108)|H|{{AFL Haw}}|7.5 (47)|GMHBA Stadium|0|

[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2025#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 13 June (1:45 pm)|{{AFL BL}}|12.9 (81)|H|{{AFL Fre}}|10.9 (69)|Gabba|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2042#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 13 June (4:35 pm)|{{AFL Car}}|7.11 (53)|A|{{AFL Mel}}|8.6 (54)|Marvel Stadium|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2039#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 13 June (7:10 pm)|{{AFL PA}}|17.8 (110)|H|{{AFL Ade}}|5.5 (35)|Adelaide Oval|2,240|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2040#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 13 June (7:40 pm)|{{AFL GC}}|14.6 (90)|H|{{AFL WC}}|6.10 (46)|Metricon Stadium|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2015#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 14 June (1:05 pm)|{{AFL GWS}}|8.12 (60)|A|{{AFL NM}}|12.8 (80)|GIANTS Stadium|350|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2023#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 14 June (3:35 pm)|{{AFL Syd}}|11.7 (73)|A|{{AFL Ess}}|12.7 (79)|SCG|337{{cite web|url=https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/706624/more-fans-a-win-for-footy|title=More fans a win for footy|publisher=Sydney Swans|date=16 June 2020|access-date=16 June 2020}}|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2020#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 14 June (6:05 pm)|{{AFL|StK}}|14.4 (88)|H|{{AFL WB}}|7.7 (49)|Marvel Stadium|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2056#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

• {{AFL Col}}'s and {{AFL Ric}}'s combined score of 10.12 (72) was the lowest combined score since Round 11, 1999.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/leagues/lowest_match_aggregates/AFL/138/season_from/1999/season_to/2020/league/138/competition/1/competition/1/division/all/division_type/all/ground/all/round_type/all/limit/500/filter/show|title=Australian Football - AFL - Lowest Match Aggregates (1999-2020)|website=Australian Football}}
• {{AFL PA}} recorded their largest winning margin, 75 points, against {{AFL Ade}} in a Showdown.{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/port-crush-crows-by-record-margin-in-afl/0abfae52-694d-4e4b-8f9c-1e5fe8d152e3|title=Port Adelaide Power crush Crows with biggest Showdown win in history|website=Nine Sports|last1=Larkin|first1=Steve|date=13 June 2020|access-date=21 July 2020}}
• {{AFL Ade}}'s score of 5.5 (35) was the lowest score by either side in a Showdown, and their lowest score at either Adelaide Oval or Football Park.{{cite web|url=https://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/705867/what-we-learned-round-2-v-adelaide#:~:text=Adelaide%20also%20managed%20its%20lowest,to%20the%20Power%20last%20year|title=What we learned: Round 2 v Adelaide|publisher=Port Adelaide Football Club|first=Loukas|last=Founten|date=15 June 2020|access-date=16 June 2020}}
• {{AFL GC}} won its first game since Round 4, 2019, breaking a 19 game losing streak.{{cite web|url=https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/705265/suns-snap-19-match-losing-streak-with-stunning-upset|title=Suns snap 19-match losing streak with stunning upset|website=Gold Coast Football Club|last1=Sutton|first1=Ben|date=13 June 2020|access-date=21 July 2020}}
• {{AFL Haw}} played at Kardinia Park for the first time since 2006.{{cite web |title=CATS TO PLAY HAWKS IN A FRIDAY NIGHT BLOCKBUSTER |url=https://www.kardiniapark.vic.gov.au/news/cats-to-play-hawks-in-a-friday-night-blockbuster/ |website=Kardinia Park |date=25 May 2020 |access-date=17 June 2024}}}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 3}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 18 June (7:40 pm)|{{AFL Ric}}|5.9 (39)|A|{{AFL Haw}}|11.5 (71)|MCG|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2016#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 19 June (7:50 pm)|{{AFL WB}}|8.9 (57)|H|{{AFL GWS}}|4.9 (33)|Marvel Stadium|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2055#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 20 June (1:45 pm)|{{AFL NM}}|8.12 (60)|A|{{AFL Syd}}|10.11 (71)|Marvel Stadium|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2038#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 20 June (4:35 pm)|{{AFL Col}}|12.9 (81)|H|{{AFL|StK}}|5.7 (37)|MCG|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2037#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 20 June (7:40 pm)|{{AFL Gee}}|11.11 (77)|A|{{AFL Car}}|12.7 (79)|GMHBA Stadium|0|

[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2031#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 20 June (7:40 pm)|{{AFL BL}}|10.14 (74)|H|{{AFL WC}}|6.8 (44)|Gabba|1,965|

[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2035#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 21 June (3:05 pm)|{{AFL GC}}|12.10 (82)|H|{{AFL Ade}}|4.5 (29)|Metricon Stadium|1,997{{cite web |url=https://australianfootball.com/seasons/season/AFL/138/premiership%2Bseason/1/1/2020#round-3 |title=2020 AFL Premiership Season: Round 3 |website=australianfootball.com |access-date=17 August 2020}}|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2036#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 21 June (cancelled)|{{AFL Ess}}||V|{{AFL Mel}}||MCG||}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 21 June (8:10 pm)|{{AFL Fre}}|6.5 (41)|A|{{AFL PA}}|10.10 (70)|Metricon Stadium|180|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2030#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameBye|{{AFL ESS}}, {{AFL MEL}}}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

• Conor McKenna (Essendon) tested positive to COVID-19 in his Saturday pre-match test, resulting in the {{AFL Ess}} vs {{AFL Mel}} match being postponed indefinitely at 24 hours notice.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-conor-mckenna-covid19-coronavirus-positive-test-essendon-afl-afl-fixture-postponed/news-story/b38883ba48fd9fca0b21bab9e81899f3 |title=AFL live updates: New false positive theory emerges around Essendon's Conor McKenna |date=22 June 2020 |work=Fox Sports}} The match was ultimately rescheduled to Round 18, and Round 3 was retroactively considered {{AFL Ess}}'s and {{AFL Mel}}'s bye for the season.{{cite web |last1=Barrett |first1=Damien |title=Fixture bonanza: Get set for 19 straight days of footy |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/465498/fixture-bonanza-get-set-for-19-straight-days-of-footy |website=AFL.com |date=15 July 2020 |access-date=30 October 2020|quote=Two clubs – Essendon and Melbourne – will be considered to have already had their "byes", given the postponement of their round three match}}
• {{AFL GC}} defeated {{AFL Ade}} for the first time, having lost their first thirteen encounters against them. This meant that Gold Coast had now beaten every other team in the league at least once.
• Adelaide lost at Metricon Stadium for the first time in their history, breaking an eleven-game winning streak at the venue.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-adelaide-crows-gold-coast-suns-round-3-daniel-talia-review-loss/news-story/a47faac6d1fef44bf1f80162bc595f79|title=Adelaide veteran's brutal swipe at the most 'non-competitive' team he's ever been in|website=Fox Sports|author=Fox Sports Staff|date=22 June 2020|access-date=July 21, 2020}}
• Adelaide's final score of 4.5 (29) was its lowest score at Metricon Stadium, and the lowest score conceded by {{AFL GC}}.{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/teams/goldcoast/gamer.html#04|title=Gold Coast - Game Records|publisher=AFL Tables|access-date=22 June 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/06/22/from-port-to-adelaide-gold-coast-suns-complete-the-grand-slam/|title=From Port to Adelaide, Gold Coast Suns complete the grand slam|website=The Roar|author=Avatar|date=22 June 2020|access-date=22 June 2020}}
• Adelaide's three quarter time score of 1.4 (10) was its lowest three quarter time score of all time.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-report-card-round-3-2020-afl-analysis-every-club-graded-best-and-worst-performers-best-on-ground-votes/news-story/72929d3d1db15acab0856ef019feffc5|title=Can we give lower than an F? Two super standouts and one EPIC fail: Every AFL club graded|website=Fox Sports|author=Fox Sports Staff|date=22 June 2020|access-date=20 July 2020}}

}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 4}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 25 June (7:40 pm)|{{AFL Syd}}|5.9 (39)|A|{{AFL WB}}|10.7 (67)|SCG|605|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2052#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 26 June (7:50 pm)|{{AFL GWS}}|10.6 (66)|H|{{AFL Col}}|9.10 (64)|GIANTS Stadium|487|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2074#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 27 June (1:45 pm)|{{AFL|PA}}|13.11 (89)|H|{{AFL WC}}|6.5 (41)|Metricon Stadium|450|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2078#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 27 June (4:35 pm)|{{AFL|StK}}|15.3 (93)|H|{{AFL Ric}}|10.7 (67)|Marvel Stadium|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2034#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 27 June (7:40 pm)|{{AFL Ess}}|8.3 (51)|A|{{AFL Car}}|7.10 (52)|MCG|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2032#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 27 June (7:40 pm)|{{AFL GC}}|10.4 (64)|H|{{AFL Fre}}|8.3 (51)|Metricon Stadium|5,106|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2033#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 28 June (1:05 pm)|{{AFL BL}}|10.23 (83)|H|{{AFL Ade}}|7.4 (46)|Gabba|7,354|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2049#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 28 June (3:35 pm)|{{AFL Mel}}|6.8 (44)|A|{{AFL Gee}}|7.5 (47)|MCG|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2072#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 28 June (6:05 pm)|{{AFL Haw}}|8.10 (58)|H|{{AFL NM}}|8.6 (54)|Marvel Stadium|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2047#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

• In the first half of their game, {{AFL GC}} scored 7.0 (42) and {{AFL Fre}} scored 6.0 (36), making it the first half of football in VFL/AFL history in which no behinds were scored.{{cite news|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/fremantle-dockers/tempers-flare-after-point-less-first-half-between-fremantle-dockers-and-gold-coast-ng-b881591636z|title=Tempers flare after point-less first half between Fremantle Dockers and Gold Coast|newspaper=The West Australian|date=27 June 2020}}}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 5}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 2 July (7:40 pm)|{{AFL Car}}|8.7 (55)|A|{{AFL|StK}}|11.7 (73)|Marvel Stadium|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2783#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 3 July (7:50 pm)|{{AFL Col}}|7.6 (48)|A|{{AFL Ess}}|10.3 (63)|MCG|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2781#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 4 July (1:45 pm)|{{AFL WC}}|11.11 (77)|H|{{AFL Syd}}|6.7 (43)|Metricon Stadium|2,238|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2779#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 4 July (4:35 pm)|{{AFL Gee}}|13.11 (89)|H|{{AFL GC}}|8.4 (52)|GMHBA Stadium|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2784#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 4 July (7:40 pm)|{{AFL WB}}|13.9 (87)|H|{{AFL NM}}|5.8 (38)|Marvel Stadium|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2780#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 4 July (7:40 pm)|{{AFL BL}}|12.13 (85)|H|{{AFL PA}}|6.12 (48)|Gabba|10,161|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2786#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 5 July (1:05 pm)|{{AFL Ade}}|4.10 (34)|A|{{AFL Fre}}|8.6 (54)|Metricon Stadium|418|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2782#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 5 July (3:35 pm)|{{AFL Mel}}|8.4 (52)|A|{{AFL Ric}}|12.7 (79)|MCG|0|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2785#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 5 July (6:10 pm)|{{AFL GWS}}|13.5 (83)|H|{{AFL Haw}}|7.7 (49)|GIANTS Stadium|5,674|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2778#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 6}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 9 July (7:40 pm)|{{AFL Gee}}|11.7 (73)|H|{{AFL BL}}|6.10 (46)|SCG|1,311|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2794#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 10 July (7:50 pm)|{{AFL Col}}|8.11 (59)|H|{{AFL Haw}}|3.9 (27)|GIANTS Stadium|1,772|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2795#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 11 July (12:35 pm)|{{AFL Fre}}|12.7 (79)|H|{{AFL|StK}}|11.7 (73)|Metricon Stadium|638|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2789#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 11 July (3:05 pm)|{{AFL WC}}|10.7 (67)|H|{{AFL Ade}}|5.4 (34)|Gabba|210|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2787#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 11 July (6:05 pm)|{{AFL Mel}}|12.8 (80)|H|{{AFL GC}}|9.9 (63)|GIANTS Stadium|250|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2793#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 11 July (7:40 pm)|{{AFL Ess}}|9.13 (67)|H|{{AFL NM}}|7.11 (53)|Metricon Stadium|4,271|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2790#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 12 July (1:05 pm)|{{AFL PA}}|9.9 (63)|H|{{AFL GWS}}|6.10 (46)|Metricon Stadium|368|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2792#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 12 July (3:35 pm)|{{AFL Ric}}|4.10 (34)|H|{{AFL Syd}}|3.8 (26)|Gabba|3,606|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2788#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 12 July (6:45 pm)|{{AFL Car}}|16.7 (103)|H|{{AFL WB}}|7.9 (51)|Metricon Stadium|2,178|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2791#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

• Hawthorn's score of 3.9 (27) was its lowest in a game since Round 21, 1975.{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/teams/hawthorn/gamer.html|title=Hawthorn Game Records|website=AFL Tables|access-date=11 July 2020}}
• The combined score of 7.18 (60) in the rain-affected match between Richmond and Sydney was the lowest in any game since Round 16, 1996.{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/farcical-hardwick-blames-swans-after-horrendous-game-of-football-20200712-p55be6.html|title='Farcical': Hardwick blames Swans after 'horrendous game of football'|date=12 July 2020|access-date=12 July 2020|author1=Daniel Cherny|author2=Andrew Wu|newspaper=The Age}}
• Sydney's score of 3.8 (26) was its lowest in a game since Round 13, 1988.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/464634/tigers-win-ugly-to-get-back-into-the-eight|title=Tigers win ugly to get back into the eight|publisher=AFL.com.au|first=Jourdan|last=Canil|date=12 July 2020|access-date=12 July 2020}}

}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 7}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 16 July (6:10 pm)|{{AFL Gee}}|5.5 (35)|A|{{AFL Col}}|8.9 (57)|Optus Stadium|22,077|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2804#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 17 July (7:50 pm)|{{AFL Ess}}|7.9 (51)|A|{{AFL WB}}|14.9 (93)|Metricon Stadium|4,949|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2797#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 18 July (1:45 pm)|{{AFL GWS}}|10.8 (68)|A|{{AFL BL}}|13.10 (88)|GIANTS Stadium|3,168|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2796#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 18 July (4:35 pm)|{{AFL Syd}}|9.6 (60)|A|{{AFL GC}}|13.14 (92)|SCG|6,000|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2799#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 18 July (7:40 pm)|{{AFL Ric}}|11.11 (77)|H|{{AFL NM}}|2.11 (23)|Metricon Stadium|4,337|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2802#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 19 July (1:05 pm)|{{AFL Car}}|9.7 (61)|A|{{AFL PA}}|9.10 (64)|Gabba|3,510|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2798#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 19 July (3:35 pm)|{{AFL Haw}}|7.6 (48)|A|{{AFL Mel}}|14.7 (91)|GIANTS Stadium|750|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2803#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 19 July (6:35 pm)|{{AFL Fre}}|5.2 (32)|A|{{AFL|WC}}|9.8 (62)|Optus Stadium|25,306|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2801#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 20 July (7:40 pm)|{{AFL Ade}}|8.7 (55)|A|{{AFL|StK}}|12.6 (78)|Adelaide Oval|13,579|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2800#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

• Robbie Gray kicked a goal after the final siren to win the match for {{AFL PA}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/466879/gray-s-match-winner-breaks-blue-hearts-after-the-siren|title=Gray's match-winner breaks Blue hearts after the siren|website=Australian Football League|last1=Whitling|first1=Michael|date=19 July 2020|access-date=20 July 2020}}
• {{AFL NM}}'s score of 2.11 (23) was the lowest score recorded at Metricon Stadium.{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/kyron-hayden-knocked-out-jack-ziebell-injured-as-richmond-thrash-kangaroos/6678eeb0-7605-4e97-87c8-1693f0c64fc1|title=North Melbourne skipper Jack Ziebell re-injures hamstring in embarrassing loss to Richmond|publisher=Nine's Wide World of Sports|first=Chris|last=De Silva|date=19 July 2020|access-date=21 July 2020}}
• {{AFL|StK}} won its first premiership AFL match at Adelaide Oval, after ten consecutive losses.{{cite web|url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/746630/saints-claim-first-win-at-adelaide-oval|title=Saints claim first win at Adelaide Oval|website=Adelaide Football Club|publisher=AFL Media|last1=Twomey|first1=Callum|date=20 July 2020|access-date=21 July 2020}}

}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 8}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 23 July (7:40 pm)|{{AFL GC}}|6.10 (46)|A|{{AFL WB}}|7.9 (51)|Metricon Stadium|4,039|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2808#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 24 July (7:50 pm)|{{AFL GWS}}|9.8 (62)|H|{{AFL Ric}}|6.14 (50)|GIANTS Stadium|5,500|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2810#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 25 July (1:05 pm)|{{AFL NM}}|9.3 (57)|A|{{AFL Car}}|9.10 (64)|Gabba|3,655|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2810#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 25 July (3:35 pm)|{{AFL Syd}}|9.6 (60)|H|{{AFL Haw}}|7.11 (53)|SCG|4,264|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2806#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 25 July (7:10 pm)|{{AFL PA}}|6.8 (44)|A|{{AFL|StK}}|12.1 (73)|Adelaide Oval|16,727|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2805#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 26 July (12:35 pm)|{{AFL Ade}}|8.11 (59)|A|{{AFL Ess}}|9.8 (62)|Adelaide Oval|15,155|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2809#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 26 July (3:35 pm)|{{AFL|WC}}|18.3 (111)|H|{{AFL Col}}|6.9 (45)|Optus Stadium|24,824|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2813#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 26 July (6:10 pm)|{{AFL Mel}}|7.7 (49)|A|{{AFL BL}}|7.11 (53)|Metricon Stadium|3,011|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2812#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 27 July (6:10 pm)|{{AFL Fre}}|2.4 (16)|A|{{AFL Gee}}|6.12 (48)|Optus Stadium|20,251|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2811#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 9}}

{{AFLGame|Wednesday, 29 July (7:10 pm)|{{AFL WB}}|7.7 (49)|A|{{AFL Ric}}|13.12 (90)|Metricon Stadium|2,824|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2845#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 30 July (7:50 pm)|{{AFL Mel}}|4.8 (32)|A|{{AFL|PA}}|12.11 (83)|Gabba|323|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2843#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 31 July (3:40 pm)|{{AFL Car}}|9.4 (58)|A|{{AFL Haw}}|14.5 (89)|Optus Stadium|12,304|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2820#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 31 July (8:10 pm)|{{AFL Ess}}|3.10 (28)|A|{{AFL BL}}|14.7 (91)|Metricon Stadium|4,860|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2815#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 August (2:35 pm)|{{AFL NM}}|19.5 (119)|H|{{AFL Ade}}|7.8 (50)|Metricon Stadium|522|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2844#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 August (5:10 pm)|{{AFL|StK}}|15.11 (101)|H|{{AFL Syd}}|6.12 (48)|Gabba|2,978|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2839#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 August (6:10 pm)|{{AFL WC}}|11.7 (73)|H|{{AFL Gee}}|10.4 (64)|Optus Stadium|26,211|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2828#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 2 August (3:35 pm)|{{AFL GC}}|4.11 (35)|A|{{AFL GWS}}|9.7 (61)|Metricon Stadium|4,363|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2846#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 2 August (4:10 pm)|{{AFL Fre}}|10.1 (61)|H|{{AFL Col}}|7.7 (49)|Optus Stadium|20,912|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2826#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

• {{AFL Ess}}’s score of 3.10 (28) was the lowest score conceded by the {{AFL BL}} in their history.{{cite web|url= https://afltables.com/afl/teams/brisbanel/gamer.html|title=Brisbane Lions - Game Records|access-date=28 August 2020}}
• {{AFL|StK}} defeated {{AFL Syd}} for the first time since Round 9, 2012, ending a ten-match losing streak.{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/st-kilda-register-big-afl-win-over-sydney-c-1210222|title=St Kilda register big AFL win over Sydney|publisher=Seven News|first=Shayne|last=Hope|date=1 August 2020|access-date=1 August 2020}}}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 10}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 3 August (6:40 pm)|{{AFL PA}}|8.7 (55)|H|{{AFL WB}}|5.12 (42)|Adelaide Oval|14,159|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/480418/top-notch-power-kick-clear-after-downing-wasteful-dogs Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Tuesday, 4 August (7:10 pm)|{{AFL Ric}}|12.10 (82)|H|{{AFL BL}}|4.17 (41)|Metricon Stadium|5,651|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2840#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Wednesday, 5 August (5:40 pm)|{{AFL Gee}}|13.12 (90)|H|{{AFL NM}}|9.3 (57)|Gabba|2,282|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2819#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Wednesday, 5 August (7:40 pm)|{{AFL Ade}}|5.7 (37)|A|{{AFL Mel}}|13.10 (88)|Adelaide Oval|12,022|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2822#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 6 August (5:40 pm)|{{AFL Col}}|6.14 (50)|H|{{AFL Syd}}|6.5 (41)|Gabba|4,146|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2830#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 6 August (8:10 pm)|{{AFL GC}}|11.8 (74)|A|{{AFL|StK}}|12.6 (78)|Metricon Stadium|3,095|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2827#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 7 August (7:50 pm)|{{AFL Ess}}|8.7 (55)|A|{{AFL GWS}}|8.11 (59)|Metricon Stadium|1,178|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2834#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameBye|{{AFL Car}}, {{AFL Fre}}, {{AFL Haw}}, {{AFL WC}}}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

• The aggregate score of 0.4 (4) in first quarter of Essendon v Greater Western Sydney was the lowest-scoring opening quarter of any match since Round 1, 1965.}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 11}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 8 August (4:05 pm)|{{AFL|PA}}|13.15 (93)|H|{{AFL Ric}}|11.6 (72)|Adelaide Oval|10,256|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2831#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 8 August (7:40 pm)|{{AFL BL}}|14.12 (96)|H|{{AFL WB}}|11.6 (72)|Gabba|11,061|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2837#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 9 August (1:35 pm)|{{AFL WC}}|11.6 (72)|H|{{AFL Car}}|7.8 (50)|Optus Stadium|19,092|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2841#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 9 August (5:40 pm)|{{AFL Mel}}|13.14 (92)|H|{{AFL NM}}|5.5 (35)|Adelaide Oval|2,172|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2842#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 10 August (6:10 pm)|{{AFL|StK}}|4.10 (34)|A|{{AFL Gee}}|14.9 (93)|Gabba|3,903|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2832#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 10 August (6:40 pm)|{{AFL Fre}}|7.6 (48)|H|{{AFL Haw}}|4.8 (32)|Optus Stadium|18,512|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2829#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Tuesday, 11 August (6:05 pm)|{{AFL Ade}}|5.8 (38)|A|{{AFL Col}}|10.2 (62)|Adelaide Oval|8,577|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2836#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Wednesday, 12 August (7:10 pm)|{{AFL GC}}|11.7 (73)|D|{{AFL Ess}}|11.7 (73)|Metricon Stadium|4,303|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2824#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameBye|{{AFL GWS}}, {{AFL Syd}}}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 12}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 13 August (6:10 pm)|{{AFL Syd}}|10.6 (66)|H|{{AFL GWS}}|3.7 (25)|Optus Stadium|6,464|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2835#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 14 August (7:50 pm)|{{AFL Gee}}|14.7 (91)|H|{{AFL|PA}}|4.7 (31)|Metricon Stadium|3,378|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2818#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 15 August (2:35 pm)|{{AFL NM}}|8.4 (52)|A|{{AFL BL}}|7.11 (53)|Metricon Stadium|2,722|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2814#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 15 August (5:10 pm)|{{AFL Mel}}|16.4 (100)|H|{{AFL Col}}|6.8 (44)|Gabba|5,338|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2817#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 15 August (6:10 pm)|{{AFL Fre}}|5.6 (36)|A|{{AFL Car}}|5.10 (40)|Optus Stadium|24,114|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2823#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 16 August (1:05 pm)|{{AFL WB}}|16.15 (111)|H|{{AFL Ade}}|8.6 (54)|Metricon Stadium|613|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2821#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 16 August (3:35 pm)|{{AFL|StK}}|10.8 (68)|H|{{AFL Ess}}|5.3 (33)|Gabba|4,686|}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 16 August (4:10 pm)|{{AFL|WC}}|12.9 (81)|H|{{AFL Haw}}|7.7 (49)|Optus Stadium|22,780|}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 17 August (7:10 pm)|{{AFL Ric}}|8.5 (53)|H|{{AFL GC}}|4.8 (32)|Gabba|4,062|}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

• Jack Newnes kicked a goal after the final siren to win the match for {{AFL Car}}.}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 13 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round)}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 21 August (7:20 pm)|{{AFL GC}}|4.3 (27)|A|{{AFL Car}}|7.18 (60)|TIO Stadium|5,172|}}[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2851#match-report Report]

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 22 August (1:45 pm)|{{AFL WB}}|12.8 (80)|H|{{AFL Mel}}|7.10 (52)|Metricon Stadium|1,765|}}[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2852 Report]

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 22 August (4:05 pm)|{{AFL|PA}}|9.14 (68)|H|{{AFL Haw}}|9.4 (58)|Adelaide Oval|11,740|}}[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2847 Report]

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 22 August (7:10 pm)|{{AFL Ess}}|10.1 (61)|A|{{AFL Ric}}|10.13 (73)|TIO Stadium|5,401|}}[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2854 Report]

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 22 August (6:10 pm)|{{AFL Fre}}|7.8 (50)|H|{{AFL Syd}}|2.7 (19)|Optus Stadium|24,714|}}[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2853 Report]

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 23 August (12:35 pm)|{{AFL Ade}}|5.7 (37)|A|{{AFL Gee}}|9.11 (65)|Adelaide Oval|10,431|}}[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2855 Report]

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 23 August (3:35 pm)|{{AFL BL}}|6.14 (50)|H|{{AFL|StK}}|7.6 (48)|Gabba|13,750|}}[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2850 Report]

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 23 August (4:10 pm)|{{AFL WC}}|9.7 (61)|H|{{AFL GWS}}|7.7 (49)|Optus Stadium|27,339|}}[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2848#match-report Report]

{{AFLGame|Monday, 24 August (7:10 pm)|{{AFL Col}}|10.5 (65)|H|{{AFL NM}}|5.5 (35)|Gabba|2,443|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2849#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

• {{AFL Syd}}'s score of 2.7 (19) was its lowest in a game since Round 12, 1971 (as South Melbourne).{{cite web|title=AFL round 13: Fremantle Dockers topple Sydney Swans in low-scoring encounter|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-round-13-fremantle-dockers-topple-sydney-swans-in-lowscoring-encounter/news-story/dd6fc787d7b355e8906a2b4dc6401694|date=22 August 2020|last1=Savage|first1=Nic|work=News.com.au|access-date=26 August 2020}}}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 14}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 27 August (4:10 pm)|{{AFL Haw}}|10.11 (71)|A|{{AFL Ess}}|13.9 (87)|Adelaide Oval|4,973|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2856#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 27 August (7:10 pm)|{{AFL Ric}}|14.4 (88)|H|{{AFL WC}}|9.7 (61)|Metricon Stadium|3,628|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2863#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 28 August (7:50 pm)|{{AFL WB}}|9.7 (61)|A|{{AFL Gee}}|10.12 (72)|Metricon Stadium|2,156|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2858#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 29 August (1:15 pm)|{{AFL|PA}}|11.7 (73)|H|{{AFL Syd}}|7.5 (47)|Adelaide Oval|11,801|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2857#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 29 August (2:35 pm)|{{AFL Fre}}|8.5 (53)|A|{{AFL GWS}}|14.7 (91)|Optus Stadium|24,406|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2881#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 29 August (7:10 pm)|{{AFL Mel}}|8.4 (52)|H|{{AFL|StK}}|7.7 (49)|TIO Traeger Park|1,917|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2859#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 30 August (3:35 pm)|{{AFL Car}}|7.6 (48)|A|{{AFL Col}}|10.12 (72)|Gabba|9,033|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2882#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 30 August (6:10 pm)|{{AFL GC}}|12.19 (91)|H|{{AFL NM}}|4.4 (28)|Metricon Stadium|3,353|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2865#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameBye|{{AFL Ade}}, {{AFL BL}}}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 15}}

{{AFLGame|Tuesday, 1 September (5:10 pm)|{{AFL Haw}}|7.6 (48)|A|{{AFL Ade}}|12.11 (83)|Adelaide Oval|6,191|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2860#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Tuesday, 1 September (8:10 pm)|{{AFL WC}}|9.6 (60)|H|{{AFL Ess}}|6.9 (45)|Gabba|1,932|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2861#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Wednesday, 2 September (7:10 pm)|{{AFL Ric}}|8.8 (56)|H|{{AFL Fre}}|4.5 (29)|Metricon Stadium|1,818|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2870#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 3 September (4:40 pm)|{{AFL Syd}}|10.7 (67)|H|{{AFL Mel}}|6.10 (46)|Cazalys Stadium|3,199|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2891#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 3 September (7:10 pm)|{{AFL GWS}}|6.12 (48)|H|{{AFL Car}}|5.9 (39)|Metricon Stadium|1,469|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2862#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 4 September (7:50 pm)|{{AFL BL}}|6.6 (42)|H|{{AFL Col}}|5.4 (34)|Gabba|15,036|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2892#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameBye|{{AFL Gee}}, {{AFL GC}}, {{AFL NM}}, {{AFL PA}}, {{AFL|StK}}, {{AFL WB}}}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

• {{AFL Ade}} won its first game since Round 20, 2019, breaking a club record 16-game losing streak.}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 16}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 5 September (7:40 pm)|{{AFL NM}}|6.6 (42)|A|{{AFL PA}}|11.12 (78)|Metricon Stadium|592|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/496374/power-cruise-past-roos-to-surge-a-game-clear-on-top Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 6 September (1:05 pm)|{{AFL|StK}}|11.14 (80)|H|{{AFL Haw}}|9.12 (66)|Metricon Stadium|2,740|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/496652/shaky-saints-a-step-closer-to-sealing-finals-spot Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 6 September (3:35 pm)|{{AFL Gee}}|17.6 (108)|H|{{AFL Ess}}|5.12 (42)|Gabba|5,011|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/496654/cats-sharpen-claws-by-shredding-bombers-finals-hopes Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 6 September (6:10 pm)|{{AFL WB}}|6.13 (49)|H|{{AFL WC}}|7.5 (47)|Metricon Stadium|532|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/496673/bulldogs-stun-eagles-in-win-that-could-shape-finals Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 7 September (7:10 pm)|{{AFL Mel}}|4.9 (33)|A|{{AFL Fre}}|6.11 (47)|Cazalys Stadium|3,279|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/497365/demons-finals-hopes-fade-after-freo-shines-in-the-wet Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Tuesday, 8 September (5:10 pm)|{{AFL Ade}}|8.11 (59)|H|{{AFL GWS}}|7.5 (47)|Adelaide Oval|12,436|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/497537/finals-race-wide-open-after-giant-disaster-in-adelaide Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Tuesday, 8 September (8:10 pm)|{{AFL Car}}|8.9 (57)|H|{{AFL Syd}}|8.4 (52)|Metricon Stadium|1,580|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/497539/crazy-eyed-cottrell-the-matchwinner-in-comeback-thriller Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Wednesday, 9 September (7:10 pm)|{{AFL BL}}|13.10 (88)|H|{{AFL GC}}|6.7 (43)|Gabba|11,292|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/498187/qsmash-lions-hit-with-injuries-in-leap-up-ladder-against-suns Report]}}

{{AFLGameBye|{{AFL Col}}, {{AFL Ric}}}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 17}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 10 September (7:10 pm)|{{AFL|StK}}|6.14 (50)|A|{{AFL WC}}|9.11 (65)|Gabba|1,925|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2887#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 11 September (7:50 pm)|{{AFL Gee}}|4.7 (31)|A|{{AFL Ric}}|7.15 (57)|Metricon Stadium|7,061|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2875#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 12 September (2:10 pm)|{{AFL NM}}|5.5 (35)|A|{{AFL Fre}}|15.9 (99)|Metricon Stadium|308|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2878#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 12 September (4:35 pm)|{{AFL|PA}}|11.13 (79)|H|{{AFL Ess}}|4.5 (29)|Adelaide Oval|17,482|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2890#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 12 September (7:40 pm)|{{AFL GWS}}|11.8 (74)|A|{{AFL Mel}}|12.7 (79)|Gabba|1,204|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2890#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 13 September (1:05 pm)|{{AFL Car}}|8.8 (56)|A|{{AFL Ade}}|10.12 (72)|Metricon Stadium|2,735|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2864#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 13 September (3:05 pm)|{{AFL Haw}}|6.4 (40)|A|{{AFL WB}}|11.10 (76)|Adelaide Oval|2,625|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2864#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 13 September (6:10 pm)|{{AFL Syd}}|6.5 (41)|A|{{AFL BL}}|11.7 (73)|Cazalys Stadium|3,700|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2872#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 14 September (7:10 pm)|{{AFL Col}}|10.8 (68)|H|{{AFL GC}}|6.10 (46)|Gabba|2,896|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2866#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 18}}

{{AFLGame|Thursday, 17 September (7:10 pm)|{{AFL NM}}|4.10 (34)|A|{{AFL WC}}|7.7 (49)|Metricon Stadium|724|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/507606/slow-starting-eagles-leave-it-late-to-see-off-roos Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Friday, 18 September (7:50 pm)|{{AFL|StK}}|12.10 (82)|H|{{AFL GWS}}|3.12 (30)|Gabba|1,528|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/508026/see-you-in-october-saints-secure-finals-season-over-for-giants Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 19 September (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Ess}}|7.7 (49)|A|{{AFL Mel}}|10.8 (68)|Metricon Stadium|2,175|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/508371/demons-hold-off-bombers-to-keep-finals-fire-alight Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 19 September (4:40 pm)|{{AFL Ade}}|4.9 (33)|A|{{AFL Ric}}|12.5 (77)|Adelaide Oval|17,710|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/508374/tigers-cruise-away-from-crows-to-lock-up-double-chance Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 19 September (7:40 pm)|{{AFL BL}}|11.12 (78)|H|{{AFL Car}}|10.1 (61)|Gabba|14,563|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/508376/over-to-you-port-lions-hold-off-blues-to-take-top-spot Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 20 September (12:35 pm)|{{AFL Haw}}|17.6 (108)|H|{{AFL GC}}|8.9 (57)|Adelaide Oval|2,136|}}[https://www.afl.com.au/news/509059/pop-star-veteran-hawk-outshines-suns-in-fairytale-final-fling Report]

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 20 September (3:35 pm)|{{AFL Syd}}|9.9 (63)|A|{{AFL Gee}}|10.9 (69)|Metricon Stadium|2,798|}} [https://www.afl.com.au/news/509061/cats-by-a-whisker-double-chance-secured-after-huge-scare Report]

{{AFLGame|Sunday, 20 September (6:10 pm)|{{AFL Fre}}|6.8 (44)|A|{{AFL WB}}|11.8 (74)|Cazalys Stadium|3,114|}} [https://www.afl.com.au/news/509063/bulldogs-charge-into-finals-dashing-dees-dreams Report]

{{AFLGame|Monday, 21 September (7:15 pm)|{{AFL Col}}|7.3 (45)|A|{{AFL|PA}}|9.7 (61)|Gabba|5,424|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2874#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

• {{AFL WC}} and {{AFL NM}} negotiated an agreement under which North Melbourne would play its home fixture at Optus Stadium in Perth, in exchange for between $700,000 and $800,000. However, this was rejected by the AFL.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-west-coast-buying-home-game-vs-north-melbourne-denied-fixture-optus-stadium-integrity-finances-alastair-clarkson/news-story/ec689ff7450048c233d93ce3fa1f40fb|title=AFL 'knocks back' West Coast's $700k bid to buy an extra home game off North Melbourne|publisher=FoxSports|date=31 August 2020}}

}}

• {{AFL|StK}} qualified for the finals for the first time since 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2867#match-report|title=See you in October: Saints secure finals, season over for Giants|publisher=Telstra Media|work=Australian Football League|first=Riley|last=Beveridge|date=18 September 2020}}
• {{AFL Ade}} "won" its first wooden spoon.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-afl-scores-adelaide-crows-vs-richmond-round-18-live-scores-updates-video-stats-live-stream-live-blog-live-ladder/news-story/22d99d2250aa1bd7dfb845c1c6e102de|title=Tigers cop injury scare but roar into top four as Crows 'win' their first EVER wooden spoon|first=Max|last=Laughton|work=Fox Sports|date=19 September 2020}}
• {{AFL PA}} won its fourth McClelland Trophy as the minor premiers and its first since 2004. They also finished on top of the ladder at the end of every round. This was last achieved by {{AFL Ess}} in 2000.

{{AFL win loss table legend}}

Bold – Home game

X – Bye

Opponent for round listed above margin

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|loss_before_draw=true|for_against_style=points|use_goal_percentage=yes

|winpoints=4|drawpoints=2

|source=[http://www.afl.com.au/ladder AFL]

|update=21 September 2020

|team_order = POR, BRI, RIC, GEE, WCE, STK, WB, COL, MEL, GWS, CAR, FRE, ESS, GC, HAW, SYD, NOR, ADE

|win_ADE=3 |loss_ADE=14|draw_ADE=0 |pf_ADE=826 |pa_ADE=1283

|win_BRI=14|loss_BRI=3 |draw_BRI=0 |pf_BRI=1184 |pa_BRI=948

|win_CAR=7 |loss_CAR=10|draw_CAR=0 |pf_CAR=1017 |pa_CAR=1078

|win_COL=9 |loss_COL=7 |draw_COL=1 |pf_COL=965 |pa_COL=881

|win_ESS=6 |loss_ESS=10|draw_ESS=1 |pf_ESS=938 |pa_ESS=1185

|win_FRE=7 |loss_FRE=10|draw_FRE=0 |pf_FRE=866 |pa_FRE=924

|win_GEE=12|loss_GEE=5 |draw_GEE=0 |pf_GEE=1233 |pa_GEE=901

|win_GC=5 |loss_GC=11 |draw_GC=1 |pf_GC=996 |pa_GC=1099

|win_GWS=8 |loss_GWS=9 |draw_GWS=0 |pf_GWS=1007 |pa_GWS=1053

|win_HAW=5 |loss_HAW=12|draw_HAW=0 |pf_HAW=1004 |pa_HAW=1194

|win_MEL=9 |loss_MEL=8 |draw_MEL=0 |pf_MEL=1063 |pa_MEL=986

|win_NOR=3 |loss_NOR=14|draw_NOR=0 |pf_NOR=858 |pa_NOR=1205

|win_POR=14|loss_POR=3 |draw_POR=0 |pf_POR=1185 |pa_POR=869

|win_RIC=12|loss_RIC=4 |draw_RIC=1 |pf_RIC=1135 |pa_RIC=874

|win_STK=10|loss_STK=7 |draw_STK=0 |pf_STK=1159 |pa_STK=997

|win_SYD=5 |loss_SYD=12|draw_SYD=0 |pf_SYD=890 |pa_SYD=1077

|win_WCE=12|loss_WCE=5 |draw_WCE=0 |pf_WCE=1095 |pa_WCE=936

|win_WB=10 |loss_WB=7 |draw_WB=0 |pf_WB=1103 |pa_WB=1034

|name_ADE=Adelaide

|name_BRI=Brisbane Lions

|name_CAR=Carlton

|name_COL=Collingwood

|name_ESS=Essendon

|name_FRE=Fremantle

|name_GEE=Geelong

|name_GC =Gold Coast

|name_GWS=Greater Western Sydney

|name_HAW=Hawthorn

|name_MEL=Melbourne

|name_NOR=North Melbourne

|name_POR=Port Adelaide

|name_RIC=Richmond | status_RIC=P|status_text_P=Premiers

|name_STK=St Kilda

|name_SYD=Sydney

|name_WCE=West Coast

|name_WB =Western Bulldogs

|class_rules = 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.

|result1=Q |result2=Q |result3=Q |result4=Q |result5=Q |result6=Q |result7=Q |result8=Q

|res_col_header=Q

|col_Q=green2 |text_Q=Finals series

}}

• Numbers highlighted in green indicates the team finished the round inside the top 8.
• Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished in first place on the ladder in that round.
• Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round.
• Underlined numbers indicates the team did not play during that round, either due to a bye or a postponed game.
• Subscript numbers indicate ladder position at round's end.

{{#invoke:Sports rbr table|table

|title=Points by round

|sortable = y

|color_F=#cfc |color_B=#9cf |color_R=#fcc

|source=AFL Tables{{cite web|title=2020 Season Scores and Results|url=http://afltables.com/afl/seas/2020.html|publisher=AFL Tables|access-date=10 April 2022}}

|team18 = {{AFL Ade}}

|resc18 = / / R / R / R / R / R / R / R / R / R / R / R / R / R / R / R / R

|res18 = {{sort|11|0₁₁}} / {{sort|17|0₁₇}} / {{sort|18|0₁₈}} / {{sort|18|0₁₈}} / {{sort|18|0₁₈}} / {{sort|18|0₁₈}} / {{sort|18|0₁₈}} / {{sort|18|0₁₈}} / {{sort|18|0₁₈}} / {{sort|18|0₁₈}} / {{sort|18|0₁₈}} / {{sort|18|0₁₈}} / {{sort|18|0₁₈}} / {{sort|18|0₁₈}} / {{sort|18|4₁₈}} / {{sort|18|8₁₈}} / {{sort|18|12₁₈}} / {{sort|18|12₁₈}}

|team2 = {{AFL BL}}

|resc2 = / / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F

|res2 = {{sort|15|0₁₅}} / {{sort|11|4₁₁}} / {{sort|05|8₅}} / {{sort|03|12₃}} / {{sort|02|16₂}} / {{sort|03|16₃}} / {{sort|02|20₂}} / {{sort|02|24₂}} / {{sort|02|28₂}} / {{sort|02|28₃}} / {{sort|02|32₂}} / {{sort|02|36₂}} / {{sort|02|40₂}} / {{sort|03|40₃}} / {{sort|02|44₂}} / {{sort|02|48₂}} / {{sort|02|52₂}} / {{sort|02|56₂}}

|team11 = {{AFL Car}}

|resc11 = / / / / / F / / / / / / / / / / / /

|res11 = {{sort|13|0₁₃}} / {{sort|16|0₁₆}} / {{sort|13|4₁₃}} / {{sort|12|8₁₂}} / {{sort|12|8₁₂}} / {{sort|08|12₈}} / {{sort|11|12₁₁}} / {{sort|11|16₁₁}} / {{sort|12|16₁₂}} / {{sort|13|16₁₃}} / {{sort|13|16₁₃}} / {{sort|12|20₁₂}} / {{sort|10|24₁₀}} / {{sort|12|24₁₂}} / {{sort|12|24₁₂}} / {{sort|11|28₁₁}} / {{sort|12|28₁₂}} / {{sort|11|28₁₁}}

|team8 = {{AFL Col}}

|resc8 = F / F / F / F / / F / F / F / / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F

|res8 = {{sort|02|4₂}} / {{sort|04|6₄}} / {{sort|02|10₂}} / {{sort|05|10₅}} / {{sort|10|10₁₀}} / {{sort|05|14₅}} / {{sort|03|18₃}} / {{sort|08|18₈}} / {{sort|10|18₁₀}} / {{sort|08|22₈}} / {{sort|07|26₇}} / {{sort|07|26₇}} / {{sort|07|30₇}} / {{sort|06|34₆}} / {{sort|06|34₆}} / {{sort|07|34₇}} / {{sort|06|38₆}} / {{sort|08|38₈}}

|team13 = {{AFL Ess}}

|resc13 = F / F / F / F / F / F / / F / / / / / / / / / /

|res13 = {{sort|07|4₇}} / {{sort|03|8₃}} / {{sort|04|8₄}} / {{sort|08|8₈}} / {{sort|05|12₅}} / {{sort|04|16₄}} / {{sort|10|16₁₀}} / {{sort|07|20₇}} / {{sort|09|20₉}} / {{sort|10|20₁₀}} / {{sort|09|22₉}} / {{sort|11|22₁₁}} / {{sort|12|22₁₂}} / {{sort|11|26₁₁}} / {{sort|11|26₁₁}} / {{sort|12|26₁₂}} / {{sort|13|26₁₃}} / {{sort|13|26₁₃}}

|team12 = {{AFL Fre}}

|resc12 = / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

|res12 = {{sort|12|0₁₂}} / {{sort|15|0₁₅}} / {{sort|17|0₁₇}} / {{sort|17|0₁₇}} / {{sort|16|4₁₆}} / {{sort|14|8₁₄}} / {{sort|15|8₁₅}} / {{sort|16|8₁₆}} / {{sort|16|12₁₆}} / {{sort|16|12₁₆}} / {{sort|14|16₁₄}} / {{sort|14|16₁₄}} / {{sort|13|20₁₃}} / {{sort|14|20₁₄}} / {{sort|14|20₁₄}} / {{sort|13|24₁₃}} / {{sort|11|28₁₁}} / {{sort|12|28₁₂}}

|team4 = {{AFL Gee}}

|resc4 = / F / / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F

|res4 = {{sort|14|0₁₄}} / {{sort|07|4₇}} / {{sort|10|4₁₀}} / {{sort|06|8₆}} / {{sort|03|12₃}} / {{sort|02|16₂}} / {{sort|05|16₅}} / {{sort|03|20₃}} / {{sort|06|20₆}} / {{sort|05|24₅}} / {{sort|03|28₃}} / {{sort|03|32₃}} / {{sort|03|36₃}} / {{sort|02|40₂}} / {{sort|04|40₄}} / {{sort|03|44₃}} / {{sort|04|44₄}} / {{sort|04|48₄}}

|team14 = {{AFL GC}}

|resc14 = R / / F / F / F / / F / / / / / / / / / / /

|res14 = {{sort|18|0₁₈}} / {{sort|10|4₁₀}} / {{sort|03|8₃}} / {{sort|02|12₂}} / {{sort|06|12₆}} / {{sort|09|12₉}} / {{sort|07|16₇}} / {{sort|10|16₁₀}} / {{sort|11|16₁₁}} / {{sort|11|16₁₁}} / {{sort|12|18₁₂}} / {{sort|13|18₁₃}} / {{sort|14|18₁₄}} / {{sort|13|22₁₃}} / {{sort|13|22₁₃}} / {{sort|14|22₁₄}} / {{sort|14|22₁₄}} / {{sort|14|22₁₄}}

|team10 = {{AFL GWS}}

|resc10 = F / F / / / F / / / / F / F / F / / / / F / F / /

|res10 = {{sort|05|4₅}} / {{sort|08|4₈}} / {{sort|12|4₁₂}} / {{sort|10|8₁₀}} / {{sort|07|12₇}} / {{sort|10|12₁₀}} / {{sort|13|12₁₃}} / {{sort|12|16₁₂}} / {{sort|07|20₇}} / {{sort|07|24₇}} / {{sort|08|24₈}} / {{sort|09|24₉}} / {{sort|11|24₁₁}} / {{sort|09|28₉}} / {{sort|08|32₈}} / {{sort|08|32₈}} / {{sort|10|32₁₀}} / {{sort|10|32₁₀}}

|team15 = {{AFL Haw}}

|resc15 = F / / F / F / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

|res15 = {{sort|04|4₄}} / {{sort|13|4₁₃}} / {{sort|08|8₈}} / {{sort|04|12₄}} / {{sort|09|12₉}} / {{sort|13|12₁₃}} / {{sort|14|12₁₄}} / {{sort|15|12₁₅}} / {{sort|13|16₁₃}} / {{sort|14|16₁₄}} / {{sort|15|16₁₅}} / {{sort|16|16₁₆}} / {{sort|15|16₁₅}} / {{sort|15|16₁₅}} / {{sort|16|16₁₆}} / {{sort|16|16₁₆}} / {{sort|16|16₁₆}} / {{sort|15|20₁₅}}

|team9 = {{AFL Mel}}

|resc9 = / / / / / / / / / / / F / / F / / / /

|res9 = {{sort|16|0₁₆}} / {{sort|14|4₁₄}} / {{sort|14|4₁₄}} / {{sort|15|4₁₅}} / {{sort|17|4₁₇}} / {{sort|15|8₁₅}} / {{sort|12|12₁₂}} / {{sort|13|12₁₃}} / {{sort|15|12₁₅}} / {{sort|12|16₁₂}} / {{sort|10|20₁₀}} / {{sort|08|24₈}} / {{sort|09|24₉}} / {{sort|08|28₈}} / {{sort|09|28₉}} / {{sort|10|28₁₀}} / {{sort|09|32₉}} / {{sort|09|36₉}}

|team17 = {{AFL NM}}

|resc17 = / F / F / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

|res17 = {{sort|09|4₉}} / {{sort|02|8₂}} / {{sort|06|8₆}} / {{sort|09|8₉}} / {{sort|13|8₁₃}} / {{sort|16|8₁₆}} / {{sort|17|8₁₇}} / {{sort|17|8₁₇}} / {{sort|14|12₁₄}} / {{sort|15|12₁₅}} / {{sort|16|12₁₆}} / {{sort|17|12₁₇}} / {{sort|17|12₁₇}} / {{sort|17|12₁₇}} / {{sort|17|12₁₇}} / {{sort|17|12₁₇}} / {{sort|17|12₁₇}} / {{sort|17|12₁₇}}

|team1 = {{AFL PA}}

|resc1 = B / B / B / B / B / B / B / B / B / B / B / B / B / B / B / B / B / B

|res1 = {{sort|01|4₁}} / {{sort|01|8₁}} / {{sort|01|12₁}} / {{sort|01|16₁}} / {{sort|01|16₁}} / {{sort|01|20₁}} / {{sort|01|24₁}} / {{sort|01|24₁}} / {{sort|01|28₁}} / {{sort|01|32₁}} / {{sort|01|36₁}} / {{sort|01|36₁}} / {{sort|01|40₁}} / {{sort|01|44₁}} / {{sort|01|44₁}} / {{sort|01|48₁}} / {{sort|01|52₁}} / {{sort|01|56₁}}

|team3 = {{AFL Ric}}

|resc3 = F / F / / / / F / F / / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F

|res3 = {{sort|06|4₆}} / {{sort|05|6₅}} / {{sort|09|6₉}} / {{sort|14|6₁₄}} / {{sort|11|10₁₁}} / {{sort|06|14₆}} / {{sort|04|18₄}} / {{sort|09|18₉}} / {{sort|05|22₅}} / {{sort|04|26₄}} / {{sort|06|26₆}} / {{sort|06|30₆}} / {{sort|05|34₅}} / {{sort|04|38₄}} / {{sort|03|42₃}} / {{sort|04|42₄}} / {{sort|03|46₃}} / {{sort|03|50₃}}

|team6 = {{AFL|StK}}

|resc6 = / F / / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F

|res6 = {{sort|10|0₁₀}} / {{sort|06|4₆}} / {{sort|11|4₁₁}} / {{sort|07|8₇}} / {{sort|04|12₄}} / {{sort|07|12₇}} / {{sort|06|16₆}} / {{sort|04|20₄}} / {{sort|03|24₃}} / {{sort|02|28₂}} / {{sort|05|28₅}} / {{sort|05|32₅}} / {{sort|06|32₆}} / {{sort|07|32₇}} / {{sort|07|32₇}} / {{sort|06|36₆}} / {{sort|07|36₇}} / {{sort|06|40₆}}

|team16 = {{AFL Syd}}

|resc16 = F / / F / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

|res16 = {{sort|08|4₈}} / {{sort|09|4₉}} / {{sort|07|8₇}} / {{sort|11|8₁₁}} / {{sort|14|8₁₄}} / {{sort|17|8₁₇}} / {{sort|16|8₁₆}} / {{sort|14|12₁₄}} / {{sort|17|12₁₇}} / {{sort|17|12₁₇}} / {{sort|17|12₁₇}} / {{sort|15|16₁₅}} / {{sort|16|16₁₆}} / {{sort|16|16₁₆}} / {{sort|15|20₁₅}} / {{sort|15|20₁₅}} / {{sort|15|20₁₅}} / {{sort|16|20₁₆}}

|team5 = {{AFL WC}}

|resc5 = F / / / / / / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F / F

|res5 = {{sort|03|4₃}} / {{sort|12|4₁₂}} / {{sort|15|4₁₅}} / {{sort|16|4₁₆}} / {{sort|15|8₁₅}} / {{sort|11|12₁₁}} / {{sort|08|16₈}} / {{sort|05|20₅}} / {{sort|04|24₄}} / {{sort|06|24₆}} / {{sort|04|28₄}} / {{sort|04|32₄}} / {{sort|04|36₄}} / {{sort|05|36₅}} / {{sort|05|40₅}} / {{sort|05|40₅}} / {{sort|05|44₅}} / {{sort|05|48₅}}

|team7 = {{AFL WB}}

|resc7 = / R / / / F / / / F / F / / / / F / / / / F / F

|res7 = {{sort|17|0₁₇}} / {{sort|18|0₁₈}} / {{sort|16|4₁₆}} / {{sort|13|8₁₃}} / {{sort|08|12₈}} / {{sort|12|12₁₂}} / {{sort|09|16₉}} / {{sort|06|20₆}} / {{sort|08|20₈}} / {{sort|09|20₉}} / {{sort|11|20₁₁}} / {{sort|10|24₁₀}} / {{sort|08|28₈}} / {{sort|10|28₁₀}} / {{sort|10|28₁₀}} / {{sort|09|32₉}} / {{sort|08|36₈}} / {{sort|07|40₇}}

}}

{{Graph:Chart

| width=500

| height=300

| xAxisTitle=Round

| xAxisMax=18

| xAxisMin=1

| yAxisTitle=Position

| yAxisMax=1

| yAxisMin=18

| showSymbols=true

| legend=Club

| type=line

| x=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

| y1Title=Port Adelaide

| y1=1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1

| y2Title=Brisbane Lions

| y2=15, 11, 5, 3, 2, 3, 2, 2, 2, 3, 2, 2, 2, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2

| y3Title=Richmond

| y3=6, 5, 9, 14, 11, 6, 4, 9, 5, 4, 6, 6, 5, 4, 3, 4, 3, 3

| y4Title=Geelong

| y4=14, 7, 10, 6, 3, 2, 5, 3, 6, 5, 3, 3, 3, 2, 4, 3, 4, 4

| y5Title=West Coast

| y5=3, 12, 15, 16, 15, 11, 8, 5, 4, 6, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5

| y6Title=St Kilda

| y6=10, 6, 11, 7, 4, 7, 6, 4, 3, 2, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 6, 7, 6

| y7Title=Western Bulldogs

| y7=17, 18, 16, 13, 8, 12, 9, 6, 8, 9, 11, 10, 8, 10, 10, 9, 8, 7

| y8Title=Collingwood

| y8=2, 4, 2, 5, 10, 5, 3, 8, 10, 8, 7, 7, 7, 6, 6, 7, 6, 8

| y9Title=Melbourne

| y9=16, 14, 14, 15, 17, 15, 12, 13, 15, 12, 10, 8, 9, 8, 9, 10, 9, 9

| y10Title=Greater Western Sydney

| y10=5, 8, 12, 10, 7, 10, 13, 12, 7, 7, 8, 9, 11, 9, 8, 8, 10, 10

| y11Title=Carlton

| y11=13, 16, 13, 12, 12, 8, 11, 11, 12, 13, 13, 12, 10, 12, 12, 11, 12, 11

| y12Title=Fremantle

| y12=12, 15, 17, 17, 16, 14, 15, 16, 16, 16, 14, 14, 13, 14, 14, 13, 11, 12

| y13Title=Essendon

| y13=7, 3, 4, 8, 5, 4, 10, 7, 9, 10, 9, 11, 12, 11, 11, 12, 13, 13

| y14Title=Gold Coast

| y14=18, 10, 3, 2, 6, 9, 7, 10, 11, 11, 12, 13, 14, 13, 13, 14, 14, 14

| y15Title=Hawthorn

| y15=4, 13, 8, 4, 9, 13, 14, 15, 13, 14, 15, 16, 15, 15, 16, 16, 16, 15

| y16Title=Sydney

| y16=8, 9, 7, 11, 14, 17, 16, 14, 17, 17, 17, 15, 16, 16, 15, 15, 15, 16

| y17Title=North Melbourne

| y17=9, 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 17, 17, 14, 15, 16, 17, 17, 17, 17, 17, 17, 17

| y18Title=Adelaide

| y18=11, 17, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18

| colors=#4eb3d3, #d33800, #ffff33, #00375e, #0072ff, #ff5e5e, blue, black, #084081, orange, #0075c7, #984ea3, #a20000, #ffe46e, #ffde00, #e31a1c, #4db5ff, #fc4e2a

}}

{{8TeamBracket-PagePlayoff|RD2-RD3-cross=y

|team-width=200

|score-width=100

|RD1-text1=1 Oct, Adelaide Oval

|RD1-team1= {{AFL PA}}

|RD1-score1= 9.4 (58)

|RD1-team2= {{AFL Gee}}

|RD1-score2= 5.12 (42)

|RD1-text4=2 Oct, Gabba

|RD1-team7= {{AFL BL}}

|RD1-score7= 10.9 (69)

|RD1-team8= {{AFL Ric}}

|RD1-score8= 8.6 (54)

|RD1-text2=3 Oct, Optus Stadium

|RD1-team3= {{AFL|WC}}

|RD1-score3= 11.9 (75)

|RD1-team4= {{AFL Col}}

|RD1-score4= 12.4 (76)

|RD1-text3=3 Oct, Gabba

|RD1-team5= {{AFL StK}}

|RD1-score5= 10.7 (67)

|RD1-team6= {{AFL WB}}

|RD1-score6= 9.10 (64)

|RD2-text1=10 Oct, Gabba

|RD2-team1= {{AFL Gee}}

|RD2-score1= 15.10 (100)

|RD2-team2= {{AFL Col}}

|RD2-score2= 5.2 (32)

|RD2-text2=9 Oct, Metricon Stadium

|RD2-team3= {{AFL Ric}}

|RD2-score3= 12.8 (80)

|RD2-team4= {{AFL StK}}

|RD2-score4= 6.13 (49)

|RD3-text1=16 Oct, Adelaide Oval

|RD3-team1= {{AFL PA}}

|RD3-score1= 6.4 (40)

|RD3-team2= {{AFL Ric}}

|RD3-score2= 6.10 (46)

|RD3-text2=17 Oct, Gabba

|RD3-team3= {{AFL BL}}

|RD3-score3= 6.6 (42)

|RD3-team4= {{AFL Gee}}

|RD3-score4= 11.16 (82)

|RD4-text1 = 24 Oct, Gabba

|RD4-team1 = {{AFL Ric}}

|RD4-score1 = 12.9 (81)

|RD4-team2 = {{AFL Gee}}

|RD4-score2 = 7.8 (50)

}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Qualifying finals}}

{{AFLGame|QF1: Thursday, 1 October (7:10 pm)|{{AFL|PA}}|9.4 (58)|H|{{AFL Gee}}|5.12 (42)|Adelaide Oval|22,755|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2898#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|QF2: Friday, 2 October (7:50 pm)|{{AFL BL}}|10.9 (69)|H|{{AFL Ric}}|8.6 (54)|Gabba|22,104|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2899#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

• The {{AFL BL}} defeated {{AFL Ric}} for the first time since round seven, 2009, breaking a fifteen-game losing streak.{{cite web|title=Brisbane Lions snap 11-year losing streak to Richmond to reach preliminary finals|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/finals-live-scores-brisbane-lions-richmond-tigers-start-time-results-news-2020/8909abd5-f265-40cf-90ce-5f7381becfa3|work=Nine News|access-date=3 October 2020|last1=De Silva|first1=Chris|date=2 October 2020}}

}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Elimination finals}}

{{AFLGame|EF2: Saturday, 3 October (4:40 pm)|{{AFL|StK}}|10.7 (67)|H|{{AFL WB}}|9.10 (64)|Gabba|10,651|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2896#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGame|EF1: Saturday, 3 October (6:10 pm)|{{AFL WC}}|11.9 (75)|A|{{AFL Col}}|12.4 (76)|Optus Stadium|32,865|[https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2897#match-report Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Semi-finals}}

{{AFLGame|SF2: Friday, 9 October (6:50 pm)|{{AFL Ric}} 12.8 (80)||H||{{AFL|StK}} 6.13 (49)|Metricon Stadium|13,778|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/515854/next-stop-prelim-tiger-train-back-on-track-as-saints-yips-return Report]}}

{{AFLGame|SF1: Saturday, 10 October (6:40 pm)|{{AFL Gee}}|15.10 (100)|H|{{AFL Col}}|5.2 (32)|Gabba|21,396|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/516289/semi-final-slaughter-cats-crush-insipid-pies-to-reach-prelim Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

• {{AFL Col}} was held to its lowest three-quarter time score since round 6, 1900, scoring only 1.1 (7).{{cite web|title=THREE-QUARTER TIME: More history for Magpies|url= https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/finals-live-scores-geelong-cats-collingwood-magpies-start-time-results-news-2020/9fa2ca02-89f9-400a-b072-05461ef97ea1#post=8b4ed59b-984b-4d0e-ae08-80ba942073de|access-date=10 October 2020|last1=De Silva|first1=Chris|work=Nine News|date=10 October 2020}}

}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Preliminary finals}}

{{AFLGame|PF1: Friday, 16 October (7:20 pm)|{{AFL PA}}|6.4 (40)|A|{{AFL Ric}}|6.10 (46)|Adelaide Oval|24,292|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/518221/tigers-into-another-gf-after-outlasting-port-in-brutal-thriller Report]}}

{{AFLGame|PF2: Saturday, 17 October (6:40 pm)|{{AFL BL}}|6.6 (42)|A|{{AFL Gee}}|11.16 (82)|Gabba|29,121|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/518953/fifth-time-lucky-cats-break-prelim-hoodoo-lions-flag-dream-over Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=}}

{{main|2020 AFL Grand Final}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Grand final}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 24 October (6:30 pm)|{{AFL Ric}}|12.9 (81)|H|{{AFL Gee}}|7.8 (50)|Gabba|29,707|[https://www.afl.com.au/news/521172/yellow-and-black-to-back-tigers-stun-cats-in-epic-grand-final-comeback Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

• This was the first Grand Final in VFL/AFL history to be hosted outside Victoria, and the first not to be hosted at the MCG since 1991.
• The crowd of 29,707 was the lowest for a VFL/AFL Grand Final since 1917.
• Dustin Martin became the first player in VFL/AFL history to win the Norm Smith Medal three times.

}}

In this table, home matches which were played behind closed doors are not included in the total count of home games, and therefore do not contribute to the home average.

{{#invoke:Sports rbr table|table

| rnd19 = Total

| header = Player

| team1 = Tom Hawkins

| res1 = 2 / 0 / 2 / 1 / 3 / 3 / 0 / 3 / 2 / 3 / 5 / 6 / 3 / 2 / – / 4 / 1 / 2 / 42

| team2 = Charlie Dixon

| res2 = – / 3 / 2 / 6 / 0 / 1 / 3 / 1 / 1 / 2 / 2 / 0 / 2 / 4 / – / 2 / 2 / 1 / 32

| team3 = Josh Kennedy

| res3 = 0 / 1 / 1 / 4 / 0 / 1 / 4 / 7 / 4 / – / 2 / 3 / 1 / 0 / – / 2 / 1 / 0 / 31

| team4 = Jack Gunston

| res4 = 0 / 2 / 2 / 0 / 3 / 1 / 3 / 1 / 3 / – / 1 / 2 / – / 2 / 3 / 1 / 3 / 4 / 31

| team5 = Matt Taberner

| res5 = 1 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 4 / – / 2 / 3 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 0 / 3 / – / 29

| team6 = Tom Lynch

| res6 = 0 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 2 / 3 / 3 / – / 1 / – / 28

| team7 = Jack Riewoldt

| res7 = 3 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 1 / – / 4 / 2 / 28

| team8 = Jack Darling

| res8 = 1 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 2 / – / 2 / 2 / 3 / 3 / 2 / 0 / 2 / 1 / 27

| team9 = Dan Butler

| res9 = 0 / 2 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 3 / 2 / 2 / 4 / 0 / 1 / 2 / 0 / – / 1 / 1 / 1 / 27

| team10 = Tom Papley

| res10 = 1 / 3 / 2 / 4 / 1 / 2 / 2 / 4 / 1 / 1 / – / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 2 / 26

| team11 = Charlie Cameron

| res11 = 2 / 4 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 2 / 2 / 4 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / – / 0 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 26

}}

{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/seas/2020sr.html#miles|title=AFL Tables - 2020 Season Records|website=afltables.com}}

{{Reflist}}

{{2020 AFL season}}

{{Australian Football League}}

Category:Australian Football League seasons

Category:2020 in Australian rules football

AFL season 2020

AFL season 2020