The 1978 VFL season was the 82nd season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 1 April until 30 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 Hawthorn Football Club for the fourth time, after it defeated by 18 points in the 1978 VFL Grand Final.
Rule changes The 19th and 20th men were converted into interchange players, meaning that any two players could be rested at any time, and could return to the field. Goal umpires required to touch goal post if the ball had hit post. Also two flags were positioned at one post and one flag at the other to save time when signalling scores.
Night series defeated 13.18 (96) to 2.8 (20) in the final.
Home-and-away season
Round 1
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 22.15 (147) | | 9.14 (68) | Princes Park | 10,632 | 1 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.14 (80) | | 23.11 (149) | Western Oval | 20,420 | 1 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.11 (101) | | 16.13 (109) | Junction Oval | 17,030 | 1 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.9 (123) | | 14.18 (102) | Windy Hill | 23,562 | 1 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.10 (76) | | 17.16 (118) | Kardinia Park | 27,463 | 1 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 25.24 (174) | | 14.13 (97) | MCG | 49,031 | 1 April 1978
Round 2
Round 3
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.14 (110) | | 15.20 (110) | MCG | 35,602 | 15 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.16 (76) | | 21.14 (140) | Western Oval | 16,949 | 15 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.15 (105) | | 14.17 (101) | Windy Hill | 16,300 | 15 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.20 (98) | | 11.19 (85) | Princes Park | 17,765 | 15 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.11 (119) | | 14.18 (102) | Lake Oval | 20,733 | 15 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.15 (111) | | 12.14 (86) | VFL Park | 39,097 | 15 April 1978
Round 4
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.17 (125) | | 15.8 (98) | Kardinia Park | 20,566 | 22 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.17 (143) | | 18.16 (124) | Junction Oval | 13,660 | 22 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.19 (103) | | 15.15 (105) | Victoria Park | 28,714 | 22 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.16 (100) | | 17.17 (119) | Moorabbin Oval | 29,117 | 22 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.19 (127) | | 18.12 (120) | MCG | 14,865 | 22 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.8 (104) | | 19.17 (131) | VFL Park | 34,516 | 22 April 1978
Round 5
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.16 (130) | | 8.11 (59) | MCG | 34,212 | 25 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.14 (98) | | 9.11 (65) | VFL Park | 43,388 | 25 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.17 (101) | | 15.12 (102) | Princes Park | 13,528 | 29 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.20 (110) | | 13.15 (93) | Western Oval | 20,328 | 29 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.10 (124) | | 17.13 (115) | Arden Street Oval | 31,424 | 29 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.9 (117) | | 17.14 (116) | Lake Oval | 20,183 | 29 April 1978
Round 6
Round 7
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.14 (98) | | 19.11 (125) | MCG | 25,904 | 13 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 27.15 (177) | | 13.13 (91) | Princes Park | 9,099 | 13 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.14 (98) | | 14.11 (95) | Arden Street Oval | 14,150 | 13 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.11 (113) | | 16.11 (107) | Moorabbin Oval | 30,760 | 13 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.14 (68) | | 12.13 (85) | Victoria Park | 26,782 | 13 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.18 (126) | | 21.13 (139) | VFL Park | 13,072 | 13 May 1978
Round 8
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.13 (61) | | 20.17 (137) | MCG | 21,268 | 20 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.10 (76) | | 7.18 (60) | Windy Hill | 21,212 | 20 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.15 (63) | | 9.7 (61) | Princes Park | 21,520 | 20 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.16 (136) | | 4.13 (37) | Lake Oval | 21,494 | 20 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.5 (89) | | 14.9 (93) | Western Oval | 19,096 | 20 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.16 (70) | | 14.15 (99) | VFL Park | 27,224 | 20 May 1978
Round 9
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.13 (109) | | 14.11 (95) | Kardinia Park | 21,603 | 27 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.14 (92) | | 18.9 (117) | Junction Oval | 11,903 | 27 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.20 (92) | | 10.16 (76) | Victoria Park | 28,651 | 27 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.9 (117) | | 8.11 (59) | Princes Park | 30,976 | 27 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.9 (57) | | 13.19 (97) | Moorabbin Oval | 25,293 | 27 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.12 (60) | | 15.12 (102) | VFL Park | 28,231 | 27 May 1978
Round 10
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.24 (96) | | 8.13 (61) | Princes Park | 11,066 | 3 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.14 (86) | | 11.14 (80) | MCG | 21,122 | 3 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.7 (85) | | 12.10 (82) | Arden Street Oval | 28,828 | 3 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 24.18 (162) | | 14.8 (92) | Lake Oval | 15,738 | 5 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.11 (125) | | 15.14 (104) | Western Oval | 30,197 | 5 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.13 (97) | | 18.23 (131) | VFL Park | 72,669 | 5 June 1978
Round 11
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.15 (111) | | 16.18 (114) | Junction Oval | 10,300 | 17 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.8 (104) | | 19.19 (133) | Windy Hill | 23,302 | 17 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.25 (127) | | 10.7 (67) | Victoria Park | 19,931 | 17 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.27 (165) | | 8.17 (65) | Princes Park | 25,388 | 17 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.17 (155) | | 14.13 (97) | MCG | 22,764 | 17 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.7 (97) | | 17.15 (117) | VFL Park | 31,037 | 17 June 1978
Round 12
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.17 (137) | | 13.16 (94) | Princes Park | 28,266 | 24 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.18 (108) | | 18.20 (128) | MCG | 14,652 | 24 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.12 (60) | | 13.12 (90) | Arden Street Oval | 14,269 | 24 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.9 (111) | | 20.14 (134) | Moorabbin Oval | 15,822 | 24 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.19 (97) | | 17.18 (120) | Lake Oval | 18,574 | 24 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.14 (56) | | 13.18 (96) | VFL Park | 31,636 | 24 June 1978
Round 13
Round 14
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.7 (121) | | 18.16 (124) | Arden Street Oval | 12,599 | 8 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.7 (127) | | 8.11 (59) | Western Oval | 13,325 | 8 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.20 (122) | | 18.9 (117) | MCG | 24,417 | 8 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 22.11 (143) | | 13.15 (93) | Lake Oval | 16,642 | 8 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.24 (102) | | 14.11 (95) | Windy Hill | 29,831 | 8 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.14 (74) | | 13.6 (84) | VFL Park | 46,066 | 8 July 1978
Round 15
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.14 (74) | | 7.13 (55) | Princes Park | 16,214 | 15 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.12 (114) | | 12.22 (94) | Victoria Park | 23,729 | 15 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.11 (71) | | 19.11 (125) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,954 | 15 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.12 (84) | | 10.12 (72) | Kardinia Park | 15,700 | 15 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.11 (101) | | 11.17 (83) | Junction Oval | 13,550 | 15 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 2.14 (26) | | 17.13 (115) | VFL Park | 16,870 | 15 July 1978
Round 16
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.9 (93) | | 17.19 (121) | MCG | 18,416 | 22 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.8 (104) | | 12.20 (92) | Kardinia Park | 16,219 | 22 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.14 (122) | | 17.19 (121) | Junction Oval | 12,240 | 22 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.17 (59) | | 15.11 (101) | Victoria Park | 32,286 | 22 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.16 (112) | | 9.17 (71) | Princes Park | 24,277 | 22 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.8 (86) | | 15.17 (107) | VFL Park | 30,200 | 22 July 1978
Round 17
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.21 (141) | | 13.11 (89) | Moorabbin Oval | 13,118 | 29 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.14 (122) | | 10.16 (76) | Arden Street Oval | 15,775 | 29 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.15 (105) | | 13.13 (91) | Lake Oval | 14,112 | 29 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.16 (136) | | 13.18 (96) | MCG | 41,878 | 29 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.17 (95) | | 18.11 (119) | Princes Park | 28,132 | 29 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.11 (107) | | 11.11 (77) | VFL Park | 32,246 | 29 July 1978
Round 18
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.10 (112) | | 17.16 (118) | Western Oval | 17,285 | 5 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.16 (82) | | 19.10 (124) | Junction Oval | 13,022 | 5 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.16 (82) | | 18.13 (121) | Windy Hill | 18,410 | 5 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.19 (103) | | 8.14 (62) | Princes Park | 43,313 | 5 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.17 (95) | | 14.17 (101) | MCG | 12,363 | 5 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.9 (93) | | 9.16 (70) | VFL Park | 31,717 | 5 August 1978
Round 19
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.7 (85) | | 3.19 (37) | Moorabbin Oval | 20,933 | 12 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.19 (127) | | 10.10 (70) | Princes Park | 15,980 | 12 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.16 (82) | | 10.6 (66) | Victoria Park | 24,069 | 12 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 26.18 (174) | | 8.13 (61) | Arden Street Oval | 9,183 | 12 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.8 (92) | | 13.7 (85) | Kardinia Park | 15,080 | 12 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.10 (58) | | 9.15 (69) | VFL Park | 21,410 | 12 August 1978
Round 20
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.16 (130) | | 21.10 (136) | Windy Hill | 11,984 | 19 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 24.11 (155) | | 26.11 (167) | Lake Oval | 15,259 | 19 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.17 (71) | | 21.13 (139) | Western Oval | 12,525 | 19 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.13 (109) | | 19.9 (123) | MCG | 59,580 | 19 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.16 (70) | | 19.17 (131) | Arden Street Oval | 28,965 | 19 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.11 (83) | | 21.13 (139) | VFL Park | 31,677 | 19 August 1978