The 1996 AFL season was the 100th 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 and ran from 29 March until 28 September, comprising a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series.
won the premiership for the third time, after it defeated by 43 points in the 1996 AFL Grand Final.
The season was the final season for , a founding member of the VFL/AFL in 1897, and there were several celebrations of the league's centenary throughout the year.
Pre-season AFL Draft
Lightning Premiership
In the 1996 AFL Lightning Premiership final, defeated the 6.2 (38) to 2.9 (21) at Waverley Park.
Ansett Australia Cup
In the 1996 Ansett Australia Cup final, defeated 20.10 (130) to 10.12 (72) at Waverley Park.
Home-and-away season
Round 1
! Home team ! Score ! Away team ! Score ! Venue ! Attendance ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.8 (56) | | 27.21 (183) | MCG | 46,832 | Friday, 29 March |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.14 (104) | | 19.8 (122) | MCG | 52,271 | Saturday, 30 March |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.13 (85) | | 15.19 (109) | Waverley Park | 23,434 | Saturday, 30 March |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.5 (71) | | 13.14 (92) | Whitten Oval | 10,239 | Saturday, 30 March |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.15 (141) | | 7.12 (54) | Gabba | 14,222 | Saturday, 30 March |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.13 (109) | | 12.15 (87) | MCG | 70,152 | Sunday, 31 March |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.9 (45) | | 9.13 (67) | Subiaco Oval | 33,041 | Sunday, 31 March |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.10 (130) | | 6.4 (40) | Football Park | 40,665 | Sunday, 31 March
Round 2
! Home team ! Score ! Away team ! Score ! Venue ! Attendance ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 26.12 (168) | | 5.7 (37) | MCG | 30,873 | Saturday, 6 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 26.8 (164) | | 20.14 (134) | Kardinia Park | 25,950 | Saturday, 6 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.15 (51) | | 14.14 (98) | Waverley Park | 38,263 | Saturday, 6 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.11 (101) | | 21.7 (133) | Whitten Oval | 8,685 | Saturday, 6 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.11 (77) | | 16.7 (103) | WACA | 29,213 | Saturday, 6 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.12 (72) | | 15.11 (101) | MCG | 62,207 | Sunday, 7 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.17 (71) | | 13.22 (100) | SCG | 10,965 | Sunday, 7 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 27.11 (173) | | 11.13 (79) | MCG | 53,268 | Monday, 8 April
Round 3
! Home team ! Score ! Away team ! Score ! Venue ! Attendance ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.16 (142) | | 12.6 (78) | Football Park | 43,766 | Friday, 12 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.19 (121) | | 10.10 (70) | Whitten Oval | 14,345 | Saturday, 13 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.8 (80) | | 22.21 (153) | Waverley Park | 20,331 | Saturday, 13 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.12 (90) | | 15.18 (108) | Gabba | 20,635 | Saturday, 13 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.17 (107) | | 10.13 (73) | SCG | 17,674 | Sunday, 14 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.12 (102) | | 6.13 (49) | Subiaco Oval | 22,652 | Sunday, 14 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.13 (109) | | 6.14 (50) | Waverley Park | 20,852 | Sunday, 14 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.14 (98) | | 13.10 (88) | Optus Oval | 11,881 | Sunday, 14 April
Round 4
! Home team ! Score ! Away team ! Score ! Venue ! Attendance ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.17 (125) | | 14.11 (95) | Gabba | 17,469 | Friday, 19 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.7 (133) | | 12.14 (86) | Optus Oval | 19,051 | Saturday, 20 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.14 (98) | | 8.13 (61) | Victoria Park | 23,170 | Saturday, 20 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 24.16 (160) | | 11.9 (75) | Waverley Park | 17,625 | Saturday, 20 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.9 (57) | | 8.9 (57) | Whitten Oval | 16,804 | Saturday, 20 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.23 (161) | | 9.11 (65) | Football Park | 45,266 | Saturday, 20 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.16 (70) | | 10.11 (71) | Waverley Park | 33,847 | Sunday, 21 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.16 (88) | | 16.10 (106) | Subiaco Oval | 30,837 | Sunday, 21 April
Round 5
! Home team ! Score ! Away team ! Score ! Venue ! Attendance ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.9 (105) | | 17.15 (117) | MCG | 87,549 | Thursday, 25 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.18 (96) | | 8.11 (59) | WACA | 26,618 | Friday, 26 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.14 (86) | | 12.13 (85) | Optus Oval | 19,927 | Saturday, 27 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.13 (91) | | 12.16 (88) | Kardinia Park | 26,016 | Saturday, 27 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.14 (152) | | 17.11 (113) | MCG | 32,215 | Saturday, 27 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.10 (88) | | 11.10 (76) | SCG | 20,227 | Saturday, 27 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 24.14 (158) | | 6.13 (49) | Gabba | 14,495 | Sunday, 28 April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.20 (116) | | 13.12 (90) | Waverley Park | 27,094 | Sunday, 28 April
Round 6
! Home team ! Score ! Away team ! Score ! Venue ! Attendance ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.6 (90) | | 12.18 (90) | SCG | 22,088 | Friday, 3 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.15 (93) | | 15.14 (104) | MCG | 50,074 | Friday, 3 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.14 (152) | | 12.8 (80) | Victoria Park | 26,459 | Saturday, 4 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.8 (50) | | 24.12 (156) | Optus Oval | 8,747 | Saturday, 4 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.8 (62) | | 23.16 (154) | Whitten Oval | 13,497 | Saturday, 4 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.11 (65) | | 13.8 (86) | Waverley Park | 30,225 | Saturday, 4 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.10 (64) | | 12.8 (80) | MCG | 31,024 | Sunday, 5 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.13 (85) | | 17.8 (110) | Subiaco Oval | 24,591 | Sunday, 5 May
Round 7
! Home team ! Score ! Away team ! Score ! Venue ! Attendance ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 22.11 (143) | | 17.12 (114) | MCG | 75,632 | Wednesday, 8 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.11 (95) | | 18.10 (118) | MCG | 71,663 | Friday, 10 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.17 (125) | | 8.14 (62) | Optus Oval | 16,176 | Saturday, 11 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.8 (38) | | 12.10 (82) | MCG | 23,660 | Saturday, 11 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.14 (104) | | 5.11 (41) | Gabba | 20,053 | Saturday, 11 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.11 (113) | | 9.8 (62) | MCG | 25,691 | Sunday, 12 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.11 (125) | | 7.16 (58) | Subiaco Oval | 32,312 | Sunday, 12 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.12 (132) | | 5.6 (36) | Football Park | 40,386 | Sunday, 12 May
Note: The opening four matches of this round replicated the opening round of the inaugural 1897 VFL season, with Essendon and Geelong playing each other on the day of the 99th anniversary.
Round 8
! Home team ! Score ! Away team ! Score ! Venue ! Attendance ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.18 (108) | | 14.14 (98) | Gabba | 21,644 | Friday, 17 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.14 (86) | | 15.8 (98) | MCG | 67,931 | Friday, 17 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.8 (122) | | 10.11 (71) | Waverley Park | 20,527 | Saturday, 18 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.11 (107) | | 10.16 (76) | Whitten Oval | 5,083 | Saturday, 18 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.24 (144) | | 14.5 (89) | MCG | 49,939 | Saturday, 18 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.16 (100) | | 9.10 (64) | WACA | 31,411 | Saturday, 18 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.19 (97) | | 11.7 (73) | Football Park | 43,370 | Sunday, 19 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.6 (84) | | 23.13 (151) | MCG | 36,766 | Sunday, 19 May
Note: Ben Hart took the mark of the year in Adelaide's win over St Kilda. Note: Fitzroy's victory was the last win they had in the AFL before merging.
Round 9
! Home team ! Score ! Away team ! Score ! Venue ! Attendance ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 25.20 (170) | | 9.11 (65) | MCG | 19,964 | Friday, 24 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.23 (89) | | 12.5 (77) | MCG | 37,288 | Saturday, 25 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.11 (119) | | 11.13 (79) | Whitten Oval | 11,140 | Saturday, 25 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.8 (56) | | 14.6 (90) | Waverley Park | 14,286 | Saturday, 25 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.6 (132) | | 10.14 (74) | SCG | 26,537 | Sunday, 26 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.18 (120) | | 10.6 (66) | Subiaco Oval | 20,934 | Sunday, 26 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.15 (69) | | 13.13 (91) | Waverley Park | 41,023 | Sunday, 26 May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.10 (76) | | 21.13 (139) | MCG | 56,609 | Monday, 27 May
Round 10
! Home team ! Score ! Away team ! Score ! Venue ! Attendance ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.9 (69) | | 12.17 (89) | MCG | 22,416 | Friday, 7 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.11 (101) | | 13.12 (90) | MCG | 59,062 | Saturday, 8 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.14 (98) | | 15.8 (98) | Kardinia Park | 24,800 | Saturday, 8 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.7 (67) | | 21.11 (137) | Whitten Oval | 9,701 | Saturday, 8 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.13 (67) | | 13.11 (89) | Waverley Park | 43,925 | Saturday, 8 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.11 (53) | | 17.8 (110) | Subiaco Oval | 19,350 | Sunday, 9 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.10 (76) | | 19.16 (130) | Football Park | 43,398 | Sunday, 9 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.12 (114) | | 10.16 (76) | MCG | 48,302 | Monday, 10 June
NOTE: St Kilda vs Essendon match on Saturday night was disrupted by a power failure during the third quarter, resulting the match being completed the following week on the Tuesday night with 2 12-minutes halves.
Round 11
! Home team ! Score ! Away team ! Score ! Venue ! Attendance ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.9 (129) | | 12.13 (85) | Kardinia Park | 21,516 | Saturday, 15 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.12 (108) | | 14.15 (99) | Waverley Park | 16,652 | Saturday, 15 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.13 (73) | | 24.8 (152) | Optus Oval | 18,644 | Saturday, 15 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.13 (139) | | 15.15 (105) | MCG | 39,029 | Saturday, 15 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.8 (38) | | 9.8 (62) | Gabba | 20,225 | Saturday, 15 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.19 (115) | | 9.8 (62) | Subiaco Oval | 34,832 | Sunday, 16 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.12 (90) | | 12.17 (89) | MCG | 31,383 | Sunday, 16 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.8 (56) | | 18.11 (119) | Whitten Oval | 10,836 | Sunday, 16 June
Round 12
! Home team ! Score ! Away team ! Score ! Venue ! Attendance ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.14 (128) | | 13.4 (82) | MCG | 39,044 | Friday, 21 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.11 (95) | | 17.14 (116) | MCG | 61,448 | Saturday, 22 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.10 (112) | | 13.15 (93) | Kardinia Park | 22,116 | Saturday, 22 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.12 (114) | | 12.11 (83) | Waverley Park | 16,217 | Saturday, 22 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.15 (123) | | 6.10 (46) | Gabba | 14,871 | Saturday, 22 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.15 (123) | | 11.11 (77) | SCG | 22,689 | Sunday, 23 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.11 (107) | | 14.11 (95) | MCG | 39,515 | Sunday, 23 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 22.9 (141) | | 17.6 (108) | Subiaco Oval | 29,434 | Sunday, 23 June
Round 13
! Home team ! Score ! Away team ! Score ! Venue ! Attendance ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.9 (69) | | 14.8 (92) | MCG | 69,072 | Friday, 28 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.13 (91) | | 15.12 (102) | Optus Oval | 20,030 | Saturday, 29 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.3 (39) | | 25.16 (166) | Whitten Oval | 10,504 | Saturday, 29 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.12 (96) | | 7.8 (50) | Waverley Park | 13,824 | Saturday, 29 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.13 (121) | | 15.10 (100) | MCG | 43,481 | Saturday, 29 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.10 (58) | | 9.20 (74) | WACA | 19,360 | Saturday, 29 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.12 (72) | | 19.9 (123) | Football Park | 37,557 | Sunday, 30 June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.5 (59) |