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2009 AFL premiership season
Teams	16
Premiers	Geelong (8th premiership)
Minor premiers	St Kilda (3rd minor premiership)
Pre-season cup	Geelong (2nd pre-season cup win)
Matches played	185
Attendance	6,988,638 (37,776 per match)
Highest attendance	99,251 (Grand Final, St Kilda vs. Geelong)
Coleman Medallist	Brendan Fevola Carlton (86 goals)
Brownlow Medallist	Gary Ablett, Jr. Geelong (30 votes)
← 2008 2010 →

The 2009 Australian Football League season commenced on 26 March and concluded on 26 September. It was the 113th season of the VFL/AFL competition and the 20th under the name 'Australian Football League', having switched from 'Victorian Football League' after 1989. The season consisted of 22 home and away rounds and four rounds of finals, culminating in the 2009 AFL Grand Final which determined the 2009 AFL premiers. Geelong won the Grand Final against St Kilda.

Pre-season

AFL pre-season draft

The pre-season draft was held on 16 December 2008 (but is referred to as the 2009 Pre-season draft in continuation from the early years of the AFL draft when it was held in January or February) and most pre-draft interest was on whether or not former West Coast Eagles captain and Brownlow Medal winner Ben Cousins would be selected by the Richmond Football Club. Richmond, the only club to show interest in recruiting Cousins, had one selection in the pre-season draft (because it had only one space left on its senior list). In the week leading up to the pre-season draft, Richmond requested to have Graham Polak (who had been hit by a tram the previous season, with it not clear at this stage whether or not the resulting injuries would end his career) moved to the rookie list, to free up an additional list space and give them a second selection in the pre-season draft. The request was similar to one made by and granted to the Essendon Football Club a few years earlier with respect to Adam Ramanauskas, but there were key differences which led to Richmond's request being rejected by the AFL and a majority of rival clubs on 15 December.^[1] Although Richmond had maintained throughout the previous week that it would draft Cousins only if its request to put Polak on the rookie list was granted, they selected Cousins anyway with their only selection in the pre-season draft. Josh Carr's return to Port Adelaide was another major player move.^[2]

NAB Cup

	Round One					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Final
	Western Bulldogs		69
	Essendon		70			Essendon		67
	Brisbane Lions		65			Brisbane Lions		65
	St Kilda		56								Essendon		73
	West Coast		54								Collingwood		116
	Collingwood		116			Collingwood		97
	Fremantle		86			Richmond		51
	Richmond		89													Collingwood		51
	Geelong		119													Geelong		127
	Adelaide		84			Geelong		72
	Sydney		78			Port Adelaide		54
	Port Adelaide		143								Geelong		84
	Carlton		123								Carlton		67
	North Melbourne		70			Carlton		112
	Hawthorn		69			Hawthorn		88
	Melbourne		66

Premiership season

Round 1

	Round 1 (season launch)
Thursday, 26 March (7:40 pm)	Richmond 9.13 (67)	def. by	Carlton 23.12 (150)	MCG (crowd: 87,043)	Report
Friday, 27 March (7:40 pm)	Hawthorn 16.7 (103)	def. by	Geelong 15.21 (111)	MCG (crowd: 69,593)	Report
Saturday, 28 March (2:10 pm)	Collingwood 13.8 (86)	def. by	Adelaide 13.12 (90)	MCG (crowd: 41,591)	Report
Saturday, 28 March (6:10 pm)	Brisbane Lions 14.11 (95)	def.	West Coast 13.8 (86)	The Gabba (crowd: 26,800)	Report
Saturday, 28 March (7:10 pm)	St Kilda 12.8 (80)	def.	Sydney 9.11 (65)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 32,442)	Report
Sunday, 29 March (1:10 pm)	Melbourne 10.7 (67)	def. by	North Melbourne 15.11 (101)	MCG (crowd: 28,707)	Report
Sunday, 29 March (2:40 pm)	Port Adelaide 15.17 (107)	def.	Essendon 9.12 (66)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 28,315)	Report
Sunday, 29 March (4:10 pm)	Fremantle 13.16 (94)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 25.7 (157)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 34,634)	Report
In the season-opener on Thursday night, Carlton easily defeated Richmond, and Richmond's high-profile recruit Ben Cousins injured his hamstring in the final quarter; he had suffered the same injury in his final match with West Coast in 2007. The opening match between Richmond and Carlton was the highest attended home-and-away game of the season, with a crowd of 87,043 at the MCG, and had the third-highest attendance of all games including finals. Michael Voss began his Brisbane Lions coaching career with a win; the Lions beat West Coast by 9 points at the Gabba, after trailing by 38 points during the second quarter.

Round 2

	Round 2
Friday, 3 April	Adelaide 10.9 (69)	def. by	St Kilda 15.11 (101)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 41,189)	Report
Saturday, 4 April	Geelong 15.15 (105)	def.	Richmond 13.7 (85)	Skilled Stadium (crowd: 22,288)	Report
Saturday, 4 April	Collingwood 17.15 (117)	def.	Melbourne 10.4 (64)	MCG (crowd: 43,176)	Report
Saturday, 4 April	Carlton 18.11 (119)	def.	Brisbane Lions 15.10 (100)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 42,496 )	Report
Saturday, 4 April	Sydney 22.11 (143)	def.	Hawthorn 15.15 (105)	ANZ Stadium (crowd: 36,116)	Report
Sunday, 5 April	Essendon 16.13 (109)	def.	Fremantle 10.11 (71)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 27,461)	Report
Sunday, 5 April	Western Bulldogs 11.14 (80)	def.	North Melbourne 9.11 (65)	MCG (crowd: 34,466)	Report
Sunday, 5 April	West Coast 19.11 (125)	def.	Port Adelaide 10.15 (75)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 37,826)	Report

Round 3

	Round 3 (Easter)
Thursday, 9 April	Geelong 18.14 (122)	def.	Collingwood 13.17 (95)	MCG (crowd: 58,527)	Report
Saturday, 11 April	St Kilda 25.11 (161)	def.	West Coast 9.10 (64)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 29,006)	Report
Saturday, 11 April	Brisbane Lions 15.10 (100)	def.	Sydney 9.13 (67)	The Gabba (crowd: 24,984)	Report
Saturday, 11 April	Carlton 16.16 (112)	def. by	Essendon 17.14 (116)	MCG (crowd: 70,411)	Report
Sunday, 12 April	Port Adelaide 22.15 (147)	def.	Melbourne 14.6 (90)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 21,030)	Report
Sunday, 12 April	North Melbourne 10.9 (69)	def. by	Hawthorn 19.9 (123)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 34,893)	Report
Sunday, 12 April	Fremantle 11.14 (80)	def. by	Adelaide 15.14 (104)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 30,035)	Report
Monday, 13 April	Western Bulldogs 16.14 (110)	def.	Richmond 8.15 (63)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 46,261)	Report

Round 4

	Round 4
Friday, 17 April	Brisbane Lions 10.13 (73)	def. by	Collingwood 13.12 (90)	The Gabba (crowd: 34,912)	Report
Saturday, 18 April	Sydney 12.12 (84)	def.	Carlton 9.13 (67)	SCG (crowd: 30,834)	Report
Saturday, 18 April	Hawthorn 12.13 (85)	def. by	Port Adelaide 17.13 (115)	MCG (crowd: 33,274)	Report
Saturday, 18 April	St Kilda 17.9 (111)	def.	Fremantle 4.4 (28)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 26,326)	Report
Saturday, 18 April	Adelaide 13.8 (86)	def. by	Geelong 21.8 (134)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 40,418)	Report
Sunday, 19 April	North Melbourne 10.9 (69)	def.	Essendon 7.15 (57)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 33,842)	Report
Sunday, 19 April	Richmond 13.14 (92)	def. by	Melbourne 14.16 (100)	MCG (crowd: 40,763)	Report
Sunday, 19 April	West Coast 17.14 (116)	def.	Western Bulldogs 12.11 (83)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 37,758)	Report
St Kilda set a new record for its greatest win in matches against Fremantle (83 points). Fremantle was restricted to 4.4 (28), the equal-lowest score ever recorded at Etihad Stadium (tied with St Kilda's 3.10 (28) in 2002). Geelong midfielder Gary Ablett, Jr. recorded 46 disposals with 33 handpasses as his side defeated Adelaide by 48 points. It broke West Coast's Matt Priddis' year-old record for most handpasses in a game, and equalled Collingwood's Nathan Buckley's ten-year-old record for the most disposals in a game since the length of the quarters was shortened to twenty minutes in 1994. North Melbourne defender Daniel Pratt became the first player to give away a free kick for deliberately rushing a behind.

Round 5

	Round 5 (Anzac Day)
Friday, 24 April	Port Adelaide 5.6 (36)	def. by	St Kilda 15.12 (102)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 25,426)	Report
Saturday, 25 April	Essendon 13.15 (93)	def.	Collingwood 12.16 (88)	MCG (crowd: 84,829)	Report
Saturday, 25 April	Hawthorn 11.8 (74)	def.	West Coast 7.14 (56)	Aurora Stadium (crowd: 17,880)	Report
Saturday, 25 April	Fremantle 18.13 (121)	def.	Sydney 16.4 (100)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 32,884)	Report
Saturday, 25 April	North Melbourne 7.16 (58)	def. by	Richmond 13.16 (94)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 29,224)	Report
Sunday, 26 April	Geelong 18.18 (126)	def.	Brisbane Lions 5.3 (33)	Skilled Stadium (crowd: 15,580)	Report
Sunday, 26 April	Western Bulldogs 13.12 (90)	def. by	Carlton 21.7 (133)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 44,268)	Report
Sunday, 26 April	Melbourne 4.10 (34)	def. by	Adelaide 7.9 (51)	MCG (crowd: 14,129)	Report
Essendon's David Zaharakis kicked the winning goal in the final seconds, ensuring that Essendon beat Collingwood for the first time on Anzac Day since 2005. Brisbane was restricted to its lowest score in club history, 5.3 (33); although both predecessors of the merged club, the Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy, had scored lower. Geelong amassed 490 disposals against Brisbane, breaking the old record of 469 disposals set by West Coast in 2007 and matched by Geelong in 2008; their 254 handpasses was also a record. The two records would only stand for seven days.

Round 6

	Round 6
Friday, 1 May	North Melbourne 11.9 (75)	def. by	Collingwood 19.13 (127)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 40,087)	Report
Saturday, 2 May	Hawthorn 16.10 (106)	def.	Carlton 15.12 (102)	MCG (crowd: 69,014)	Report
Saturday, 2 May	West Coast 9.20 (74)	def. by	Fremantle 13.9 (87)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 41,654)	Report
Saturday, 2 May	Brisbane Lions 17.9 (111)	def.	Essendon 9.14 (68)	The Gabba (crowd: 29,252)	Report
Saturday, 2 May	Port Adelaide 15.15 (105)	def.	Adelaide 12.7 (79)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 41,558)	Report
Sunday, 3 May	Sydney 14.10 (94)	def.	Richmond 11.9 (75)	SCG (crowd: 25,410)	Report
Sunday, 3 May	Melbourne 10.8 (68)	def. by	Geelong 15.21 (111)	MCG (crowd: 36,932)	Report
Sunday, 3 May	Western Bulldogs 11.10 (76)	def. by	St Kilda 14.20 (104)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 36,302)	Report
In the Hawthorn-Carlton game, Carlton's Brendan Fevola and Hawthorn's Jarryd Roughead both kicked 8 goals for the game. In the final minute of the game, Fevola had a chance to win the game by a point, but his shot hit the post and Hawthorn held on for a 4-point win. Dustin Fletcher played his 300th match for Essendon. In the same game, Matthew Lloyd became the 8th player in the history of the VFL/AFL to kick 900 goals. Geelong amassed 498 disposals, including 259 handpasses, against Melbourne at the MCG, breaking the two records which they had set the previous week.

Round 7

	Round 7
Friday, 8 May	Essendon 17.14 (116)	def.	Hawthorn 10.12 (72)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 50,475)
Saturday, 9 May	Geelong 17.14 (116)	def.	Sydney 10.5 (65)	Skilled Stadium (crowd: 22,050)
Saturday, 9 May	Richmond 10.11 (71)	def. by	Brisbane Lions 15.7 (97)	MCG (crowd: 34,646)
Saturday, 9 May	North Melbourne 20.5 (125)	def.	Port Adelaide 18.12 (120)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 14,342)
Saturday, 9 May	Carlton 11.15 (81)	def. by	Fremantle 13.10 (88)	Gold Coast Stadium (crowd: 10,294)
Sunday, 10 May	Adelaide 12.14 (86)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 17.16 (118)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 31,742)
Sunday, 10 May	West Coast 12.18 (90)	def.	Melbourne 13.4 (82)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 35,209)
Monday, 11 May	Collingwood 5.10 (40)	def. by	St Kilda 20.8 (128)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 46,880)	Report
Sydney's Michael O'Loughlin kicked his 500th career goal in the match against Geelong. St Kilda and Collingwood played a Monday night game, the AFL's first for several seasons. St Kilda won by a new record winning margin against the Magpies of 88 points. Collingwood's score of 5.10 (40) was its lowest with Mick Malthouse as coach.

Round 8

	Round 8
Friday, 15 May	Fremantle 9.11 (65)	def. by	Hawthorn 13.9 (87)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 39,135)	Report
Saturday, 16 May	Melbourne 15.7 (97)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 15.14 (104)	MCG (crowd: 28,279)
Saturday, 16 May	Geelong 18.11 (119)	def.	North Melbourne 7.7 (49)	Skilled Stadium (crowd: 20,273)
Saturday, 16 May	Brisbane Lions 18.11 (119)	def.	Adelaide 12.11 (83)	The Gabba (crowd: 27,767)
Saturday, 16 May	Sydney 16.10 (106)	def.	West Coast 15.11 (101)	ANZ Stadium (crowd: 33,079)
Sunday, 17 May	Port Adelaide 14.18 (102)	def.	Richmond 15.9 (99)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 22,034)
Sunday, 17 May	Collingwood 7.11 (53)	def. by	Carlton 16.8 (104)	MCG (crowd: 82,834)
Sunday, 17 May	St Kilda 13.12 (90)	def.	Essendon 10.11 (71)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 45,594)
Brisbane's Daniel Bradshaw surpassed Alastair Lynch's record of 460 goals for the Brisbane Lions.

Round 9

	Round 9 (Indigenous Round)
Friday, 22 May	Geelong 17.14 (116)	def.	Western Bulldogs 17.12 (114)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 44,620)
Saturday, 23 May	North Melbourne 14.14 (98)	def.	Fremantle 12.13 (85)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 15,436)
Saturday, 23 May	Adelaide 15.14 (104)	def.	Carlton 8.12 (60)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 41,107)
Saturday, 23 May	West Coast 9.12 (66)	def. by	Collingwood 12.16 (88)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 36,658)
Saturday, 23 May	Richmond 12.13 (85)	def. by	Essendon 19.11 (125)	MCG (crowd: 73,625)
Sunday, 24 May	Sydney 18.15 (123)	def.	Port Adelaide 10.8 (68)	SCG (crowd: 23,229)
Sunday, 24 May	St Kilda 14.13 (97)	def.	Brisbane Lions 13.3 (81)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 30,673)
Sunday, 24 May	Hawthorn 17.12 (114)	def.	Melbourne 13.14 (92)	MCG (crowd: 39,395)
Western Bulldogs lost to Geelong by two points after Brad Johnson missed a shot for goal (from near the behind post) after the siren. It was the second time in twelve months, after round 9, 2008, that Johnson had missed a potentially game-winning shot after the siren.

Round 10

	Round 10
Friday, 29 May	Carlton 16.15 (111)	def.	West Coast 10.10 (70)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 39,611)
Saturday, 30 May	Western Bulldogs 18.9 (117)	def.	Sydney 12.5 (77)	Manuka Oval (crowd: 12,457)
Saturday, 30 May	North Melbourne 12.9 (81)	def. by	Brisbane Lions 15.9 (99)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 21,583)	Report
Saturday, 30 May	Fremantle 17.10 (112)	def. by	Richmond 17.13 (115)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 35,391)
Saturday, 30 May	St Kilda 11.17 (83)	def.	Melbourne 6.10 (46)	Gold Coast Stadium (crowd: 9,112)
Sunday, 31 May	Adelaide 16.10 (106)	def.	Hawthorn 12.7 (79)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 40,035)
Sunday, 31 May	Essendon 11.4 (70)	def. by	Geelong 20.14 (134)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 48,852)
Sunday, 31 May	Collingwood 17.12 (114)	def.	Port Adelaide 11.10 (76)	MCG (crowd: 34,793)
Sydney's Barry Hall kicked his 600th career goal. Collingwood's Dane Swan amassed 48 disposals in Sunday's game against Port Adelaide, breaking the previous record of 46 held by Nathan Buckley and Gary Ablett, Jr. for most disposals in a game since the quarters were shortened to 20 minutes in 1994.

Round 11

	Round 11 (Women’s Round, Queen's Birthday Holiday Weekend)
Friday, 5 June	Richmond 14.5 (89)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 24.13 (157)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 36,483)
Saturday, 6 June	North Melbourne 9.3 (57)	def. by	St Kilda 15.13 (103)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 30,962)
Saturday, 6 June	Brisbane Lions 16.10 (106)	def. by	Carlton 16.16 (112)	The Gabba (crowd: 33,790)
Saturday, 6 June	Port Adelaide 14.10 (94)	def.	Fremantle 11.4 (70)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 18,418)
Sunday, 7 June	Essendon 18.6 (114)	def. by	Adelaide 21.4 (130)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 39,451)
Sunday, 7 June	Hawthorn 12.14 (86)	def.	Sydney 11.9 (75)	MCG (crowd: 44,464)
Sunday, 7 June	West Coast 12.5 (77)	def. by	Geelong 15.9 (99)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 35,355)
Monday, 8 June	Melbourne 8.12 (60)	def. by	Collingwood 19.12 (126)	MCG (crowd: 61,287)
Terry Wallace coached his final match for Richmond, after announcing his retirement earlier in the week. Wallace was replaced by Jade Rawlings as caretaker. St Kilda won its 11th consecutive game, breaking the previous club record of 10 set in 2004. St Kilda and Geelong, both at 11–0, set the best start to a premiership season since Essendon in 2000. Adelaide defeated Essendon by 16 points in a game notable for having the highest combined goal-kicking accuracy in VFL/AFL history. The combined score of 39.10 (244) had an overall goalkicking accuracy of 79.6%; the previous best was 76.1%, when Essendon and St Kilda combined for 35.11 (221) in round 20, 1984. Goalkicking accuracy league-wide was 60.78% during the round, also a record.

Round 12

	Round 12 (Split round)
Friday, 12 June	Carlton 14.11 (95)	def. by	St Kilda 16.8 (104)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 50,820)
Saturday, 13 June	Western Bulldogs 21.11 (137)	def.	Port Adelaide 7.2 (44)	TIO Stadium (crowd: 11,306)
Saturday, 13 June	Richmond 13.14 (92)	def.	West Coast 11.11 (77)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 30,117)
Sunday, 14 June	Hawthorn 7.9 (51)	def. by	Brisbane Lions 13.15 (93)	Aurora Stadium (crowd: 16,710)
Sunday, 14 June	Adelaide 9.14 (68)	def.	North Melbourne 3.6 (24)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 30,173)
Friday, 19 June	Essendon 19.17 (131)	def.	Melbourne 13.5 (83)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 45,740)
Saturday, 20 June	Sydney 9.12 (66)	def. by	Collingwood 13.11 (89)	ANZ Stadium (crowd: 41,042)
Sunday, 21 June	Fremantle 11.9 (75)	def. by	Geelong 13.16 (94)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 33,213)
In wet weather in Adelaide, North Melbourne was held to 3.6 (24), the club's lowest score since 1971, the lowest score by any team since round 4, 1999, the lowest score ever conceded by Adelaide, and the lowest score ever at AAMI Stadium (the latter two records would be broken only three weeks later).

Round 13

	Round 13
Friday, 26 June	Essendon 21.10 (136)	def.	Carlton 9.13 (67)	MCG (crowd: 83,407)	Report
Saturday, 27 June	Collingwood 26.13 (169)	def.	Fremantle 13.7 (85)	MCG (crowd: 44,114)	Report
Saturday, 27 June	Adelaide 12.13 (85)	def.	Sydney 10.9 (69)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 38,064)	Report
Saturday, 27 June	West Coast 16.11 (107)	def.	Hawthorn 13.9 (87)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 31,441)	Report
Saturday, 27 June	Brisbane Lions 16.15 (111)	def.	Melbourne 8.8 (56)	The Gabba (crowd: 23,750)	Report
Sunday, 28 June	Geelong 18.14 (122)	def.	Port Adelaide 13.10 (88)	Skilled Stadium (crowd: 21,142)	Report
Sunday, 28 June	North Melbourne 12.14 (86)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 17.6 (108)	MCG (crowd: 31,470)	Report
Sunday, 28 June	St Kilda 13.14 (92)	def.	Richmond 5.6 (36)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 38,196)	Report
St Kilda and Geelong became the sixth and seventh clubs to begin a season with thirteen consecutive wins, the feat having previously been achieved by Collingwood in 1929, Geelong in 1953, Melbourne in 1956, West Coast in 1991 and Essendon in 2000. All seven clubs reached the Grand Finals in their respective seasons. Matthew Lloyd overtook Leigh Matthews with his 916th career goal to become the 7th highest goalkicker in AFL/VFL history.

Round 14

	Round 14
Friday, 3 July	Collingwood 15.12 (102)	def.	Essendon 9.13 (67)	MCG (crowd: 77,699)	Report
Saturday, 4 July	Melbourne 17.10 (112)	def.	West Coast 13.14 (92)	MCG (crowd: 23,149)	Report
Saturday, 4 July	Port Adelaide 19.14 (128)	def.	Brisbane Lions 11.14 (80)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 20,293)	Report
Saturday, 4 July	Richmond 13.7 (85)	def. by	Adelaide 15.12 (102)	Gold Coast Stadium (crowd: 11,174)	Report
Saturday, 4 July	Western Bulldogs 19.19 (133)	def.	Hawthorn 6.9 (45)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 36,827)	Report
Sunday, 5 July	Sydney 15.10 (100)	def.	North Melbourne 13.7 (85)	SCG (crowd: 21,929)	Report
Sunday, 5 July	St Kilda 14.7 (91)	def.	Geelong 13.7 (85)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 54,444)	Report
Sunday, 5 July	Fremantle 15.10 (100)	def. by	Carlton 16.19 (115)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 34,720)	Report
The round 14 match between St Kilda and Geelong, both of whom were unbeaten at this stage, had a change in timeslot, moving from 2:10 pm to 3:10 pm so that the Seven Network could broadcast the game live into Melbourne, and use it as a lead-in to its 6pm news broadcast; in 2012, this change in timeslot became permanent for all Sunday afternoon matches broadcast by Seven. All capital cities (except Sydney and Brisbane, which received a live telecast of the Sydney vs North Melbourne on the same day) received a live telecast of the match. The game broke the record set in round 8, 1991 between West Coast and Essendon as being the latest into a season that two undefeated teams had played against each other. The attendance of 54,444 set a new record for the largest crowd at an AFL game held at Etihad Stadium. Geelong lost at the stadium for the first time since round 1, 2007, ending a 13-match winning streak at the ground. Western Bulldogs held Hawthorn goalless in the first half of their game, and reigning Coleman Medallist Lance Franklin was held goalless for the first time since 2006, breaking a streak of 71 consecutive games scoring at least one goal. Melbourne club president Jim Stynes announced in the week prior to the game that he had been diagnosed with cancer. The Richmond vs Adelaide game was the last event staged at the Gold Coast Stadium before renovation works began at the oval to suit the AFL's new team on the Gold Coast.

Round 15

	Round 15
Friday, 10 July	Western Bulldogs 16.14 (110)	def. by	Collingwood 17.9 (111)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 51,382)	Report
Saturday, 11 July	Sydney 10.12 (72)	def. by	Essendon 15.17 (107)	SCG (crowd: 30,924)	Report
Saturday, 11 July	Carlton 16.13 (109)	def.	Richmond 12.17 (89)	MCG (crowd: 50,784)	Report
Saturday, 11 July	Brisbane Lions 16.12 (108)	def.	Geelong 9.11 (65)	The Gabba (crowd: 34,274)	Report
Saturday, 11 July	Adelaide 19.16 (130)	def.	Fremantle 1.7 (13)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 32,451)	Report
Sunday, 12 July	Hawthorn 10.13 (73)	def.	North Melbourne 9.10 (64)	Aurora Stadium (crowd: 15,080)	Report
Sunday, 12 July	Melbourne 15.11 (101)	def.	Port Adelaide 13.12 (90)	MCG (crowd: 15,888)	Report
Sunday, 12 July	West Coast 11.4 (70)	def. by	St Kilda 13.12 (90)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 36,259)	Report
Carlton's Brendan Fevola kicked a career-best nine goals in his team's win against Richmond. Adelaide's dominant victory against Fremantle saw the latter held to only 1.7 (13). This was the lowest score in Fremantle's history (its previous lowest was 3.7 (25) in 2004), the lowest score by a team at AAMI Stadium and the lowest score ever conceded by Adelaide (the previous record for each was set by North Melbourne three weeks earlier), and the lowest score by any team since 1961, when Richmond scored 0.8 (8). Fremantle was held to 0.1 (1) in the first half, the lowest half-time score since Fitzroy was scoreless in the first half in round 1, 1995. Fremantle's 117-point loss was at the time its equal worst in club history.

Round 16

	Round 16
Friday, 17 July	Essendon 11.4 (70)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 15.13 (103)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 47,120)	Report
Saturday, 18 July	Carlton 19.10 (124)	def.	Sydney 9.9 (63)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 42,018)	Report
Saturday, 18 July	Geelong 17.15 (117)	def.	Melbourne 11.5 (71)	Skilled Stadium (crowd: 21,160)	Report
Saturday, 18 July	Fremantle 7.5 (47)	def. by	Brisbane Lions 9.8 (62)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 22,595)	Report
Saturday, 18 July	Collingwood 11.10 (76)	def. by	Hawthorn 18.13 (121)	MCG (crowd: 66,149)	Report
Sunday, 19 July	Port Adelaide 17.10 (112)	def.	West Coast 11.10 (76)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 21,106)	Report
Sunday, 19 July	Richmond 12.13 (85)	drew with	North Melbourne 12.13 (85)	MCG (crowd: 30,604)	Report
Sunday, 19 July	St Kilda 15.15 (105)	def.	Adelaide 7.6 (48)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 31,940)	Report
Carlton broke a twelve-game losing streak against Sydney with its victory. North Melbourne overcame a 43-point deficit early in the third quarter to record the first draw of the season against Richmond.

Round 17

	Round 17 (Rivalry Round)
Friday, 24 July	Carlton 4.16 (40)	def. by	Collingwood 14.10 (94)	MCG (crowd: 84,938)	Report
Saturday, 25 July	Geelong 15.9 (99)	def.	Hawthorn 14.14 (98)	MCG (crowd: 64,803)	Report
Saturday, 25 July	Fremantle 10.11 (71)	def.	West Coast 8.18 (66)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 39,536)	Report
Saturday, 25 July	Brisbane Lions 17.14 (116)	def.	North Melbourne 11.9 (75)	The Gabba (crowd: 25,509)	Report
Saturday, 25 July	St Kilda 16.10 (106)	def.	Western Bulldogs 9.7 (61)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 45,082)	Report
Sunday, 26 July	Melbourne 6.14 (50)	def. by	Sydney 10.8 (68)	Manuka Oval (crowd: 7,311)	Report
Sunday, 26 July	Essendon 14.12 (96)	def. by	Richmond 15.11 (101)	MCG (crowd: 47,412)	Report
Sunday, 26 July	Adelaide 19.18 (132)	def.	Port Adelaide 9.8 (62)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 46,859)	Report
Geelong won a memorable Grand Final rematch against Hawthorn, winning by a point kicked after the siren by Jimmy Bartel after trailing by as much as 28 in the 4th quarter. The Melbourne vs Sydney game, played in bad weather in Canberra, was the lowest-attended match of the season, with just 7,311 attending.

Round 18

	Round 18
Friday, 31 July	North Melbourne 11.18 (84)	def. by	Carlton 14.10 (94)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 38,554)	Report
Saturday, 1 August	Western Bulldogs 17.9 (111)	def.	Fremantle 11.14 (80)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 19,065)	Report
Saturday, 1 August	Geelong 14.9 (93)	def.	Adelaide 13.13 (91)	Skilled Stadium (crowd: 21,686)	Report
Saturday, 1 August	Sydney 13.15 (93)	def. by	St Kilda 13.16 (94)	SCG (crowd: 27,805)	Report
Saturday, 1 August	Collingwood 12.23 (95)	def.	Brisbane Lions 8.7 (55)	MCG (crowd: 47,268)	Report
Sunday, 2 August	Melbourne 12.10 (82)	def. by	Richmond 12.14 (86)	MCG (crowd: 37,438)
Sunday, 2 August	Port Adelaide 18.13 (121)	def.	Hawthorn 14.19 (103)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 25,154)	Report
Sunday, 2 August	West Coast 14.11 (95)	def.	Essendon 10.8 (68)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 35,765)	Report
Brad Johnson became the games record holder for the Western Bulldogs. His current mark of 342 games surpassed Chris Grant's old record of 341 games for the club. Richmond's Jordan McMahon kicked a goal after the final siren from outside the 50-metre arc to secure a four-point win over Melbourne, after Richmond came back from a few goals behind late in the final quarter. The Herald Sun would later accuse Melbourne of attempting to deliberately lose the match,[3] and the game later became part of an AFL 'tanking' investigation into Melbourne, conducted in 2012 and 2013.[4]

Round 19

	Round 19
Friday, 7 August	Carlton 14.13 (97)	def.	Geelong 8.14 (62)	MCG (crowd: 55,057)
Saturday, 8 August	Western Bulldogs 13.19 (97)	def. by	West Coast 16.6 (102)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 22,417)	Report
Saturday, 8 August	Hawthorn 7.7 (49)	def. by	St Kilda 10.14 (74)	Aurora Stadium (crowd: 20,011)	Report
Saturday, 8 August	Essendon 13.9 (87)	drew with	Brisbane Lions 12.15 (87)	MCG (crowd: 41,636)	Report
Saturday, 8 August	Adelaide 9.14 (68)	def. by	Collingwood 13.11 (89)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 45,128)	Report
Sunday, 9 August	North Melbourne 19.9 (123)	def.	Melbourne 8.13 (61)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 16,594)	Report
Sunday, 9 August	Richmond 10.8 (68)	def. by	Sydney 18.15 (123)	MCG (crowd: 32,216)	Report
Sunday, 9 August	Fremantle 17.14 (116)	def.	Port Adelaide 11.8 (74)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 30,029)	Report
13th placed West Coast won its first match away from Perth since round 21, 2007 with its five-point win over the 3rd placed Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium. Brisbane Lions’s Daniel Bradshaw kicked a goal after the final siren to draw his side's game against Essendon. The draw made the Lions certain of their first finals appearance since the 2004 Grand Final. Sydney's Michael O'Loughlin played his 300th AFL game.

Round 20

	Round 20 (Green Round)
Friday, 14 August	Hawthorn 9.13 (67)	def. by	Adelaide 13.16 (94)	MCG (crowd: 32,583)	Report
Saturday, 15 August	Richmond 8.11 (59)	def. by	Collingwood 22.20 (152)	MCG (crowd: 63,366)	Report
Saturday, 15 August	West Coast 17.8 (110)	def.	North Melbourne 10.12 (72)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 32,472)	Report
Saturday, 15 August	Brisbane Lions 12.12 (84)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 15.12 (102)	The Gabba (crowd: 33,421)	Report
Saturday, 15 August	Sydney 13.9 (87)	def. by	Geelong 13.14 (92)	ANZ Stadium (crowd: 40,261)	Report
Sunday, 16 August	Melbourne 20.7 (127)	def.	Fremantle 9.10 (64)	MCG (crowd: 13,004)	Report
Sunday, 16 August	Port Adelaide 9.13 (67)	def. by	Carlton 18.13 (121)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 27,221)	Report
Sunday, 16 August	Essendon 16.14 (110)	def.	St Kilda 16.12 (108)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 41,410)	Report
Essendon defeated St Kilda by two points to inflict St Kilda's first loss of the season; St Kilda's captain Nick Riewoldt had the chance to win the game with a 45-metre set shot after the final siren, but he missed the goal. St Kilda's nineteen-game winning streak was the longest in club history, the second-longest by any club to start a season (coincidentally, a win would have equaled the all time record, held by their opponents Essendon), and the fifth-longest of all-time. The game between Melbourne and Fremantle, played partially in heavy rain, was the lowest attended match at the MCG since 2004, with an attendance of 13,004. Carlton clinched a position in the finals, ending the club's seven-year finals drought, the longest in club history.

Round 21

	Round 21
Friday, 21 August	Western Bulldogs 16.14 (110)	def.	Geelong 14.12 (96)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 46,818)	Report
Saturday, 22 August	Carlton 24.9 (153)	def.	Melbourne 15.6 (96)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 37,433)	Report
Saturday, 22 August	Adelaide 18.14 (122)	def.	West Coast 7.6 (48)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 39,640)	Report
Saturday, 22 August	Brisbane Lions 16.11 (107)	def.	Port Adelaide 14.8 (92)	The Gabba (crowd: 26,437)	Report
Saturday, 22 August	Richmond 14.9 (93)	def. by	Hawthorn 20.15 (135)	MCG (crowd: 34,779)	Report
Sunday, 23 August	St Kilda 8.11 (59)	def. by	North Melbourne 10.4 (64)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 30,522)	Report
Sunday, 23 August	Collingwood 13.19 (97)	def.	Sydney 8.8 (56)	MCG (crowd: 54,400)	Report
Sunday, 23 August	Fremantle 21.15 (141)	def.	Essendon 13.9 (87)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 32,413)	Report
Geelong's loss secured first position on the ladder for St Kilda, and the 2009 McClelland Trophy, its first since 1997. Carlton scored its highest score since 2001 in its win against Melbourne. Brisbane Lions produced its second biggest comeback against Port Adelaide. After a 10 goal first quarter saw Port Adelaide lead as much as by 47 points, Brisbane Lions kicked 13.9 (87) to 4.8 (32) after the first quarter to eventually win by 15 points. Collingwood's win against Sydney clinched their first top four finish since 2003, and ensured Sydney would miss the finals for the first time since 2002. Fremantle's win confirmed that Melbourne would finish in last place.

Round 22

	Round 22
Friday, 28 August	West Coast 17.23 (125)	def.	Richmond 6.9 (45)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 39,017)	Report
Saturday, 29 August	Geelong 14.10 (94)	def.	Fremantle 8.6 (54)	Skilled Stadium (crowd: 18,196)	Report
Saturday, 29 August	Hawthorn 14.15 (99)	def. by	Essendon 16.20 (116)	MCG (crowd: 77,278)	Report
Saturday, 29 August	Carlton 16.8 (104)	def. by	Adelaide 27.14 (176)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 42,356)	Report
Saturday, 29 August	Sydney 14.8 (92)	def. by	Brisbane Lions 15.10 (100)	SCG (crowd: 27,933)	Report
Saturday, 29 August	Port Adelaide 9.13 (67)	def. by	North Melbourne 10.11 (71)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 17,284)	Report
Sunday, 30 August	Melbourne 10.7 (67)	def. by	St Kilda 17.12 (114)	MCG (crowd: 36,748)	Report
Sunday, 30 August	Collingwood 10.16 (76)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 14.16 (100)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 48,888)	Report
Essendon secured eighth spot and their first finals appearance since 2004 with a 17-point win over Hawthorn in a fiery encounter. Hawthorn became the first team since Adelaide in 1999 to miss the finals after winning the flag the previous year. Western Bulldogs defeated Collingwood by 24 points; the win gave the Bulldogs a 0.31% percentage advantage over Collingwood, placing the Bulldogs third and the Magpies fourth. Had Brad Johnson not scored in the final minute, instead of kicking the goal, Collingwood would have finished third.

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	Coll 4	StK 32	Frem 24	Geel 48	Melb 17	PA 26	WB 32	BL 36	Carl 44	Haw 27	Ess 16	NM 44	Syd 16	Rich 17	Frem 117	StK 57	PA 70	Geel 2	Coll 21	Haw 27	WCE 74	Carl 72	Ess 96	Coll 5	X	X	5
Brisbane Lions	WCE 9	Carl 19	Syd 33	Coll 17	Geel 93	Ess 43	Rich 26	Adel 36	StK 16	NM 18	Carl 6	Haw 42	Melb 55	PA 48	Geel 43	Frem 15	NM 41	Coll 40	Ess 0	WB 18	PA 15	Syd 8	Carl 7	WB 51	X	X	6
Carlton	Rich 83	BL 19	Ess 4	Syd 17	WB 43	Haw 4	Frem 7	Coll 51	Adel 44	WCE 41	BL 6	StK 9	Ess 69	Frem 15	Rich 20	Syd 61	Coll 54	NM 10	Geel 35	PA 54	Melb 57	Adel 72	BL 7	X	X	X	7
Collingwood	Adel 4	Melb 53	Geel 27	BL 17	Ess 5	NM 52	StK 88	Carl 51	WCE 22	PA 38	Melb 66	Syd 23	Frem 84	Ess 35	WB 1	Haw 45	Carl 54	BL 40	Adel 21	Rich 93	Syd 41	WB 24	StK 28	Adel 5	Geel 73	X	4
Essendon	PA 41	Frem 38	Carl 4	NM 12	Coll 5	BL 43	Haw 44	StK 19	Rich 40	Geel 64	Adel 16	Melb 48	Carl 69	Coll 35	Syd 35	WB 33	Rich 5	WCE 27	BL 0	StK 2	Frem 54	Haw 17	Adel 96	X	X	X	8
Fremantle	WB 63	Ess 38	Adel 24	StK 83	Syd 21	WCE 13	Carl 7	Haw 22	NM 13	Rich 3	PA 24	Geel 19	Coll 84	Carl 15	Adel 117	BL 15	WCE 5	WB 31	PA 42	Melb 63	Ess 54	Geel 40	X	X	X	X	14
Geelong	Haw 8	Rich 20	Coll 27	Adel 48	BL 93	Melb 43	Syd 51	NM 70	WB 2	Ess 64	WCE 22	Frem 19	PA 34	StK 6	BL 43	Melb 46	Haw 1	Adel 2	Carl 35	Syd 5	WB 14	Frem 40	WB 14	X	Coll 73	StK 12	2
Hawthorn	Geel 8	Syd 38	NM 54	PA 30	WCE 18	Carl 4	Ess 44	Frem 22	Melb 22	Adel 27	Syd 11	BL 42	WCE 20	WB 88	NM 9	Coll 45	Geel 1	PA 18	StK 25	Adel 27	Rich 42	Ess 17	X	X	X	X	9
Melbourne	NM 34	Coll 53	PA 57	Rich 8	Adel 17	Geel 43	WCE 8	WB 7	Haw 22	StK 37	Coll 66	Ess 48	BL 55	WCE 20	PA 11	Geel 46	Syd 18	Rich 4	NM 62	Frem 63	Carl 57	StK 47	X	X	X	X	16
North Melbourne	Melb 34	WB 15	Haw 54	Ess 12	Rich 36	Coll 52	PA 5	Geel 70	Frem 13	BL 18	StK 46	Adel 44	WB 22	Syd 15	Haw 9	Rich 0	BL 41	Carl 10	Melb 62	WCE 38	StK 5	PA 4	X	X	X	X	13
Port Adelaide	Ess 41	WCE 50	Melb 57	Haw 30	StK 66	Adel 26	NM 5	Rich 3	Syd 55	Coll 38	Frem 24	WB 93	Geel 34	BL 48	Melb 11	WCE 36	Adel 70	Haw 18	Frem 42	Carl 54	BL 15	NM 4	X	X	X	X	10
Richmond	Carl 83	Geel 20	WB 47	Melb 8	NM 36	Syd 19	BL 26	PA 3	Ess 40	Frem 3	WB 68	WCE 15	StK 56	Adel 17	Carl 20	NM 0	Ess 5	Melb 4	Syd 55	Coll 93	Haw 42	WCE 80	X	X	X	X	15
St Kilda	Syd 15	Adel 32	WCE 97	Frem 83	PA 66	WB 28	Coll 88	Ess 19	BL 16	Melb 37	NM 46	Carl 9	Rich 56	Geel 6	WCE 20	Adel 57	WB 45	Syd 1	Haw 25	Ess 2	NM 5	Melb 47	Coll 28	X	WB 7	Geel 12	1
Sydney	StK 15	Haw 38	BL 33	Carl 17	Frem 21	Rich 19	Geel 51	WCE 5	PA 55	WB 40	Haw 11	Coll 23	Adel 16	NM 15	Ess 35	Carl 61	Melb 18	StK 1	Rich 55	Geel 5	Coll 41	BL 8	X	X	X	X	12
West Coast	BL 9	PA 50	StK 97	WB 33	Haw 18	Frem 13	Melb 8	Syd 5	Coll 22	Carl 41	Geel 22	Rich 15	Haw 20	Melb 20	StK 20	PA 36	Frem 5	Ess 27	WB 5	NM 38	Adel 74	Rich 80	X	X	X	X	11
Western Bulldogs	Frem 63	NM 15	Rich 47	WCE 33	Carl 43	StK 28	Adel 32	Melb 7	Geel 2	Syd 40	Rich 68	PA 93	NM 22	Haw 88	Coll 1	Ess 33	StK 45	Frem 31	WCE 5	BL 18	Geel 14	Coll 24	Geel 14	BL 51	StK 7	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

Colour	Result
Green	Win
Red	Loss
Blue	Draw

Bold – Home game

Ladder

2009 AFL Ladder
	Team	P	W	L	D	PF	PA	%	Pts
1	St Kilda	22	20	2	0	2197	1411	155.71	80
2	Geelong (P)	22	18	4	0	2312	1815	127.38	72
3	Western Bulldogs	22	15	7	0	2378	1940	122.58	60
4	Collingwood	22	15	7	0	2174	1778	122.27	60
5	Adelaide	22	14	8	0	2104	1789	117.61	56
6	Brisbane Lions	22	13	8	1	2017	1890	106.72	54
7	Carlton	22	13	9	0	2270	2055	110.46	52
8	Essendon	22	10	11	1	2080	2127	97.79	42
9	Hawthorn	22	9	13	0	1962	2120	92.55	36
10	Port Adelaide	22	9	13	0	1990	2244	88.68	36
11	West Coast	22	8	14	0	1893	2029	93.30	32
12	Sydney	22	8	14	0	1888	2027	93.14	32
13	North Melbourne	22	7	14	1	1680	2015	83.37	30
14	Fremantle	22	6	16	0	1747	2259	77.34	24
15	Richmond	22	5	16	1	1774	2388	74.29	22
16	Melbourne	22	4	18	0	1706	2285	74.66	16
Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, PF = Points for, PA = Points against								view talk edit

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	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
1	St Kilda	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	76	76	80
2	Geelong	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	52	52	56	60	64	64	68	68	72
3	Western Bulldogs	4	8	12	12	12	12	16	20	20	24	28	32	36	40	40	44	44	48	48	52	56	60
4	Collingwood	0	4	4	8	8	12	12	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40	40	44	48	52	56	60	60
5	Adelaide	4	4	8	8	12	12	12	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40	40	44	44	44	48	52	56
6	Brisbane Lions	4	4	8	8	8	12	16	20	20	24	24	28	32	32	36	40	44	44	46	46	50	54
7	Carlton	4	8	8	8	12	12	12	16	16	20	24	24	24	28	32	36	36	40	44	48	52	52
8	Essendon	0	4	8	8	12	12	16	16	20	20	20	24	28	28	32	32	32	32	34	38	38	42
9	Hawthorn	0	0	4	4	8	12	12	16	20	20	24	24	24	24	28	32	32	32	32	32	36	36
10	Port Adelaide	4	4	8	12	12	16	16	20	20	20	24	24	24	28	28	32	32	36	36	36	36	36
11	West Coast	0	4	4	8	8	8	12	12	12	12	12	12	16	16	16	16	16	20	24	28	28	32
12	Sydney	0	4	4	8	8	12	12	16	20	20	20	20	20	24	24	24	28	28	32	32	32	32
13	North Melbourne	4	4	4	8	8	8	12	12	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	18	18	18	22	22	26	30
14	Fremantle	0	0	0	0	4	8	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	16	16	20	20	24	24
15	Richmond	0	0	0	0	4	4	4	4	4	8	8	12	12	12	12	14	18	22	22	22	22	22
16	Melbourne	0	0	0	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	8	12	12	12	12	12	16	16	16

Finals series

	Qualifying / Elimination finals					Semi-finals						Preliminary finals				Grand final
		QF1: 6 September, MCG
	1	St Kilda	12.8 (80)
	4	Collingwood	7.10 (52)			SF1: 12 September, MCG
						Collingwood	12.11 (83)
		EF1: 4 September, AAMI Stadium				Adelaide	11.12 (78)					PF1: 18 September, MCG
	5	Adelaide	26.10 (166)									St Kilda	9.6 (60)
	8	Essendon	10.10 (70)									Western Bulldogs	7.11 (53)			GF: 26 September, MCG
																St Kilda	9.14 (68)
		EF2: 5 September, The Gabba										PF2: 19 September, MCG				Geelong	12.8 (80)
	6	Brisbane Lions	16.15 (111)									Geelong	17.18 (120)
	7	Carlton	15.14 (104)			SF2: 11 September, MCG						Collingwood	6.11 (47)
						Western Bulldogs	16.11 (107)
		QF2: 5 September, MCG				Brisbane Lions	8.8 (56)
	2	Geelong	14.12 (96)
	3	Western Bulldogs	12.10 (82)

Week one

	Qualifying and Elimination Finals
4 September (8:15 pm)	Adelaide 26.10 (166)	def.	Essendon 10.10 (70)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 50,393)	Report
5 September (2:30 pm)	Geelong 14.12 (96)	def.	Western Bulldogs 12.10 (82)	MCG (crowd: 74,007)	Report
5 September (7:30 pm)	Brisbane Lions 16.15 (111)	def.	Carlton 15.14 (104)	The Gabba (crowd: 32,702)	Report
6 September (2:30 pm)	St Kilda 12.8 (80)	def.	Collingwood 7.10 (52)	MCG (crowd: 84,213)	Report
Brisbane came back from 30 points down early in the final quarter to defeat Carlton by 7 points.

Week two

	Semi Finals
11 September (7:45 pm)	Western Bulldogs 16.11 (107)	def.	Brisbane Lions 8.8 (56)	MCG (crowd: 47,030)	Report
12 September (7:30 pm)	Collingwood 12.11 (83)	def.	Adelaide 11.12 (78)	MCG (crowd: 62,184)	Report

Week three

	Preliminary Finals
18 September (7:45 pm)	St Kilda 9.6 (60)	def.	Western Bulldogs 7.11 (53)	MCG (crowd: 78,245)	Report
19 September (7:30 pm)	Geelong 17.18 (120)	def.	Collingwood 6.11 (47)	MCG (crowd: 87,258)	Report

Week four

	Grand Final
26 September (2:30 pm)	St Kilda	def. by	Geelong	MCG (crowd: 99,251)	Report
	3.2 (20) 7.7 (49) 9.11 (65)  9.14 (68)	Q1 Q2 Q3  Final	3.0 (18) 7.1 (43) 9.4 (58)  12.8 (80)	Umpires: McBurney, Rosebury, Ryan Norm Smith Medal: Paul Chapman (Geelong)
Schneider 2 Goddard, Hayes, Dempster, Jones, Koschitzke, Riewoldt, Montagna 1		Goals	3 Chapman 2 Mooney, Hawkins, Rooke 1 Selwood, Byrnes, Ablett
Gram, Hayes, Ball, Jones, Montagna, Baker, Goddard		Best	Chapman, Rooke, Milburn, Taylor, Selwood, Ablett, Corey, Bartel, Ling, Scarlett
Goddard (broken nose and collarbone), Riewoldt (torn adductor muscle)		Injuries	Chapman (hamstring), Taylor (broken hand)
Nil		Reports	Nil
The Grand Final between St Kilda and Geelong was the first time these two teams had played each other in a Grand Final. For the first time since the 1984 Grand Final, a team was behind at three-quarter time and went on to win the premiership. For the first time since the 1989 Grand Final, a team had won three quarters and still lost the premiership. In the whole finals series (until the Grand Final), all the home sides had won.

Awards

• The Brownlow Medal was awarded to Gary Ablett, Jr. of Geelong, who polled 30 votes during the home and away season.


• The AFL Rising Star was awarded to Daniel Rich of the Brisbane Lions, who received the maximum 45 votes.


• The Coleman Medal was awarded to Brendan Fevola of Carlton, who kicked 86 goals during the home and away season.


• The Wooden Spoon was "awarded" to Melbourne for the second year in a row. Melbourne finished the season in last place on the ladder after 22 rounds, with just 4 wins.


• The McClelland Trophy was awarded to St Kilda for finishing 1st on the ladder during the premiership season.


• The AFL Players Association Awards were as follows:
  
  
  
  • The Leigh Matthews Trophy was awarded to Gary Ablett, Jr. from Geelong for being the Most Valuable Player for the third year in a row.
  
  
  • The Robert Rose Award went to Joel Selwood from Geelong for being the Most Courageous Player throughout the premiership season.
  
  
  • The Best Captain award went to Jonathan Brown of the Brisbane Lions for the second time, after winning the award in 2007.
  
  
  • The Best First-Year Player award was won by Daniel Rich from the [[Brisbane Lions|Brisbane Lions]]. Rich blitzed the competition, receiving 463 votes, and the runner-up receiving just 45.
  
  
  
  

Best and fairest

Club	Award name	Winner	Ref.
Adelaide	Malcolm Blight Medal	Bernie Vince	[5]
Brisbane Lions	Merrett-Murray Medal	Jonathan Brown	[6]
Carlton	John Nicholls Medal	Chris Judd	[7]
Collingwood	Copeland Trophy	Dane Swan	[8]
Essendon	Crichton Medal	Jobe Watson	[9]
Fremantle	Doig Medal	Aaron Sandilands	[10]
Geelong	Carji Greeves Medal	Gary Ablett / Corey Enright	[11]
Hawthorn	Peter Crimmins Medal	Sam Mitchell	[12]
Melbourne	Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal	Aaron Davey	[13]
North Melbourne	Syd Barker Medal	Andrew Swallow	[14]
Port Adelaide	John Cahill Medal	Warren Tredrea	[15]
Richmond	Jack Dyer Medal	Brett Deledio	[16]
St Kilda	Trevor Barker Award	Nick Riewoldt	[17]
Sydney	Bob Skilton Medal	Ryan O'Keefe	[18]
West Coast	Club Champion Award	Darren Glass	[19]
Western Bulldogs	Charles Sutton Medal	Matthew Boyd	[20]

AFL Rising Star

The 2009 award was won by Daniel Rich from the Brisbane Lions.^[21]

Goal of the Year

The Australian Football League celebrates the best goal of the season through the annual Goal of the Year competition. From 2009 onwards, the commercial name for the award is the AFL Stores Goal of the Year.

Nominations^[22]

• Round 1 – Shannon Hurn (West Coast)


• Round 2 – Jason Winderlich (Essendon)


• Round 3 – Taylor Walker (Adelaide)


• Round 4 – Ryan Houlihan (Carlton)


• Round 5 – Gary Ablett, Jr. (Geelong)


• Round 6 – Drew Petrie (North Melbourne)


• Round 7 – Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn) – Winner^[23]
  


• Round 8 – Michael Osborne (Hawthorn)


• Round 9 – Stephen Milne (St. Kilda)


• Round 10 – Mark LeCras (West Coast)


• Round 11 – David Rodan (Port Adelaide)


• Round 12 – David Rodan (Port Adelaide)


• Round 13 – Nic Naitanui (West Coast)


• Round 14 – Dale Thomas (Collingwood)


• Round 15 – Brendan Fevola (Carlton)


• Round 16 – David Rodan (Port Adelaide)


• Round 17 – Lance Franklin (Hawthorn)


• Round 18 – Leon Davis (Collingwood)


• Round 19 – Adam Schneider (St Kilda)


• Round 20 – Liam Jurrah (Melbourne)


• Round 21 – Brad Dick (Collingwood)


• Round 22 – Shannon Byrnes (Geelong)

Mark of the Year

The Australian Football League celebrates the best mark of the season through the annual Mark of the Year competition. From 2009 onwards, the commercial name for the award is the Hungry Jack's Mark of the Year.

Nominations^[24]

• Round 1 – Simon Wiggins (Carlton)


• Round 2 – Jay Schulz (Richmond)


• Round 3 – Matthew Lloyd (Essendon)


• Round 4 – Tom Logan (Port Adelaide)


• Round 5 – Tom Hawkins (Geelong)


• Round 6 – Joel Selwood (Geelong)


• Round 7 – Patrick Ryder (Essendon)


• Round 8 – Paul Bevan (Sydney)


• Round 9 – Heath Grundy (Sydney)


• Round 10 – David Mundy (Fremantle)


• Round 11 – Kurt Tippett (Adelaide)


• Round 12 – Nic Naitanui (West Coast)


• Round 13 – Josh Hill (Western Bulldogs)


• Round 14 – Darren Glass (West Coast)


• Round 15 – Jayden Post (Richmond)


• Round 16 – Liam Jurrah (Melbourne)


• Round 17 – Brendan Fevola (Carlton)


• Round 18 – Jimmy Bartel (Geelong)


• Round 19 – Quinten Lynch (West Coast)


• Round 20 – Lewis Roberts-Thomson (Sydney)


• Round 21 – Max Rooke (Geelong)


• Round 22 – Brett Burton (Adelaide) – Winner^[23]
  

AFL Army Award

The Australian Football League, with the support of the Australian Army, recognises players who produce an act or acts of bravery or selflessness to promote the cause of his team during a game. Each week three players and what they did are made available on the AFL Army Award website for supporters to vote on. The player with the highest percentage of the vote is the AFL Army Award nominee for that round.

Nominations

For the full list of round-by-round nominees, see 2009 AFL Army Award.

• Round 1 – James Kelly (Geelong)


• Round 2 – Campbell Brown (Hawthorn)


• Round 3 – Luke Ball (St Kilda)


• Round 4 – Ricky Dyson (Essendon)


• Round 5 – Lenny Hayes (St Kilda)


• Round 6 – Martin Mattner (Sydney)


• Round 7 – Bryce Gibbs (Carlton)


• Round 8 – Barry Hall (Sydney)


• Round 9 – Matt White (Richmond)


• Round 10 – Travis Varcoe (Geelong)


• Round 11 – Scott McMahon (North Melbourne)


• Round 12 – Brad Green (Melbourne)


• Round 13 – Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)


• Round 14 – Ryan Griffen (Western Bulldogs)


• Round 15 – Nathan Eagleton (Western Bulldogs)


• Round 16 – Jacob Surjan (PA Adelaide)


• Round 17 – Cameron Mooney (Geelong)


• Round 18 – Aaron Davey (Melbourne)


• Round 19 – Brett Kirk (Sydney)


• Round 20 – Stephen Milne (St Kilda)


• Round 21 – Max Rooke (Geelong)


• Round 22 – Tom Hawkins (Geelong) – Winner
  

Club leadership

Club	Coach	Captain(s)	Vice Captain(s)/Leadership Group
Adelaide	Neil Craig	Simon Goodwin	Tyson Edwards, Brett Burton, Ben Rutten, Nathan van Berlo, Michael Doughty, Scott Stevens[25]
Brisbane Lions	Michael Voss	Jonathan Brown	Simon Black, Luke Power, Jed Adcock, Daniel Merrett
Carlton	Brett Ratten	Chris Judd	Heath Scotland, Nick Stevens
Collingwood	Mick Malthouse	Nick Maxwell	Josh Fraser (vc), Scott Pendlebury (vc), Shane O’Bree, Dane Swan, Tarkyn Lockyer[26]
Essendon	Matthew Knights	Matthew Lloyd	Scott Lucas (vc), Mark McVeigh, Adam McPhee, Andrew Welsh, David Hille, Jobe Watson
Fremantle	Mark Harvey	Mathew Pavlich	Luke McPharlin, Aaron Sandilands, Antoni Grover, Des Headland
Geelong	Mark Thompson	Tom Harley	Cameron Ling (vc), Joel Corey (dvc), Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett, Jimmy Bartel, Corey Enright
Hawthorn	Alastair Clarkson	Sam Mitchell	Luke Hodge (vc)
Melbourne	Dean Bailey	James McDonald	Cameron Bruce (vc), Brad Green, Brad Miller, Brent Moloney, Brock McLean
North Melbourne	Dean Laidley	Brent Harvey	Drew Petrie (vc)
Port Adelaide	Mark Williams	Domenic Cassisi[27]	Shaun Burgoyne (vc), Kane Cornes (vc)
Richmond	Terry Wallace	Chris Newman	Nathan Foley, Kelvin Moore, Brett Deledio[28]
St Kilda	Ross Lyon	Nick Riewoldt	Lenny Hayes
Sydney	Paul Roos	Brett Kirk[29]	Craig Bolton, Adam Goodes
West Coast	John Worsfold	Darren Glass	Dean Cox (vc), Tyson Stenglein, Matthew Priddis, Adam Selwood, Beau Waters
Western Bulldogs	Rodney Eade	Brad Johnson

Umpiring and rule changes

Two rule changes were introduced into the regular season^[30]

• If a player is not 'under pressure' and deliberately rushes a behind would be penalised by a free kick at the spot that the ball was rushed;


• If a player tackles an opponent after he disposes of the ball, preventing him from taking further part in the play, then a free kick and 50m penalty is paid.

Umpires were also encouraged to recall a centre bounce if it is offline, throwing it up the second time.

Players contacting umpires continued to be an issue with several players fined for making contact with umpires as they retreated from ball-ups. In related offences, Collingwood's Heath Shaw was suspended for one week after touching an umpire's shoulder, and Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett was fined $5000 after criticising the umpires on radio.^[31]

Coach changes

Coach	Club	Caretaker Coach (for 2009)	Date	New Coach (2010– )
Terry Wallace	Richmond	Jade Rawlings	1 June 2009	Damien Hardwick
Dean Laidley	North Melbourne	Darren Crocker	16 June 2009	Brad Scott

See also

• 2009 Australian football code crowds

References

External links

• AFL official website


• 2009 AFL Fixture


• 2009 Season – AFL Tables