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List of Melbourne Football Club seasons

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of seasons competed by the Melbourne Football Club. The team was founded in 1858, and was fundamental in developing the rules of Australian rules football and organizing the first competitions. Melbourne was a founding member of the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1877, which, alongside the South Australian Football Association (SAFA), were the first ever Australian rules football associations.[1] In 1897, Melbourne was a founding member of the breakaway Victorian Football League (VFL) – renamed the Australian Football League (AFL) in 1990 – which they have remained in ever since.

In their long history, Melbourne have had long periods of success but also long periods of failure. During the nine VFA premiership seasons in which Melbourne took part, they never won the premiership. They have won the AFL premiership 13 times, most recently in 2021, which was the club's first premiership since 1964. After their 1964 premiership, Melbourne missed the finals for 22 consecutive seasons, the third-longest such drought in VFL/AFL history.[2]

Seasons

[edit]
Premiership Runners-up Minor premiership Finals berth Wooden spoon
League
Season
Melbourne
Season
League Home-and-away season results Finals results Coach Captain
Finish Wins Losses Draws
Victorian Football Association (VFA)
1877 1877 VFA 16 3 4 Not held Bob Sillett
1878 1878 VFA 11 7 5 Not held Bob Sillett
1879 1879 VFA 11 6 4 Not held Bob Sillett
1880 1880 VFA 9 5 8 Not held James Bennie
1881 1881 VFA 14 6 4 Not held Sam Lamrock
1882 1882 VFA 6 13 4 Not held Dave Rannard
1883 1883 VFA 12 10 2 Not held Murdoch McKenzie
1884 1884 VFA 10 13 3 Not held John Macdonald
1885 1885 VFA 6 15 2 Not held George Aitken
Frederick Franks
1886 1886 VFA 13 10 1 Not held Howard Morrison
1887 1887 VFA 7 11 2 Not held James Kelly
VFA premiership officially established
1888 1888 VFA 11th 4 14 1 Not held Howard King
1889 1889 VFA 11th 4 16 1 Not held Eddie Fox
1890 1890 VFA 8th 6 9 4 Not held Eddie Fox
1891 1891 VFA 6th 8 6 5 Not held Eddie Fox
1892 1892 VFA 4th 10 5 3 Not held William Aitken
Eddie Fox
1893 1893 VFA 2nd 16 3 2 Not held Eddie Fox
1894 1894 VFA 2nd 13 5 0 Not held Eddie Fox
1895 1895 VFA 2nd[a] 13 5 0 Not held Eddie Fox
Joe Wilson
1896 1896 VFA 4th[b] 12 6 0 Not held Joe Wilson
Victorian Football League (VFL)
1897 1897 VFL 3rd 10 4 0 Lost round-robin match (Collingwood) 51–47
Lost round-robin match (Geelong) 46–37
Lost round-robin match (Essendon) 14–8
Ned Sutton
1898 1898 VFL 6th 6 10 1 Lost round-robin match (Geelong) 78–16
Won round-robin match (St Kilda) 38–17
Lost round-robin match (Collingwood) 55–41
Ned Sutton
1899 1899 VFL 5th 8 9 0 Lost round-robin match (Collingwood) 45–25
Lost round-robin match (Fitzroy) 40–2
Lost round-robin match (Carlton) 41–16
Eddie Sholl
1900 1900 VFL 6th 8 9 0 Won round-robin match (Geelong) 45–28
Won round-robin match (St Kilda) 86–15
Lost round-robin match (Collingwood) 30–24
Won semi-final (Essendon) 45–43
Won Grand Final (Fitzroy) 34–30
Dick Wardill
1901 1901 VFL 5th 9 7 1 William C. McClelland
1902 1902 VFL 4th 9 8 0 Lost semi-final (Essendon) 61–51 William C. McClelland
1903 1903 VFL 7th 3 14 0 William C. McClelland
1904 1904 VFL 6th 8 9 0 William C. McClelland
1905 1905 VFL 8th 3 14 0 Frank Langley
1906 1906 VFL 8th 1 16 0 Arthur Sowden
1907 1907 VFL 7th 7 10 0 Alec Hall Vin Coutie
1908 1908 VFL 8th 7 11 0 Alec Hall Hugh Purse
1909 1909 VFL 5th 10 7 1 Alec Hall Bernie Nolan
1910 1910 VFL 9th 4 14 0 Eddie Drohan Vin Coutie
1911 1911 VFL 7th 7 10 1 Vin Coutie
1912 1912 VFL 6th 9 9 0 Alec Hall Alf George
1913 1913 VFL 9th 4 14 0 Alec Hall Alf George
1914 1914 VFL 9th 2 16 0 Len Incigneri
1915 1915 VFL 4th 9 7 0 Lost semi-final (Carlton) 78–67 Jack McKenzie
1916 Did not play due to World War I
1917
1918
1919 1919 VFL 9th 0 16 0 George Heinz
1920 1920 VFL 8th 5 11 0 Gerald Brosnan George Heinz
1921 1921 VFL 6th 6 8 2 Percy Wilson
1922 1922 VFL 6th 7 9 0 Percy Wilson
1923 1923 VFL 9th 3 13 0 Percy Wilson
1924 1924 VFL 8th 4 12 0 Gordon Rattray Bert Chadwick
1925 1925 VFL 3rd 12 4 1 Won semi-final (Geelong) 101–86
Lost preliminary final (Collingwood) 63–26
Bert Chadwick
1926 1926 VFL 3rd 14 4 0 Won semi-final (Collingwood) 95–84
Won Preliminary Final (Essendon) 42–39
Won Grand Final (Collingwood) 119–62
Bert Chadwick
1927 1927 VFL 5th 12 6 0 Bert Chadwick
1928 1928 VFL 3rd 14 4 0 Drew Semi-final (Collingwood) 62–62
Lost semi-final replay (Collingwood) 68–64
Ivor Warne-Smith
1929 1929 VFL 5th 11 6 1 Ivor Warne-Smith
1930 1930 VFL 5th 11 7 0 Ivor Warne-Smith
1931 1931 VFL 8th 8 10 0 Ivor Warne-Smith
1932 1932 VFL 9th 4 14 0 Ivor Warne-Smith Francis Vine
1933 1933 VFL 10th 3 15 0 Frank Hughes Francis Vine
1934 1934 VFL 6th 9 9 0 Frank Hughes Colin Niven
1935 1935 VFL 6th 8 9 1 Frank Hughes Colin Niven
1936 1936 VFL 4th 12 6 0 Won semi-final (Carlton) 97–88
Lost preliminary final (South Melbourne) 89–63
Frank Hughes Allan La Fontaine
1937 1937 VFL 2nd 15 3 0 Lost semi-final (Geelong) 125–113
Lost preliminary final (Collingwood) 107–52
Frank Hughes Allan La Fontaine
1938 1938 VFL 5th 11 7 0 Frank Hughes Allan La Fontaine
1939 1939 VFL 1st 15 3 0 Won semi-final (Collingwood) 104–90
Won Grand Final (Collingwood) 148–95
Frank Hughes Allan La Fontaine
1940 1940 VFL 1st 14 4 0 Lost semi-final (Richmond) 107–101
Won Preliminary Final (Essendon) 90–85
Won Grand Final (Richmond) 107–68
Frank Hughes Allan La Fontaine
1941 1941 VFL 2nd 14 4 0 Won semi-final (Carlton) 109–82
Won Grand Final (Essendon) 127–98
Frank Hughes Allan La Fontaine
1942 1942 VFL 8th 5 10 0 Percy Beames
1943 1943 VFL 7th 7 8 0 Percy Beames
1944 1944 VFL 8th 7 11 0 Percy Beames
1945 1945 VFL 9th 8 12 0 Frank Hughes Norm Smith
1946 1946 VFL 4th 13 6 0 Won semi-final (Footscray) 120–102
Won Preliminary Final (Collingwood) 113–100
Lost Grand Final (Essendon) 150–87
Frank Hughes Norm Smith
1947 1947 VFL 6th 11 8 0 Frank Hughes Norm Smith
1948 1948 VFL 2nd 13 6 0 Lost semi-final (Essendon) 94–58
Won Preliminary Final (Collingwood) 166–101
Drew Grand Final (Essendon) 69–69
Won Grand Final replay (Essendon) 89–50
Frank Hughes Don Cordner
1949 1949 VFL 5th 12 7 0 Allan La Fontaine Don Cordner
1950 1950 VFL 3rd 12 6 0 Lost semi-final (Geelong) 88–44 Allan La Fontaine Shane McGrath
1951 1951 VFL 12th 1 17 0 Allan La Fontaine Denis Cordner
1952 1952 VFL 6th 9 9 1 Norm Smith Denis Cordner
1953 1953 VFL 11th 3 14 1 Norm Smith Denis Cordner
1954 1954 VFL 4th 11 7 0 Won semi-final (North Melbourne) 110–80
Won Preliminary Final (Geelong) 67–50
Lost Grand Final (Footscray) 102–51
Norm Smith Geoff Collins
1955 1955 VFL 1st 15 3 0 Won semi-final (Collingwood) 56–45
Won Grand Final (Collingwood) 64–36
Norm Smith Noel McMahen
1956 1956 VFL 1st 16 2 0 Won semi-final (Collingwood) 80–64
Won Grand Final (Collingwood) 121–48
Norm Smith Noel McMahen
1957 1957 VFL 1st 12 5 1 Lost semi-final (Essendon) 83–67
Won Preliminary Final (Hawthorn) 144–76
Won Grand Final (Essendon) 116–55
Norm Smith John Beckwith
1958 1958 VFL 1st 15 3 0 Won semi-final (Collingwood) 78–33
Lost Grand Final (Collingwood) 82–64
Norm Smith John Beckwith
1959 1959 VFL 1st 13 4 1 Won semi-final (Carlton) 81–37
Won Grand Final (Essendon) 115–78
Norm Smith John Beckwith
1960 1960 VFL 1st 14 4 0 Won semi-final (Fitzroy) 102–40
Won Grand Final (Collingwood) 62–14
Norm Smith Ron Barassi
1961 1961 VFL 2nd 12 5 1 Lost semi-final (Hawthorn) 80–73
Lost preliminary final (Footscray) 85–58
Norm Smith Ron Barassi
1962 1962 VFL 3rd 14 4 0 Lost semi-final (Carlton) 78–76 Norm Smith Ron Barassi
1963 1963 VFL 3rd 13 5 0 Won semi-final (St Kilda) 71–64
Lost preliminary final (Hawthorn) 77–68
Norm Smith Ron Barassi
1964 1964 VFL 1st 14 4 0 Won semi-final (Collingwood) 134–45
Won Grand Final (Collingwood) 64–60
Norm Smith[c] Ron Barassi
1965 1965 VFL 7th 10 8 0 Norm Smith[d] Hassa Mann
1966 1966 VFL 11th 3 15 0 Norm Smith Hassa Mann
1967 1967 VFL 7th 8 10 0 Norm Smith Hassa Mann
1968 1968 VFL 8th 8 12 0 John Beckwith Hassa Mann
1969 1969 VFL 12th 3 17 0 John Beckwith Tassie Johnson
1970 1970 VFL 10th 6 16 0 John Beckwith Frank Davis
1971 1971 VFL 7th 11 10 1 Ian Ridley Frank Davis
1972 1972 VFL 8th 10 12 0 Ian Ridley Frank Davis
1973 1973 VFL 10th 7 15 0 Ian Ridley Stan Alves
1974 1974 VFL 12th 3 19 0 Bob Skilton Stan Alves
1975 1975 VFL 10th 9 13 0 Bob Skilton Stan Alves
1976 1976 VFL 6th 11 11 0 Bob Skilton Stan Alves
1977 1977 VFL 11th 5 17 0 Bob Skilton Greg Wells
1978 1978 VFL 12th 5 17 0 Dennis Jones Greg Wells
1979 1979 VFL 11th 6 16 0 Carl Ditterich[e]
1980 1980 VFL 9th 5 17 0 Carl Ditterich
1981 1981 VFL 12th 1 21 0 Ron Barassi Robert Flower
1982 1982 VFL 8th 8 14 0 Ron Barassi Robert Flower
1983 1983 VFL 8th 9 13 0 Ron Barassi Robert Flower
1984 1984 VFL 9th 9 13 0 Ron Barassi Robert Flower
1985 1985 VFL 11th 6 16 0 Ron Barassi Robert Flower
1986 1986 VFL 11th 7 15 0 John Northey Robert Flower
1987 1987 VFL 5th 12 10 0 Won Elimination Final (North Melbourne) 158–40
Won semi-final (Sydney) 149–73
Lost preliminary final (Hawthorn) 80–78
John Northey Robert Flower
1988 1988 VFL 5th 13 9 0 Won Elimination Final (West Coast) 73–71
Won semi-final (Collingwood) 95–82
Won Preliminary Final (Carlton) 120–98
Lost Grand Final (Hawthorn) 152–56
John Northey Greg Healy
1989 1989 VFL 4th 14 8 0 Won Elimination Final (Collingwood) 111–88
Lost semi-final (Geelong) 153–90
John Northey Greg Healy
Australian Football League (AFL)
1990 1990 AFL 4th 16 6 0 Won Elimination Final (Hawthorn) 73–64
Lost semi-final (West Coast) 130–100
John Northey Greg Healy
1991 1991 AFL 5th 13 9 0 Won Elimination Final (Essendon) 113–75
Lost semi-final (West Coast) 117–79
John Northey Garry Lyon
1992 1992 AFL 11th 7 14 1 John Northey Garry Lyon
1993 1993 AFL 10th 10 10 0 Neil Balme Garry Lyon
1994 1994 AFL 7th 12 10 0 Won Qualifying Final (Carlton) 123–96
Won semi-final (Footscray) 144–65
Lost preliminary final (West Coast) 117–52
Neil Balme Garry Lyon
1995 1995 AFL 9th 9 13 0 Neil Balme Garry Lyon
1996 1996 AFL 14th 7 15 0 Neil Balme Garry Lyon
1997 1997 AFL 16th 4 18 0 Neil Balme
Greg Hutchison
Garry Lyon
1998 1998 AFL 4th 14 8 0 Won Qualifying Final (Adelaide) 115–67
Won semi-final (St Kilda) 107–56
Lost preliminary final (North Melbourne) 114–84
Neale Daniher Todd Viney
1999 1999 AFL 14th 6 16 0 Neale Daniher Todd Viney
2000 2000 AFL 3rd 14 8 0 Won Qualifying Final (Carlton) 96–87
Won Preliminary Final (North Melbourne) 156–106
Lost Grand Final (Essendon) 135–75
Neale Daniher David Neitz
2001 2001 AFL 11th 10 12 0 Neale Daniher David Neitz
2002 2002 AFL 6th 12 10 0 Won Elimination Final (North Melbourne) 122–84
Lost semi-final (Adelaide) 130–118
Neale Daniher David Neitz
2003 2003 AFL 14th 5 17 0 Neale Daniher David Neitz
2004 2004 AFL 5th 14 8 0 Lost Elimination Final (Essendon) 104–99 Neale Daniher David Neitz
2005 2005 AFL 7th 12 10 0 Lost Elimination Final (Geelong) 116–61 Neale Daniher David Neitz
2006 2006 AFL 7th 13 8 1 Won Elimination Final (St Kilda) 90–72
Lost semi-final (Fremantle) 102–74
Neale Daniher David Neitz
2007 2007 AFL 14th 5 17 0 Neale Daniher
Mark Riley
David Neitz
2008 2008 AFL 16th 3 19 0 Dean Bailey David Neitz
2009 2009 AFL 16th 4 18 0 Dean Bailey James McDonald
2010 2010 AFL 12th 8 13 1 Dean Bailey James McDonald
2011 2011 AFL 13th 8 13 1 Dean Bailey
Todd Viney
Brad Green
2012 2012 AFL 16th 4 18 0 Mark Neeld Jack Grimes
Jack Trengove
2013 2013 AFL 17th 2 20 0 Mark Neeld
Neil Craig
Jack Grimes
Jack Trengove
2014 2014 AFL 17th 4 18 0 Paul Roos Jack Grimes
Nathan Jones
2015 2015 AFL 13th 7 15 0 Paul Roos Nathan Jones
2016 2016 AFL 11th 10 12 0 Paul Roos Nathan Jones
2017 2017 AFL 9th 12 10 0 Simon Goodwin Nathan Jones
Jack Viney
2018 2018 AFL 5th 14 8 0 Won Elimination Final (Geelong) 75–46
Won semi-final (Hawthorn) 104–71
Lost preliminary final (West Coast) 121–55
Simon Goodwin Nathan Jones
Jack Viney
2019 2019 AFL 17th 5 17 0 Simon Goodwin Nathan Jones
Jack Viney
2020 2020 AFL 9th 9 8 0 Simon Goodwin Max Gawn
2021* 2021 AFL 1st 17 4 1 Won Qualifying Final (Brisbane) 134–45
Won Preliminary Final (Geelong) 125–42
Won Grand Final (Western) 140–66
Simon Goodwin Max Gawn
2022 2021 AFL 2nd 16 6 0 Lost Qualifying Final (Sydney) 91–69
Lost semi-final (Brisbane) 92–79
Simon Goodwin Max Gawn
Notes
  1. ^ In a 3-way tie with Collingwood and Geelong for 2nd place.
  2. ^ In a 2-way tie with Fitzroy for 4th place.
  3. ^ Ron Barassi was the coach for one match.
  4. ^ Frank Hughes was the coach for one match.
  5. ^ Frank Davis was the coach for one match.

All-time win–loss records

[edit]
League Wins Losses Draws Win % Premierships
VFA (1877–1896) 201 168 55 .539 0 premierships
VFL/AFL (1897–2021) home-and-away season 1081 1294 20 .456 13 premierships
10 minor premierships
VFL/AFL (1897–2021) finals 57 42 2 .574
All-time results (1877–2021) 1339 1504 77 .472

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ "1877: A pivotal year in footy history". AustralianFootball.com. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Streaks – All Teams". AFL Tables. Retrieved 5 July 2021.

References

[edit]