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1997 AFL season

101st season of the Australian Football League (AFL)

Field	Value
<small>()</small><br>26 votes	prevseason	[1996](1996-afl-season)	nextseason=[1998](1998-afl-season)

() 26 votes|prevseason=1996|nextseason=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 by 31 points in the 1997 AFL Grand Final.

Home-and-away season

Round 1

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. 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

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | 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) |||| 7.15 (57) ||Gabba|| 17,123 ||Sunday 6, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 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

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | 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" ||| 19.11 (125) |||| 17.16 (118) ||Waverley Park|| 54,699 ||Saturday 12, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 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

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | 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" ||| 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) |||| 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

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | 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) |||| 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" ||| 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

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | 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" ||| 17.19 (121) |||| 4.11 (35) ||Waverley Park|| 21,104 ||Sunday 4, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 19.8 (122) |||| 8.10 (58) ||Football Park|| 36,090 ||Sunday 4, May

Round 7

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | 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" ||| 20.6 (126) |||| 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

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | 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) |||| 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) |||| 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

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 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" ||| 22.9 (141) |||| 14.10 (94) ||Waverley Park|| 52,257 ||Sunday 25, May

Round 10

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 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) |||| 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

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | 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" ||| 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) |||| 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

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | 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) |||| 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" ||| 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

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | 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" ||| 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" ||| 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

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | 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" ||| 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) |||| 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

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | 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) |||| 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) |||| 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

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | 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) |||| 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" ||| 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

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 10.12 (72) |||| 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" ||| 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

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | 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) |||| 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) |||| 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

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | 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) |||| 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" ||| 9.4 (58) |||| 9.11 (65) ||Football Park|| 45,498 ||Sunday 10, August

Round 20

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | 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" ||| 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) |||| 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

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 8.14 (62) |||| 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) |||| 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

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | 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" ||| 12.12 (84) |||| 17.15 (117) ||Football Park|| 38,589 ||Sunday 31, August

Ladder

	Qualified for finals

|- style=background:#FFFFBB | 1 || align=left | || 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 for Average score: 90.3 Source: AFL Tables

Progression by round

Finals series

Week one

The 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

Week three

Week four

Main article: 1997 AFL Grand Final

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.
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, topped the ladder in 1993 with a lower winning percentage (67.5% to 's 68.18%) in a 20-game season. 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. This meant that it was played at the same time as the fourth qualifying final between minor premiers 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

References

(7 August 2018). "Eight of the longest AFL suspensions". Zero Hanger.
"Colbert non-screamer cruelled Cats in AFL".
(27 July 2022). "'It was the perfect send-off': Last game at Whitten Oval". Western Bulldogss.
(4 July 2015). "Cats game cancelled". Geelong Advertiser.

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