2008 AFL season
112th season of the Australian Football League (AFL)
Australian rules football season
The 2008 AFL season was the 112th 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 featured sixteen clubs, ran from 20 March until 27 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs. A significant feature of the season was the celebration of the 150th anniversary since the sport of Australian rules football was first established in 1858.
The premiership was won by the Hawthorn Football Club for the tenth time, after they defeated Geelong by 26 points in the 2008 AFL Grand Final .
NAB Cup
Premiership season
Round 1
Round 1 (Easter and Season Launch)
Thursday, 20 March
Carlton 11.13 (79)
def. by
Richmond 17.7 (109)
MCG (crowd: 72,552)
Report
Thursday, 20 March
Port Adelaide 14.12 (96)
def. by
Geelong 15.15 (105)
AAMI Stadium (crowd: 28,206)
Report
Saturday, 22 March
Collingwood 16.15 (111)
def.
Fremantle 13.7 (85)
MCG (crowd: 45,383)
Report [dead link ]
Saturday, 22 March
West Coast 14.8 (92)
def.
Brisbane Lions 11.10 (76)
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 39,591)
Report
Saturday, 22 March
St Kilda 6.15 (51)
def.
Sydney 6.13 (49)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 36,614)
Report
Sunday, 23 March
Western Bulldogs 19.12 (126)
def.
Adelaide 18.15 (123)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 24,835)
Report
Sunday, 23 March
Hawthorn 23.16 (154)
def.
Melbourne 6.14 (50)
MCG (crowd: 40,141)
Report
Monday, 24 March
North Melbourne 9.13 (67)
def. by
Essendon 19.8 (122)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 48,100)
Report
Round 2
Round 2
Friday, 28 March
Brisbane Lions 13.18 (96)
def.
Collingwood 13.16 (94)
The Gabba (crowd: 33,867)
Report
Saturday, 29 March
Melbourne 9.12 (66)
def. by
Western Bulldogs 24.17 (161)
MCG (crowd: 27,821)
Report [dead link ]
Saturday, 29 March
Adelaide 21.7 (133)
def.
West Coast 8.9 (57)
AAMI Stadium (crowd: 38,162)
Report
Saturday, 29 March
Fremantle 14.13 (97)
def. by
Hawthorn 16.16 (112)
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 38,022)
Report
Saturday, 29 March
St Kilda 19.11 (125)
def.
Carlton 12.13 (85)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 43,396)
Report
Sunday, 30 March
Sydney 22.14 (146)
def.
Port Adelaide 11.12 (78)
SCG (crowd: 24,700)
Report
Sunday, 30 March
Geelong 22.18 (150)
def.
Essendon 6.15 (51)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 50,636)
Report
Sunday, 30 March
Richmond 13.8 (86)
def. by
North Melbourne 20.7 (127)
MCG (crowd: 39,292)
Report
Round 3
Round 3 (Rivalry Round)
Friday, 4 April
Western Bulldogs 19.11 (125)
def.
St Kilda 13.9 (87)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 38,667)
Report
Saturday, 5 April
North Melbourne 13.8 (86)
def. by
Hawthorn 15.12 (102)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 39,816)
Report [dead link ]
Saturday, 5 April
West Coast 10.13 (73)
def. by
Fremantle 12.15 (87)
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 39,027)
Report
Saturday, 5 April
Brisbane Lions 10.11 (71)
def. by
Sydney 13.10 (88)
The Gabba (crowd: 29,061)
Report
Saturday, 5 April
Essendon 23.12 (150)
def.
Carlton 21.8 (134)
MCG (crowd: 64,388)
Report
Sunday, 6 April
Geelong 16.16 (112)
def.
Melbourne 12.10 (82)
Skilled Stadium (crowd: 23,569)
Report
Sunday, 6 April
Richmond 11.12 (78)
def. by
Collingwood 18.14 (122)
MCG (crowd: 70,802)
Report
Sunday, 6 April
Adelaide 12.13 (85)
def.
Port Adelaide 11.13 (79)
AAMI Stadium (crowd: 45,524)
Report
Round 4
Round 4
Friday, 11 April
Essendon 14.14 (98)
def. by
Western Bulldogs 19.14 (128)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 47,641)
Report
Saturday, 12 April
St Kilda 13.16 (94)
def. by
Geelong 21.10 (136)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 44,368)
Report
Saturday, 12 April
North Melbourne 18.19 (127)
def.
Melbourne 11.13 (79)
MCG (crowd: 23,427) (Moved from Gold Coast Stadium )
Report
Saturday, 12 April
Sydney 16.11 (107)
def.
West Coast 5.15 (45)
ANZ Stadium (crowd: 44,235)
Report
Saturday, 12 April
Port Adelaide 16.8 (104)
def. by
Brisbane Lions 18.16 (124)
AAMI Stadium (crowd: 25,205)
Report [dead link ]
Sunday, 13 April
Hawthorn 17.12 (114)
def.
Adelaide 10.10 (70)
Aurora Stadium (crowd: 15,124)
Report
Sunday, 13 April
Carlton 17.9 (111)
def.
Collingwood 13.10 (88)
MCG (crowd: 77,873)
Report
Sunday, 13 April
Fremantle 10.13 (73)
def. by
Richmond 20.17 (137)
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 37,541)
Report
The match between North Melbourne and Melbourne was originally fixtured to be played at Gold Coast Stadium , however, due to North Melbourne's refusal to relocate north to the Gold Coast, the match was moved to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.[ 1]
Round 5
Round 5
Friday, 18 April
St Kilda 18.15 (123)
def.
Essendon 14.3 (87)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 46,792)
Report
Saturday, 19 April
Geelong 16.18 (114)
def.
Sydney 10.12 (72)
Skilled Stadium (crowd: 24,368)
Report
Saturday, 19 April
Adelaide 12.16 (88)
def.
Fremantle 10.11 (71)
AAMI Stadium (crowd: 39,554)
Report
Saturday, 19 April
Brisbane Lions 17.16 (118)
def. by
Hawthorn 19.16 (130)
The Gabba (crowd: 30,019)
Report
Saturday, 19 April
Collingwood 15.15 (105)
def. by
North Melbourne 16.16 (112)
MCG (crowd: 51,990)
Report
Sunday, 20 April
Melbourne 9.14 (68)
def. by
Carlton 15.11 (101)
MCG (crowd: 44,759)
Report
Sunday, 20 April
Western Bulldogs 19.16 (130)
drew with
Richmond 20.10 (130)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 37,767)
Report
Sunday, 20 April
West Coast 16.8 (104)
def. by
Port Adelaide 19.14 (128)
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 38,302)
Report
Round 6
Round 6 (ANZAC Round)
Friday, 25 April
Collingwood 23.16 (154)
def.
Essendon 12.9 (81)
MCG (crowd: 88,999)
Report
Friday, 25 April
Fremantle 13.10 (88)
def. by
Geelong 13.11 (89)
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 38,022)
Report [dead link ]
Saturday, 26 April
Carlton 11.15 (81)
def. by
Adelaide 16.15 (111)
MCG (crowd: 41,033)
Report
Saturday, 26 April
Western Bulldogs 20.14 (134)
def.
West Coast 11.8 (74)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 29,927)
Report
Saturday, 26 April
Port Adelaide 12.10 (82)
def.
St Kilda 9.7 (61)
AAMI Stadium (crowd: 20,517)
Report
Sunday, 27 April
Brisbane Lions 19.23 (137)
def.
Melbourne 13.7 (85)
The Gabba (crowd: 22,878)
Report
Sunday, 27 April
North Melbourne 9.10 (64)
drew with
Sydney 8.16 (64)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 28,392)
Report
Sunday, 27 April
Hawthorn 14.22 (106)
def.
Richmond 15.4 (94)
MCG (crowd: 46,076)
Report
Round 7
Round 7
Friday, 2 May
West Coast 10.14 (74)
def. by
Carlton 17.9 (111)
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 41,254)
Report [dead link ]
Saturday, 3 May
Geelong 15.15 (105)
def.
Brisbane Lions 11.12 (78)
Skilled Stadium (crowd: 23,388)
Report
Saturday, 3 May
Hawthorn 24.10 (154)
def.
Collingwood 13.11 (89)
MCG (crowd: 76,048)
Report
Saturday, 3 May
Richmond 16.11 (107)
def. by
St Kilda 17.8 (110)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 40,585)
Report [dead link ]
Saturday, 3 May
Adelaide 15.17 (107)
def.
North Melbourne 11.8 (74)
AAMI Stadium (crowd: 41,898)
Report
Sunday, 4 May
Sydney 14.10 (94)
def. by
Western Bulldogs 18.4 (112)
SCG (crowd: 29,018)
Report
Sunday, 4 May
Melbourne 17.17 (119)
def.
Fremantle 15.23 (113)
MCG (crowd: 19,423)
Report
Sunday, 4 May
Essendon 15.4 (94)
def. by
Port Adelaide 24.14 (158)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 28,409)
Report
AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match
Round 8
Round 8
Friday, 16 May
St Kilda 14.10 (94)
def. by
Collingwood 16.7 (103)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 48,417)
Report
Saturday, 17 May
Hawthorn 17.15 (117)
def.
Port Adelaide 15.12 (102)
Aurora Stadium (crowd: 15,682)
Report
Saturday, 17 May
Richmond 10.9 (69)
def. by
Geelong 14.15 (99)
MCG (crowd: 37,275)
Report
Saturday, 17 May
Carlton 12.20 (92)
def. by
Brisbane Lions 18.17 (125)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 38,675)
Report
Saturday, 17 May
North Melbourne 13.11 (89)
def.
West Coast 12.11 (83)
Gold Coast Stadium (crowd: 6,354)
Report
Sunday, 18 May
Adelaide 22.18 (150)
def.
Melbourne 11.8 (74)
AAMI Stadium (crowd: 35,649)
Report
Sunday, 18 May
Sydney 21.17 (143)
def.
Essendon 7.10 (52)
ANZ Stadium (crowd: 34,904)
Report
Sunday, 18 May
Fremantle 17.9 (111)
def. by
Western Bulldogs 17.12 (114)
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 35,624)
Report
Round 9
Round 9 (Indigenous Round)
Friday, 23 May
Collingwood 20.14 (134)
def.
Geelong 7.6 (48)
MCG (crowd: 78,206)
Report
Saturday, 24 May
Carlton 14.13 (97)
def.
Fremantle 14.4 (88)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 28,955)
Report
Saturday, 24 May
Port Adelaide 14.10 (94)
def. by
Sydney 16.9 (105)
AAMI Stadium (crowd: 25,013)
Report
Saturday, 24 May
Essendon 10.12 (72)
def. by
Richmond 16.14 (110)
MCG (crowd: 60,333)
Report
Saturday, 24 May
West Coast 14.13 (97)
def.
Adelaide 5.17 (47)
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 35,348)
Report
Sunday, 25 May
Brisbane Lions 21.15 (141)
def.
St Kilda 14.11 (95)
The Gabba (crowd: 27,566)
Report
Sunday, 25 May
Melbourne 12.6 (78)
def. by
Hawthorn 14.13 (97)
MCG (crowd: 41,341)
Report
Sunday, 25 May
Western Bulldogs 16.14 (110)
def. by
North Melbourne 16.17 (113)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 35,471)
Report
Round 10
Round 10
Friday, 30 May
Adelaide 9.20 (74)
def.
Essendon 10.9 (69)
AAMI Stadium (crowd: 41,897)
Report
Saturday, 31 May
Collingwood 27.11 (173)
def.
West Coast 10.13 (73)
MCG (crowd: 52,968)
Report [dead link ]
Saturday, 31 May
Hawthorn 12.2 (74)
def. by
Western Bulldogs 15.16 (106)
Aurora Stadium (crowd: 19,378)
Report
Saturday, 31 May
Brisbane Lions 18.21 (129)
def.
North Melbourne 15.8 (98)
The Gabba (crowd: 22,118)
Report
Saturday, 31 May
Geelong 19.19 (133)
def.
Carlton 12.5 (77)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 46,231)
Report
Sunday, 1 June
Sydney 21.13 (139)
def.
Richmond 8.9 (57)
SCG (crowd: 26,852)
Report
Sunday, 1 June
St Kilda 19.15 (129)
def.
Melbourne 7.8 (50)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 27,854)
Report
Sunday, 1 June
Fremantle 10.15 (75)
def. by
Port Adelaide 16.7 (103)
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 34,236)
Report
Round 11
Round 11 (Queens Birthday)
Friday, 6 June
North Melbourne 17.12 (114)
def. by
Geelong 19.13 (127)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 38,373)
Report
Saturday, 7 June
Richmond 14.12 (96)
def. by
Adelaide 22.14 (146)
MCG (crowd: 32,767)
Report
Saturday, 7 June
Essendon 12.7 (79)
def. by
Hawthorn 19.16 (130)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 46,377)
Report
Saturday, 7 June
West Coast 11.12 (78)
def. by
Sydney 12.11 (83)
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 38,802)
Report
Sunday, 8 June
Brisbane Lions 14.12 (96)
def.
Fremantle 10.14 (74)
The Gabba (crowd: 24,506)
Report
Sunday, 8 June
St Kilda 11.13 (79)
def. by
Western Bulldogs 15.16 (106)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 38,914)
Report
Sunday, 8 June
Port Adelaide 8.15 (63)
def. by
Carlton 10.15 (75)
AAMI Stadium (crowd: 29,240)
Report
Monday, 9 June
Melbourne 13.17 (95)
def. by
Collingwood 17.14 (116)
MCG (crowd: 59,548)
Report
Round 12
Round 12
Friday, 13 June
Essendon 16.17 (113)
def.
West Coast 13.13 (91)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 33,386)
Report
Saturday, 14 June
Western Bulldogs 19.17 (131)
def.
Brisbane Lions 10.8 (68)
MCG (crowd: 39,320)
Report
Saturday, 14 June
Fremantle 18.12 (120)
def.
North Melbourne 9.13 (67)
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 34,105)
Report
Saturday, 14 June
Sydney 14.18 (102)
def.
St Kilda 9.13 (67)
SCG (crowd: 25,996)
Report
Saturday, 14 June
Adelaide 10.12 (72)
def. by
Hawthorn 11.10 (76)
AAMI Stadium (crowd: 44,559)
Report [dead link ]
Sunday, 15 June
Geelong 15.18 (108)
def.
Port Adelaide 7.7 (49)
Skilled Stadium (crowd: 21,642)
Report
Sunday, 15 June
Collingwood 12.17 (89)
def. by
Carlton 17.17 (119)
MCG (crowd: 80,310)
Report
Sunday, 15 June
Richmond 16.20 (116)
def.
Melbourne 14.10 (94)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 27,348)
Report
Round 13
Round 13
Friday, 20 June
St Kilda 10.5 (65)
def.
Fremantle 8.9 (57)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 22,440)
Report
Saturday, 21 June
Hawthorn 10.16 (76)
def. by
North Melbourne 15.13 (103)
MCG (crowd: 42,508)
Report
Saturday, 21 June
Port Adelaide 19.9 (123)
def. by
Richmond 20.7 (127)
AAMI Stadium (crowd: 20,923)
Report
Saturday, 21 June
Brisbane Lions 11.17 (83)
def.
Adelaide 10.10 (70)
The Gabba (crowd: 29,964)
Report
Saturday, 21 June
West Coast 5.17 (47)
def. by
Geelong 28.14 (182)
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 38,414)
Report
Sunday, 22 June
Melbourne 11.8 (74)
def. by
Sydney 17.12 (114)
Manuka Oval (crowd: 11,437)
Report
Sunday, 22 June
Carlton 15.11 (101)
def. by
Essendon 20.16 (136)
MCG (crowd: 59,177)
Report
Sunday, 22 June
Collingwood 13.11 (89)
def. by
Western Bulldogs 15.9 (99)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 44,885)
Report
Round 14
Round 14 (Split Round)
Friday, 27 June
Hawthorn 18.18 (126)
def.
West Coast 9.15 (69)
MCG (crowd: 29,138)
Report
Saturday, 28 June
Richmond 12.16 (88)
def. by
Carlton 17.16 (118)
MCG (crowd: 73,503)
Report
Saturday, 28 June
North Melbourne 9.15 (69)
def. by
St Kilda 12.12 (84)
Gold Coast Stadium (crowd: 9,128)
Report
Saturday, 28 June
Western Bulldogs 20.15 (135)
def.
Port Adelaide 11.15 (81)
TIO Stadium (crowd: 11,373)
Report
Sunday, 29 June
Melbourne 14.9 (93)
def.
Brisbane Lions 13.14 (92)
MCG (crowd: 23,278)
Report
Sunday, 29 June
Fremantle 13.13 (91)
def. by
Essendon 14.11 (95)
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 34,239)
Report
Friday, 4 July
Adelaide 8.8 (56)
def. by
Geelong 18.16 (124)
AAMI Stadium (crowd: 44,377)
Report [dead link ]
Saturday, 5 July
Sydney 6.14 (50)
def. by
Collingwood 11.13 (79)
ANZ Stadium (crowd: 59,202)
Report
Round 15
Round 15
Friday, 11 July
Carlton 12.15 (87)
def. by
St Kilda 18.11 (119)
MCG (crowd: 55,658)
Report
Saturday, 12 July
Collingwood 15.16 (106)
def.
Adelaide 11.8 (74)
MCG (crowd: 52,592)
Report
Saturday, 12 July
Geelong 18.10 (118)
def.
Fremantle 6.8 (44)
Skilled Stadium (crowd: 21,286)
Report
Saturday, 12 July
Essendon 24.11 (155)
def.
Brisbane Lions 18.10 (118)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 40,053)
Report
Saturday, 12 July
Port Adelaide 10.14 (74)
def. by
North Melbourne 10.16 (76)
AAMI Stadium (crowd: 19,851)
Report
Sunday, 13 July
Hawthorn 15.16 (106)
def.
Sydney 10.15 (75)
MCG (crowd: 49,529)
Report
Sunday, 13 July
Western Bulldogs 14.11 (95)
def.
Melbourne 9.10 (64)
Telstra Dome (crowd: 27,446)
Report
Sunday, 13 July
West Coast 11.9 (75)
def. by
Richmond 24.8 (152)
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 37,085)
Report
Round 16
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Report
North Melbourne
17.12 (114)
Collingwood
14.12 (96)
Telstra Dome
46,610
Friday, 18 July
AFL.com.au
Geelong
19.17 (131)
Western Bulldogs
10.10 (70)
Skilled Stadium
24,801
Saturday, 19 July
AFL.com.au
Richmond
16.12 (108)
Essendon
15.14 (104)
MCG
56,746
Saturday, 19 July
AFL.com.au
Brisbane Lions
17.11 (113)
West Coast
9.13 (67)
The Gabba
27,784
Saturday, 19 July
AFL.com.au
St Kilda
18.11 (119)
Hawthorn
13.11 (89)
Telstra Dome
41,886
Saturday, 19 July
AFL.com.au
Carlton
18.11 (119)
Sydney
18.13 (121)
Telstra Dome
38,401
Sunday, 20 July
AFL.com.au
Port Adelaide
13.14 (92)
Adelaide
11.14 (80)
AAMI Stadium
31,662
Sunday, 20 July
AFL.com.au
Fremantle
16.18 (114)
Melbourne
10.8 (68)
Subiaco
31,638
Sunday, 20 July
AFL.com.au
Round 17
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Report
Hawthorn
11.11 (77)
Geelong
12.16 (88)
MCG
86,179
Friday, 25 July
AFL.com.au
Essendon
19.14 (128)
Collingwood
11.14 (80)
MCG
64,785
Saturday, 26 July
AFL.com.au
West Coast
15.13 (103)
St Kilda
12.14 (86)
Subiaco
34,037
Saturday, 26 July
AFL.com.au
Richmond
18.9 (117)
Brisbane Lions
16.18 (114)
Telstra Dome
31,275
Saturday, 26 July
AFL.com.au
Sydney
6.17 (53)
Adelaide
11.11 (77)
SCG
26,260
Saturday, 26 July
AFL.com.au
Port Adelaide
15.11 (101)
Fremantle
20.9 (129)
AAMI Stadium
19,072
Sunday, 27 July
AFL.com.au
Melbourne
10.10 (70)
North Melbourne
14.14 (98)
MCG
21,330
Sunday, 27 July
AFL.com.au
Western Bulldogs
15.8 (98)
Carlton
18.18 (126)
Telstra Dome
37,879
Sunday, 27 July
AFL.com.au
Round 18
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Report
Collingwood
8.14 (62)
Hawthorn
17.14 (116)
MCG
58,307
Friday, 1 August
AFL.com.au
Essendon
19.10 (124)
Melbourne
17.6 (108)
MCG
46,334
Saturday, 2 August
AFL.com.au
Adelaide
13.16 (94)
Carlton
12.14 (86)
AAMI Stadium
40,730
Saturday, 2 August
AFL.com.au
Geelong
20.14 (134)
Richmond
10.11 (71)
Telstra Dome
42,238
Saturday, 2 August
AFL.com.au
North Melbourne
13.14 (92)
Brisbane Lions
11.18 (84)
Gold Coast Stadium
10,037
Saturday, 2 August
AFL.com.au
Western Bulldogs
17.11 (113)
Sydney
14.13 (97)
Manuka Oval
13,550
Sunday, 3 August
AFL.com.au
St Kilda
14.17 (101)
Port Adelaide
14.9 (93)
Telstra Dome
22,878
Sunday, 3 August
AFL.com.au
Fremantle
17.14 (116)
West Coast
12.11 (83)
Subiaco
42,096
Sunday, 3 August
AFL.com.au
Round 19
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Report
Melbourne
5.11 (41)
Geelong
24.13 (157)
MCG
34,610
Friday, 8 August
AFL.com.au [dead link ]
Carlton
18.24 (132)
Port Adelaide
9.12 (66)
Telstra Dome
29,696
Saturday, 9 August
AFL.com.au
Hawthorn
16.14 (110)
Brisbane Lions
5.11 (41)
Aurora Stadium
19,929
Saturday, 9 August
AFL.com.au
Collingwood
14.13 (97)
St Kilda
12.11 (83)
MCG
52,135
Saturday, 9 August
AFL.com.au
Sydney
17.10 (112)
Fremantle
15.18 (108)
SCG
20,846
Saturday, 9 August
AFL.com.au
North Melbourne
21.10 (136)
Western Bulldogs
18.8 (116)
Telstra Dome
31,957
Sunday, 10 August
AFL.com.au
Adelaide
16.12 (108)
Richmond
6.9 (45)
AAMI Stadium
37,562
Sunday, 10 August
AFL.com.au
West Coast
17.11 (113)
Essendon
16.7 (103)
Subiaco
35,288
Sunday, 10 August
AFL.com.au
Round 20
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Report
Port Adelaide
10.15 (75)
Collingwood
16.10 (106)
AAMI Stadium
23,694
Friday, 15 August
AFL.com.au [dead link ]
Essendon
10.13 (73)
Adelaide
19.15 (129)
Telstra Dome
32,184
Saturday, 16 August
AFL.com.au
Melbourne
11.13 (79)
West Coast
5.15 (45)
MCG
17,958
Saturday, 16 August
AFL.com.au
Brisbane Lions
13.12 (90)
Western Bulldogs
10.19 (79)
The Gabba
27,315
Saturday, 16 August
AFL.com.au [dead link ]
Sydney
14.10 (94)
Geelong
20.13 (133)
ANZ Stadium
44,955
Saturday, 16 August
AFL.com.au
Richmond
16.9 (105)
Hawthorn
10.16 (76)
MCG
44,523
Sunday, 17 August
AFL.com.au
Carlton
14.6 (90)
North Melbourne
22.9 (141)
Telstra Dome
43,406
Sunday, 17 August
AFL.com.au
Fremantle
9.15 (69)
St Kilda
17.10 (112)
Subiaco
34,014
Sunday, 17 August
AFL.com.au
Round 21
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Report
Western Bulldogs
23.13 (151)
Essendon
15.15 (105)
Telstra Dome
37,294
Friday, 22 August
AFL.com.au
Richmond
15.15 (105)
Fremantle
15.8 (98)
MCG
24,881
Saturday, 23 August
AFL.com.au
Port Adelaide
18.21 (129)
Melbourne
7.9 (51)
AAMI Stadium
18,875
Saturday, 23 August
AFL.com.au
Brisbane Lions
16.13 (109)
Carlton
18.7 (115)
The Gabba
34,327
Saturday, 23 August
AFL.com.au
Collingwood
18.10 (118)
Sydney
10.13 (73)
Telstra Dome
45,507
Saturday, 23 August
AFL.com.au
Geelong
17.13 (115)
North Melbourne
13.4 (82)
Skilled Stadium
24,288
Sunday, 24 August
AFL.com.au
St Kilda
13.17 (95)
Adelaide
6.11 (47)
Telstra Dome
33,811
Sunday, 24 August
AFL.com.au
West Coast
9.8 (62)
Hawthorn
19.19 (133)
Subiaco
37,040
Sunday, 24 August
AFL.com.au
Round 22
Home team
Home team score
Away team
Away team score
Ground
Crowd
Date
Report
Fremantle
12.8 (80)
Collingwood
8.8 (56)
Subiaco
35,106
Friday, 29 August
AFL.com.au
North Melbourne
10.12 (72)
Port Adelaide
23.10 (148)
MCG
22,144
Saturday, 30 August
AFL.com.au
Geelong
24.20 (164)
West Coast
10.5 (65)
Skilled Stadium
21,752
Saturday, 30 August
AFL.com.au
Adelaide
10.16 (76)
Western Bulldogs
9.13 (67)
AAMI Stadium
37,545
Saturday, 30 August
AFL.com.au
Carlton
12.9 (81)
Hawthorn
24.15 (159)
Telstra Dome
49,057
Saturday, 30 August
AFL.com.au
Sydney
17.12 (114)
Brisbane Lions
6.17 (53)
SCG
24,076
Saturday, 30 August
AFL.com.au
Melbourne
6.5 (41)
Richmond
18.13 (121)
MCG
37,046
Sunday, 31 August
AFL.com.au
Essendon
5.9 (39)
St Kilda
21.21 (147)
Telstra Dome
46,161
Sunday, 31 August
AFL.com.au
Win/loss table
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
F1
F2
F3
GF
Ladder
Adelaide
WB -3
WCE +76
PA +6
Haw -44
Frem +17
Carl +30
NM +33
Melb +76
WCE -50
Ess +5
Rich +50
Haw -4
BL -13
Geel -68
Coll -32
PA -12
Syd +24
Carl +8
Rich +63
Ess +56
StK -48
WB +9
Coll -31
X
X
X
5
Brisbane Lions
WCE -16
Coll +2
Syd -17
PA +20
Haw -12
Melb +52
Geel -27
Carl +33
StK +46
NM +31
Frem +22
WB -63
Adel +13
Melb -1
Ess -37
WCE +46
Rich -3
NM -8
Haw -69
WB +11
Carl -6
Syd -61
X
X
X
X
10
Carlton
Rich -30
StK -40
Ess -16
Coll +23
Melb +33
Adel -30
WCE +37
BL -33
Frem +9
Geel -56
PA +12
Coll +30
Ess -35
Rich +30
StK -32
Syd -2
WB +28
Adel -8
PA +66
NM -51
BL +6
Haw -78
X
X
X
X
11
Collingwood
Frem +26
BL -2
Rich +44
Carl -23
NM -7
Ess +73
Haw +65
StK +9
Geel +86
WCE +100
Melb +21
Carl -30
WB -10
Syd +29
Adel +32
NM -18
Ess -48
Haw -54
StK +14
PA +31
Syd +45
Frem -24
Adel +31
StK -34
X
X
8
Essendon
NM +55
Geel -99
Carl +16
WB -30
StK -36
Coll -73
PA -64
Syd -91
Rich -38
Adel -5
Haw -51
WCE +22
Carl +35
Frem +4
BL +37
Rich -4
Coll +48
Melb +16
WCE -10
Adel -56
WB -46
StK -108
X
X
X
X
12
Fremantle
Coll -26
Haw -15
WCE +14
Rich -64
Adel -17
Geel -1
Melb -6
WB -3
Carl -9
PA -28
BL -24
NM +53
StK -8
Ess -4
Geel -74
Melb +46
PA +28
WCE +33
Syd -4
StK -43
Rich -7
Coll +24
X
X
X
X
14
Geelong
PA +9
Ess +99
Melb +30
StK +42
Syd +42
Frem +1
BL +27
Rich +30
Coll -86
Carl +56
NM +13
PA +59
WCE +135
Adel +68
Frem +74
WB +61
Haw +11
Rich +63
Melb +116
Syd +39
NM +33
WCE +99
StK +58
X
WB +29
Haw -26
1
Hawthorn
Melb +104
Frem +15
NM +16
Adel +44
BL +12
Rich +12
Coll +65
PA +15
Melb +19
WB -32
Ess +51
Adel +4
NM -27
WCE +57
Syd +31
StK -30
Geel -11
Coll +54
BL +69
Rich -29
WCE +71
Carl +78
WB +51
X
StK +54
Geel +26
2
Melbourne
Haw -104
WB -95
Geel -30
NM -48
Carl -33
BL -53
Frem +6
Adel -76
Haw -19
StK -79
Coll -21
Rich -22
Syd -40
BL +1
WB -31
Frem -46
NM -28
Ess -16
Geel -116
WCE +34
PA -78
Rich -80
X
X
X
X
16
North Melbourne
Ess -55
Rich +41
Haw -16
Melb +48
Coll +7
Syd 0
Adel -33
WCE +6
WB +3
BL -31
Geel -13
Frem -53
Haw +27
StK -15
PA +2
Coll +18
Melb +28
BL +8
WB +20
Carl +51
Geel -33
PA -76
Syd -35
X
X
X
7
Port Adelaide
Geel -9
Syd -68
Adel -6
BL -20
WCE +24
StK +21
Ess +64
Haw -15
Syd -11
Frem +28
Carl -12
Geel -59
Rich -4
WB -54
NM -2
Adel +12
Frem -28
StK -8
Carl -66
Coll -31
Melb +78
NM +76
X
X
X
X
13
Richmond
Carl +30
NM -41
Coll -44
Frem +64
WB 0
Haw -12
StK -3
Geel -30
Ess +38
Syd -82
Adel -50
Melb +22
PA +4
Carl -30
WCE +77
Ess +4
BL +3
Geel -63
Adel -63
Haw +29
Frem +7
Melb +80
X
X
X
X
9
St Kilda
Syd +2
Carl +40
WB -38
Geel -42
Ess +36
PA -21
Rich +3
Coll -9
BL -46
Melb +79
WB -27
Syd -35
Frem +8
NM +15
Carl +32
Haw +30
WCE -17
PA +8
Coll -14
Frem +43
Adel +48
Ess +108
Geel -58
Coll +34
Haw -54
X
4
Sydney
StK -2
PA +68
BL +17
WCE +62
Geel -42
NM 0
WB -18
Ess +91
PA +11
Rich +82
WCE +5
StK +35
Melb +40
Coll -29
Haw -31
Carl +2
Adel -24
WB -16
Frem +4
Geel -39
Coll -45
BL +61
NM +35
WB -37
X
X
6
West Coast
BL +16
Adel -76
Frem -14
Syd -62
PA -24
WB -60
Carl -37
NM -6
Adel +50
Coll -100
Syd -5
Ess -22
Geel -135
Haw -57
Rich -77
BL -46
StK +17
Frem -33
Ess +10
Melb -34
Haw -71
Geel -99
X
X
X
X
15
Western Bulldogs
Adel +3
Melb +95
StK +38
Ess +30
Rich 0
WCE +60
Syd +18
Frem +3
NM -3
Haw +32
StK +27
BL +63
Coll +10
PA +54
Melb +31
Geel -61
Carl -28
Syd +16
NM -20
BL -11
Ess +46
Adel -9
Haw -51
Syd +37
Geel -29
X
3
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
F1
F2
F3
GF
Ladder
+
Win
Qualified for finals
-
Loss
X
Bye
Draw
Eliminated
Bold โ Home game
Ladder
Source:
AFL ladder Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers
Ladder progression
Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 8.
Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round.
Team โฒ Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Geelong 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 Hawthorn 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 36 40 44 44 48 52 52 52 56 60 60 64 68 Western Bulldogs 4 8 12 16 18 22 26 30 30 34 38 42 46 50 54 54 54 58 58 58 62 62 St Kilda 4 8 8 8 12 12 16 16 16 20 20 20 24 28 32 36 36 40 40 44 48 52 Adelaide 0 4 8 8 12 16 20 24 24 28 32 32 32 32 32 32 36 40 44 48 48 52 Sydney 0 4 8 12 12 14 14 18 22 26 30 34 38 38 38 42 42 42 46 46 46 50 North Melbourne 0 4 4 8 12 14 14 18 22 22 22 22 26 26 30 34 38 42 46 50 50 50 Collingwood 4 4 8 8 8 12 12 16 20 24 28 28 28 32 36 36 36 36 40 44 48 48 Richmond 4 4 4 8 10 10 10 10 14 14 14 18 22 22 26 30 34 34 34 38 42 46 Brisbane Lions 0 4 4 8 8 12 12 16 20 24 28 28 32 32 32 36 36 36 36 40 40 40 Carlton 0 0 0 4 8 8 12 12 16 16 20 24 24 28 28 28 32 32 36 36 40 40 Essendon 4 4 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 12 16 20 24 24 28 32 32 32 32 32 Port Adelaide 0 0 0 0 4 8 12 12 12 16 16 16 16 16 16 20 20 20 20 20 24 28 Fremantle 0 0 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 8 8 8 8 12 16 20 20 20 20 24 West Coast 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 12 12 16 16 16 16 Melbourne 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 8 8 8 8 8 8 12 12 12
Finals series
Week one
Week two
Week three
Week four
Statistics
Leading goalkickers
updated after grand final
The Coleman Medal was awarded to Lance Franklin for kicking the most goals at the end of the home and away season.
Player
Club
Games
Goals
Best Performance
Season
Finals
Total
Goals
Opponent(s)
Round(s)
1
Lance Franklin
Hawthorn
25
102
11
113
9
Essendon
11
2
Brendan Fevola
Carlton
22
99
โ
99
8
Essendon , Collingwood
3 , 11
3
Daniel Bradshaw
Brisbane Lions
20
75
โ
75
7
Hawthorn
5
4
Jarryd Roughead
Hawthorn
24
66
9
75
6
Collingwood , West Coast
7 , 14
5
Jonathan Brown
Brisbane Lions
21
70
โ
70
6
Carlton , St Kilda , North Melbourne
8 , 9 , 10
6
Matthew Pavlich
Fremantle
19
67
โ
67
8
North Melbourne
12
7
Nick Riewoldt
St Kilda
24
56
9
65
6
Hawthorn
16
8
Matthew Lloyd
Essendon
21
62
โ
62
8
Melbourne
18
9
Stephen Milne
St Kilda
24
54
6
60
7
Richmond , Essendon
7 , 22
10
Daniel Motlop
Port Adelaide
21
57
โ
57
7
Essendon
7
Disposals
Kicks
Handballs
Marks
Tackles
Hitouts
Awards
Coleman Medal
Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the player led the count in that round.
Player
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Total
1
Lance Franklin
6
4
5
6
8
1
6
6
3
5
9
1
1
5
4
3
4
8
6
3
4
4
102
2
Brendan Fevola
2
2
8
7
7
1
4
5
1
3
2
8
7
4
3
5
6
5
4
6
2
7
99
3
Daniel Bradshaw
3
3
5
5
7
6
1
1
6
6
0
-
-
4
4
4
3
5
2
2
6
2
75
4
Jonathan Brown
6
2
1
4
0
2
-
6
6
6
3
3
2
5
5
3
3
5
1
3
4
0
70
5
Matthew Pavlich
1
3
5
3
0
5
5
4
4
1
3
8
5
6
1
5
-
4
1
3
-
-
67
6
Jarryd Roughead
3
4
4
1
1
5
6
3
1
4
3
3
2
6
3
3
2
4
1
0
2
5
66
7
Matthew Lloyd
6
0
4
-
0
3
5
1
4
1
2
2
4
1
4
2
4
8
3
3
4
1
62
8
Daniel Motlop
2
2
2
0
4
3
7
2
2
5
1
3
6
0
1
4
2
2
1
-
5
3
57
9
Nick Riewoldt
2
2
2
3
3
3
1
-
1
1
2
1
3
1
3
6
5
3
2
5
3
4
56
10
Stephen Milne
1
4
2
2
2
0
7
2
2
3
1
1
-
4
5
1
2
1
2
3
2
7
54
Rising Star Nominees
The AFL Rising Star award for 2008 was awarded to Rhys Palmer from Fremantle .[ 6]
Club Best and Fairests
Notable events
This was the first season in which Carlton and Richmond faced off in what is now the traditional first clash of the season.
This was the first season since 1998 in which NMFC competed as "North Melbourne" instead of "Kangaroos", following the end of their decade-long experiment with home-away-from-home venues in Sydney, Canberra and the Gold Coast.
The Western Bulldogs came back from a 37-point deficit against St Kilda at quarter time to win the game by 38 points, a 75-point turnaround, in round 3.
The Brisbane Lions produced its biggest ever comeback in round 4 against Port Adelaide when they were down by 47 points late in the third quarter to win by 20 points, a 67-point turnaround.
Sydney forward Barry Hall was suspended for seven weeks, then the equal-longest suspension handed out since the tribunal was reconfigured to a points-based system in 2005, for striking West Coast defender Brent Staker with a clean punch to the head. Later in the season, Fremantle 's Dean Solomon beat that record, being suspended for eight weeks after hitting Geelong 's Cameron Ling in the cheekbone with an elbow.
Melbourne won its first game for the season in round 7 against Fremantle by six points, after recovering from a 50-point half-time deficit, the second-largest half-time deficit ever overcome in VFL/AFL history.[ 12] This was the second in a VFL/AFL -record string of five consecutive games which Fremantle lost after holding a three-quarter time lead.
West Coast suffered its worst ever loss at Subiaco Oval , and worst loss anywhere since 1989, in round 13, losing to Geelong by 135 points.
In round 13, Dustin Fletcher (in his 288th game) and his father, Ken (264 games), claimed the record of most VFL/AFL games played by a father-son combination (552 games).
In round 16, Richmond player Joel Bowden deliberately conceded two behinds directly from the kick-in, to waste time while protecting his team's four-point lead over Essendon. This was a major motivation for the introduction of a rule from 2009 that allows the umpire to give award free kick for a deliberate rushed behind.
With its final-round victory, Geelong matched Essendon 's 2000 record of 21 wins in a home-and-away season. Ironically, Geelong also set the record for the highest average losing margin in a VFL/AFL season, with its only loss coming by 86 points against Collingwood .
In the round 22 match between Carlton and Hawthorn , Hawthorn forward Lance Franklin became the first player since Tony Lockett in 1998 to kick 100 goals in the home-and-away Season. Franklin became the 28th player in VFL/AFL history to reach this milestone, and the first indigenous player to do so.
In the same game, Brendan Fevola scored seven second-half goals to fall one goal short of the same milestone, becoming the first person in VFL/AFL history to finish on 99 goals for a season.
The final game of the home and away season saw the 8th-placed St Kilda requiring a win of 90+ points over Essendon to claim 4th place going into the finals. St Kilda recorded a then-record winning margin over Essendon of 108 points which saw the Saints replace Adelaide in 4th place for the finals series.
On Monday 1 September, Leigh Matthews announced his resignation from his senior coaching position at the Brisbane Lions . Michael Voss took up this position despite committing to West Coast for 2009.
The second elimination final between Sydney and North Melbourne was, at the time, the lowest crowd number for a final outside Victoria with only 19,127 despite being at ANZ Stadium where Sydney had averaged 50,000 for finals.
The Grand Final between Geelong and Hawthorn drew a crowd of 100,012, the first crowd over 100,000 people since the 1986 Grand Final .
By losing the Grand Final after finishing with a home-and-away record of 21โ1, Geelong broke the record set in 1935 and 1936 by South Melbourne (16โ2) for best record by a non-premier, and the record for most wins by a non-premier held jointly by Collingwood (1973 ) and West Coast (1991 ) (both 19 wins).
Sydney played in a controversial draw against North Melbourne at Telstra Dome in round 6; it was later revealed that Sydney had nineteen men on the field for a brief period of play before, during and after the behind that tied the scores was scored.[ 13] As a direct consequence of this, the league amended the interchange laws in round 9, appointing interchange stewards to police the players and to signal to the field umpires if an infringement has occurred. Any infringement now results in a free kick being awarded.[ 14]
Club leadership
Club
Coach
Captain(s)
Vice Captain(s)/Leadership Group
Adelaide
Neil Craig
Simon Goodwin [ 15]
Nathan Bassett , Brett Burton , Tyson Edwards , Ben Rutten and Nathan van Berlo
Brisbane Lions
Leigh Matthews
Simon Black , Jonathan Brown , Nigel Lappin and Luke Power [ 16]
N/A
Carlton
Brett Ratten
Chris Judd [ 17]
Nick Stevens (vc), Andrew Carrazzo , Heath Scotland and Kade Simpson [ 18]
Collingwood
Mick Malthouse
Scott Burns [ 19]
Josh Fraser (vc), Tarkyn Lockyer , Nick Maxwell and Scott Pendlebury
Essendon
Matthew Knights
Matthew Lloyd
Mark McVeigh and David Hille (vc)
Fremantle
Mark Harvey
Matthew Pavlich
Josh Carr (vc)
Geelong
Mark Thompson
Tom Harley
Cameron Ling (vc), Cameron Mooney (vc), Joel Corey , Paul Chapman and Max Rooke
Hawthorn
Alastair Clarkson
Sam Mitchell [ 20]
Luke Hodge (vc), Shane Crawford , Chance Bateman and Brad Sewell
Melbourne
Dean Bailey
Cameron Bruce and James McDonald
Brock McLean and Brad Miller [ 21]
North Melbourne
Dean Laidley
Adam Simpson [ 22]
Brady Rawlings , Daniel Harris , Michael Firrito , Nathan Thompson , Drew Petrie , Corey Jones , Daniel Pratt and Brent Harvey
Port Adelaide
Mark Williams
Warren Tredrea [ 23]
Brendon Lade (vc), Chad Cornes (vc), Shaun Burgoyne (vc), Michael Wilson , Kane Cornes and Dom Cassisi
Richmond
Terry Wallace
Kane Johnson
Chris Newman (vc), Nathan Foley (vc), Nathan Brown , Troy Simmonds , Joel Bowden and Kayne Pettifer [ 24]
St Kilda
Ross Lyon
Nick Riewoldt [ 25]
Lenny Hayes
Sydney
Paul Roos
Leo Barry , Craig Bolton and Brett Kirk [ 26]
N/A
West Coast
John Worsfold
Darren Glass [ 27]
Dean Cox (vc), Tyson Stenglein (vc), Matt Priddis , Ashley Hansen and Adam Selwood [ 28]
Western Bulldogs
Rodney Eade
Brad Johnson
Scott West , Robert Murphy , Daniel Cross , Daniel Giansiracusa , Matthew Boyd and Dale Morris [ 29]
Umpires
The AFL introduced an additional two boundary umpires in round 21 in order to reduce the error rate and enable the umpires to keep up with the play.[ 30]
Brett Rosebury was appointed the 2008 All-Australian umpire, the first West Australian umpire to receive that honour. Controversially, however, he was not appointed to umpire the AFL Grand Final , with Scott McLaren , Michael Vozzo and Shaun Ryan selected ahead of Rosebury.[ 31]
Scott McLaren umpired his 300th game,[ 32] and Shane McInerney umpired his 250-game, in round 4.[ 33] Experienced field umpires Martin Ellis and Matthew Head both announced their retirements during the year.[ 34] [ 35]
Coach changes
Surprising some, Leigh Matthews announced his retirement as coach of the Brisbane Lions two days after their final game of the season in what was replaced as a move to make way for potential coaching candidate, Michael Voss .[ 36]
Despite being newly signed for two years as assistant coach of West Coast , as expected, former Brisbane Lions captain Michael Voss was appointed as coach of the Brisbane Lions, one day after Leigh Matthews resigned.[ 37]
See also
References
External links
Clubs
Seasons Grand finals Venues Other awards Major recurring events Second-tier and junior competitions
Related articles Known as the Victorian Football League from 1897โ1989; no grand finals were held in 1897 and 1924