The 1979 VFL season was the 83rd season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 31 March until 29 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top five clubs.
The premiership was won by the Carlton Football Club for the twelfth time, after it defeated by five points in the 1979 VFL Grand Final.
The season saw the beginning of the league's expansion into the interstate and Sunday television markets, with two Sunday matches played in Sydney, New South Wales.
Night series defeated 12.8 (80) to 7.10 (52) in the final.
Home-and-away season
Round 1
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.15 (69) | | 21.23 (149) | Victoria Park | 29,345 | 7 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.13 (151) | | 15.11 (101) | Princes Park | 24,771 | 7 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.21 (111) | | 19.11 (125) | SMCG | 18,603 | 7 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.14 (128) | | 14.19 (103) | Moorabbin Oval | 22,060 | 7 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.17 (125) | | 16.17 (113) | MCG | 24,133 | 7 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.27 (129) | | 16.13 (109) | NMCG | 22,633 | 7 April 1979
Round 2
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.16 (94) | | 20.13 (133) | Western Oval | 23,457 | 14 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.14 (86) | | 21.13 (139) | Junction Oval | 19,437 | 14 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.24 (102) | | 19.18 (132) | Princes Park | 29,355 | 14 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.16 (106) | | 9.13 (67) | Kardinia Park | 23,858 | 16 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.22 (148) | | 9.10 (64) | Windy Hill | 26,499 | 16 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.18 (96) | | 23.9 (147) | MCG | 59,942 | 16 April 1979
Round 3
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.14 (80) | | 14.17 (101) | VFL Park | 41,717 | 31 March 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.10 (118) | | 16.15 (111) | SMCG | 14,431 | 21 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.15 (123) | | 11.17 (83) | Princes Park | 14,703 | 21 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.14 (104) | | 16.13 (109) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,275 | 21 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.12 (132) | | 16.16 (112) | MCG | 24,635 | 21 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.19 (127) | | 14.15 (99) | NMCG | 29,747 | 21 April 1979
Despite being formally a part of Round 3, the Essendon vs Carlton match was played as a stand-alone match on the Saturday before Round 1, and was therefore the opening match of the season.
Round 4
Round 5
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.24 (138) | | 12.16 (88) | NMCG | 16,015 | 5 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.16 (76) | | 25.22 (172) | Windy Hill | 19,741 | 5 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.20 (110) | | 13.18 (96) | Princes Park | 24,248 | 5 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.16 (82) | | 24.17 (161) | MCG | 31,448 | 5 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.10 (112) | | 22.10 (142) | Moorabbin Oval | 15,481 | 5 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.17 (89) | | 20.17 (137) | VFL Park | 34,163 | 5 May 1979
Round 6
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.15 (99) | | 19.19 (133) | Victoria Park | 27,824 | 12 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 26.19 (175) | | 11.20 (86) | SMCG | 12,394 | 12 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.18 (72) | | 7.5 (47) | Kardinia Park | 27,824 | 12 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.14 (140) | | 24.19 (163) | MCG | 21,783 | 12 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.12 (108) | | 25.18 (168) | Princes Park | 29,935 | 12 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.15 (99) | | 13.16 (94) | VFL Park | 22,626 | 12 May 1979
Round 7
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 22.17 (149) | | 14.17 (101) | Western Oval | 15,045 | 19 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.18 (102) | | 11.24 (90) | Junction Oval | 15,870 | 19 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.18 (156) | | 9.20 (74) | Windy Hill | 21,592 | 19 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.14 (104) | | 16.12 (108) | Princes Park | 39,411 | 19 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.15 (111) | | 14.15 (99) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,087 | 19 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.14 (92) | | 6.15 (51) | VFL Park | 37,260 | 19 May 1979
Round 8
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.18 (120) | | 10.17 (77) | Princes Park | 10,997 | 26 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 22.26 (158) | | 12.13 (85) | MCG | 21,672 | 26 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.16 (94) | | 21.22 (148) | NMCG | 17,469 | 26 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.11 (83) | | 12.12 (84) | Kardinia Park | 25,402 | 26 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.8 (44) | | 20.11 (131) | SMCG | 21,282 | 26 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.10 (64) | | 15.13 (103) | VFL Park | 28,817 | 26 May 1979
Round 9
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.9 (111) | | 23.18 (156) | MCG | 23,261 | 2 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.15 (123) | | 11.12 (78) | Junction Oval | 14,963 | 2 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.18 (132) | | 10.20 (80) | Victoria Park | 31,474 | 2 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.12 (108) | | 17.14 (116) | Princes Park | 24,875 | 2 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.12 (78) | | 18.19 (127) | Western Oval | 21,362 | 2 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.15 (123) | | 17.8 (110) | VFL Park | 15,750 | 2 June 1979
Round 10
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.19 (115) | | 14.15 (99) | Windy Hill | 18,916 | 9 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.15 (123) | | 16.11 (107) | Princes Park | 46,106 | 9 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.11 (65) | | 12.13 (85) | Moorabbin Oval | 17,390 | 9 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.17 (101) | | 18.19 (127) | MCG | 24,824 | 9 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.8 (74) | | 17.17 (119) | VFL Park | 14,357 | 9 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.9 (105) | | 23.18 (156) | SCG | 31,391 | 10 June 1979
Round 11
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.18 (132) | | 9.11 (65) | Junction Oval | 17,520 | 16 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.10 (100) | | 15.11 (101) | Princes Park | 12,513 | 16 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.16 (82) | | 13.18 (96) | MCG | 53,562 | 16 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.17 (107) | | 16.14 (110) | Moorabbin Oval | 19,705 | 18 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.18 (126) | | 20.12 (132) | SMCG | 26,740 | 18 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.12 (108) | | 20.12 (132) | VFL Park | 53,116 | 18 June 1979
Round 12
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 25.16 (166) | | 16.14 (110) | MCG | 21,216 | 23 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.18 (132) | | 13.15 (93) | Princes Park | 13,176 | 23 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.12 (120) | | 11.15 (81) | Western Oval | 14,308 | 23 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.11 (101) | | 6.18 (54) | Windy Hill | 30,795 | 23 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.17 (107) | | 14.17 (101) | Kardinia Park | 29,941 | 23 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.20 (122) | | 11.14 (80) | VFL Park | 56,975 | 23 June 1979
Round 13
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 25.19 (169) | | 8.16 (64) | Victoria Park | 22,903 | 30 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.12 (138) | | 12.10 (82) | Princes Park | 21,792 | 30 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.21 (69) | | 12.9 (81) | NMCG | 13,925 | 30 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.20 (110) | | 20.16 (136) | SMCG | 13,850 | 30 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.12 (66) | | 15.15 (105) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,802 | 30 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.3 (57) | | 16.12 (108) | VFL Park | 13,272 | 30 June 1979
Round 14
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.11 (71) | | 6.14 (50) | Windy Hill | 25,240 | 7 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.18 (120) | | 10.16 (76) | MCG | 19,879 | 7 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.11 (89) | | 10.14 (74) | SMCG | 10,626 | 7 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.16 (118) | | 14.16 (100) | NMCG | 14,971 | 7 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.16 (52) | | 15.11 (101) | Moorabbin Oval | 21,588 | 7 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.14 (116) | | 9.11 (65) | VFL Park | 58,736 | 7 July 1979
Round 15
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 24.23 (167) | | 24.10 (154) | MCG | 15,039 | 14 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 24.16 (160) | | 11.15 (81) | Western Oval | 13,386 | 14 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.16 (76) | | 20.13 (133) | Victoria Park | 30,415 | 14 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.18 (126) | | 12.11 (83) | Princes Park | 44,661 | 14 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.12 (78) | | 11.13 (79) | VFL Park | 20,777 | 14 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.15 (135) | | 22.20 (152) | SCG | 17,140 | 15 July 1979
Round 16
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.20 (104) | | 18.11 (119) | Princes Park | 13,557 | 21 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.9 (129) | | 14.20 (104) | Kardinia Park | 14,613 | 21 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.17 (155) | | 3.15 (33) | Victoria Park | 21,041 | 21 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.16 (112) | | 15.9 (99) | Junction Oval | 19,684 | 21 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.7 (61) | | 19.26 (140) | MCG | 26,388 | 21 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.18 (66) | | 12.16 (88) | VFL Park | 14,725 | 21 July 1979
Round 17
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.14 (128) | | 16.12 (108) | Moorabbin Oval | 12,969 | 28 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.10 (82) | | 18.14 (122) | Western Oval | 14,284 | 28 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.21 (111) | | 12.11 (83) | Princes Park | 22,159 | 28 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.15 (111) | | 19.10 (124) | MCG | 38,111 | 28 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.17 (71) | | 14.8 (92) | Windy Hill | 31,968 | 28 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | (details) | 36.22 (238) | | 6.12 (48) | VFL Park | 12,149 | 28 July 1979
Fitzroy's 190-point winning margin remains, as of 2026, the biggest in AFL/VFL history.
Round 18
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 31.9 (195) | | 15.16 (106) | SMCG | 9,815 | 4 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.14 (104) | | 15.25 (115) | Princes Park | 15,104 | 4 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.8 (134) | | 16.9 (105) | MCG | 25,367 | 4 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.16 (124) | | 9.9 (63) | Kardinia Park | 30,495 | 4 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.11 (119) | | 21.15 (141) | NMCG | 28,902 | 4 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 28.22 (190) | | 18.11 (119) | VFL Park | 24,651 | 4 August 1979
Round 19
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.19 (97) | | 6.5 (41) | Western Oval | 12,537 | 11 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.12 (54) | | 17.19 (121) | Junction Oval | 16,659