The 1994 AFL season was the 98th 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 fifteen clubs, ran from 26 March until 1 October, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs – an increase from the six clubs which had contested the finals in previous years.
The premiership was won by the West Coast Eagles for the second time, after it defeated by 80 points in the 1994 AFL Grand Final.
Foster's Cup
15.12 (102) defeated 9.14 (68) in the final.
Rule changes There were several significant alterations to the laws of the game brought in for the 1994 season: The number of interchange players was increased from two to three which, when added to the "run on" team of 18 on-the-field players, increased the standard team squad size to 21 players. The number of field umpires was increased from two to three. Playing time was reduced from 25 minutes per quarter to 20 minutes, but additional stoppages (including all scores and boundary throw-ins) attracted "time-on" allocations; the total reduction of playing time was approximately 10%. The size of each club's senior playing list was significantly reduced from 52 to 42 players from the 1994 season (with the exception of the struggling , which was granted a list of 50 players). Victorian clubs could list ten players on a supplementary list to make up the numbers for their reserves teams, but these players were ineligible for AFL senior selection. The change was part of an AFL Commission plan to shut down the AFL reserves competition by 1995, however the reserves competition was not dissolved until the end of the 1999 season. Advertising was permitted for the first time on the backs of guernseys. Small sponsors' logos had previously been permitted over the breast and on the shorts, but the new regulations allowed for logos 30 cm long and 8 cm high below the number on the back of the guernsey, which has since become the prime advertising location on guernseys. Under the original rules, the logo was required to be consistent with the colour of the guernsey, a stipulation which has since been relaxed.
Home-and-away season
Round 1
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.12 (114) |||| 16.7 (103) ||Victoria Park|| 25,602 ||Saturday 26, March |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.11 (113) |||| 17.9 (111) ||Whitten Oval || 18,592 ||Saturday 26, March |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 15.7 (97) |||| 23.15 (153) ||Waverley Park || 29,582 ||Saturday 26, March |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 12.10 (82) |||| 11.13 (79) ||MCG || 39,492 ||Saturday 26, March |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 26.18 (174) |||| 16.13 (109) ||MCG || 39,741 ||Sunday 27, March |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.21 (99) |||| 12.17 (89) ||Gabba|| 7,901 ||Sunday 27, March |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 22.18 (150) |||| 13.6 (84) ||Football Park || 44,953 ||Sunday 27, March
Round 2
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.10 (112) |||| 14.15 (99) ||Optus Oval|| 24,872 ||Saturday 2, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 21.16 (142) |||| 10.13 (73) ||MCG || 27,195 ||Saturday 2, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 8.16 (64) |||| 17.16 (118) ||Waverley Park || 29,581 ||Saturday 2, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 14.13 (97) |||| 11.12 (78) ||Subiaco Oval || 28,228 ||Sunday 3, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 20.14 (134) |||| 11.6 (72) ||MCG || 15,333 ||Sunday 3, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 22.20 (152) |||| 8.16 (64) ||Kardinia Park || 24,019 ||Monday 4, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 9.12 (66) |||| 14.16 (100) ||MCG || 85,063 ||Monday 4, April
Round 3
! Home team ! Home team ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 25.23 (173) |||| 6.10 (46) ||MCG || 36,726 ||Friday 8, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.12 (108) |||| 14.10 (94) ||Waverley Park || 30,454 ||Saturday 9, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.9 (111) |||| 12.6 (78) ||Whitten Oval || 8,829 ||Saturday 9, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 5.9 (39) |||| 20.15 (135) ||MCG || 19,609 ||Saturday 9, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 14.15 (99) |||| 10.10 (70) ||Optus Oval|| 28,496 ||Sunday 10, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 14.11 (95) |||| 12.22 (94) ||MCG || 38,307 ||Sunday 10, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 21.9 (135) |||| 24.10 (154) ||SCG|| 11,068 ||Sunday 10, April
Round 4
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.20 (86) |||| 10.12 (72) ||SCG|| 9,727 ||Friday 15, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.7 (73) |||| 24.16 (160) ||Waverley Park || 30,944 ||Saturday 16, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 14.15 (99) |||| 17.10 (112) ||Whitten Oval || 21,630 ||Saturday 16, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 9.12 (66) |||| 12.12 (84) ||MCG || 61,193 ||Saturday 16, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 18.21 (129) |||| 8.5 (53) ||WACA|| 28,980 ||Saturday 16, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 22.19 (151) |||| 15.8 (98) ||Gabba|| 11,290 ||Sunday 17, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 15.14 (104) |||| 11.11 (77) ||Football Park || 45,638 ||Sunday 17, April
Round 5
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.15 (117) |||| 4.6 (30) ||MCG || 20,946 ||Friday 22, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.18 (120) |||| 15.15 (105) ||Kardinia Park || 23,490 ||Saturday 23, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 20.17 (137) |||| 20.9 (129) ||Whitten Oval || 10,514 ||Saturday 23, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 14.14 (98) |||| 14.10 (94) ||MCG || 74,330 ||Saturday 23, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.15 (93) |||| 17.8 (110) ||Football Park || 44,426 ||Sunday 24, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 8.10 (58) |||| 19.15 (129) ||Subiaco Oval || 27,357 ||Sunday 24, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 10.10 (70) |||| 15.22 (112) ||Waverley Park || 37,870 ||Monday 25, April
Round 6
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 20.14 (134) |||| 11.8 (74) ||Optus Oval|| 22,810 ||Saturday 30, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 8.7 (55) |||| 9.6 (60) ||Waverley Park || 47,211 ||Saturday 30, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.8 (86) |||| 18.15 (123) ||MCG || 27,022 ||Saturday 30, April |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.8 (110) |||| 18.13 (121) ||Gabba|| 9,457 ||Saturday 30, April
Round 7
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 12.16 (88) |||| 11.9 (75) ||Waverley Park || 33,927 ||Saturday 7, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 20.13 (133) |||| 13.14 (92) ||Optus Oval|| 14,614 ||Saturday 7, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 8.10 (58) |||| 13.12 (90) ||MCG || 34,601 ||Saturday 7, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.7 (109) |||| 16.14 (110) ||SCG|| 9,295 ||Sunday 8, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 18.16 (124) |||| 13.18 (96) ||MCG || 52,342 ||Sunday 8, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 12.14 (86) |||| 7.7 (49) ||Whitten Oval || 12,181 ||Sunday 8, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.19 (115) |||| 6.13 (49) ||Subiaco Oval || 26,676 ||Sunday 8, May
Round 8
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.11 (107) |||| 20.15 (135) ||MCG || 50,227 ||Friday 13, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 25.16 (166) |||| 10.7 (67) ||Waverley Park || 12,233 ||Saturday 14, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.12 (90) |||| 17.17 (119) ||Whitten Oval || 11,334 ||Saturday 14, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 19.13 (127) |||| 11.12 (78) ||MCG || 35,851 ||Saturday 14, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.13 (91) |||| 14.10 (94) ||MCG || 28,559 ||Sunday 15, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 9.17 (71) |||| 25.15 (165) ||SCG|| 11,142 ||Sunday 15, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 20.11 (131) |||| 13.10 (88) ||Optus Oval|| 28,626 ||Sunday 15, May
Round 9
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.19 (121) |||| 13.10 (88) ||MCG || 72,216 ||Friday 20, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 21.16 (142) |||| 11.12 (78) ||Kardinia Park || 22,777 ||Saturday 21, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 14.13 (97) |||| 16.10 (106) ||MCG || 19,333 ||Saturday 21, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 7.20 (62) |||| 9.9 (63) ||Waverley Park || 40,080 ||Saturday 21, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 7.10 (52) |||| 12.11 (83) ||Whitten Oval || 14,923 ||Saturday 21, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 7.6 (48) |||| 22.13 (145) ||Football Park || 44,403 ||Sunday 22, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.9 (75) |||| 8.14 (62) ||Waverley Park || 15,249 ||Sunday 22, May
Round 10
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 14.17 (101) |||| 10.15 (75) ||WACA|| 27,901 ||Friday 27, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.13 (109) |||| 13.19 (97) ||Optus Oval|| 23,691 ||Saturday 28, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 4.8 (32) |||| 15.16 (106) ||Waverley Park || 19,914 ||Saturday 28, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.14 (110) |||| 10.14 (74) ||Victoria Park|| 26,718 ||Saturday 28, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.16 (112) |||| 15.11 (101) ||MCG || 75,129 ||Saturday 28, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.18 (120) |||| 12.21 (93) ||Gabba|| 10,953 ||Sunday 29, May |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 15.13 (103) |||| 9.10 (64) ||Football Park || 42,915 ||Sunday 29, May
Round 11
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 12.8 (80) |||| 20.15 (135) ||Waverley Park || 19,090 ||Saturday 4, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 24.10 (154) |||| 17.6 (108) ||Optus Oval|| 22,547 ||Saturday 4, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 15.11 (101) |||| 19.12 (126) ||Kardinia Park || 18,599 ||Saturday 4, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.12 (90) |||| 8.19 (67) ||Victoria Park|| 27,390 ||Saturday 4, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 20.5 (125) |||| 8.13 (61) ||Waverley Park || 22,895 ||Sunday 5, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 16.10 (106) |||| 19.12 (126) ||SCG|| 11,182 ||Sunday 5, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.8 (74) |||| 18.10 (118) ||MCG || 31,324 ||Sunday 5, June
Round 12
Round 13
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 22.13 (145) |||| 10.5 (65) ||Optus Oval|| 22,927 ||Saturday 18, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 7.11 (53) |||| 10.6 (66) ||Waverley Park || 17,599 ||Saturday 18, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 9.18 (72) |||| 10.7 (67) ||MCG || 26,917 ||Saturday 18, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 20.14 (134) |||| 9.6 (60) ||Whitten Oval || 13,070 ||Sunday 19, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.12 (114) |||| 11.15 (81) ||Gabba|| 18,484 ||Sunday 19, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 18.13 (121) |||| 12.12 (84) ||MCG || 27,699 ||Sunday 19, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.17 (83) |||| 12.6 (78) ||Football Park || 41,189 ||Sunday 19, June
Round 14
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 13.10 (88) |||| 15.16 (106) ||MCG || 45,177 ||Friday 24, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 21.18 (144) |||| 6.4 (40) ||Whitten Oval || 16,085 ||Saturday 25, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 9.8 (62) |||| 11.12 (78) ||MCG || 32,528 ||Saturday 25, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 12.7 (79) |||| 11.13 (79) ||Waverley Park || 13,868 ||Saturday 25, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 10.15 (75) |||| 14.9 (93) ||Kardinia Park || 21,939 ||Saturday 25, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 19.15 (129) |||| 14.11 (95) ||MCG || 27,094 ||Sunday 26, June |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 17.19 (121) |||| 11.11 (77) ||Gabba|| 18,881 ||Sunday 26, June
Round 15
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Ground ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 19.14 (128) |||| 7.7 (49) ||WACA|| 24,632 ||Friday 1, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" ||| 11.19 (85) |||| 14.8 (92) ||MCG || 50,141 ||Saturday 2, July |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"