List of VFL/AFL pre-season and night series premiers
This page is a chronological listing of the winners of the Australian Football League night premiership competition, now known as the NAB Cup. From 1956 to 1971, the night premiership was a knock-out competition held amongst the eight teams who failed to reach the finals. From 1977 until 1987, the Night Series was run partially during the regular season, and featured VFL, SANFL and WAFL teams, and at one stage also featured a representative team from the weaker states. Since 1988, the Night Series shifted entirely to the preseason, and featured only VFL/AFL teams.
Night Premiers
| Year | Premiers | Grand Finalist | Scores | Venue | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | South Melbourne | Carlton | 13.16 (94) - 13.10 (88) | Lake Oval | 32,450 |
| 1957 | South Melbourne | Geelong | 15.13 (103) - 8.4 (52) | Lake Oval | 25,000 |
| 1958 | St Kilda | Carlton | 16.13 (109) - 15.11 (101) | Lake Oval | 26,400 |
| 1959 | Fitzroy | Hawthorn | 10.10 (70) - 4.16 (40) | Lake Oval | 9,200 |
| 1960 | South Melbourne | Hawthorn | 10.12 (72) - 8.11 (59) | Lake Oval | 20,000 |
| 1961 | Geelong | North Melbourne | 9.20 (74) - 9.8 (62) | Lake Oval | 30,365 |
| 1962 | Richmond | Hawthorn | 8.16 (64) - 9.6 (60) | Lake Oval | 24,550 |
| 1963 | Footscray | Richmond | 10.9 (69) - 9.9 (63) | Lake Oval | 25,270 |
| 1964 | Footscray | St Kilda | 11.12 (78) - 11.7 (73) | Lake Oval | 36,300 |
| 1965 | North Melbourne | Carlton | 14.13 (97) - 9.3 (57) | Lake Oval | 37,750 |
| 1966 | North Melbourne | Hawthorn | 20.12 (132) - 12.7 (79) | Lake Oval | 22,800 |
| 1967 | Footscray | South Melbourne | 15.11 (101) - 8.8 (64) | Lake Oval | 26,731 |
| 1968 | Hawthorn | North Melbourne | 16.15 (111) - 6.14 (50) | Lake Oval | 15,650 |
| 1969 | Hawthorn | Melbourne | 10.17 (77) - 9.18 (72) | Lake Oval | 21,067 |
| 1970 | Footscray | Melbourne | 13.17 (95) - 13.15 (93) | Lake Oval | 23,882 |
| 1971 | Melbourne | Fitzroy | 12.7 (79) - 9.9 (63) | Lake Oval | 21,189 |
| 1977 | Hawthorn | Carlton | 14.11 (95) - 11.5 (71) | Waverley Park | 27,407 |
| 1978 | Fitzroy | North Melbourne | 13.18 (96) - 2.8 (20) | Waverley Park | 26,420 |
| 1979 | Collingwood | Hawthorn | 12.8 (80) - 7.10 (52) | Waverley Park | 37,753 |
| 1980 | North Melbourne | Collingwood | 8.12 (60)- 8.9 (57) | Waverley Park | 50,478 |
| 1981 | Essendon | Carlton | 9.11 (65) - 6.5 (41) | Waverley Park | 24,269 |
| 1982 | Sydney | North Melbourne | 13.12 (90) - 8.10 (58) | Waverley Park | 20,028 |
| 1983 | Carlton | Richmond | 14.16 (100) - 10.6 (66) | Waverley Park | 32,927 |
| 1984 | Essendon | Sydney | 13.11 (89) - 5.8 (38) | Waverley Park | 30,824 |
| 1985 | Hawthorn | Essendon | 11.11 (77) - 10.8 (68) | Waverley Park | 24,812 |
| 1986 | Hawthorn | Carlton | 9.12 (68) - 5.6 (36) | Waverley Park | 19,627 |
| 1987 | Melbourne | Essendon | 8.10 (58) - 8.6 (54) | Waverley Park | 26,860 |
Pre-Season Premiers
| Year | Premiers | Grand Finalist | Scores | Venue | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Hawthorn | Geelong | 10.10 (70) - 9.13 (67) | Waverley Park | 35,803 |
| 1989 | Melbourne | Geelong | 10.16 (76) - 9.13 (67) | Waverley Park | 48,720 |
| 1990 | Essendon | North Melbourne | 17.10 (112) - 10.16 (76) | Waverley Park | 48,559 |
| 1991 | Hawthorn | North Melbourne | 14.19 (103) - 7.12 (54) | Waverley Park | 46,629 |
| 1992 | Hawthorn | Fitzroy | 19.14 (128) - 8.15 (63) | Waverley Park | 49,453 |
| 1993 | Essendon | Richmond | 14.18 (102) - 11.13 (79) | Waverley Park | 75,533 |
| 1994 | Essendon | Adelaide | 15.12 (102) - 9.14 (68) | Waverley Park | 43,925 |
| 1995 | North Melbourne | Adelaide | 14.9 (93) - 8.15 (63) | Waverley Park | 39,393 |
| 1996 | St Kilda | Carlton | 20.10 (130) - 10.12 (72) | Waverley Park | 66,888 |
| 1997 | Carlton | Geelong | 14.13 (97) - 5.10 (40) | MCG | 74,786 |
| 1998 | North Melbourne | St Kilda | 14.13 (97) - 12.11 (83) | Waverley Park | 63,898 |
| 1999 | Hawthorn | Port Adelaide | 12.11 (83) - 5.6 (36) | Waverley Park | 49,874 |
| 2000 | Essendon | Kangaroos | 16.21 (117) - 11.10 (76) | MCG | 56,720 |
| 2001 | Port Adelaide | Brisbane Lions | 17.9 (111) - 3.8 (26) | Football Park | 35,304 |
| 2002 | Port Adelaide | Richmond | 10.11 (71) - 9.8 (62) | Colonial Stadium | 36,481 |
| 2003 | Adelaide | Collingwood | 2.13.8 (104) - 1.9.10 (73) | Telstra Dome | 43,571 |
| 2004 | St Kilda | Geelong | 1.14.5 (98) - 1.10.7 (76) | Telstra Dome | 50,533 |
| 2005 | Carlton | West Coast | 1.14.18 (111) - 1.11.9 (84) | Telstra Dome | 43,391 |
| 2006 | Geelong | Adelaide | 3.10.5 (92) - 1.10.15 (84) | AAMI Stadium | 30,707 |
From 2003 onwards, the addition of the Super Goal was added to the pre-season competition. This is indicated by the first number in the score, followed by regulation goals, then behinds with the total score in brackets.