The 2021 VFL home-and-away season has now finished, as announced by the AFL tonight.
The decision to further cut the season is a result of the evolving COVID-19 situation across the country, previous interruptions to scheduled games and an extension to the Victorian State Government lockdown.
The league has confirmed the match ratio system has determined the final ladder positions, ahead of the 2021 VFL Finals Series set to begin on Saturday 4 September.
The finals will retain the top eight clubs but in an elimination format should they be able to start on the weekend of September 4. The AFL has put a contingency in place should there be any further delays.
The 2021 VFL Finals Series will revert to a full knockout competition, with first playing eighth, second v seventh, third v sixth and fourth v fifth in the first week.
It means undefeated ladder leaders Footscray will match-up against GWS Giants in Week One.
Week Two would then see the four winners matched-up in the VFL Preliminary Finals.
A further reduction - that only allows a two-week finals series - would mean teams 5-8 are eliminated and it will be first v fourth and second v third for a spot in the VFL Grand Final.
In this case, Footscray would face off against Geelong.
VFL Finals Games will continue to be shown with broadcast partners the Seven Network, Foxtel and Kayo.
As the only interstate team not currently based in Victoria, the AFL is continuing to work with Southport to explore all possible arrangements to have them play in the 2021 VFL Finals after finishing second.
The AFL will explore all options to investigate ways to get fans back to the footy as safely and as soon as possible. VFL and VFL Club digital channels will have all the ticketing information for fans as each weekend’s games are released and fans can return to matches.
While COVID-19 continues to impact the community, the health and welfare of players and the community remains the priority.
All matches will operate in a safe manner anchored in the advice of respective governments, public health officials and medical experts, with strict protocols in place to protect players, officials, staff and the wider public when matches return.
2021 VFL Premiership Ladder – Match Ratio Formula
G W L D Win % Points %
1 Footscray 10 10 0 0 100 169.74
2 Southport 10 9 1 0 90 180.72
3 Box Hill Hawks 10 8 2 0 80 167.7
4 Geelong 9 7 2 0 77.77 167.3
5 Casey Demons 9 7 2 0 77.77 166.6
6 Williamstown 9 6 2 1 72.22 136.41
7 Collingwood 9 6 3 0 66.66 92.68
8 GWS Giants 11 7 4 0 63.63 94.35
9 Werribee 9 5 4 0 55.55 147.49
10 Frankston 11 6 5 0 54.54 103.79
11 Richmond 10 4 5 1 45 103.4
12 Carlton 9 4 5 0 44.44 101.28
13 Sandringham 9 4 5 0 44.44 94.13
14 Gold Coast Suns 10 4 6 0 40 76.8
15 North Melbourne 10 4 6 0 40 56.95
16 Coburg 10 3 7 0 30 95.08
17 Brisbane Lions 10 3 7 0 30 65.71
18 Northern Bullants 10 3 7 0 30 62.61
19 Sydney Swans 10 2 8 0 20 88.9
20 Essendon 10 2 8 0 20 64.41
21 Port Melbourne 9 1 8 0 11.11 67.42
22 Aspley 10 1 9 0 10 73.01
