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2023 AFL season facts for kids

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2023 AFL premiership season
Date 16 March—30 September 2023
Teams 18
Premiers Collingwood
16th premiership
Runners-up Brisbane Lions
2nd runners-up result
Minor premiers Collingwood
20th minor premiership
Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale (Brisbane Lions)
31 votes
Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
78 goals
Attendance
Matches played 216
Total attendance 8,139,464 (37,683 per match)
Highest (H&A) 95,179 (round 6, Collingwood v Essendon)
Highest (finals) 100,024 (grand final, Collingwood v Brisbane Lions)
← 2022

The 2023 AFL season was the 127th season of the Australian Football League (AFL), the highest level senior men's Australian rules football competition in Australia, which was known as the Victorian Football League until 1989. The season featured 18 clubs and ran from 16 March to 30 September, comprising a 23-match home-and-away season for the first time in league history, followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs.

Collingwood won its VFL/AFL record-equalling 16th premiership, defeating the Brisbane Lions by four points in the 2023 AFL Grand Final.

Background

The fixture was extended to 23 matches per club, the longest in history, to accommodate the introduction of Gather Round, a special round featuring all 18 clubs playing in the same city and its surrounds; this was modelled on the National Rugby League (NRL)'s Magic Round, which had scheduled annually since 2019. South Australia won the bid for the event, beating a bid from New South Wales, and Norwood Oval and Summit Sports Park in Mount Barker each hosted their first AFL matches.

The following rule changes were made for the 2023 season:

  • The number of field umpires in control of each match was increased from three to four.
  • The medical substitute position, which had been introduced in 2021, was replaced with a tactical substitute; prior rules had only allowed for a player to be substituted for medical reasons, but this stipulation was removed, allowing for the substitute to be used for any reason.

Win/loss table

The following table can be sorted from biggest winning margin to biggest losing margin for each round. If two or more matches in a round are decided by the same margin, these margins are sorted by percentage (i.e. the lowest-scoring winning team is ranked highest and the lowest-scoring losing team is ranked lowest). Home matches are in bold, neutral matches (Gather Round) are underlined and opponents are listed above the margins.

+ Win Qualified for finals
- Loss X Bye
Draw Eliminated
Team Home-and-away season Ladder Finals series
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 F1 F2 F3 GF
Adelaide GWS
-16		 RIC
-32		 PA
+31		 FRE
+39		 CAR
+56		 HAW
+3		 COL
-1		 GEE
-26		 STK
+52		 WB
-45		 BL
+17		 GC
-25		 WC
+122		 X COL
-2		 NM
+66		 ESS
-18		 GWS
-14		 MEL
-4		 PA
+47		 GC
+28		 BL
-6		 SYD
-1		 WC
+45		 10
(11–12–0)
Brisbane Lions PA
-54		 MEL
+11		 WB
-14		 COL
+33		 NM
+75		 GWS
+21		 FRE
+48		 CAR
+26		 ESS
+42		 GC
+43		 ADE
-17		 X HAW
-25		 SYD
+16		 STK
+28		 RIC
+81		 WC
+81		 MEL
-1		 GEE
+11		 GC
-41		 FRE
+3		 ADE
+6		 COL
+24		 STK
+12		 2
(17–6–0)		 PA
+48		 X CAR
+16		 COL
-4
Carlton RIC
0		 GEE
+8		 GWS
+10		 NM
+23		 ADE
-56		 STK
-22		 WC
+108		 BL
-26		 WB
-20		 COL
-28		 SYD
-26		 MEL
-17		 ESS
-34		 GC
+59		 X HAW
+60		 FRE
+53		 PA
+50		 WC
+71		 COL
+17		 STK
+19		 MEL
+4		 GC
+4		 GWS
-32		 5
(13–9–1)		 SYD
+6		 MEL
+2		 BL
-16
Collingwood GEE
+22		 PA
+71		 RIC
+14		 BL
-33		 STK
+6		 ESS
+13		 ADE
+1		 SYD
+29		 GWS
+65		 CAR
+28		 NM
+35		 WC
+63		 MEL
-4		 X ADE
+2		 GC
+78		 WB
+12		 FRE
+46		 PA
+2		 CAR
-17		 HAW
-32		 GEE
+8		 BL
-24		 ESS
+70		 1
(18–5–0)		 MEL
+7		 X GWS
+1		 BL
+4
Essendon HAW
+59		 GC
+28		 STK
-18		 GWS
+13		 MEL
+27		 COL
-13		 GEE
-28		 PA
-5		 BL
-42		 RIC
+1		 WC
+50		 NM
+6		 CAR
+34		 X FRE
-32		 PA
-4		 ADE
+18		 GEE
-77		 WB
-41		 SYD
-2		 WC
+1		 NM
+9		 GWS
-126		 COL
-70		 11
(11–12–0)
Fremantle STK
-15		 NM
-1		 WC
+41		 ADE
-39		 GC
+10		 WB
-49		 BL
-48		 HAW
+69		 SYD
+17		 GEE
+29		 MEL
+7		 X RIC
-15		 GWS
-70		 ESS
+32		 WB
-29		 CAR
-53		 COL
-46		 SYD
-29		 GEE
+7		 BL
-3		 WC
+101		 PA
-16		 HAW
+37		 14
(10–13–0)
Geelong COL
-22		 CAR
-8		 GC
-19		 HAW
+82		 WC
+47		 SYD
+93		 ESS
+28		 ADE
+26		 RIC
-24		 FRE
-29		 GWS
-7		 WB
+22		 X PA
-38		 MEL
+15		 SYD
0		 NM
+62		 ESS
+77		 BL
-11		 FRE
-7		 PA
+12		 COL
-8		 STK
-33		 WB
-25		 12
(10–12–1)
Gold Coast SYD
-49		 ESS
-28		 GEE
+19		 STK
-53		 FRE
-10		 NM
+43		 RIC
+24		 MEL
-5		 WC
+70		 BL
-43		 WB
+7		 ADE
+25		 X CAR
-59		 HAW
+67		 COL
-78		 PA
-33		 STK
+26		 GWS
-40		 BL
+41		 ADE
-28		 SYD
-24		 CAR
-4		 NM
-35		 15
(9–14–0)
Greater Western Sydney ADE
+16		 WC
-19		 CAR
-10		 ESS
-13		 HAW
+2		 BL
-21		 SYD
+1		 WB
-15		 COL
-65		 STK
-12		 GEE
+7		 RIC
-6		 NM
+28		 FRE
+70		 X MEL
+2		 HAW
+13		 ADE
+14		 GC
+40		 WB
+5		 SYD
-11		 PA
-51		 ESS
+126		 CAR
+32		 7
(13–10–0)		 STK
+24		 PA
+23		 COL
-1
Hawthorn ESS
-59		 SYD
-81		 NM
+19		 GEE
-82		 GWS
-2		 ADE
-3		 WB
-29		 FRE
-69		 MEL
-54		 WC
+116		 STK
+10		 PA
-55		 BL
+25		 X GC
-67		 CAR
-60		 GWS
-13		 NM
+48		 RIC
-1		 STK
-29		 COL
+32		 WB
+3		 MEL
-27		 FRE
-37		 16
(7–16–0)
Melbourne WB
+50		 BL
-11		 SYD
+50		 WC
+63		 ESS
-27		 RIC
+18		 NM
+90		 GC
+5		 HAW
+54		 PA
-4		 FRE
-7		 CAR
+17		 COL
+4		 X GEE
-15		 GWS
-2		 STK
+21		 BL
+1		 ADE
+4		 RIC
+32		 NM
+32		 CAR
-4		 HAW
+27		 SYD
+21		 4
(16–7–0)		 COL
-7		 CAR
-2
North Melbourne WC
+5		 FRE
+1		 HAW
-19		 CAR
-23		 BL
-75		 GC
-43		 MEL
-90		 STK
-30		 PA
-70		 SYD
-3		 COL
-35		 ESS
-6		 GWS
-28		 WB
-21		 X ADE
-66		 GEE
-62		 HAW
-48		 STK
-8		 WC
-5		 MEL
-32		 ESS
-9		 RIC
-29		 GC
+35		 17
(3–20–0)
Port Adelaide BL
+54		 COL
-71		 ADE
-31		 SYD
+2		 WB
+14		 WC
+40		 STK
+7		 ESS
+5		 NM
+70		 MEL
+4		 RIC
+10		 HAW
+55		 WB
+22		 GEE
+38		 X ESS
+4		 GC
+33		 CAR
-50		 COL
-2		 ADE
-47		 GEE
-12		 GWS
+51		 FRE
+16		 RIC
+31		 3
(17–6–0)		 BL
-48		 GWS
-23
Richmond CAR
0		 ADE
+32		 COL
-14		 WB
-5		 SYD
-44		 MEL
-18		 GC
-24		 WC
+46		 GEE
+24		 ESS
-1		 PA
-10		 GWS
+6		 FRE
+15		 STK
+20		 X BL
-81		 SYD
+13		 WC
+38		 HAW
+1		 MEL
-32		 WB
-55		 STK
-36		 NM
+29		 PA
-31		 13
(10–12–1)
St Kilda FRE
+15		 WB
+51		 ESS
+18		 GC
+53		 COL
-6		 CAR
+22		 PA
-7		 NM
+30		 ADE
-52		 GWS
+12		 HAW
-10		 X SYD
+14		 RIC
-20		 BL
-28		 WC
+8		 MEL
-21		 GC
-26		 NM
+8		 HAW
+29		 CAR
-19		 RIC
+36		 GEE
+33		 BL
-12		 6
(13–10–0)		 GWS
-24
Sydney GC
+49		 HAW
+81		 MEL
-50		 PA
-2		 RIC
+44		 GEE
-93		 GWS
-1		 COL
-29		 FRE
-17		 NM
+3		 CAR
+26		 X STK
-14		 BL
-16		 WC
+171		 GEE
0		 RIC
-13		 WB
+2		 FRE
+29		 ESS
+2		 GWS
+11		 GC
+24		 ADE
+1		 MEL
-21		 8
(12–10–1)		 CAR
-6
West Coast NM
-5		 GWS
+19		 FRE
-41		 MEL
-63		 GEE
-47		 PA
-40		 CAR
-108		 RIC
-46		 GC
-70		 HAW
-116		 ESS
-50		 COL
-63		 ADE
-122		 X SYD
-171		 STK
-8		 BL
-81		 RIC
-38		 CAR
-71		 NM
+5		 ESS
-1		 FRE
-101		 WB
+7		 ADE
-45		 18
(3–20–0)
Western Bulldogs MEL
-50		 STK
-51		 BL
+14		 RIC
+5		 PA
-14		 FRE
+49		 HAW
+29		 GWS
+15		 CAR
+20		 ADE
+45		 GC
-7		 GEE
-22		 PA
-22		 NM
+21		 X FRE
+29		 COL
-12		 SYD
-2		 ESS
+41		 GWS
-5		 RIC
+55		 HAW
-3		 WC
-7		 GEE
+25		 9
(12–11–0)

Milestones

Rd. Player/official/venue Club Milestone
1 Melbourne Cricket Ground — 3000th VFL/AFL game hosted (Melbourne v Western Bulldogs)
1 Shiel, DylanDylan Shiel Essendon 200th AFL game
3 Hardwick, DamienDamien Hardwick Richmond 300th AFL game coached
3 Swallow, DavidDavid Swallow Gold Coast 200th AFL game (first to play 200 games for Gold Coast)
5 Liberatore, TomTom Liberatore Western Bulldogs 200th AFL game
6 Goldstein, ToddTodd Goldstein North Melbourne 300th AFL game (100th VFL/AFL player to do so)
7 Bontempelli, MarcusMarcus Bontempelli Western Bulldogs 200th AFL game
8 Meredith, SimonSimon Meredith — 450th AFL game umpired
9 Prestia, DionDion Prestia Richmond 200th AFL game
9 May, StevenSteven May Melbourne 200th AFL game
10 Vlastuin, NickNick Vlastuin Richmond 200th AFL game
11 Nicholls, MathewMathew Nicholls — 400th AFL game umpired
11 Greene, TobyToby Greene Greater Western Sydney 200th AFL game
11 Sidebottom, SteeleSteele Sidebottom Collingwood 300th AFL game
12 Breust, LukeLuke Breust Hawthorn 500th AFL goal
12 Crisp, JackJack Crisp Collingwood 200th consecutive AFL game
13 Franklin, LanceLance Franklin Sydney 350th AFL game
13 Walker, TaylorTaylor Walker Adelaide 250th AFL game
14 Cotchin, TrentTrent Cotchin Richmond 300th AFL game
15 Scott, ChrisChris Scott Geelong 300th AFL game coached
17 Dixon, CharlieCharlie Dixon Port Adelaide 200th AFL game
18 Longmire, JohnJohn Longmire Sydney 300th AFL game coached
18 Rosebury, BrettBrett Rosebury — 500th AFL game umpired
18 Merrett, ZachZach Merrett Essendon 200th AFL game
18 Sloane, RoryRory Sloane Adelaide 250th AFL game
18 Whitfield, LachieLachie Whitfield Greater Western Sydney 200th AFL game
18 Darling, JackJack Darling West Coast 500th AFL goal
19 Adams, TaylorTaylor Adams Collingwood 200th AFL game
21 Haynes, NickNick Haynes Greater Western Sydney 200th AFL game
21 Clarkson, AlastairAlastair Clarkson North Melbourne 400th AFL game coached
22 Walker, TaylorTaylor Walker Adelaide 600th AFL goal
23 Hoskin-Elliott, WillWill Hoskin-Elliott Collingwood 200th AFL game
23 Gawn, MaxMax Gawn Melbourne 200th AFL game
24 Coniglio, StephenStephen Coniglio Greater Western Sydney 200th AFL game
FW1 Cameron, CharlieCharlie Cameron Brisbane Lions 200th AFL game
GF Zorko, DayneDayne Zorko Brisbane Lions 250th AFL game

Coach departures

Outgoing coach Club Manner of departure Date of departure Caretaker coach Incoming coach Date of appointment
Damien Hardwick Richmond Stepped down mid-season 23 May 2023 Andrew McQualter Adem Yze 21 September 2023
Stuart Dew Gold Coast Dismissed mid-season 11 July 2023 Steven King Damien Hardwick 21 August 2023

Awards

Leading goalkickers

1 Led the goalkicking at the end of the round
1 Led the goalkicking at the end of the home-and-away season
11 Subscript indicates the player's goal tally to that point of the season
– Did not play during that round
X Had a bye during that round
# Player Club Home-and-away season (Coleman Medal) Finals series Total Games Average
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 F1 F2 F3 GF
1 Charlie Curnow Carlton 33 58 210 616 218 321 930 131 233 336 137 138 240 242 X42 345 348 351 1061 667 168 270 575 378 179 180 181 81 26 3.12
2 Taylor Walker Adelaide 11 23 03 47 310 414 115 318 523 –23 326 228 1038 X38 543 346 248 250 454 761 263 265 267 976 76 22 3.45
3 Nick Larkey North Melbourne 66 410 212 012 113 114 216 319 423 225 530 232 436 339 X39 342 244 145 348 250 151 556 662 971 71 23 3.09
4 Toby Greene Greater Western Sydney 44 48 19 211 314 216 420 –20 –20 222 426 329 332 436 X36 238 038 341 344 549 352 254 256 460 161 364 266 66 24 2.75
5 Joe Daniher Brisbane Lions 11 45 05 27 512 113 316 218 624 428 230 X30 030 232 234 539 039 241 243 043 245 146 349 251 556 X56 258 361 61 26 2.35
6 Charlie Cameron Brisbane Lions 00 22 13 69 413 720 222 426 026 228 432 X32 234 034 135 237 037 239 140 242 244 347 451 253 255 X55 156 359 59 26 2.27
7 Oscar Allen West Coast 22 24 37 310 414 216 218 422 224 125 429 332 133 X33 235 237 138 341 041 243 245 146 349 453 53 23 2.30
Jeremy Cameron Geelong 22 68 311 718 422 527 330 333 134 034 236 238 X38 139 039 –39 –39 140 343 144 246 753 053 –53 53 20 2.65
9 Kyle Langford Essendon 00 55 16 17 29 312 012 214 216 117 320 424 125 X25 126 329 332 133 235 540 545 348 250 151 51 23 2.22
10 Tom Hawkins Geelong 22 13 03 25 49 514 822 123 326 329 130 232 X32 234 135 237 340 545 045 247 –47 –47 249 –49 49 20 2.45
Jesse Hogan Greater Western Sydney 33 36 28 08 210 212 214 216 319 221 021 122 224 –24 X24 024 428 129 –29 –29 231 132 941 142 244 448 149 49 23 2.13

Club best and fairest

Club Award Player Ref.
Adelaide Malcolm Blight Medal
Brisbane Lions Merrett–Murray Medal
Carlton John Nicholls Medal
Collingwood Copeland Trophy
Essendon Crichton Medal
Fremantle Doig Medal Caleb Serong
Geelong Carji Greeves Medal
Gold Coast Club Champion Noah Anderson
Greater Western Sydney Kevin Sheedy Medal
Hawthorn Peter Crimmins Medal
Melbourne Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy
North Melbourne Syd Barker Medal Harry Sheezel
Port Adelaide John Cahill Medal
Richmond Jack Dyer Medal
St Kilda Trevor Barker Award
Sydney Bob Skilton Medal
West Coast John Worsfold Medal Tim Kelly
Western Bulldogs Charles Sutton Medal

See also

  • 2023 AFL Women's season
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