1985 VFL season

The 1985 VFL season was the 89th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria.

The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 23 March until 28 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top five clubs. The season was the first to feature premiership matches on Friday nights.

The premiership was won by the Essendon Football Club for the 14th time and second time consecutively, after it defeated by 78 points in the 1985 VFL Grand Final.

Night series defeated 11.11 (77) to 10.8 (68) in the final.

Home-and-away season

Round 1

! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.13 (103) | | 21.15 (141) | MCG | 65,628 | 29 March 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.18 (66) | | 26.20 (176) | Moorabbin Oval | 20,910 | 30 March 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.11 (137) | | 18.12 (120) | Windy Hill | 22,802 | 30 March 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.10 (112) | | 22.10 (142) | Princes Park | 26,873 | 30 March 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.8 (128) | | 14.18 (102) | MCG | 20,910 | 30 March 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.8 (128) | | 14.16 (100) | VFL Park | 20,776 | 30 March 1985

Round 2

! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.16 (88) | | 13.14 (92) | MCG | 24,113 | 6 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.12 (96) | | 18.11 (119) | Kardinia Park | 32,966 | 6 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 2.17 (29) | | 25.19 (169) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,655 | 6 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 25.20 (170) | | 14.18 (102) | Princes Park | 17,278 | 8 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.15 (63) | | 24.22 (166) | Victoria Park | 17,093 | 8 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.14 (134) | | 16.12 (108) | VFL Park | 24,056 | 8 April 1985

Round 3

! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.12 (114) | | 15.10 (100) | VFL Park | 41,694 | 23 March 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 31.25 (211) | | 14.14 (98) | MCG | 17,753 | 13 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 26.14 (170) | | 16.9 (105) | Western Oval | 23,259 | 13 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.9 (123) | | 16.17 (113) | Victoria Park | 22,896 | 13 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 22.13 (145) | | 22.15 (147) | Princes Park | 20,404 | 13 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.12 (120) | | 26.15 (171) | SCG | 10,204 | 14 April 1985

The average score by each team this round was 134.8, which stands as the VFL/AFL record. The match between Essendon and Hawthorn was played as a standalone season opener as part of the celebrations of Victoria's sesquicentenary, with the teams playing for a silver cup presented by premier John Cain. The cup was similar in style to the VFL premiership cup, with engraving marking it as the "Premier's Trophy."

Round 4

! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.15 (111) | | 11.6 (72) | MCG | 12,895 | 20 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.14 (86) | | 15.13 (103) | Victoria Park | 11,056 | 20 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 24.17 (161) | | 13.11 (89) | Princes Park | 19,894 | 20 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.8 (86) | | 12.10 (82) | Windy Hill | 26,550 | 20 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.18 (102) | | 12.11 (83) | VFL Park | 20,797 | 20 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.14 (44) | | 8.15 (63) | SCG | 7,860 | 21 April 1985

Round 5

! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.13 (121) | | 13.14 (92) | MCG | 53,067 | 25 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.12 (126) | | 18.14 (122) | VFL Park | 20,480 | 25 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.23 (149) | | 29.14 (188) | Princes Park | 17,268 | 27 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.23 (119) | | 14.9 (93) | Kardinia Park | 16,492 | 27 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.15 (105) | | 13.12 (90) | Victoria Park | 23,306 | 27 April 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.17 (125) | | 11.18 (84) | Western Oval | 33,677 | 27 April 1985

Round 6

! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.11 (131) | | 20.12 (132) | MCG | 23,815 | 4 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.12 (102) | | 19.16 (130) | Victoria Park | 9,231 | 4 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.12 (108) | | 15.21 (111) | Moorabbin Oval | 16,000 | 4 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 27.14 (176) | | 8.19 (67) | Windy Hill | 22,644 | 4 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.10 (106) | | 13.10 (88) | VFL Park | 58,733 | 4 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 25.11 (161) | | 11.17 (83) | SCG | 9,537 | 5 May 1985

Round 7

! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 28.15 (183) | | 8.9 (57) | Princes Park | 8,762 | 11 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.13 (85) | | 5.10 (40) | Kardinia Park | 15,000 | 11 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.15 (81) | | 25.10 (160) | Victoria Park | 22,964 | 11 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.11 (101) | | 23.13 (151) | MCG | 36,250 | 11 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 22.20 (152) | | 14.9 (93) | VFL Park | 37,125 | 11 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.17 (83) | | 12.16 (88) | SCG | 12,507 | 12 May 1985

Round 8

! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.8 (74) | | 6.10 (46) | MCG | 14,572 | 18 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.9 (57) | | 6.10 (46) | Victoria Park | 20,731 | 18 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.18 (84) | | 9.13 (67) | Princes Park | 21,777 | 18 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.7 (73) | | 12.15 (87) | Western Oval | 16,952 | 18 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.11 (59) | | 10.15 (75) | Kardinia Park | 23,102 | 18 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.10 (106) | | 7.12 (54) | VFL Park | 16,282 | 18 May 1985

Round 9

! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.15 (153) | | 9.17 (71) | Windy Hill | 19,985 | 25 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.15 (111) | | 18.19 (127) | MCG | 31,347 | 25 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.24 (126) | | 16.11 (107) | Princes Park | 16,686 | 25 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.17 (137) | | 24.18 (162) | Moorabbin Oval | 22,348 | 25 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.9 (123) | | 18.16 (124) | VFL Park | 29,455 | 25 May 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.11 (89) | | 16.21 (117) | SCG | 12,577 | 26 May 1985

Round 10

! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.19 (109) | | 14.8 (92) | MCG | 16,749 | 1 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.15 (117) | | 19.14 (128) | Victoria Park | 11,333 | 1 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.14 (68) | | 22.15 (147) | Princes Park | 25,424 | 1 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.12 (120) | | 21.20 (146) | Moorabbin Oval | 16,536 | 1 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.10 (70) | | 18.12 (120) | VFL Park | 24,849 | 1 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.10 (106) | | 12.8 (80) | MCG | 45,408 | 2 June 1985

Round 11

! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.11 (101) | | 17.19 (121) | MCG | 31,606 | 8 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.21 (111) | | 13.12 (90) | Western Oval | 17,538 | 8 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.11 (113) | | 11.5 (71) | Windy Hill | 17,652 | 8 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.11 (113) | | 17.11 (113) | MCG | 39,084 | 10 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.8 (110) | | 20.21 (141) | Kardinia Park | 20,000 | 10 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.9 (87) | | 16.14 (110) | VFL Park | 56,604 | 10 June 1985

Round 12

! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.10 (64) | | 14.17 (101) | Victoria Park | 19,573 | 15 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.15 (117) | | 13.10 (88) | Princes Park | 11,377 | 15 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.9 (69) | | 23.12 (150) | MCG | 36,851 | 15 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.8 (86) | | 5.9 (39) | Western Oval | 20,707 | 15 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.15 (81) | | 6.11 (47) | VFL Park | 14,668 | 15 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.21 (159) | | 13.14 (92) | SCG | 7,811 | 16 June 1985

Round 13

! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.14 (140) | | 16.17 (113) | Windy Hill | 18,398 | 22 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.13 (85) | | 13.13 (91) | Victoria Park | 16,852 | 22 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.19 (139) | | 16.11 (107) | Princes Park | 13,534 | 22 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.9 (81) | | 11.31 (97) | MCG | 16,406 | 22 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.21 (75) | | 11.11 (77) | VFL Park | 22,319 | 22 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.23 (137) | | 8.12 (60) | SCG | 9,504 | 23 June 1985

Round 14

! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.15 (75) | | 22.19 (151) | MCG | 32,861 | 28 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.17 (95) | | 11.14 (80) | Victoria Park | 9,953 | 29 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.9 (81) | | 17.15 (117) | Moorabbin Oval | 14,243 | 29 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.22 (124) | | 23.8 (146) | Kardinia Park | 17,000 | 29 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.13 (85) | | 23.19 (157) | MCG | 29,154 | 29 June 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.11 (101) | | 21.11 (137) | VFL Park | 48,880 | 29 June 1985

Round 15

Round 16

! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.13 (109) | | 18.10 (118) | Victoria Park | 8,735 | 13 July 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.11 (113) | | 27.18 (180) | MCG | 23,522 | 13 July 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.10 (112) | | 13.10 (88) | Windy Hill | 28,144 | 20 July 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.19 (91) | | 20.11 (131) | MCG | 17,686 | 20 July 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.15 (99) | | 5.9 (39) | VFL Park | 17,920 | 20 July 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.21 (123) | | 29.11 (185) | SCG | 12,172 | 21 July 1985

Round 17

! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.18 (102) | | 12.9 (81) | Kardinia Park | 11,989 | 27 July 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.15 (105) | | 11.13 (79) | Western Oval | 13,026 | 27 July 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.8 (86) | | 11.12 (78) | Victoria Park | 20,336 | 27 July 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.12 (120) | | 10.8 (68) | Princes Park | 28,786 | 27 July 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.12 (114) | | 16.14 (110) | MCG | 10,787 | 27 July 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.20 (134) | | 8.14 (62) | VFL Park | 13,197 | 27 July 1985

Round 18

! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 25.16 (166) | | 8.14 (62) | Windy Hill | 18,894 | 3 August 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.13 (127) | | 14.9 (93) | Princes Park | 15,717 | 3 August 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.16 (94) | | 20.15 (135) | Moorabbin Oval | 10,911 | 3 August 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.14 (86) | | 21.18 (144) | MCG | 16,421 | 3 August 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.21 (105) | | 14.10 (94) | Victoria Park | 15,958 | 3 August 1985 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 25.16 (166) | | 17.6 (108) | VFL Park | 16,205 | 3 August 1985

Round 19

1985 VFL season

Bron en licentie