The 1987 VFL season was the 91st season of the Victorian Football League (VFL). The season ran from 27 March until 26 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top five clubs.
The season saw the beginning of a decade-long period of expansion of the Victorian league to the rest of Australia, with the admission of two newly established clubs: the West Coast Eagles, based in Perth, Western Australia, and the Brisbane Bears, based in South East Queensland. While the league remained the highest level senior Australian rules football competition and administrative body in Victoria, it also became the de facto highest level senior competition in Australia, with representation across four states. In the pre-season, the first modern VFL draft was held.
The premiership was won by the Carlton Football Club for the 15th time, after it defeated by 33 points in the 1987 VFL Grand Final.
Night series
defeated 8.10 (58) to 8.6 (54), to win the Night Series Grand Final at VFL Park.
Home-and-away season
Round 1
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.14 (104) | | 19.23 (137) | MCG | 14,096 | Friday 27 March 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.8 (74) | | 25.15 (165) | Victoria Park | 17,129 | Saturday 28 March 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.14 (104) | | 22.17 (149) | Princes Park | 20,192 | Saturday 28 March 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.11 (101) | | 14.18 (102) | Moorabbin Oval | 15,867 | Saturday 28 March 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.14 (128) | | 12.17 (89) | MCG | 18,012 | Saturday 28 March 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.8 (62) | | 19.7 (121) | VFL Park | 22,550 | Saturday 28 March 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.13 (133) | | 16.23 (119) | Subiaco Oval | 23,897 | Sunday 29 March 1987
Round 2
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.14 (92) | | 7.17 (59) | MCG | 19,035 | Friday 3 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.21 (159) | | 17.13 (115) | Princes Park | 11,584 | Saturday 4 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.17 (119) | | 17.12 (114) | Windy Hill | 19,959 | Saturday 4 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.15 (93) | | 23.17 (155) | MCG | 17,824 | Saturday 4 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.17 (131) | | 23.12 (150) | Kardinia Park | 14,480 | Saturday 4 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.5 (107) | | 16.18 (114) | VFL Park | 29,481 | Saturday 4 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 27.25 (187) | | 11.13 (79) | SCG | 15,268 | Sunday 5 April 1987
Round 3
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.9 (129) | | 7.13 (55) | VFL Park | 10,043 | Friday 10 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.20 (128) | | 13.16 (94) | Kardinia Park | 15,391 | Saturday 11 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.16 (130) | | 12.12 (84) | MCG | 27,528 | Saturday 11 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.25 (145) | | 10.8 (68) | Princes Park | 14,267 | Saturday 11 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.10 (40) | | 18.19 (127) | Western Oval | 14,492 | Saturday 11 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.7 (133) | | 11.17 (83) | Moorabbin Oval | 12,717 | Saturday 11 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.13 (97) | | 18.16 (124) | Subiaco Oval | 35,719 | Sunday 12 April 1987
Round 4
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.13 (139) | | 14.8 (92) | MCG | 25,465 | 18 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.19 (127) | | 19.22 (136) | Kardinia Park | 18,614 | 18 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 29.17 (191) | | 15.14 (104) | Princes Park | 21,746 | 18 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.18 (114) | | 20.9 (129) | Carrara Stadium | 17,795 | 19 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.12 (96) | | 7.13 (55) | Western Oval | 10,425 | 20 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.11 (113) | | 9.12 (66) | Windy Hill | 24,264 | 20 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.14 (110) | | 15.10 (100) | VFL Park | 36,749 | 20 April 1987
Round 5
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.19 (127) | | 16.14 (110) | MCG | 16,078 | 24 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.12 (126) | | 21.20 (146) | MCG | 22,154 | 25 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.14 (92) | | 15.14 (104) | Princes Park | 11,068 | 25 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.5 (89) | | 12.13 (85) | Victoria Park | 22,039 | 25 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 29.10 (184) | | 17.7 (109) | Kardinia Park | 18,220 | 25 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.14 (116) | | 9.8 (62) | VFL Park | 56,124 | 25 April 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.14 (86) | | 12.9 (81) | Carrara Stadium | 7,451 | 26 April 1987
Round 6
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.16 (94) | | 12.15 (87) | SCG | 33,659 | 1 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.14 (110) | | 9.15 (69) | MCG | 18,482 | 2 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.12 (96) | | 13.18 (96) | Windy Hill | 15,395 | 2 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.9 (105) | | 8.10 (58) | Victoria Park | 14,689 | 2 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.12 (78) | | 4.10 (34) | VFL Park | 12,834 | 2 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 24.18 (162) | | 13.10 (88) | Subiaco Oval | 28,330 | 3 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.17 (113) | | 15.14 (104) | MCG | 18,694 | 3 May 1987
Round 7
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.21 (81) | | 8.14 (62) | WACA Ground | 25,799 | 8 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.10 (88) | | 19.8 (122) | Western Oval | 13,395 | 9 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.11 (137) | | 17.12 (114) | Moorabbin Oval | 14,909 | 9 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 25.9 (159) | | 21.8 (134) | Princes Park | 14,564 | 9 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.18 (126) | | 12.8 (80) | MCG | 49,215 | 9 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 22.18 (150) | | 14.10 (94) | VFL Park | 31,000 | 9 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.14 (122) | | 17.12 (114) | SCG | 22,273 | 10 May 1987
Round 8
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.9 (87) | | 16.20 (116) | SCG | 24,858 | 15 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.13 (97) | | 6.13 (49) | Moorabbin Oval | 11,537 | 16 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.10 (112) | | 10.5 (65) | Princes Park | 9,532 | 16 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.15 (81) | | 15.15 (105) | MCG | 16,325 | 16 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.8 (68) | | 14.10 (94) | VFL Park | 28,085 | 16 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 22.12 (144) | | 15.19 (109) | Carrara Stadium | 7,944 | 17 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.11 (71) | | 15.15 (105) | MCG | 26,684 | 17 May 1987
Round 9
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.16 (94) | | 17.26 (128) | MCG | 14,220 | 22 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.15 (105) | | 15.9 (99) | Victoria Park | 18,173 | 23 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.20 (92) | | 9.16 (70) | Princes Park | 28,422 | 23 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.19 (103) | | 10.11 (71) | Western Oval | 10,673 | 23 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 25.15 (165) | | 7.9 (51) | VFL Park | 32,634 | 23 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.14 (104) | | 11.13 (79) | Kardinia Park | 24,476 | 24 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.15 (135) | | 18.11 (119) | Subiaco Oval | 23,366 | 24 May 1987
Round 10
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.14 (80) | | 15.12 (102) | Windy Hill | 13,862 | 30 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.13 (97) | | 18.10 (118) | MCG | 16,854 | 30 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.19 (79) | | 7.4 (46) | Western Oval | 12,722 | 30 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 27.22 (184) | | 12.9 (81) | Princes Park | 13,790 | 30 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.16 (154) | | 15.8 (98) | VFL Park | 15,535 | 30 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.16 (136) | | 23.7 (145) | SCG | 20,084 | 31 May 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.23 (137) | | 11.14 (80) | Subiaco Oval | 38,274 | 1 June 1987
Round 11
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.13 (121) | | 15.9 (99) | Western Oval | 15,089 | 6 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.10 (106) | | 18.13 (121) | Moorabbin Oval | 23,725 | 6 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.7 (91) | | 17.11 (113) | VFL Park | 23,606 | 6 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.10 (64) | | 19.23 (137) | Carrara Stadium | 11,840 | 7 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.15 (123) | | 22.17 (149) | Princes Park | 12,580 | 8 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.12 (90) | | 21.9 (135) | MCG | 49,812 | 8 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.13 (115) | | 17.8 (110) | VFL Park | 33,150 | 8 June 1987
Round 12
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.10 (100) | | 9.10 (64) | MCG | 23,944 | 12 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.10 (76) | | 17.10 (112) | MCG | 21,696 | 13 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.13 (91) | | 12.13 (85) | Kardinia Park | 17,483 | 13 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.16 (106) | | 11.14 (80) | Victoria Park | 17,840 | 13 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.25 (97) | | 14.12 (96) | Princes Park | 16,511 | 13 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.8 (74) | | 21.16 (142) | VFL Park | 16,279 | 13 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.4 (70) | | 24.21 (165) | Carrara Stadium | 7,284 | 14 June 1987
Round 13
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.18 (114) | | 5.12 (42) | WACA Ground | 13,540 | 19 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.8 (44) | | 8.9 (57) | Princes Park | 7,596 | 20 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.11 (89) | | 8.2 (50) | Western Oval | 15,749 | 20 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 4.3 (27) | | 6.7 (43) | MCG | 15,916 | 20 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.10 (64) | | 3.9 (27) | Windy Hill | 8,832 | 20 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 2.6 (18) | | 10.12 (72) | VFL Park | 17,613 | 20 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.14 (134) | | 11.9 (75) | SCG | 17,760 | 21 June 1987
Round 14
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.17 (101) | | 10.14 (74) | SCG | 20,133 | 26 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.19 (73) | | 9.15 (69) | MCG | 8,926 | 27 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.20 (98) | | 3.9 (27) | Kardinia Park | 13,661 | 27 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.16 (82) | | 4.10 (34) | Princes Park | 7,643 | 27 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.10 (52) | | 9.10 (64) | Windy Hill | 17,401 | 27 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.8 (80) | | 12.7 (79) | VFL Park | 44,385 | 27 June 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.11 (113) | | 23.13 (151) | Carrara Stadium | 7,716 | 28 June 1987
Round 15
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.10 (118) | | 21.20 (146) | WACA Ground | 15,740 | 3 July 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.20 (110) | | 16.16 (112) | MCG | 17,108 | 4 July 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.20 (134) | | 11.11 (77) | Princes Park | 10,150 | 4 July 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.14 (134) | | 15.10 (100) | Moorabbin Oval | 15,201 | 4 July 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.13 (73) | | 16.10 (106) | VFL Park | 27,075 | 4 July 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.11 (119) | | 10.18 (78) | Carrara Stadium | 9,380 | 5 July 1987 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.16 (136) | | 15.22 (112) | MCG | 47,813 | 5 July 1987