List of VFL/AFL pre-season and night series premiers
This page is a chronological listing of the winners of the Victorian Football League and Australian Football League night premiership/pre-season cup competitions.
From 1956 to 1971, the night premiership was a knock-out competition held amongst the eight teams who failed to reach the finals in the Victorian Football League.
From 1977 until 1987, the Night Series was run partially during the Premiership season, and featured VFL, SANFL and WAFL teams, and at one stage also featured a representative team from the weaker states.
Since 1988, what was known as the night series has played entirely before the Premiership season begins, which is why it is now known as the Pre-Season Cup.
In 1990 the Victorian Football League became the Australian Football League.
Night Series Premiers 1956 to 1971
| 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 | 30,465 |
| 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 | 21,169 |
No Night Series 1972 to 1976
Night series premiers 1977 to 1989
| Year | Premiers | Grand Finalist | Scores | Venue | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 8.9 (57) - 7.12 (54) | Waverley Park | 50,478 |
| 1981 | Essendon | Carlton | 9.11 (65) - 6.5 (41) | Waverley Park | 42,269 |
| 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 (66) - 5.6 (36) | Waverley Park | 19,627 |
| 1987 | Melbourne | Essendon | 8.10 (58) - 8.6 (54) | Waverley Park | 26,860 |
| 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 |
AFL Pre-Season Cup Premiers
| Year | Premiers | Grand Finalist | Scores | Venue | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 63,898 |
| 1998 | North Melbourne | St. Kilda | 14.13 (97) - 12.11 (83) | Waverley Park | 49,874 |
| 1999 | Hawthorn | Port Adelaide | 12.11 (83) - 5.6 (36) | Waverley Park | 74,786 |
| 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 |
| 2007 | Carlton | Brisbane Lions | 2.12.7 (97) - 0.10.12 (72) | Telstra Dome | 46,094 |
| 2008 | St. Kilda | Adelaide | 2.7.9 (69) - 0.9.10 (64) | AAMI Stadium | 26,823 |
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.
Most Australian Football League Pre-season Cup wins
| Team | Wins | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Essendon | 4 | 1990, 1993, 1994, 2000 |
| St. Kilda | 3 | 1996, 2004, 2008 |
| Carlton | 3 | 1997, 2005, 2007 |
| Hawthorn | 3 | 1991, 1992, 1999 |
| North Melbourne | 2 | 1995, 1998 |
| Port Adelaide | 2 | 2001, 2002 |
| Geelong | 1 | 2006 |
| Adelaide | 1 | 2003 |