List of VFL/AFL minor premiers
The following is a list of Australian Football League (known as the Victorian Football League until 1990) so called 'minor premiers'.
The team that finishes the home and away rounds on top of the premiership ladder is unofficially called the 'minor premier'. As far as the League is concerned, the term 'minor premier' has had no official status or function for over a century.[1] Since 1991, the McClelland Trophy has been awarded to the team finishing first of the ladder after the home and away rounds.[2] Finishing on top of the ladder provides minor benefits to the winning team during the AFL Finals Series, but the main league award is the AFL premiership, which is awarded to the winner of the AFL Grand Final.[3][4][5] As of 2016, 64 of the 120 minor premiers have won the VFL/AFL premiership; 42 have finished as runners-up, and 14 have failed to qualify for the Grand Final.
| Season | Minor premier | Premiership points | Percentage | Runner-up | Margin | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1897 | Geelong | 44 | 184.3 | Essendon | 25.3% | 2nd |
| 1898 | Essendon | 44 | 202.1 | Collingwood | 4 points | 2nd |
| 1899 | Fitzroy | 44 | 153.3 | Geelong | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1900 | Fitzroy | 44 | 168.0 | Geelong | 8 points | 2nd |
| 1901 | Geelong | 56 | 142.9 | Essendon | 8 points | 3rd |
| 1902 | Collingwood | 60 | 199.5 | Essendon | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1903 | Collingwood | 60 | 159.4 | Fitzroy | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1904 | Fitzroy | 48 | 128.2 | Carlton | 6 points | Premiers |
| 1905 | Collingwood | 60 | 175.0 | Fitzroy | 10 points | 2nd |
| 1906 | Carlton | 56 | 153.5 | Fitzroy | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1907 | Carlton | 52 | 155.7 | South Melbourne | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1908 | Carlton | 68 | 169.4 | Essendon | 12 points | Premiers |
| 1909 | South Melbourne | 56 | 168.9 | Carlton | 22.1% | Premiers |
| 1910 | Carlton | 60 | 160.1 | Collingwood | 8 points | 2nd |
| 1911 | Essendon | 62 | 178.3 | South Melbourne | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1912 | South Melbourne | 56 | 157.0 | Carlton | 25.8% | 2nd |
| 1913 | Fitzroy | 64 | 144.3 | South Melbourne | 6 points | Premiers |
| 1914 | Carlton | 56 | 129.7 | South Melbourne | 6 points | Premiers |
| 1915 | Collingwood | 56 | 166.1 | Carlton | 2 points | 2nd |
| 1916 | Carlton | 40 | 137.2 | Collingwood | 14 points | 2nd |
| 1917 | Collingwood | 42 | 133.4 | Carlton | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1918 | South Melbourne | 52 | 143.1 | Collingwood | 12 points | Premiers |
| 1919 | Collingwood | 52 | 162.3 | South Melbourne | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1920 | Richmond | 56 | 146.4 | Fitzroy | 3.2% | Premiers |
| 1921 | Carlton | 56 | 142.0 | Richmond | 8 points | 2nd |
| 1922 | Collingwood | 48 | 127.8 | Essendon | 6 points | 2nd |
| 1923 | Essendon | 52 | 135.8 | Fitzroy | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1924 | Essendon | 46 | 131.6 | South Melbourne | 2 points | Premiers |
| 1925 | Geelong | 60 | 152.7 | Essendon | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1926 | Collingwood | 60 | 149.3 | Geelong | 4.1% | 2nd |
| 1927 | Collingwood | 60 | 150.6 | Richmond | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1928 | Collingwood | 60 | 134.6 | Richmond | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1929 | Collingwood | 72 | 171.7 | Carlton | 12 points | Premiers |
| 1930 | Collingwood | 60 | 144.3 | Carlton | 2.7% | Premiers |
| 1931 | Geelong | 60 | 151.4 | Richmond | 10.3% | Premiers |
| 1932 | Carlton | 60 | 137.8 | Richmond | 2 points | 2nd |
| 1933 | Richmond | 60 | 141.1 | South Melbourne | 8 points | 2nd |
| 1934 | Richmond | 60 | 121.3 | Geelong | 2 points | Premiers |
| 1935 | South Melbourne | 64 | 137.6 | Collingwood | 4 points | 2nd |
| 1936 | South Melbourne | 64 | 118.5 | Collingwood | 4 points | 2nd |
| 1937 | Geelong | 60 | 135.3 | Geelong | 4.1% | Premiers |
| 1938 | Carlton | 56 | 116.1 | Geelong | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1939 | Melbourne | 60 | 128.4 | Collingwood | 6.4% | Premiers |
| 1940 | Melbourne | 56 | 125.8 | Richmond | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1941 | Carlton | 56 | 120.3 | Melbourne | 3.1% | 3rd |
| 1942 | Essendon | 52 | 127.1 | Richmond | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1943 | Richmond | 44 | 123.1 | Essendon | 7.9% | Premiers |
| 1944 | Richmond | 54 | 131.1 | Fitzroy | 0.06% | 2nd |
| 1945 | South Melbourne | 64 | 131.8 | Collingwood | 4 points | 2nd |
| 1946 | Essendon | 60 | 140.7 | Collingwood | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1947 | Carlton | 60 | 134.0 | Essendon | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1948 | Essendon | 66 | 137.2 | Melbourne | 14 points | 2nd |
| 1949 | North Melbourne | 56 | 119.1 | Carlton | 4 points | 3rd |
| 1950 | Essendon | 68 | 162.2 | North Melbourne | 16 points | Premiers |
| 1951 | Geelong | 56 | 135.4 | Collingwood | 9.8% | Premiers |
| 1952 | Geelong | 66 | 134.7 | Collingwood | 10 points | Premiers |
| 1953 | Geelong | 60 | 143.3 | Collingwood | 4 points | 2nd |
| 1954 | Geelong | 52 | 133.1 | Footscray | 6 points | 3rd |
| 1955 | Melbourne | 60 | 150.5 | Collingwood | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1956 | Melbourne | 64 | 146.0 | Collingwood | 12 points | Premiers |
| 1957 | Melbourne | 50 | 138.8 | Essendon | 6 points | Premiers |
| 1958 | Melbourne | 60 | 123.7 | Collingwood | 12 points | 2nd |
| 1959 | Melbourne | 54 | 142.7 | Carlton | 2 points | Premiers |
| 1960 | Melbourne | 56 | 143.1 | Fitzroy | 30.6% | Premiers |
| 1961 | Hawthorn | 56 | 125.1 | Melbourne | 6 points | Premiers |
| 1962 | Essendon | 64 | 130.4 | Geelong | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1963 | Hawthorn | 54 | 130.6 | Geelong | 2.4% | 2nd |
| 1964 | Melbourne | 56 | 138.1 | Collingwood | 2 points | Premiers |
| 1965 | St Kilda | 56 | 136.3 | Collingwood | 4 points | 2nd |
| 1966 | Collingwood | 60 | 157.2 | St Kilda | 4 points | 2nd |
| 1967 | Richmond | 60 | 145.9 | Carlton | 2 points | Premiers |
| 1968 | Essendon | 66 | 130.3 | Carlton | 6 points | 2nd |
| 1969 | Collingwood | 60 | 129.0 | Carlton | 8.5% | 3rd |
| 1970 | Collingwood | 72 | 136.5 | Carlton | 8 points | 2nd |
| 1971 | Hawthorn | 76 | 153.7 | St Kilda | 12 points | Premiers |
| 1972 | Carlton | 74 | 134.3 | Richmond | 2 points | Premiers |
| 1973 | Collingwood | 76 | 125.5 | Richmond | 8 points | 3rd |
| 1974 | Richmond | 68 | 129.3 | North Melbourne | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1975 | Hawthorn | 68 | 137.3 | Carlton | 4 points | 2nd |
| 1976 | Carlton | 66 | 132.8 | Hawthorn | 2 points | 3rd |
| 1977 | Collingwood | 72 | 130.7 | Hawthorn | 4 points | 2nd |
| 1978 | North Melbourne | 64 | 120.9 | Hawthorn | 3.2% | 2nd |
| 1979 | Carlton | 76 | 139.6 | North Melbourne | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1980 | Geelong | 68 | 125.1 | Carlton | 4% | 3rd |
| 1981 | Carlton | 68 | 130.3 | Collingwood | 7.7% | Premiers |
| 1982 | Richmond | 72 | 126.2 | Hawthorn | 4 points | 2nd |
| 1983 | North Melbourne | 64 | 127.8 | Hawthorn | 4 points | 3rd |
| 1984 | Essendon | 72 | 128.2 | Hawthorn | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1985 | Essendon | 76 | 138.4 | Footscray | 12 points | Premiers |
| 1986 | Hawthorn | 72 | 141.6 | Sydney Swans | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1987 | Carlton | 72 | 138.0 | Hawthorn | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1988 | Hawthorn | 76 | 142.3 | Collingwood | 14 points | Premiers |
| 1989 | Hawthorn | 76 | 153.2 | Essendon | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1990 | Essendon | 68 | 139.2 | Collingwood | 4 points | 2nd |
| 1991 | West Coast | 76 | 162.2 | Hawthorn | 12 points | 2nd |
| 1992 | Geelong | 64 | 145.6 | Footscray | 15.8% | 2nd |
| 1993 | Essendon | 54 | 119.1 | Carlton | 1.5% | Premiers |
| 1994 | West Coast | 64 | 132.2. | Carlton | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1995 | Carlton | 80 | 137.8 | Geelong | 16 points | Premiers |
| 1996 | Sydney | 66 | 123.9 | North Melbourne | 2 points | 2nd |
| 1997 | St Kilda | 60 | 119.6 | Geelong | 2% | 2nd |
| 1998 | North Melbourne | 64 | 117.4 | Western Bulldogs | 4 points | 2nd |
| 1999 | Essendon | 72 | 126.0 | Kangaroos | 4 points | 3rd |
| 2000 | Essendon | 84 | 159.1 | Carlton | 20 points | Premiers |
| 2001 | Essendon | 68 | 134.5 | Brisbane Lions | 6.9% | 2nd |
| 2002 | Port Adelaide | 72 | 132.4 | Brisbane Lions | 4 points | 3rd |
| 2003 | Port Adelaide | 72 | 127.2 | Collingwood | 12 points | 3rd |
| 2004 | Port Adelaide | 68 | 132.4 | Brisbane Lions | 4 points | Premiers |
| 2005 | Adelaide | 68 | 136.5 | West Coast | 12.5% | 3rd |
| 2006 | West Coast | 68 | 120.4 | Adelaide | 4 points | Premiers |
| 2007 | Geelong | 72 | 152.8 | Port Adelaide | 12 points | Premiers |
| 2008 | Geelong | 84 | 161.8 | Hawthorn | 16 points | 2nd |
| 2009 | St Kilda | 80 | 155.7 | Geelong | 8 points | 2nd |
| 2010 | Collingwood | 70 | 141.7 | Geelong | 2 points | Premiers |
| 2011 | Collingwood | 80 | 167.66 | Geelong | 4 points | 2nd |
| 2012 | Hawthorn | 68 | 154.59 | Adelaide | 22.13% | 2nd |
| 2013 | Hawthorn | 76 | 135.7 | Geelong | 4 points | Premiers |
| 2014 | Sydney | 68 | 142.88 | Hawthorn | 2.55% | 2nd |
| 2015 | Fremantle | 68 | 118.7 | West Coast | 2 points | 3rd |
| 2016 | Sydney | 68 | 158.81 | Geelong | 7.99% | 2nd |
Minor premiership wins
| Club | Minor premierships | Most recent minor premiership | Minor premiers and premiers in same year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collingwood | 19 | 2011 | 9 |
| Carlton | 17 | 1995 | 11 |
| Essendon | 17 | 2001 | 11 |
| Geelong | 13 | 2008 | 6 |
| Hawthorn | 9 | 2013 | 6 |
| Melbourne | 9 | 1964 | 8 |
| Sydney Swans | 9 | 2016 | 2 |
| Richmond | 8 | 1982 | 5 |
| Fitzroy | 4 | 1913 | 3 |
| North Melbourne | 4 | 1998 | 0 |
| Port Adelaide | 3 | 2004 | 1 |
| West Coast | 3 | 2006 | 2 |
| St Kilda | 3 | 2009 | 0 |
| Fremantle | 1 | 2015 | 0 |
| Adelaide | 1 | 2005 | 0 |
| Brisbane Lions | 0 | – | 0 |
| Western Bulldogs | 0 | – | 0 |
| Gold Coast | 0 | – | 0 |
| GWS | 0 | – | 0 |
See also
References
- ^ "Collingwood Conquered". The Argus. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 30 August 1926. p. 16. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
- ^ Football Record 30/31 March 1 April 1991 page 3, McClelland Trophy - A New Look -
- ^ Stevens, Mark (18 July 2007). "Cats should be rewarded". Herald Sun. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
- ^ Wilson, Caroline (13 November 2009). "Saints struggle for profit despite successful season". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
- ^ Wilson, Caroline (24 August 2003). "Only one trophy good enough for Port". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
External links