1997 AFL season

101st season of the Australian Football League (AFL) December 2017 December 2017 the 1997 season of the Arena Football League 1997 Arena Football League season AFL 1997 100px AFL logo 1990-1999 16 1 StK 2 1 185 6403814 83,247 (round 5, vs. ) 99,645 (Grand Final, vs. StK) Tony Modra ()84 goals Robert Harvey (StK)26 votes 1996 1998 The 1997 AFL season was the 101st season of the Australian Football League (AFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Australia, which was known as the Victorian Football League until 1989. The season ran from 27 March until 27 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs. Before the season, the Port Adelaide Football Club (SANFL) was admitted to the league, increasing the South Australian membership to two clubs. Foundation club Fitzroy, which had gone into administration in 1996, merged with the Brisbane Bears to form a new Queensland-based team known as the Brisbane Lions. The Footscray Football Club changed its name to the Western Bulldogs. With these changes, the league's size remained at sixteen clubs. The premiership was won by the Adelaide Football Club for the first time, after it defeated StK by 31 points in the 1997 AFL Grand Final. Home-and-away season Round 1 Round 1 Thursday, 27 March (7:40 pm) 7.13 (55) A 10.10 (70) MCG 35,802 Report Saturday, 29 March (2:10 pm) 26.10 (166) H PA 13.9 (87) MCG 51,883 Report Saturday, 29 March (2:10 pm) 11.10 (76) A 10.20 (80) Optus Oval 8,664 Report Saturday, 29 March (7:40 pm) StK 10.11 (71) A 11.11 (77) Waverley Park 35,732 Report Saturday, 29 March (6:40 pm) 12.6 (78) H 5.7 (37) Subiaco Oval 29,965 Report Sunday, 30 March (1:40 pm) 20.12 (132) H 14.12 (96) Football Park 36,602 Report Sunday, 30 March (2:10 pm) 15.14 (104) H 13.17 (95) MCG 48,358 Report Monday, 31 March (2:10 pm) 16.10 (106) H 15.9 (99) MCG 82,363 Report endured a disappointing AFL debut at the MCG in front of over 50,000 spectators, with jumping out to a 22-point lead at quarter time and extending the lead at each change to run out comfortable 79-point winners. Speedy midfielder Paul Williams was considered best-on-ground with 30 touches and 4 goals, while Nathan Buckley (who won a Magarey with Port in the SANFL) racked up 23 kicks and Saverio Rocca made the most of limited opportunities to kick six goals. For Port, Donald Dickie (26 touches), Fabian Francis (20 touches, 2 goals) and eventual Rising Star winner Michael Wilson were among Port's better players. The Easter Monday clash between and is best remembered not for its close finish but for what happened after the game. The ongoing feud between Sean Denham and Greg Williams (which had stemmed from the 1993 Grand final) had reached a critical point, with both players engaged in a heated argument before umpire Andrew Coates tried to intervene, only to be pushed away by Williams. Despite the innocuous nature of the contact, the AFL Tribunal suspended Williams for nine matches.Eight of the longest AFL suspensions 7 August 2018 https://www.zerohanger.com/eight-long-afl-suspensions-14743 Zero Hanger The incident was one of football's major talking points that year, leading to a Supreme Court battle between Carlton and the AFL, and eventually the establishment of the AFL Appeals Board. Round 2 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 7.14 (56) |||| 24.19 (163) ||MCG|| 61,138 ||Friday 4, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 19.14 (128) |||| 15.10 (100) ||MCG|| 32,880 ||Saturday 5, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.12 (78) |||| 11.6 (72) ||Kardinia Park|| 17,988 ||Saturday 5, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.12 (90) |||| 12.11 (83) ||Princes Park|| 12,604 ||Saturday 5, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 23.16 (154) ||StK|| 7.15 (57) ||Gabba|| 17,123 ||Sunday 6, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |PA|| 8.12 (60) |||| 14.9 (93) ||Football Park|| 32,747 ||Sunday 6, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.9 (87) |||| 10.13 (73) ||Subiaco Oval|| 19,057 ||Sunday 6, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 12.14 (86) |||| 8.12 (60) ||MCG|| 38,170 ||Monday 7, April Round 3 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 15.9 (99) |||| 14.7 (91) ||SCG|| 23,598 ||Friday 11, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.9 (105) |||| 12.14 (86) ||MCG|| 35,438 ||Saturday 12, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |StK|| 19.11 (125) |||| 17.16 (118) ||Waverley Park|| 54,699 ||Saturday 12, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |PA|| 18.21 (129) |||| 14.6 (90) ||Football Park|| 32,074 ||Saturday 12, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 18.14 (122) |||| 12.8 (80) ||MCG|| 57,978 ||Sunday 13, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 15.18 (108) |||| 12.8 (80) ||Princes Park|| 25,966 ||Sunday 13, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 12.15 (87) |||| 11.9 (75) ||Waverley Park|| 27,947 ||Sunday 13, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.15 (111) |||| 9.17 (71) ||Subiaco Oval|| 39,294 ||Sunday 13, April Round 4 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.9 (87) |||| 13.11 (89) ||MCG|| 28,043 ||Friday 18, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 12.12 (84) |||| 15.11 (101) ||MCG|| 78,704 ||Saturday 19, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 10.12 (72) |||| 10.7 (67) ||Princes Park|| 15,461 ||Saturday 19, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.10 (112) |||| 13.10 (88) ||Subiaco Oval|| 38,222 ||Saturday 19, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |StK|| 12.9 (81) |||| 18.19 (127) ||Waverley Park|| 35,061 ||Saturday 19, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 15.19 (109) |||| 12.11 (83) ||Gabba|| 18,575 ||Sunday 20, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.6 (72) ||PA|| 11.17 (83) ||Football Park|| 47,256 ||Sunday 20, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.19 (85) |||| 11.12 (78) ||MCG|| 54,922 ||Sunday 20, April Round 5 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 10.10 (70) |||| 14.15 (99) ||MCG|| 83,271 ||Friday 25, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.11 (107) ||StK|| 15.11 (101) ||Subiaco Oval|| 23,504 ||Friday 25, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 12.6 (78) |||| 19.12 (126) ||MCG|| 19,655 ||Saturday 26, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 9.17 (71) |||| 19.7 (121) ||Princes Park|| 12,694 ||Saturday 26, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 15.9 (99) |||| 11.8 (74) ||Waverley Park|| 37,576 ||Saturday 26, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |PA|| 10.13 (73) |||| 10.11 (71) ||Football Park|| 31,757 ||Sunday 27, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 21.15 (141) |||| 7.4 (46) ||MCG|| 44,449 ||Sunday 27, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 12.14 (86) |||| 13.16 (94) ||Princes Park|| 25,801 ||Sunday 27, April Round 6 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 14.15 (99) |||| 17.11 (113) ||WACA|| 29,838 ||Friday 2, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 15.12 (102) |||| 9.17 (71) ||MCG|| 37,642 ||Saturday 3, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.6 (84) |||| 11.17 (83) ||Victoria Park|| 24,663 ||Saturday 3, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 14.13 (97) |||| 6.7 (43) ||Kardinia Park|| 16,467 ||Saturday 3, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 14.9 (93) |||| 16.7 (103) ||Waverley Park|| 38,953 ||Saturday 3, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 21.16 (142) |||| 11.17 (83) ||SCG|| 37,933 ||Sunday 4, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |StK|| 17.19 (121) |||| 4.11 (35) ||Waverley Park|| 21,104 ||Sunday 4, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |PA|| 19.8 (122) |||| 8.10 (58) ||Football Park|| 36,090 ||Sunday 4, May Round 7 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 9.14 (68) |||| 17.9 (111) ||MCG|| 54,901 ||Friday 9, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 10.16 (76) |||| 14.14 (98) ||MCG|| 48,833 ||Saturday 10, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 19.19 (133) |||| 13.10 (88) ||Princes Park|| 18,860 ||Saturday 10, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.10 (76) |||| 6.8 (44) ||Kardinia Park|| 22,151 ||Saturday 10, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.22 (124) |||| 10.9 (69) ||WACA|| 18,198 ||Saturday 10, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |StK|| 20.6 (126) ||PA|| 8.13 (61) ||Waverley Park|| 17,752 ||Saturday 10, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 8.12 (60) |||| 21.13 (139) ||Gabba|| 17,524 ||Sunday 11, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 18.18 (126) |||| 11.7 (73) ||Football Park|| 39,275 ||Sunday 11, May Round 8 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 19.15 (129) |||| 11.17 (83) ||MCG|| 61,014 ||Friday 16, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 7.7 (49) |||| 19.14 (128) ||MCG|| 28,989 ||Saturday 17, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 19.14 (128) ||PA|| 15.10 (100) ||Princes Park|| 13,056 ||Saturday 17, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 22.12 (144) |||| 8.7 (55) ||Football Park|| 40,147 ||Saturday 17, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 14.16 (100) ||StK|| 18.16 (124) ||MCG|| 51,928 ||Sunday 18, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 15.16 (106) |||| 12.9 (81) ||Princes Park|| 29,783 ||Sunday 18, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 14.14 (98) |||| 15.3 (93) ||Subiaco Oval|| 14,721 ||Sunday 18, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 18.11 (119) |||| 9.13 (67) ||MCG|| 26,721 ||Monday 19, May Round 9 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |PA|| 10.18 (78) |||| 3.9 (27) ||Football Park|| 32,958 ||Friday 23, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.9 (105) |||| 14.4 (88) ||Princes Park|| 18,187 ||Saturday 24, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.10 (88) |||| 14.18 (102) ||Waverley Park|| 23,463 ||Saturday 24, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.15 (111) |||| 11.8 (74) ||SCG|| 39,780 ||Saturday 24, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 19.12 (126) |||| 15.8 (98) ||Gabba|| 19,828 ||Sunday 25, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.14 (110) |||| 13.7 (85) ||Subiaco Oval|| 38,984 ||Sunday 25, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.7 (103) |||| 10.11 (71) ||MCG|| 29,307 ||Sunday 25, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |StK|| 22.9 (141) |||| 14.10 (94) ||Waverley Park|| 52,257 ||Sunday 25, May Round 10 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |PA|| 14.9 (93) |||| 7.13 (55) ||Football Park|| 40,116 ||Friday 30, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 15.13 (103) |||| 9.4 (58) ||Princes Park|| 13,614 ||Saturday 31, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.12 (108) |||| 8.7 (55) ||Waverley Park|| 51,494 ||Saturday 31, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.11 (107) ||StK|| 11.13 (79) ||Kardinia Park|| 22,731 ||Saturday 31, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 9.13 (67) |||| 14.8 (92) ||MCG|| 28,879 ||Saturday 31, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.12 (114) |||| 20.16 (136) ||MCG|| 50,138 ||Sunday 1, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.14 (92) |||| 13.11 (89) ||Gabba|| 20,403 ||Sunday 1, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 10.12 (72) |||| 16.9 (105) ||Subiaco Oval|| 22,464 ||Monday 2, June Round 11 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 10.11 (71) |||| 11.11 (77) ||MCG|| 70,350 ||Friday 6, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.13 (91) |||| 17.22 (124) ||MCG|| 60,594 ||Saturday 7, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 14.12 (96) |||| 11.9 (75) ||Princes Park|| 24,897 ||Saturday 7, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |PA|| 4.17 (41) |||| 10.16 (76) ||Football Park|| 35,669 ||Saturday 7, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 5.15 (45) |||| 14.13 (97) ||MCG|| 27,463 ||Sunday 8, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.7 (73) ||StK|| 13.11 (89) ||Subiaco Oval|| 29,390 ||Sunday 8, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 15.15 (105) |||| 12.7 (79) ||MCG|| 20,585 ||Monday 9, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 12.12 (84) |||| 9.9 (63) ||Princes Park|| 27,904 ||Monday 9, June Round 12 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 26.8 (164) |||| 16.14 (110) ||SCG|| 35,033 ||Friday 13, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 12.10 (82) ||PA|| 14.10 (94) ||Princes Park|| 14,025 ||Saturday 14, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 7.13 (55) |||| 11.5 (71) ||Victoria Park|| 25,323 ||Saturday 14, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 12.10 (82) |||| 13.10 (88) ||Kardinia Park|| 22,871 ||Saturday 14, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |StK|| 16.20 (116) |||| 12.13 (85) ||Waverley Park|| 44,883 ||Sunday 15, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 12.11 (83) |||| 16.9 (105) ||Football Park|| 43,345 ||Sunday 15, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 7.8 (50) |||| 21.9 (135) ||MCG|| 13,392 ||Sunday 15, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 24.13 (157) |||| 9.6 (60) ||Subiaco Oval|| 21,956 ||Sunday 15, June Round 13 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.13 (79) |||| 12.14 (86) ||Subiaco Oval|| 37,854 ||Friday 27, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 4.10 (34) |||| 19.13 (127) ||MCG|| 58,812 ||Saturday 28, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |StK|| 11.18 (84) |||| 15.11 (101) ||Waverley Park|| 32,370 ||Saturday 28, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.8 (110) |||| 7.12 (54) ||Kardinia Park|| 20,236 ||Saturday 28, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.22 (88) |||| 11.7 (73) ||Gabba|| 19,560 ||Saturday 28, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |PA|| 10.9 (69) |||| 7.12 (54) ||Football Park|| 30,827 ||Saturday 28, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.16 (118) |||| 7.13 (55) ||Waverley Park|| 31,517 ||Sunday 29, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 8.17 (65) |||| 7.13 (55) ||SCG|| 30,160 ||Sunday 29, June Round 14 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.10 (106) |||| 4.7 (31) ||Football Park|| 39,221 ||Friday 4, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 9.26 (80) |||| 10.12 (72) ||MCG|| 65,228 ||Saturday 5, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.8 (74) |||| 16.14 (110) ||Princes Park|| 32,183 ||Saturday 5, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |StK|| 20.13 (133) |||| 11.13 (79) ||Waverley Park|| 32,635 ||Saturday 5, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 6.12 (48) |||| 3.15 (33) ||WACA|| 19,290 ||Saturday 5, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 18.12 (120) |||| 8.9 (57) ||MCG|| 44,803 ||Sunday 6, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 18.16 (124) ||PA|| 13.14 (92) ||Waverley Park|| 29,886 ||Sunday 6, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 7.26 (68) |||| 7.8 (50) ||Gabba|| 19,155 ||Sunday 6, July Round 15 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 14.8 (92) |||| 15.12 (102) ||MCG|| 45,120 ||Friday 11, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 18.11 (119) |||| 15.10 (100) ||MCG|| 27,992 ||Saturday 12, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.7 (73) |||| 21.11 (137) ||Princes Park|| 16,430 ||Saturday 12, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 25.10 (160) |||| 9.6 (60) ||Victoria Park|| 23,433 ||Saturday 12, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 10.16 (76) ||StK|| 9.12 (66) ||Football Park|| 39,921 ||Saturday 12, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.13 (79) |||| 11.12 (78) ||SCG|| 36,077 ||Sunday 13, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 12.13 (85) ||PA|| 9.13 (67) ||Subiaco Oval|| 29,723 ||Sunday 13, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 22.13 (145) |||| 10.9 (69) ||MCG|| 49,217 ||Sunday 13, July Round 16 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.16 (118) |||| 13.9 (87) ||Gabba|| 21,348 ||Friday 18, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 25.15 (165) |||| 13.9 (87) ||MCG|| 58,512 ||Saturday 19, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 9.8 (62) ||StK|| 20.21 (141) ||Waverley Park|| 43,181 ||Saturday 19, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.14 (110) |||| 12.6 (78) ||Kardinia Park|| 24,099 ||Saturday 19, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 15.22 (112) |||| 11.9 (75) ||SCG|| 39,318 ||Saturday 19, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |PA|| 17.9 (111) |||| 8.10 (58) ||Football Park|| 37,790 ||Saturday 19, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 7.16 (58) |||| 17.12 (114) ||MCG|| 23,309 ||Sunday 20, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 15.7 (97) |||| 13.13 (91) ||Subiaco Oval|| 18,392 ||Sunday 20, July Round 17 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 10.12 (72) ||PA|| 18.14 (122) ||MCG|| 33,076 ||Friday 25, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 7.16 (58) |||| 14.12 (96) ||Princes Park|| 27,689 ||Saturday 26, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 9.8 (62) |||| 10.11 (71) ||Waverley Park|| 15,939 ||Saturday 26, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 22.17 (149) |||| 7.10 (52) ||SCG|| 32,534 ||Saturday 26, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 29.11 (185) |||| 7.6 (48) ||Football Park|| 36,297 ||Saturday 26, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |StK|| 12.20 (92) |||| 5.14 (44) ||Waverley Park|| 34,859 ||Sunday 27, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 20.14 (134) |||| 12.10 (82) ||MCG|| 37,779 ||Sunday 27, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 20.9 (129) |||| 12.10 (82) ||Subiaco Oval|| 34,565 ||Sunday 27, July Round 18 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.17 (83) |||| 8.16 (64) ||MCG|| 38,614 ||Friday 1, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 7.11 (53) |||| 25.19 (169) ||MCG|| 26,901 ||Saturday 2, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.13 (115) |||| 15.10 (100) ||Princes Park|| 18,373 ||Saturday 2, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 25.9 (159) ||PA|| 11.8 (74) ||Kardinia Park|| 21,867 ||Saturday 2, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 21.15 (141) |||| 11.5 (71) ||Gabba|| 19,635 ||Saturday 2, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 18.19 (127) |||| 13.8 (86) ||Football Park|| 42,548 ||Sunday 3, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 12.17 (89) ||StK|| 15.21 (111) ||MCG|| 68,036 ||Sunday 3, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 7.7 (49) |||| 13.4 (82) ||Subiaco Oval|| 39,711 ||Sunday 3, August Round 19 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.14 (116) |||| 9.5 (59) ||MCG|| 27,021 ||Friday 8, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 14.23 (107) |||| 13.13 (91) ||MCG|| 61,650 ||Saturday 9, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 14.18 (102) |||| 9.10 (64) ||Princes Park|| 13,058 ||Saturday 9, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 10.6 (66) |||| 13.9 (87) ||Waverley Park|| 20,517 ||Saturday 9, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 12.13 (85) |||| 5.12 (42) ||WACA|| 15,757 ||Saturday 9, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.17 (119) ||StK|| 18.20 (128) ||SCG|| 39,287 ||Sunday 10, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.7 (73) |||| 9.14 (68) ||MCG|| 53,901 ||Sunday 10, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |PA|| 9.4 (58) |||| 9.11 (65) ||Football Park|| 45,498 ||Sunday 10, August Round 20 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 15.7 (97) |||| 7.17 (59) ||WACA|| 21,164 ||Friday 15, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.13 (91) |||| 12.9 (81) ||MCG|| 50,944 ||Saturday 16, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |StK|| 12.5 (77) |||| 9.10 (64) ||Waverley Park|| 26,201 ||Saturday 16, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.17 (95) |||| 9.13 (67) ||Kardinia Park|| 23,007 ||Saturday 16, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.15 (93) ||PA|| 13.15 (93) ||Gabba|| 20,835 ||Saturday 16, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 20.15 (135) |||| 11.11 (77) ||SCG|| 34,111 ||Sunday 17, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 14.13 (97) |||| 14.12 (96) ||MCG|| 29,620 ||Sunday 17, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 7.18 (60) |||| 16.7 (103) ||Football Park|| 39,632 ||Sunday 17, August Round 21 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 8.14 (62) ||StK|| 17.12 (114) ||MCG|| 32,935 ||Friday 22, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 10.21 (81) |||| 6.7 (43) ||MCG|| 26,393 ||Saturday 23, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.10 (76) |||| 5.11 (41) ||Princes Park|| 27,375 ||Saturday 23, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 12.14 (86) |||| 10.8 (68) ||Whitten Oval|| 26,704 ||Saturday 23, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 15.12 (102) |||| 16.10 (106) ||Gabba|| 21,065 ||Saturday 23, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 22.14 (146) ||PA|| 8.13 (61) ||MCG|| 22,516 ||Sunday 24, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 9.14 (68) |||| 14.16 (100) ||Subiaco Oval|| 28,751 ||Sunday 24, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 6.12 (48) |||| 5.9 (39) ||Football Park|| 37,661 ||Monday 25, August Round 22 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 18.12 (120) |||| 11.15 (81) ||WACA|| 29,402 ||Friday 29, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 18.11 (119) |||| 11.13 (79) ||MCG|| 15,036 ||Saturday 30, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.11 (89) |||| 13.13 (91) ||Princes Park|| 34,922 ||Saturday 30, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.9 (87) |||| 15.15 (105) ||Waverley Park|| 35,706 ||Saturday 30, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.12 (90) |||| 15.10 (100) ||SCG|| 46,168 ||Saturday 30, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 18.14 (122) |||| 15.21 (111) ||MCG|| 43,660 ||Sunday 31, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.6 (102) |||| 14.14 (98) ||Princes Park|| 25,636 ||Sunday 31, August |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |PA|| 12.12 (84) ||StK|| 17.15 (117) ||Football Park|| 38,589 ||Sunday 31, August Ladder (P) Premiers Qualified for finals |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 1 || align=left | StK || 22 || 15 || 7 || 0 || 2294 || 1918 || 119.6 || 60 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 2 || align=left | || 22 || 15 || 7 || 0 || 2111 || 1791 || 117.9 || 60 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 3 || align=left | || 22 || 14 || 8 || 0 || 2100 || 2062 || 101.8 || 56 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 4 || align=left | (P) || 22 || 13 || 9 || 0 || 2151 || 1769 || 121.6 || 52 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 5 || align=left | || 22 || 13 || 9 || 0 || 1969 || 1770 || 111.2 || 52 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 6 || align=left | || 22 || 12 || 10 || 0 || 2093 || 1801 || 116.2 || 48 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 7 || align=left | || 22 || 12 || 10 || 0 || 2051 || 1835 || 111.8 || 48 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 8 || align=left | || 22 || 10 || 11 || 1 || 2076 || 1973 || 105.2 || 42 |- | 9 || align=left | || 22 || 10 || 11 || 1 || 1852 || 2017 || 91.8 || 42 |- | 10 || align=left | || 22 || 10 || 12 || 0 || 2138 || 1919 || 111.4 || 40 |- | 11 || align=left | || 22 || 10 || 12 || 0 || 1978 || 2045 || 96.7 || 40 |- | 12 || align=left | || 22 || 10 || 12 || 0 || 1748 || 1902 || 91.9 || 40 |- | 13 || align=left | || 22 || 10 || 12 || 0 || 1883 || 2253 || 83.6 || 40 |- | 14 || align=left | || 22 || 9 || 13 || 0 || 2004 || 2170 || 92.4 || 36 |- | 15 || align=left | || 22 || 8 || 14 || 0 || 1873 || 2144 || 87.4 || 32 |- | 16 || align=left | || 22 || 4 || 18 || 0 || 1477 || 2429 || 60.8 || 16 |} Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points forAverage score: 90.3Source: AFL Tables Progression by round table y #ccffcc #aaa Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 8. #99ccff #aaa Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round. #ffcccc #aaa Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round. #99ccff #ccffcc #ffcccc complete AFL Tables St Kilda 0/0R/4/4R/4/8/12/16F/20F/20F/24F/28F/28F/32F/32F/36F/40F/44F/48F/52F/56B/60B Geelong 0/4/4/8/12F/16F/20F/24F/24F/28B/28F/28F/32F/36F/40B/44B/44B/48B/48F/52B/56F/60F Western Bulldogs 0/4/8F/12F/12F/16F/20F/20F/24F/28F/32B/32B/36B/40B/40F/40F/40F/40/44F/48F/52F/56F Adelaide 4F/4F/4/4/8/8/12F/16F/20F/24F/28F/28F/28F/32F/36F/36F/40F/44F/48B/48F/52F/52F West Coast 4B/4F/8F/12B/16B/16F/20B/20F/24F/24F/24F/28F/28F/28F/32F/32/36/40F/44F/48F/48F/52F Sydney 0R/0/4/8F/8/12F/12/12/16/16/20/24/28/28/32F/36F/40F/44F/44F/48F/48F/48F North Melbourne 0/4F/4/4/8/12F/12/16F/16/20F/24F/28F/28F/28/28/32F/36F/40F/44F/44F/48F/48F Brisbane Lions 0/4F/4F/8F/8/8/8/8/12/16/16/20/24/28F/32F/36F/36F/40F/40F/42F/42F/42F Port Adelaide 0/0/4/8/12F/16F/16F/16/20/24F/24/28F/32F/32F/32/36F/40F/40F/40/42/42/42 Collingwood 4F/8B/8F/8F/12F/16B/20F/24B/24B/24F/24F/24F/24/24/28/28/32/32/32/36/36/40 Carlton 0/0/4/8F/8/8/12/16/20F/20/24F/24/28/28/28/32/32/32/36/36/40/40 Fremantle 4F/8F/8F/8/12F/12/16F/20F/20F/20/20/24/24/28/28/32/36/36/40/40/40/40 Richmond 4F/8F/8F/12F/12/12/12/16/16/16/20/20/20/20/24/24/24/28/28/32/36/40 Essendon 4F/8F/12B/12F/12F/16F/16F/16/16/16/16/16/20/24/24/24/24/24/28/28/32/36 Hawthorn 4F/4/8F/8/12F/12/12/12/12/16/20/24/28F/32F/32F/32/32/32/32/32/32/32 Melbourne 4F/4/4R/4/4R/4R/4R/4R/4R/8R/8R/8R/8R/8R/12R/12R/12R/12R/12R/12R/12R/16R Finals series Week one Qualifying finals QF2: Saturday, 6 September (2:30 pm) 18.11 (119) H 12.12 (84) MCG 62,432 Report QF1: Sunday, 7 September (2:30 pm) 14.15 (99) H 9.12 (66) Football Park 43,761 Report QF4: Sunday, 7 September (2:30 pm) StK 20.15 (135) H 13.11 (89) Waverley Park 50,035 Report QF3: Sunday, 7 September (7:00 pm) 9.7 (61) A 11.13 (79) MCG 55,561 Report The StK versus finals match was the last ever finals match to be played at Waverley Park. The versus match was originally scheduled as a night match on Saturday, but to avoid a television conflict with the funeral of Princess Diana, the game was rescheduled as a Sunday afternoon fixture. Week two Semi-finals SF1: Saturday, 13 September (2:30 pm) 15.8 (98) H WC 12.13 (85) MCG 55,781 Report SF2: Saturday, 13 September (7:45 pm) 11.10 (76) H 9.14 (68) Football Park 46,319 Report The versus semi final was notable due to an incident in the third quarter, when a clear forward 50 mark to Geelong's Leigh Colbert was not awarded by field umpire Grant Vernon, denying Geelong a crucial shot at goal. This incident was later confirmed as a significant error by the AFL umpiring association, and Grant Vernon was not selected to umpire in any remaining 1997 finals matches as a result.https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/colbert-non-screamer-cruelled-cats-in-afl/svol6qv4d Colbert non-screamer cruelled Cats in AFL Week three Preliminary finals PF2: Friday, 19 September (7:45 pm) StK 15.14 (104) H 11.7 (73) MCG 77,531 Report PF1: Saturday, 20 September (2:30 pm) 13.13 (91) A 12.21 (93) MCG 70,088 Report Week four 1997 AFL Grand Final Grand final Saturday, 27 September (2:45 pm) StK 13.16 (94) A 19.11 (125) MCG 99,645 Report * This was the first appearance in a grand final for . Attendance Team Hosted Average Highest Lowest Total Last season ± Essendon 11 52,848 83,271 25,636 581,330 49,526 + 3322 Collingwood 11 48,708 78,704 23,433 535,789 44,723 + 3985 Adelaide 11 40,173 47,256 36,297 441,905 39,428 + 745 Port Adelaide 11 35,829 45,498 31,757 394,115 11,017* + 24812* Sydney 11 35,818 46,168 23,598 393,999 24,574 + 11244 St Kilda 11 35,232 54,699 17,752 387,553 27,137 + 8095 Richmond 11 34,515 58,812 15,461 379,670 38,624 - 4109 Carlton 11 33,634 61,650 18,187 369,972 35,891 - 2257 West Coast 11 32,582 39,294 21,164 358,401 32,448 + 134 North Melbourne 11 32,520 54,901 13,056 357,725 34,627 - 2107 Hawthorn 11 32,380 51,494 15,939 356,179 23,624 + 8756 Geelong 11 28,324 65,228 16,467 311,567 25,161 + 3163 Melbourne 11 27,714 61,138 13,392 304,853 30,315 - 2601 Fremantle 11 21,982 39,711 14,721 241,801 22,473 - 491 Brisbane Lions 11 19,550 21,348 17,123 215,051 N/A N/A Western Bulldogs 11 19,335 35,438 8664 212,681 18,073 + 1262 Totals 176 33,197 83,271 8664 5842,591 29,637 + 3560 Venue Hosted Average Highest Lowest Total Last season ± MCG 53 43,488 83,271 13,392 2,304,865 46,114 - 2626 Football Park 22 38,001 47,256 31,757 836,020 39,428 - 1427 SCG 11 35,818 46,168 23,598 393,999 24,574 + 11,244 Waverley Park 22 33,806 54,699 15,939 743,732 25,545 + 8261 Subiaco Oval 17 28,371 39,711 14,721 482,310 28,289 + 82 Whitten Oval 1 26,704 26,704 26,704 26,704 10,482 + 16,222 Victoria Park 3 24,473 25,323 23,433 73,419 23,581 + 892 WACA 5 23,578 29,838 18,198 117,892 25,253 - 1675 Kardinia Park 9 21,269 24,099 16,467 191,417 22,670 - 1401 Optus Oval 22 20,781 34,922 8664 457,182 15,641 + 5140 Gabba 11 19,550 21,348 17,123 215,051 18,088 + 1462 Totals 176 33,197 83,271 8664 5842,591 29,637 + 3560 Notable events The last AFL regular season game at Whitten Oval was played in Round 21, with hosts the defeating by 18 points.https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/1182759/it-was-the-perfect-send-off-last-game-at-whitten-oval 'It was the perfect send-off': Last game at Whitten Oval Western Bulldogss 27 July 2022 2 October 2024 StK finished on top of the ladder (prior to the finals) to claim the minor premiership, despite losing 7 matches in the home and away season. No team before or since has finished on top with that many losses; however, Ess topped the ladder in 1993 with a lower winning percentage (67.5% to StK's 68.18%) in a 20-game season. StK would also play in their first preliminary final since 1972 and reach their first grand final since 1971. The first qualifying final between and was rescheduled from Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon to allow the Seven Network to screen the funeral of Princess Diana live across Australia.http://www.pressreader.com/australia/geelong-advertiser/20150704/281505044880044/TextView Cats game cancelled Geelong Advertiser Michael Warner Jon Ralph Nick Wade 4 July 2015 30 October 2015 This meant that it was played at the same time as the fourth qualifying final between minor premiers StK and the Brisbane Lions, who were competing in their first season as a merged entity. The game is also notable for being the first ever final between two non-Victorian teams. Gary Ablett Sr., arguably one of the games best and most well known players, officially announced his retirement during the Preliminary Final weekend. Ablett failed to play a game in 1997 due to a knee injury. References Sources 1997 AFL season at AFL Tables 1997 AFL season at Australian Football 1997 Category:1997 in Australian men's sport Category:1997 in Australian rules football