2015 AFL season

The 2015 AFL season was the 119th 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 eighteen clubs, ran from 2 April until 3 October, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs.

2015 AFL premiership season
Teams18
PremiersHawthorn
13th premiership
Minor premiersFremantle
1st minor premiership
Brownlow MedallistNat Fyfe
Fremantle (31 votes)
Coleman MedallistJosh Kennedy
West Coast (75 goals)
Attendance
Matches played206
Total attendance6,886,266 (33,428 per match)
Highest (H&A)88,395 (round 4, Essendon v Collingwood)
Highest (finals)98,633 (Grand Final, Hawthorn vs. West Coast)
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The premiership was won by the Hawthorn Football Club for the 13th time and third time consecutively, after it defeated West Coast by 46 points in the 2015 AFL Grand Final.

The season was marred by the mid-season death of Adelaide senior coach Phil Walsh, who was the victim of a domestic incident. Adelaide's following match was cancelled.[1]

Pre-season

All Stars game

The biennial All Stars game, this year played in Western Australia, featuring an AFL team and the Indigenous All Stars team made up of some of the best Indigenous players in the game, returned for the 2015 pre-season. The West Coast Eagles were selected as the AFL team to play in the game, which was played at Medibank Stadium in Perth.[2][3]

2015 Indigenous All Stars Game
Friday, 20 February 7:45 pm (AWST)Indigenous All Starsdef. byWest CoastMedibank Stadium (crowd: 10,000)Report
1.2 (8)
5.6 (36)
5.9 (39)
 5.11 (41)
Q1
Q2
Q3
 Final
3.2 (20)
4.2 (26)
5.5 (35)
 7.7 (49)
Polly Farmer Medal: Shaun Burgoyne[4]
Edwards, Jetta, Yarran, Pickett, B.HillGoalsMcGovern, Sheppard, Wellingham, Gaff, Cripps, Powell, Lamb
Burgoyne, Harbrow, Martin, B.Hill, S.HillBestWellingham, Masten, Gaff, Schofield, Sinclair, Cripps
NilInjuriesNil
NilReportsNil

NAB Challenge

For the second consecutive year, the NAB Challenge series took place, featuring 27 practice matches played over 25 days, beginning 26 February and ending 22 March. The matches were stand-alone in nature, with no overall winner crowned for the series.[5] Each team played three pre-season games, many of which were played at suburban or regional venues, with most games televised on Fox Footy. The Super Goal was retained for these matches.

Premiership season

Notable features of the draw include:

  • To address poor attendances and late-finishing matches, all Saturday night matches on the east coast were brought forward by 20 minutes, with matches in this timeslot now starting at 7:20 pm and Saturday twilight matches were brought forward by five minutes to start at 4:35 pm. Matches in Adelaide and Perth retained their respective local starting times of 7:10 pm and 5:40 pm.[6]
  • Many of the grounds used by the AFL hosted games in the 2015 Cricket World Cup, which ended on 29 March. Consequently, the season started and finished slightly later than in previous years, with the Grand Final scheduled for the first Saturday in October instead of the customary last Saturday in September.
  • Due to the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Greater Western Sydney's primary home ground (Spotless Stadium) was unavailable until round 6, therefore the club's first two home games were at its secondary home ground, StarTrack Oval, in rounds 2 and 4.[7]
  • Mother's Day Round (Round 6) saw six matches played on Saturday instead of the usual five, with only two matches played on Mother's Day itself.[8] This was repeated in round 23, with no twilight game on the Sunday.[9]
  • The Friday before the Grand Final became a public holiday in Victoria, following an election promise by the incoming state government, under the premiership of Daniel Andrews.
  • All starting times are local.

Round 1

Round 1 (Opening Round)
Thursday, 2 April (7:20 pm)Carlton 11.12 (78)def. byRichmond 15.15 (105)MCG (crowd: 83,493)Report
Saturday, 4 April (1:40 pm)Melbourne 17.13 (115)def.Gold Coast 13.11 (89)MCG (crowd: 27,013)Report
Saturday, 4 April (4:35 pm)Sydney 10.12 (72)def.Essendon 9.6 (60)ANZ Stadium (crowd: 23,274)Report
Saturday, 4 April (6:20 pm)Brisbane Lions 11.8 (74)def. byCollingwood 12.14 (86)Gabba (crowd: 31,240)Report
Saturday, 4 April (7:20 pm)Western Bulldogs 14.13 (97)def.West Coast 14.3 (87)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 22,366)Report
Sunday, 5 April (1:10 pm)St Kilda 11.12 (78)def. byGreater Western Sydney 12.15 (87)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 18,794)Report
Sunday, 5 April (2:50 pm)Adelaide 21.14 (140)def.North Melbourne 9.9 (63)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 45,607)Report
Sunday, 5 April (4:40 pm)Fremantle 11.9 (75)def.Port Adelaide 10.8 (68)Domain Stadium (crowd: 34,099)Report
Monday, 6 April (3:20 pm)Hawthorn 17.21 (123)def.Geelong 8.13 (61)MCG (crowd: 73,584)Report
  • Melbourne's win against Gold Coast was the first time since 2005 it had won its round 1 game.[10]
  • Sydney trailed Essendon by 41 points during time on in the third quarter, before Sydney scored the last eight goals of the game to come from behind to record a twelve-point win.[11] Sydney's three-quarter time deficit of 34 points was the largest it had ever overcome to win in the club's history.[12]

Round 2

Round 2
Friday, 10 April (6:10 pm)West Coast 20.11 (131)def.Carlton 9.8 (62)Domain Stadium (crowd: 34,588)Report
Saturday, 11 April (1:45 pm)Richmond 9.12 (66)def. byWestern Bulldogs 12.13 (85)MCG (crowd: 49,945)Report
Saturday, 11 April (2:10 pm)Greater Western Sydney 15.11 (101)def.Melbourne 8.8 (56)StarTrack Oval (crowd: 8,811)Report[13]
Saturday, 11 April (4:35 pm)Collingwood 9.9 (63)def. byAdelaide 12.18 (90)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 33,771)Report
Saturday, 11 April (7:20 pm)Gold Coast 10.16 (76)def. bySt Kilda 16.8 (104)Metricon Stadium (crowd: 13,649)Report
Saturday, 11 April (7:10 pm)Port Adelaide 6.8 (44)def. bySydney 14.8 (92)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 48,907)Report
Sunday, 12 April (1:10 pm)Geelong 9.6 (60)def. byFremantle 15.14 (104)Simonds Stadium (crowd: 23,723)Report
Sunday, 12 April (3:20 pm)Essendon 12.6 (78)def.Hawthorn 11.10 (76)MCG (crowd: 59,866)Report
Sunday, 12 April (4:40 pm)North Melbourne 20.13 (133)def.Brisbane Lions 7.9 (51)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 22,275)Report

Round 3

Round 3
Friday, 17 April (7:50 pm)Collingwood 21.14 (140)def.St Kilda 10.6 (66)MCG (crowd: 45,197)Report
Saturday, 18 April (1:45 pm)Carlton 11.18 (84)def. byEssendon 16.9 (105)MCG (crowd: 54,854)Report
Saturday, 18 April (1:40 pm)Adelaide 12.8 (80)def.Melbourne 7.13 (55)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 42,834)Report
Saturday, 18 April (4:35 pm)Sydney 16.15 (111)def.Greater Western Sydney 12.18 (90)SCG (crowd: 31,966)Report
Saturday, 18 April (7:20 pm)North Melbourne 16.9 (105)def. byPort Adelaide 17.11 (113)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 22,586)Report
Saturday, 18 April (7:20 pm)Brisbane Lions 8.10 (58)def. byRichmond 21.11 (137)Gabba (crowd: 22,441)Report
Sunday, 19 April (1:10 pm)Hawthorn 19.13 (127)def.Western Bulldogs 8.9 (57)Aurora Stadium (crowd: 15,559)Report
Sunday, 19 April (3:20 pm)Geelong 16.9 (105)def.Gold Coast 13.18 (96)Simonds Stadium (crowd: 20,813)Report
Sunday, 19 April (2:40 pm)West Coast 12.9 (81)def. byFremantle 17.9 (111)Domain Stadium (crowd: 39,138)Report

Round 4

Round 4 (ANZAC Round)
Friday, 24 April (7:50 pm)Richmond 6.15 (51)def. byMelbourne 12.11 (83)MCG (crowd: 58,175)Report
Saturday, 25 April (1:10 pm)St Kilda 12.9 (81)def. byCarlton 18.13 (121)Westpac Stadium (crowd: 12,125)Report
Saturday, 25 April (2:40 pm)Essendon 6.13 (49)def. byCollingwood 9.15 (69)MCG (crowd: 88,395)Report
Saturday, 25 April (5:40 pm)Greater Western Sydney 16.23 (119)def.Gold Coast 7.11 (53)StarTrack Oval (crowd: 6,917)Report
Saturday, 25 April (7:10 pm)Port Adelaide 15.9 (99)def.Hawthorn 13.13 (91)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 49,831)Report
Saturday, 25 April (6:45 pm)Fremantle 11.8 (74)def.Sydney 8.12 (60)Domain Stadium (crowd: 39,009)Report
Sunday, 26 April (1:10 pm)Brisbane Lions 9.11 (65)def. byWest Coast 17.16 (118)Gabba (crowd: 16,632)Report
Sunday, 26 April (3:20 pm)Geelong 9.13 (67)def. byNorth Melbourne 12.11 (83)Simonds Stadium (crowd: 23,452)Report
Sunday, 26 April (4:40 pm)Western Bulldogs 18.17 (125)def.Adelaide 10.8 (68)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 19,915)Report

Round 5

Round 5
Friday, 1 May (7:50 pm)Carlton 6.9 (45)def. byCollingwood 18.12 (120)MCG (crowd: 71,759)Report
Saturday, 2 May (1:45 pm)Richmond 11.10 (76)def. byGeelong 12.13 (85)MCG (crowd: 45,228)Report
Saturday, 2 May (2:10 pm)Sydney 10.13 (73)def. byWestern Bulldogs 11.11 (77)SCG (crowd: 25,541)Report
Saturday, 2 May (4:35 pm)Gold Coast 18.10 (118)def.Brisbane Lions 7.12 (54)Metricon Stadium (crowd: 12,464)Report
Saturday, 2 May (7:20 pm)North Melbourne 10.10 (70)def. byHawthorn 19.16 (130)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 38,077)Report
Saturday, 2 May (5:40 pm)West Coast 18.12 (120)def.Greater Western Sydney 4.9 (33)Domain Stadium (crowd: 34,554)Report
Sunday, 3 May (1:10 pm)Melbourne 6.14 (50)def. byFremantle 18.10 (118)MCG (crowd: 22,892)Report
Sunday, 3 May (3:20 pm)St Kilda 11.14 (80)def. byEssendon 11.16 (82)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 29,869)Report
Sunday, 3 May (4:10 pm)Adelaide 13.13 (91)def. byPort Adelaide 18.7 (115)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 49,617)Report

Round 6

Round 6
Friday, 8 May (7:50 pm)Collingwood 8.11 (59)def. byGeelong 15.10 (100)MCG (crowd: 52,152)Report
Saturday, 9 May (1:45 pm)North Melbourne 16.13 (109)def.Richmond 10.14 (74)Blundstone Arena (crowd: 17,544)Report
Saturday, 9 May (2:10 pm)Western Bulldogs 13.9 (87)def. bySt Kilda 14.10 (94)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 29,619)Report
Saturday, 9 May (4:35 pm)Greater Western Sydney 16.12 (108)def.Hawthorn 14.14 (98)Spotless Stadium (crowd: 13,556)Report
Saturday, 9 May (5:10 pm)Gold Coast 11.12 (78)def. byAdelaide 18.11 (119)Metricon Stadium (crowd: 12,464)Report
Saturday, 9 May (7:20 pm)Melbourne 7.8 (50)def. bySydney 12.16 (88)MCG (crowd: 26,894)Report
Saturday, 9 May (6:10 pm)Fremantle 12.8 (80)def.Essendon 7.10 (52)Domain Stadium (crowd: 37,535)Report
Sunday, 10 May (3:20 pm)Carlton 11.9 (75)def. byBrisbane Lions 12.12 (84)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 20,273)Report
Sunday, 10 May (4:10 pm)Port Adelaide 10.8 (68)def. byWest Coast 11.12 (78)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 37,635)Report
  • St Kilda defeated Western Bulldogs after trailing by 55 points early in the third quarter. It was the equal-fifth largest successful comeback in VFL/AFL history[16] and equalled the club's greatest ever comeback.[17]

Round 7

Round 7
Friday, 15 May (7:50 pm)Essendon 12.10 (82)def. byNorth Melbourne 13.15 (93)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 43,972)Report
Saturday, 16 May (1:15 pm)Adelaide 18.11 (119)def.St Kilda 10.13 (73)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 42,795)Report
Saturday, 16 May (2:10 pm)Hawthorn 24.11 (155)def.Melbourne 7.8 (50)MCG (crowd: 41,935)Report
Saturday, 16 May (4:35 pm)Carlton 9.3 (57)def. byGreater Western Sydney 19.21 (135)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 16,676)Report
Saturday, 16 May (7:20 pm)Sydney 18.12 (120)def.Geelong 11.11 (77)ANZ Stadium (crowd: 28,063)Report
Saturday, 16 May (5:40 pm)West Coast 21.9 (135)def.Gold Coast 6.7 (43)Domain Stadium (crowd: 26,964)Report
Sunday, 17 May (1:10 pm)Western Bulldogs 14.4 (88)def. byFremantle 15.11 (101)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 18,170)Report
Sunday, 17 May (3:20 pm)Richmond 16.9 (105)def.Collingwood 15.10 (100)MCG (crowd: 59,034)Report
Sunday, 17 May (4:40 pm)Brisbane Lions 15.12 (102)def.Port Adelaide 8.17 (65)Gabba (crowd: 15,957)Report

Round 8

Round 8
Friday, 22 May (7:50 pm)Geelong 22.8 (140)def.Carlton 9.9 (63)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 32,032)Report
Saturday, 23 May (1:45 pm)St Kilda 12.6 (78)def. byWest Coast 20.11 (131)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 23,598)Report
Saturday, 23 May (2:10 pm)Greater Western Sydney 16.12 (108)def.Adelaide 12.12 (84)Spotless Stadium (crowd: 9,481)Report
Saturday, 23 May (4:35 pm)Gold Coast 9.9 (63)def. byCollingwood 20.12 (132)Metricon Stadium (crowd: 16,440)Report
Saturday, 23 May (7:20 pm)Hawthorn 9.15 (69)def. bySydney 11.7 (73)MCG (crowd: 63,319)Report
Saturday, 23 May (5:40 pm)Fremantle 17.13 (115)def.North Melbourne 5.12 (42)Domain Stadium (crowd: 35,836)Report
Sunday, 24 May (1:10 pm)Essendon 21.10 (136)def.Brisbane Lions 12.6 (78)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 36,857)Report
Sunday, 24 May (3:20 pm)Melbourne 15.13 (103)def.Western Bulldogs 9.10 (64)MCG (crowd: 29,381)Report
Sunday, 24 May (4:10 pm)Port Adelaide 5.13 (43)def. byRichmond 11.10 (76)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 44,451)Report

Round 9

Round 9 (Indigenous Round)
Friday, 29 May (7:50 pm)Sydney 19.8 (122)def.Carlton 9.8 (62)SCG (crowd: 32,105)Report
Saturday, 30 May (1:45 pm)Hawthorn 14.9 (93)def.Gold Coast 6.4 (40)Aurora Stadium (crowd: 11,320)Report
Saturday, 30 May (1:40 pm)Melbourne 8.6 (54)def. byPort Adelaide 18.7 (115)TIO Traeger Park (crowd: 4,866)Report
Saturday, 30 May (4:35 pm)Western Bulldogs 16.17 (113)def.Greater Western Sydney 11.2 (68)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 16,395)Report
Saturday, 30 May (7:25 pm)Richmond 10.12 (72)def.Essendon 8.11 (59)MCG (crowd: 83,804)Report
Saturday, 30 May (7:10 pm)Adelaide 7.15 (57)def. byFremantle 10.8 (68)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 45,009)Report
Sunday, 31 May (1:10 pm)Brisbane Lions 13.8 (86)def. bySt Kilda 16.12 (108)Gabba (crowd: 16,898)Report
Sunday, 31 May (3:20 pm)Collingwood 17.10 (112)def.North Melbourne 14.11 (95)MCG (crowd: 43,452)Report
Sunday, 31 May (2:40 pm)West Coast 16.24 (120)def.Geelong 10.4 (64)Domain Stadium (crowd: 37,676)Report
  • Dustin Fletcher of Essendon became the third player in VFL/AFL history to play 400 games.[20]
  • Aaron Sandilands (Fremantle) recorded 69 hit-outs against Adelaide, the highest amount since game statistics were documented from 1965;[21] this broke the previous record of 63 set in 1982 by Gary Dempsey.[22] The new record stood for only two weeks, before Sandilands bettered the tally in round 11.[23]
  • Fremantle recorded its best ever start to the season, winning its first nine matches; its previous best unbeaten start to a season was three matches in 2010.[24]

Round 10

Round 10
Friday, 5 June (6:10 pm)Fremantle 10.10 (70)def. byRichmond 15.7 (97)Domain Stadium (crowd: 38,019)Report
Saturday, 6 June (1:40 pm)Carlton 14.6 (90)def. byAdelaide 14.15 (99)MCG (crowd: 32,035)Report
Saturday, 6 June (4:35 pm)Gold Coast 5.11 (41)def. bySydney 13.15 (93)Metricon Stadium (crowd: 13,068)Report
Saturday, 6 June (7:20 pm)Essendon 7.11 (53)def. byGeelong 19.8 (122)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 40,632)Report
Saturday, 6 June (7:10 pm)Port Adelaide 16.4 (100)def.Western Bulldogs 9.8 (62)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 40,907)Report
Sunday, 7 June (1:10 pm)Greater Western Sydney 14.13 (97)def.Brisbane Lions 10.7 (67)Spotless Stadium (crowd: 9,079)Report
Sunday, 7 June (3:20 pm)North Melbourne 13.7 (85)def.West Coast 10.15 (75)Blundstone Arena (crowd: 12,011)Report
Sunday, 7 June (4:40 pm)St Kilda 10.9 (69)def. byHawthorn 20.12 (132)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 33,886)Report
Monday, 8 June (3:20 pm)Melbourne 13.7 (85)def. byCollingwood 17.8 (110)MCG (crowd: 66,120)Report

Round 11

Round 11
Friday, 12 June (7:20 pm)Port Adelaide 11.3 (69)def. byGeelong 14.8 (92)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 46,140)Report
Saturday, 13 June (1:40 pm)Gold Coast 7.4 (46)def. byFremantle 6.17 (53)Metricon Stadium (crowd: 8,911)Report
Saturday, 13 June (2:35 pm)West Coast 14.12 (96)def.Essendon 6.10 (46)Domain Stadium (crowd: 37,306)Report
Saturday, 13 June (7:20 pm)North Melbourne 10.15 (75)def. bySydney 14.7 (91)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 32,127)Report
Sunday, 14 June (1:10 pm)Collingwood 18.11 (119)def.Greater Western Sydney 11.11 (77)MCG (crowd: 43,390)Report
Sunday, 14 June (4:40 pm)St Kilda 12.13 (85)def.Melbourne 12.11 (83)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 25,187)Report
Bye
Adelaide, Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Hawthorn, Richmond, Western Bulldogs
  • Aaron Sandilands of Fremantle recorded 70 hit-outs against Gold Coast, the highest amount since game statistics were documented from 1965;[21] this broke the previous record of 69 which Sandilands had set only two weeks earlier.[23] However, this was later broken when Todd Goldstein recorded 80 hitouts in round 12.[25]

Round 12

Round 12
Thursday, 18 June (7:20 pm)Adelaide 12.13 (85)def. byHawthorn 17.12 (114)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 49,108)Report
Friday, 19 June (7:50 pm)Richmond 10.10 (70)def. byWest Coast 13.12 (90)MCG (crowd: 45,178)Report
Saturday, 20 June (1:40 pm)Carlton 17.8 (110)def.Port Adelaide 16.10 (106)MCG (crowd: 27,693)Report
Saturday, 20 June (4:35 pm)Greater Western Sydney 8.13 (61)def. byNorth Melbourne 18.9 (117)Spotless Stadium (crowd: 7,824)Report
Saturday, 20 June (7:20 pm)Western Bulldogs 22.14 (146)def.Brisbane Lions 11.8 (74)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 21,129)Report
Sunday, 21 June (3:20 pm)Geelong 13.11 (89)def. byMelbourne 18.5 (113)Simonds Stadium (crowd: 28,007)Report
Bye
Collingwood, Essendon, Fremantle, Gold Coast, St Kilda, Sydney

Round 13

Round 13
Thursday, 25 June (6:10 pm)Fremantle 12.8 (80)def.Collingwood 11.7 (73)Domain Stadium (crowd: 37,145)Report
Friday, 26 June (7:50 pm)Sydney 11.11 (77)def. byRichmond 14.11 (95)SCG (crowd: 37,579)Report
Saturday, 27 June (1:40 pm)Hawthorn 16.18 (114)def.Essendon 11.10 (76)MCG (crowd: 62,500)Report
Saturday, 27 June (4:35 pm)Brisbane Lions 10.9 (69)def. byAdelaide 11.16 (82)Gabba (crowd: 18,146)Report
Saturday, 27 June (7:20 pm)St Kilda 7.14 (56)def. byWestern Bulldogs 9.8 (62)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 26,511)Report
Sunday, 28 June (3:20 pm)Carlton 14.19 (103)def.Gold Coast 9.15 (69)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 30,207)Report
Bye
Geelong, Greater Western Sydney, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, West Coast

Round 14

Round 14
Thursday, 2 July (7:20 pm)Sydney 14.10 (94)def.Port Adelaide 12.12 (84)SCG (crowd: 28,316)Report
Friday, 3 July (7:50 pm)Collingwood 12.19 (91)def. byHawthorn 15.11 (101)MCG (crowd: 75,880)Report
Saturday, 4 July (1:40 pm)Richmond 10.18 (78)def.Greater Western Sydney 10.9 (69)MCG (crowd: 35,968)Report
Saturday, 4 July (4:40 pm)Gold Coast 19.11 (125)def.North Melbourne 10.10 (70)Metricon Stadium (crowd: 14,444)Report
Saturday, 4 July (7:30 pm)Western Bulldogs 9.10 (64)def.Carlton 7.11 (53)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 31,445)Report
Saturday, 4 July (7:10 pm)Melbourne 9.6 (60)def. byWest Coast 16.18 (114)TIO Stadium (crowd: 11,873)Report
Sunday, 5 July (1:10 pm)Essendon 8.4 (52)def. bySt Kilda 25.12 (162)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 38,020)Report
Sunday, 5 July (2:40 pm)Fremantle 13.6 (84)def.Brisbane Lions 7.6 (48)Domain Stadium (crowd: 32,970)Report
Sunday, 5 July (cancelled)AdelaidevGeelongAdelaide Oval
  • The match between Adelaide and Geelong was cancelled following the death of Adelaide coach Phil Walsh on 3 July, with each team receiving two premiership points. It was the first premiership match to be cancelled outright, rather than rescheduled or postponed, in VFL/AFL history.[1][27] Starting times of some other matches were adjusted slightly to accommodate tributes to Walsh.[28]
  • St Kilda recorded its highest ever score (162 points) and winning margin (110 points) against Essendon.[29]

Round 15

Round 15
Thursday, 9 July (7:20 pm)Port Adelaide 9.12 (66)def.Collingwood 9.9 (63)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 44,496)Report
Friday, 10 July (7:50 pm)Richmond 10.11 (71)def.Carlton 5.11 (41)MCG (crowd: 52,564)Report
Saturday, 11 July (1:40 pm)Essendon 10.9 (69)def.Melbourne 7.18 (60)MCG (crowd: 38,861)Report
Saturday, 11 July (4:35 pm)Western Bulldogs 14.11 (95)def.Gold Coast 11.7 (73)Cazaly's Stadium (crowd: 9,449)Report
Saturday, 11 July (7:20 pm)North Melbourne 18.12 (120)def.Geelong 11.13 (79)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 31,270)Report
Saturday, 11 July (5:40 pm)West Coast 22.15 (147)def.Adelaide 14.7 (91)Domain Stadium (crowd: 38,133)Report
Sunday, 12 July (1:10 pm)Greater Western Sydney 12.12 (84)def.St Kilda 6.13 (49)Spotless Stadium (crowd: 9,178)Report
Sunday, 12 July (3:20 pm)Hawthorn 17.13 (115)def.Fremantle 6.7 (43)Aurora Stadium (crowd: 16,792)Report
Sunday, 12 July (4:40 pm)Brisbane Lions 7.7 (49)def. bySydney 10.10 (70)Gabba (crowd: 16,936)Report

Round 16

Round 16
Friday, 17 July (7:50 pm)North Melbourne 14.9 (93)def.Essendon 9.14 (68)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 31,025)Report
Saturday, 18 July (1:45 pm)Geelong 10.12 (72)def.Western Bulldogs 9.10 (64)Simonds Stadium (crowd: 25,041)Report
Saturday, 18 July (2:10 pm)Gold Coast 12.7 (79)def. byGreater Western Sydney 13.16 (94)Metricon Stadium (crowd: 9,589)Report
Saturday, 18 July (4:35 pm)Collingwood 7.14 (56)def. byWest Coast 11.21 (87)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 36,527)Report
Saturday, 18 July (7:20 pm)Sydney 7.15 (57)def. byHawthorn 23.8 (146)ANZ Stadium (crowd: 37,369)Report
Saturday, 18 July (5:40 pm)Fremantle 13.17 (95)def.Carlton 8.5 (53)Domain Stadium (crowd: 33,581)Report
Sunday, 19 July (1:10 pm)Melbourne 8.12 (60)def.Brisbane Lions 4.12 (36)MCG (crowd: 25,149)Report
Sunday, 19 July (2:50 pm)Port Adelaide 17.11 (113)def. byAdelaide 18.8 (116)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 53,518)Report
Sunday, 19 July (4:40 pm)St Kilda 10.13 (73)def. byRichmond 13.11 (89)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 45,772)Report

Round 17

Round 17
Friday, 24 July (7:50 pm)Carlton 4.11 (35)def. byHawthorn 27.11 (173)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 26,815)Report
Saturday, 25 July (1:45 pm)Greater Western Sydney 6.6 (42)def. byGeelong 9.15 (69)StarTrack Oval (crowd: 14,667)Report
Saturday, 25 July (1:40 pm)Adelaide 19.11 (125)def.Gold Coast 12.8 (80)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 41,715)Report
Saturday, 25 July (4:35 pm)Richmond 10.18 (78)def. byFremantle 12.10 (82)MCG (crowd: 39,777)Report
Saturday, 25 July (7:20 pm)Essendon 17.14 (116)def. byPort Adelaide 20.9 (129)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 23,705)Report
Saturday, 25 July (7:20 pm)Brisbane Lions 5.8 (38)def. byNorth Melbourne 16.14 (110)Gabba (crowd: 15,563)Report
Sunday, 26 July (1:10 pm)Western Bulldogs 15.14 (104)def.Collingwood 13.8 (86)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 40,581)Report
Sunday, 26 July (3:20 pm)Melbourne 6.10 (46)def. bySt Kilda 12.11 (83)MCG (crowd: 22,945)Report
Sunday, 26 July (2:40 pm)West Coast 15.13 (103)def.Sydney 7.9 (51)Domain Stadium (crowd: 38,760)Report
  • Carlton's 138-point loss against Hawthorn set a new record as the club's heaviest ever defeat in a premiership match,[31] in addition, their score of 4.11 (35) was their lowest score against Hawthorn in history.[32]
  • Brent Harvey of North Melbourne became the fourth player in VFL/AFL history to play 400 games.[33]

Round 18

Round 18
Friday, 31 July (7:50 pm)Hawthorn 7.11 (53)def. byRichmond 10.11 (71)MCG (crowd: 66,305)Report
Saturday, 1 August (1:45 pm)Geelong 17.11 (113)def.Brisbane Lions 8.9 (57)Simonds Stadium (crowd: 21,914)Report
Saturday, 1 August (2:10 pm)Collingwood 7.12 (54)def. byMelbourne 13.13 (91)MCG (crowd: 37,894)Report
Saturday, 1 August (4:35 pm)Sydney 17.15 (117)def.Adelaide 9.11 (65)SCG (crowd: 38,690)Report
Saturday, 1 August (7:20 pm)Carlton 8.6 (54)def. byNorth Melbourne 18.10 (118)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 25,251)Report
Saturday, 1 August (7:20 pm)Gold Coast 12.11 (83)drew withWest Coast 11.17 (83)Metricon Stadium (crowd: 9,341)Report
Sunday, 2 August (12:40 pm)Port Adelaide 17.10 (112)def.St Kilda 6.13 (49)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 35,977)Report
Sunday, 2 August (3:20 pm)Essendon 5.10 (40)def. byWestern Bulldogs 19.13 (127)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 33,466)Report
Sunday, 2 August (2:40 pm)Fremantle 12.12 (84)def.Greater Western Sydney 9.9 (63)Domain Stadium (crowd: 34,626)Report

Round 19

Round 19 (Multicultural Round)
Friday, 7 August (7:20 pm)Adelaide 11.22 (88)def.Richmond 8.4 (52)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 49,116)Report
Saturday, 8 August (1:45 pm)Collingwood 16.9 (105)def.Carlton 13.9 (87)MCG (crowd: 48,133)Report
Saturday, 8 August (2:10 pm)Western Bulldogs 19.14 (128)def.Port Adelaide 9.10 (64)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 20,590)Report
Saturday, 8 August (4:35 pm)Brisbane Lions 14.16 (100)def. byGold Coast 17.12 (114)Gabba (crowd: 20,025)Report
Saturday, 8 August (7:20 pm)Geelong 14.11 (95)def.Sydney 9.9 (63)Simonds Stadium (crowd: 27,901)Report
Saturday, 8 August (5:40 pm)West Coast 11.8 (74)def. byHawthorn 13.10 (88)Domain Stadium (crowd: 34,843)Report
Sunday, 9 August (1:10 pm)Melbourne 14.8 (92)def. byNorth Melbourne 19.13 (127)MCG (crowd: 30,695)Report
Sunday, 9 August (3:20 pm)Greater Western Sydney 14.9 (93)def.Essendon 8.13 (61)Spotless Stadium (crowd: 10,093)Report
Sunday, 9 August (4:40 pm)St Kilda 8.11 (59)def. byFremantle 15.6 (96)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 16,419)Report
  • The Brisbane LionsGold Coast match featured a one-off trial of officiating a match with four field umpires instead of three. The four umpire system had previously been trialled in the pre-season, but this was the first premiership match to be officiated by four umpires.[35]

Round 20

Round 20
Friday, 14 August (7:50 pm)Sydney 13.9 (87)def.Collingwood 10.16 (76)SCG (crowd: 38,408)Report
Saturday, 15 August (1:45 pm)Essendon 8.11 (59)def. byAdelaide 27.9 (171)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 25,914)Report
Saturday, 15 August (2:10 pm)North Melbourne 18.12 (120)def.St Kilda 11.17 (83)Blundstone Arena (crowd: 14,346)Report
Saturday, 15 August (4:05 pm)Port Adelaide 16.15 (111)def.Greater Western Sydney 13.12 (90)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 32,436)Report
Saturday, 15 August (7:20 pm)Geelong 12.13 (85)def. byHawthorn 19.7 (121)MCG (crowd: 55,802)Report
Saturday, 15 August (7:20 pm)Brisbane Lions 20.11 (131)def.Carlton 9.13 (67)Gabba (crowd: 17,744)Report
Sunday, 16 August (1:10 pm)Richmond 22.6 (138)def.Gold Coast 8.7 (55)MCG (crowd: 38,508)Report
Sunday, 16 August (3:20 pm)Western Bulldogs 24.9 (153)def.Melbourne 8.7 (55)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 27,805)Report
Sunday, 16 August (2:40 pm)Fremantle 11.14 (80)def. byWest Coast 15.14 (104)Domain Stadium (crowd: 41,959)Report

Round 21

Round 21
Friday, 21 August (7:50 pm)Hawthorn 13.8 (86)def. byPort Adelaide 16.12 (108)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 28,657)Report
Saturday, 22 August (1:45 pm)Collingwood 7.14 (56)def. byRichmond 23.9 (147)MCG (crowd: 63,178)Report
Saturday, 22 August (2:10 pm)Greater Western Sydney 6.8 (44)def. bySydney 20.13 (133)Spotless Stadium (crowd: 19,507)Report
Saturday, 22 August (4:35 pm)Gold Coast 14.13 (97)def.Essendon 14.11 (95)Metricon Stadium (crowd: 16,253)Report
Saturday, 22 August (7:20 pm)St Kilda 14.13 (97)drew withGeelong 15.7 (97)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 25,245)Report
Saturday, 22 August (7:10 pm)Adelaide 20.11 (131)def.Brisbane Lions 6.8 (44)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 46,609)Report
Sunday, 23 August (1:10 pm)North Melbourne 14.10 (94)def.Fremantle 12.11 (83)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 23,857)Report
Sunday, 23 August (3:20 pm)Carlton 12.6 (78)def.Melbourne 7.13 (55)MCG (crowd: 33,962)Report
Sunday, 23 August (2:40 pm)West Coast 25.12 (162)def.Western Bulldogs 13.7 (85)Domain Stadium (crowd: 37,733)Report

Round 22

Round 22
Friday, 28 August (7:50 pm)Geelong 9.8 (62)def. byCollingwood 17.8 (110)MCG (crowd: 40,582)Report
Saturday, 29 August (1:45 pm)Greater Western Sydney 20.12 (132)def.Carlton 7.9 (51)Spotless Stadium (crowd: 9,538)Report
Saturday, 29 August (2:10 pm)Hawthorn 21.8 (134)def.Brisbane Lions 9.8 (62)Aurora Stadium (crowd: 11,731)Report
Saturday, 29 August (4:35 pm)North Melbourne 10.13 (73)def. byWestern Bulldogs 14.12 (96)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 37,299)Report
Saturday, 29 August (7:20 pm)Essendon 7.5 (47)def. byRichmond 10.14 (74)MCG (crowd: 37,864)Report
Saturday, 29 August (7:20 pm)Gold Coast 7.9 (51)def. byPort Adelaide 12.16 (88)Metricon Stadium (crowd: 9,343)Report
Sunday, 30 August (1:10 pm)Adelaide 19.12 (126)def.West Coast 10.9 (69)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 52,460)Report
Sunday, 30 August (3:20 pm)St Kilda 4.14 (38)def. bySydney 20.15 (135)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 27,856)Report
Sunday, 30 August (2:40 pm)Fremantle 17.6 (108)def.Melbourne 8.6 (54)Domain Stadium (crowd: 33,529)Report

Round 23

Round 23
Friday, 4 September (7:50 pm)Richmond 16.12 (108)def.North Melbourne 10.7 (67)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 40,461)Report
Saturday, 5 September (1:05 pm)Geelong 17.17 (119)def.Adelaide 11.14 (80)Simonds Stadium (crowd: 26,128)Report
Saturday, 5 September (1:45 pm)Brisbane Lions 19.16 (130)def.Western Bulldogs 19.8 (122)Gabba (crowd: 15,434)Report
Saturday, 5 September (3:20 pm)Port Adelaide 18.14 (122)def.Fremantle 8.5 (53)Adelaide Oval (crowd: 37,922)Report
Saturday, 5 September (4:40 pm)Hawthorn 17.11 (113)def.Carlton 8.8 (56)MCG (crowd: 33,182)Report
Saturday, 5 September (7:25 pm)Sydney 19.13 (127)def.Gold Coast 9.10 (64)SCG (crowd: 25,424)Report
Saturday, 5 September (5:40 pm)West Coast 18.17 (125)def.St Kilda 4.6 (30)Domain Stadium (crowd: 36,165)Report
Sunday, 6 September (1:10 pm)Melbourne 15.13 (103)def.Greater Western Sydney 11.11 (77)Etihad Stadium (crowd: 8,974)Report
Sunday, 6 September (3:20 pm)Collingwood 14.8 (92)def. byEssendon 14.11 (95)MCG (crowd: 40,270)Report
  • Fremantle and North Melbourne both received permission from the AFL under its competitive integrity rules to omit several key senior players in this round to manage their fatigue for the finals: Fremantle's finishing position could not change based on the outcome of its game, and although North Melbourne's position could change, the league ruled that North Melbourne was not attempting to manipulate its finals draw. Fremantle made twelve team changes, equalling the all-time record associated with the St Kilda players' strike of 1911, then broke the record outright with thirteen changes bringing its players back for the qualifying finals; this record stood until 2022.[37] North Melbourne made nine changes.[38]
  • Melbourne ended a 22-game losing streak at Docklands Stadium dating back to round 19, 2007.[39]
  • The crowd of 8,974 for the match between Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney is the lowest ever for an attended AFL premiership match at Docklands Stadium.[40]
  • The crowd of 40,270 for Collingwood vs. Essendon was the lowest between the two clubs since it had become standard to move matches between the clubs away from their smaller suburban grounds and to the Melbourne Cricket Ground or Waverley Park in 1988.[41]

Season notes

Win/loss table

Team1234567891011121314151617181920212223F1F2F3GFLadder
AdelaideNM
+77
Coll
+27
Melb
+25
WB
-57
PA
-24
GCS
+41
StK
+46
GWS
-24
Frem
-11
Carl
+9
XHaw
-29
BL
+13
Geel
C
WCE
-56
PA
+3
GCS
+45
Syd
-52
Rich
+36
Ess
+112
BL
+87
WCE
+57
Geel
-39
WB
+7
Haw
-74
XX7
Brisbane LionsColl
-12
NM
-82
Rich
-79
WCE
-53
GCS
-64
Carl
+9
PA
+37
Ess
-58
StK
-22
GWS
-30
XWB
-72
Adel
-13
Frem
-36
Syd
-21
Melb
-24
NM
-72
Geel
-56
GCS
-14
Carl
+64
Adel
-87
Haw
-72
WB
+8
XXXX17
CarltonRich
-27
WCE
-69
Ess
-21
StK
+40
Coll
-75
BL
-9
GWS
-78
Geel
-77
Syd
-60
Adel
-9
XPA
+4
GCS
+34
WB
-11
Rich
-30
Frem
-42
Haw
-138
NM
-64
Coll
-18
BL
-64
Melb
+23
GWS
-81
Haw
-57
XXXX18
CollingwoodBL
+12
Adel
-27
StK
+74
Ess
+20
Carl
+75
Geel
-41
Rich
-5
GCS
+69
NM
+17
Melb
+25
GWS
+42
XFrem
-7
Haw
-10
PA
-3
WCE
-31
WB
-18
Melb
-37
Carl
+18
Syd
-11
Rich
-91
Geel
+48
Ess
-3
XXXX12
EssendonSyd
-12
Haw
+2
Carl
+21
Coll
-20
StK
+2
Frem
-28
NM
-11
BL
+58
Rich
-13
Geel
-69
WCE
-50
XHaw
-38
StK
-110
Melb
+9
NM
-25
PA
-13
WB
-87
GWS
-32
Adel
-112
GCS
-2
Rich
-27
Coll
+3
XXXX15
FremantlePA
+7
Geel
+44
WCE
+30
Syd
+14
Melb
+68
Ess
+28
WB
+13
NM
+73
Adel
+11
Rich
-27
GCS
+7
XColl
+7
BL
+36
Haw
-72
Carl
+42
Rich
+4
GWS
+21
StK
+37
WCE
-24
NM
-11
Melb
+54
PA
-69
Syd
+9
XHaw
-27
X1
GeelongHaw
62
Frem
-44
GCS
+9
NM
-16
Rich
+9
Coll
+41
Syd
-43
Carl
+77
WCE
-56
Ess
+69
PA
+23
Melb
-24
XAdel
C
NM
-41
WB
+8
GWS
+27
BL
+56
Syd
+32
Haw
-36
StK
0
Coll
-48
Adel
+39
XXXX10
Gold CoastMelb
-26
StK
-28
Geel
-9
GWS
-66
BL
+64
Adel
-41
WCE
-92
Coll
-69
Haw
-53
Syd
-52
Frem
-7
XCarl
-34
NM
+55
WB
-22
GWS
-15
Adel
-45
WCE
0
BL
+14
Rich
-83
Ess
+2
PA
-37
Syd
-63
XXXX16
Greater Western SydneyStK
+9
Melb
+45
Syd
-21
GCS
+66
WCE
-87
Haw
+10
Carl
+78
Adel
+24
WB
-45
BL
+30
Coll
-42
NM
-56
XRich
-9
StK
+35
GCS
+15
Geel
-27
Frem
-21
Ess
+32
PA
-21
Syd
-89
Carl
+81
Melb
-26
XXXX11
HawthornGeel
+62
Ess
-2
WB
+70
PA
-8
NM
+60
GWS
-10
Melb
+105
Syd
-4
GCS
+53
StK
+63
XAdel
+29
Ess
+38
Coll
+10
Frem
+72
Syd
+89
Carl
+138
Rich
-18
WCE
+14
Geel
+36
PA
-22
BL
+72
Carl
+57
WCE
-32
Adel
+74
Frem
+27
WCE
+46
3
MelbourneGCS
+26
GWS
-45
Adel
-25
Rich
+32
Frem
-68
Syd
-38
Haw
-105
WB
+39
PA
-61
Coll
-25
StK
-2
Geel
+24
XWCE
-54
Ess
-9
BL
+24
StK
-37
Coll
+37
NM
-35
WB
-98
Carl
-23
Frem
-54
GWS
+26
XXXX13
North MelbourneAdel
-77
BL
+82
PA
-8
Geel
+16
Haw
-60
Rich
+35
Ess
+11
Frem
-73
Coll
-17
WCE
+10
Syd
-16
GWS
+56
XGCS
-55
Geel
+41
Ess
+25
BL
+72
Carl
+64
Melb
+35
StK
+37
Frem
+11
WB
-23
Rich
-41
Rich
+17
Syd
+26
WCE
-25
X8
Port AdelaideFrem
-7
Syd
-48
NM
+8
Haw
+8
Adel
+24
WCE
-10
BL
-37
Rich
-33
Melb
+61
WB
+38
Geel
-23
Carl
-4
XSyd
-10
Coll
+3
Adel
-3
Ess
+13
StK
+63
WB
-64
GWS
+21
Haw
+22
GCS
+37
Frem
+69
XXXX9
RichmondCarl
+27
WB
-19
BL
+79
Melb
-32
Geel
-9
NM
-35
Coll
+5
PA
+33
Ess
+13
Frem
+27
XWCE
-20
Syd
+18
GWS
+9
Carl
+30
StK
+16
Frem
-4
Haw
+18
Adel
-36
GCS
+83
Coll
+91
Ess
+27
NM
+41
NM
-17
XXX5
St KildaGWS
-9
GCS
+28
Coll
-74
Carl
-40
Ess
-2
WB
+7
Adel
-46
WCE
-53
BL
+22
Haw
-63
Melb
+2
XWB
-6
Ess
+110
GWS
-35
Rich
-16
Melb
+37
PA
-63
Frem
-37
NM
-37
Geel
0
Syd
-97
WCE
-95
XXXX14
SydneyEss
+12
PA
+48
GWS
+21
Frem
-14
WB
-4
Melb
+38
Geel
+43
Haw
+4
Carl
+60
GCS
+52
NM
+16
XRich
-18
PA
+10
BL
+21
Haw
-89
WCE
-52
Adel
+52
Geel
-32
Coll
+11
GWS
+89
StK
+97
GCS
+63
Frem
-9
NM
-26
XX4
West CoastWB
-10
Carl
+69
Frem
-30
BL
+53
GWS
+87
PA
+10
GCS
+92
StK
+53
Geel
+56
NM
-10
Ess
+50
Rich
+20
XMelb
+54
Adel
+56
Coll
+31
Syd
+52
GCS
0
Haw
-14
Frem
+24
WB
+77
Adel
-57
StK
+95
Haw
+32
XNM
+25
Haw
-46
2
Western BulldogsWCE
+10
Rich
+19
Haw
-70
Adel
+57
Syd
+4
StK
-7
Frem
-13
Melb
-39
GWS
+45
PA
-38
XBL
+72
StK
+6
Carl
+11
GCS
+22
Geel
-8
Coll
+18
Ess
+87
PA
+64
Melb
+98
WCE
-77
NM
+23
BL
-8
Adel
-7
XXX6
Team1234567891011121314151617181920212223F1F2F3GFLadder
+WinQualified for finals
-LossXBye
DrawEliminated

Bold – Home game
X – Bye
C – Cancelled[a]
Opponent for round listed above margin

Ladder

2015 AFL ladder
PosTeamPldWLDPFPAPPPts
1Fremantle22175018571564118.768Finals series
2West Coast22165123301572148.266
3Hawthorn (P)22166024521548158.464
4Sydney22166020061578127.164
5Richmond22157019301568123.160
6Western Bulldogs22148021011825115.156
7Adelaide21138021071821115.754[b]
8North Melbourne22139020621937106.552
9Port Adelaide221210020021874106.848
10Geelong21119118531833101.148[b]
11Greater Western Sydney22111101872189199.044
12Collingwood221012019721856106.340
13Melbourne2271501573204477.028
14St Kilda2261511695216278.426
15Essendon2261601580213474.024
16Gold Coast2241711633224072.918
17Brisbane Lions2241801557230667.516
18Carlton2241801525235464.816
Source: [48]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers
Notes:

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.
  Underlined numbers indicate that the team had a bye during that round.
Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223
Fremantle48121620242832363640404448485256606464646868
West Coast044812162024282832363640444852545458626266
Hawthorn448812121616202424283236404448485256566064
Sydney48121212162024283236363640444444484852566064
Richmond4488881216202424242832364040444448525660
Western Bulldogs4881216161616202020242832363640444852525656
Adelaide48121212162020202424242830303438384246505454
North Melbourne04488121616162020242424283236404448525252
Port Adelaide004812121212162020202020242428323236404448
Geelong00448121216162024242426263034384242444448
Greater Western Sydney4881212162024242828282828323636364040404444
Collingwood4481216161620242832323232323232323636364040
Melbourne444888812121212161616162020242424242428
St Kilda04444888121216161620202024242424262626
Essendon048812121216161616161616202020202020202024
Gold Coast00004444444448888101414181818
Brisbane Lions000004888888888888812121216
Carlton0004444444481212121212121212161616
Source: [citation needed]

Finals series

Qualifying and elimination finalsSemi-finalsPreliminary finalsGrand final
12 Sep, Domain Stadium
1Fremantle10.9 (69)
4Sydney7.18 (60)19 Sep, ANZ Stadium
Sydney7.9 (51)
13 Sep, MCGNorth Melbourne11.11 (77)25 Sep, Domain Stadium
5Richmond14.4 (88)Fremantle10.7 (67)
8North Melbourne15.15 (105)Hawthorn15.4 (94)3 Oct, MCG
Hawthorn16.11 (107)
12 Sep, MCG26 Sep, Domain StadiumWest Coast8.13 (61)
6Western Bulldogs14.18 (102)West Coast10.20 (80)
7Adelaide16.13 (109)18 Sep, MCGNorth Melbourne7.13 (55)
Hawthorn21.9 (135)
11 Sep, Domain StadiumAdelaide8.13 (61)
2West Coast14.12 (96)
3Hawthorn9.10 (64)

Week one

Qualifying Finals
QF2: Friday, 11 September (6:20 pm)West Coast 14.12 (96)def.Hawthorn 9.10 (64)Domain Stadium (crowd: 42,663)Report
QF1: Saturday, 12 September (1:20 pm)Fremantle 10.9 (69)def.Sydney 7.18 (60)Domain Stadium (crowd: 40,071)Report
Elimination Finals
EF2: Saturday, 12 September (7:20 pm)Western Bulldogs 14.18 (102)def. byAdelaide 16.13 (109)MCG (crowd: 60,782)Report
EF1: Sunday, 13 September (3:20 pm)Richmond 14.4 (88)def. byNorth Melbourne 15.15 (105)MCG (crowd: 90,186)Report

Week two

Semi-finals
SF2: Friday, 18 September (7:50 pm)Hawthorn 21.9 (135)def.Adelaide 8.13 (61)MCG (crowd: 70,879)Report
SF1: Saturday, 19 September (7:20 pm)Sydney 7.9 (51)def. byNorth Melbourne 11.11 (77)ANZ Stadium (crowd: 31,162)Report

Week three

Preliminary Finals
PF1: Friday, 25 September (6:20 pm)Fremantle 10.7 (67)def. byHawthorn 15.4 (94)Domain Stadium (crowd: 41,508)Report
PF2: Saturday, 26 September (5:45 pm)West Coast 10.20 (80)def.North Melbourne 7.13 (55)Domain Stadium (crowd: 43,080)Report

Week four

Grand Final
GF: Saturday, 3 October (2:30 pm)Hawthorn 16.11 (107)def.West Coast 8.13 (61)MCG (crowd: 98,633)Report

Attendances

By club

2015 AFL attendances[51]
ClubTotalGamesAvg. Per GameHome TotalHome GamesHome Avg.
Adelaide90472623393364648681046487
Brisbane Lions46746622212482070161118820
Carlton76005522345484230181138456
Collingwood105404422479115198441147259
Essendon89433522406524675521142505
Fremantle77249724321873983081136210
Geelong72005221342883253951129581
Gold Coast39432122179241359661112361
Greater Western Sydney40201922182741186511110786
Hawthorn115360026443694248841138626
Melbourne65380222297182768021125164
North Melbourne77340225309362824171125674
Port Adelaide73726922335124718401142895
Richmond114459023497645486421149877
St Kilda59005122268212852621125933
Sydney77225224321773467351131521
West Coast88981625355933958601135987
Western Bulldogs65506323284812574641123406

By ground

2015 ground attendances[51]
GroundTotalGamesAvg. Per Game
Adelaide Oval9368902144614
ANZ Stadium119868429967
Aurora Stadium55402413851
Blundstone Arena43901314634
Cazaly's Stadium944919449
Domain Stadium9614902636980
Etihad Stadium13018784628302
Gabba2070161118820
MCG24952875049906
Metricon Stadium1359661112361
SCG258029832254
Simonds Stadium196979824622
Spotless Stadium88256811032
StarTrack Oval30395310132
TIO Stadium11873111873
TIO Traeger Park486614866
Westpac Stadium12125112125

Awards

Milestones

NameClubMilestoneRound
Heritier LumumbaMelbourne200 AFL games[68]Round 1
Sam FisherSt Kilda200 AFL games[69]Round 2
Brendon GoddardEssendon250 AFL games[70]Round 3
Grant BirchallHawthorn200 AFL games[71]Round 7
Jarrad McVeighSydney250 AFL games[72]Round 7
Scott PendleburyCollingwood200 AFL games[73]Round 8
Kane CornesPort Adelaide300 AFL games[74]Round 8
Angus MonfriesPort Adelaide200 AFL games[75]Round 9
Heath ShawGreater Western Sydney200 AFL games[76]Round 9
Dustin FletcherEssendon400 AFL games[20]Round 9
Michael JohnsonFremantle200 AFL games[77]Round 10
Corey EnrightGeelong300 AFL games[78]Round 12
Farren RaySt Kilda200 AFL games[79]Round 13
Matthew BoydWestern Bulldogs250 AFL games[80]Round 14
Jobe WatsonEssendon200 AFL games[81]Round 14
Dane SwanCollingwood250 AFL games[82]Round 15
Luke McPharlinFremantle250 AFL games[83]Round 15
Dale MorrisWestern Bulldogs200 AFL games[84]Round 16
Lance FranklinSydney700 AFL goals[85]Round 16
Marc MurphyCarlton200 AFL games[86]Round 17
Troy ChaplinRichmond200 AFL games[87]Round 17
Brent HarveyNorth Melbourne400 AFL games[33]Round 17
Jed AdcockBrisbane Lions200 AFL games[88]Round 17
Jarrad WaiteNorth Melbourne200 AFL games[89]Round 18
Joel SelwoodGeelong200 AFL games[90]Round 19
Sean DempsterSt Kilda200 AFL games[91]Round 19
Steve JohnsonGeelong250 AFL games[92]Round 20
Paul RoosMelbourne600 AFL games played/coached[93]Round 21
Michael FirritoNorth Melbourne250 AFL games[94]Round 22
Ted RichardsSydney250 AFL games[95]Round 22
Nathan JonesMelbourne200 AFL games[96]Round 22
Nathan Van BerloAdelaide200 AFL games[97]Round 23
Brian LakeHawthorn250 AFL games[98]Preliminary final
Nick Dal SantoNorth Melbourne300 AFL games[99]Preliminary final

Coleman Medal

  • Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the player led the Coleman that round.
  • Underlined numbers indicates the player did not play that round.

Best and fairest

ClubAward namePlayerRef.
AdelaideMalcolm Blight MedalPatrick Dangerfield[100]
Brisbane LionsMerrett–Murray MedalDayne Beams[101]
Stefan Martin
Mitch Robinson
Dayne Zorko
CarltonJohn Nicholls MedalPatrick Cripps[102]
CollingwoodCopeland TrophyScott Pendlebury[103]
EssendonCrichton MedalCale Hooker[104]
FremantleDoig MedalAaron Sandilands[105]
GeelongCarji Greeves MedalMark Blicavs[106]
Gold CoastClub ChampionTom Lynch[107]
Greater Western SydneyKevin Sheedy MedalHeath Shaw[108]
HawthornPeter Crimmins MedalJosh Gibson[109]
MelbourneKeith 'Bluey' Truscott MedalBernie Vince[110]
North MelbourneSyd Barker MedalTodd Goldstein[111]
Port AdelaideJohn Cahill MedalRobbie Gray[112]
RichmondJack Dyer MedalAlex Rance[113]
St KildaTrevor Barker AwardJack Steven[114]
SydneyBob Skilton MedalJosh Kennedy[115]
West CoastJohn Worsfold MedalAndrew Gaff[116]
Western BulldogsCharles Sutton MedalEaston Wood[117]

Club leadership

ClubCoachCaptain(s)Vice-captain(s)Leadership group
AdelaidePhil Walsh (Rds 1–13);[1]
Scott Camporeale (Rds 15–SF)[118]
Taylor Walker[119]Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane, Daniel Talia, Scott Thompson, Nathan van Berlo[120]
Brisbane LionsJustin LeppitschTom Rockliff[121]Pearce Hanley, Daniel Rich, Dayne Zorko
CarltonMick Malthouse (Rds 1–8);
John Barker (Rds 9–23)
Marc MurphyBryce Gibbs, Michael JamisonLachie Henderson, Sam Rowe[122]
CollingwoodNathan BuckleyScott PendleburyNathan Brown, Travis Cloke, Tyson Goldsack, Steele Sidebottom[123]
EssendonJames Hird (Rds 1–20);[124]
Matthew Egan (Rds 21–23)
Jobe WatsonPaul Chapman, Brendon Goddard, Dyson Heppell, Cale Hooker, David Myers, Brent Stanton, David Zaharakis[125]
FremantleRoss LyonMatthew PavlichNat Fyfe, Luke McPharlin, David Mundy, Aaron Sandilands, Lee Spurr[126]
GeelongChris ScottJoel SelwoodHarry TaylorCorey Enright, Tom Hawkins, Andrew Mackie[127]
Gold CoastRodney EadeGary AblettTom Lynch, Nick Malceski, Dion Prestia, Michael Rischitelli, David Swallow[128]
Greater Western SydneyLeon CameronPhil Davis
Callan Ward
Tom Scully, Heath Shaw[129]Shane Mumford
HawthornAlastair ClarksonLuke HodgeJarryd Roughead, Jordan Lewis
MelbournePaul RoosNathan JonesLynden DunnDaniel Cross, Chris Dawes, Jack Grimes, Heritier Lumumba[130]
North MelbourneBrad ScottAndrew SwallowJack Ziebell, Drew PetrieNick Dal Santo, Sam Gibson, Jamie Macmillan, Drew Petrie, Scott Thompson, Jack Ziebell[131]
Port AdelaideKen HinkleyTravis BoakBrad Ebert, Matthew Lobbe[132]Hamish Hartlett, Tom Jonas, Jackson Trengove, Ollie Wines
RichmondDamien HardwickTrent CotchinBrett Deledio, Ivan Maric[133]Troy Chaplin, Steven Morris[134]
St KildaAlan RichardsonNick RiewoldtDavid Armitage, Sean Dempster, Jarryn Geary, Leigh Montagna, Jack Newnes, Maverick Weller[135]
SydneyJohn LongmireKieren Jack
Jarrad McVeigh
Adam Goodes, Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker, Rhyce Shaw, Nick Smith[136]
West CoastAdam SimpsonShannon Hurn[137]Josh Kennedy, Scott SelwoodEric Mackenzie, Matt Priddis, Beau Waters[138]
Western BulldogsLuke BeveridgeRobert Murphy[139]Jordan RougheadMatthew Boyd, Tom Liberatore, Dale Morris[140]

Coach changes

CoachClubDateNotesCaretakerNew coach
Mick MalthouseCarlton26 May 2015Sacked after the Carlton board lost trust in Malthouse and the club and coach were not aligned, in addition to the club suffering from poor results on the field.[141][142]John BarkerBrendon Bolton[143]
Phil WalshAdelaide3 July 2015DeceasedScott CamporealeDon Pyke[144]
James HirdEssendon18 August 2015Resigned due to poor on-field performances[124]Matthew EganJohn Worsfold[145]

Club financials

2015 AFL membership figures
ClubMembers[146]Change from 2014% Change from 2014
Adelaide52,920 1,329 2.45%
Brisbane Lions25,408 1,396 5.81%
Carlton47,305 180 0.38%
Collingwood75,037 2,850 5.43%
Essendon60,818 172 0.28%
Fremantle51,433 2,656 5.45%
Geelong44,312 509 1.16%
Gold Coast13,643 165 1.22%
Greater Western Sydney13,480 440 3.37%
Hawthorn72,924 4,274 6.23%
Melbourne35,953 42 0.12%
North Melbourne41,012 2425 6.15%
Port Adelaide54,057 5,089 10.39%
Richmond70,809 4,687 7.09%
St Kilda32,746 2,007 6.53%
Sydney48,836 8,710 21.71%
West Coast60,221 1,692 2.89%
Western Bulldogs35,222 3,684 11.68%
Total836,136 31,656 3.93%

Post-season

International Rules Series

The International Rules Series returned in November 2015, with Ireland entitled to the hosting rights. The match was played on Saturday, 21 November 2015 at Dublin's Croke Park. A highly qualified Australian side, who were looking for back-to-back series wins, fell to a classy Irish team by 4 points.[147]

2015 International Rules Test
Saturday, 21 November (7:00pm IST)Ireland 3.11.5 (56)def.Australia 1.13.7 (52)Croke Park, Dublin (crowd: 38,386)Report

Notable events and controversies

Doping and drugs

The AFL suffered significant bad publicity during 2015 related to four cases of illicit substance abuse in AFL clubs – three related to doping and one related to recreational drugs:

  • The Essendon Football Club supplements controversy – relating to the supplements program operating at the Essendon Football Club during the 2011/12 offseason – continued to be heard during the 2015 season. The 34 players implicated in the controversy were served with infraction notices in November 2014, and were provisionally suspended until their hearings at the AFL anti-doping tribunal were complete.[148] In the week before the start of the AFL season, the players were found not guilty and their suspensions were lifted.[149] In May 2015, the World Anti-Doping Agency announced an appeal of the not guilty verdicts to the Court of Arbitration for Sport;[150] this was ultimately heard in early 2016, and resulted in the not guilty verdicts being overturned and many players being suspended for the 2016 season.
  • Ryan Crowley (Fremantle) faced the AFL anti-doping tribunal after having tested positive to a banned substance in a drug test after Fremantle's round 17, 2014 win against Greater Western Sydney. He commenced a provisional suspension commenced after a positive confirmation tests (also known as B-sample) mid September 2014. He appeared before the AFL Tribunal in May 2015, and was found guilty suspended for twelve months, backdated to the beginning of his provisional suspension; he became eligible to play again on 25 September 2015. The banned substance has not been identified, but is understood to have been present in a painkiller which Crowley had taken but which was not prescribed by the club doctor.[151]
  • Lachlan Keeffe and Josh Thomas (both of Collingwood) tested positive to the banned substance clenbuterol in drug tests taken in February 2015. Both accepted provisional suspensions in March and returned positive B-samples in May.[152] Both were handed infraction notices in July[153] and accepted two-year bans in August (backdated to March), in addition they were delisted and fined $50,000 each by Collingwood.[154]
  • In late June, former Gold Coast player Karmichael Hunt, who was being investigated by the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission over allegations of cocaine supply and possession, named several current Gold Coast players as having taken illicit recreational drugs during his time at the club.[155] Although nothing further came from Hunt's allegations, days later, photographs from early 2013 emerged showing Gold Coast's Harley Bennell using speed; and a teammate, whose anonymity is protected under the AFL's drugs policy, self-reported shortly afterwards that he had also been present and taken the drug.[156] Bennell was fined $5000 and suspended for three matches.[157]

Death of Phil Walsh

In the early hours of Friday 3 July 2015, Adelaide coach Phil Walsh was found dead at his Adelaide residency following a domestic violence incident; he was killed by his son, Cy, who was charged with his murder, and ultimately found not guilty due to mental incompetence, meaning he is now subject to a lifetime psychiatric supervision order and is permanently detained at the James Nash House forensic Mental Health Facility.[158] Walsh's wife Meredith also suffered injuries in the incident.[1] In the immediate aftermath, the match between Adelaide and Geelong, which was to have been played on Sunday 5 July, was cancelled, with the clubs sharing two premiership points each.[27] At the remaining seven matches of the round (Sydney and Port Adelaide had already played on Thursday night), respect was paid to Walsh by observing moments of silence both before and after the match; and pre- and post-match celebrations or promotions, including the playing of club songs and running through banners, were not carried out.[159]

References