The 2019 AFL season was the 123rd season of the Australian Football League (AFL), the highest level senior men's Australian rules football competition in Australia, which was known as the Victorian Football League until 1989. The season featured eighteen clubs, ran from 21 March until 28 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs.

The premiership was won by the Richmond Football Club for the twelfth time, after it defeated by 89 points in the 2019 AFL Grand Final.

Rule changes There were several alterations to the laws of the game in 2019: Starting positions were mandated at centre bounces, with each team required to have six players inside each 50m arc – including one in each goal square – four players in the centre square and two along the wings. A team guilty of the 6-6-6 rule, as it became known, received one warning per game, then conceded a free kick on subsequent infractions. At kick-ins after behinds, the full back was no longer required to kick to himself to play on from the goal square, and the man on the mark was positioned 10m from the kick-off line instead of 5m. The spot of any mark or free kick received within nine metres of a player's defensive goal line would be brought back to the nine-metre line, rather than remaining at the spot of the mark or free kick. Team runners were no longer permitted to enter the playing surface except for the break in play after a goal had been kicked; water carriers were also forbidden from entering during live play. The protocol for a 50-metre penalty was amended, allowing the player with the ball to advance to the new mark at his own pace without being interfered with by an opponent (which could be penalised by a second 50-metre penalty), and with the right to play on at any time while the 50m penalty was being measured out. Previously, measuring out a 50m penalty was done with time off. The push-in-the-back rule was relaxed, allowing a player to place his hands on the back of his opponent to protect his position in a marking contest, provided he does not push. This removed the more stringent interpretation added in 2007 which saw a free kick to penalised any use of hands on an opponent's back in a marking contest. The concept of prior opportunity as it applied to holding the ball was formally defined for the first time as part of a copyedit of the rule. The only change to the intent of the rule was that a ruckman who takes direct possession of the ball in a ruck contest was no longer considered to have had prior opportunity – removing a provision which had existed since 2003. Pre-season The pre-season began with the 2019 AFLX tournament, the second and, as of 2024, latter AFLX event featuring AFL players. Unlike the 2018 competition, it was not contested by the clubs, but rather by four all-star teams selected by their captains: Patrick Dangerfield (captain of the Bolts), Nat Fyfe (Flyers), Jack Riewoldt (Rampage), and Eddie Betts (Deadlys, composed entirely of Indigenous players). The tournament occurred at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne on 22 February 2019 and was won by the Rampage.

This was followed by the pre-season series of games, known as the 2019 JLT Community Series, with teams playing two games each. The games were stand-alone, with no overall winner of the series. Each team played two games, many at suburban or regional venues, while all games were televised on Fox Footy.

Premiership season

Notable features of the draw included:

replacing in hosting in Shanghai. Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville hosted an AFL premiership match for the first time, when played in round 13. The fixture replaced the game held in Cairns between 2011 and 2018. hosted for the Queen's Birthday match for the first time since 1999.

2019 marked the first year of games being broadcast in 4K resolution, with a total of 46 ultra-high-definition games being shown on Foxtel.

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Round 8

Round 9

Round 10

Round 11

Round 12

Round 13

Round 14

Round 15

Round 16

Round 17

Round 18

Round 19

Round 20

Round 21

Round 22

Round 23

Win/loss table Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 F1 F2 F3 GF Ladder Haw 32Syd 26Geel 24NM 12GCS 73StK 29Frem 17PA 20BL 1WCE 12Melb 2GWS 21Rich 33 X Geel 27PA 57GCS 95Ess 21Carl 27StK 22WCE 10Coll 66 WB 34 X X X X 11 WCE 44NM 20PA 17Ess 47Coll 62GCS 49Syd 22WB 16Adel 1Frem 1Haw 19Carl 15 X StK 56Melb 33GWS 20PA 48NM 12Haw 27WB 18GCS 91Geel <br/ >1 Rich 27Rich 47GWS 3 X X 2 Rich 33PA 16Syd 19GCS 2WB 44Haw 5NM 58 Coll 19GWS 93StK 13Ess 41BL 15WB 3 X Frem 4Melb 5Syd 7GCS 24Adel 27WCE 24Rich 28StK 10Geel 68 X X X X 16 Geel 7Rich 44WCE 22WB 14BL 62Ess 4PA 39Carl 19StK 41Syd 7Frem 4Melb 41 X WB 9NM 44Haw 4WCE 1GWS 47Rich 32GCS 69Melb 17Adel 66Ess 11Geel 10 X GWS 4 X 4 GWS 72StK 11Melb 18BL 47NM 58Coll 4Geel 32Syd 5Frem 7Rich 23Carl 41 X Haw 19WCE 35GWS 6Syd 10NM 5Adel 21GCS 10PA 59WB 104Frem 32Coll 11 WCE55 X X X 8 NM 82GCS 3StK 5WCE 13GWS 24WB 19Adel 17Rich 25Ess 7BL 1Coll 4 X PA 21Melb 14Carl 4WCE 91Haw 31Syd 1WB 47Geel 34StK 3Ess 32PA 43 X X X X 13 Coll 7Melb 80Adel 24GWS 4Haw 23WCE 58Ess 32NM 24WB 44GCS 27Syd 22Rich 67 X PA 11Adel 27WB 16StK 27Haw 24Syd 27Frem 34NM 55BL 1Carl 68Coll 10WCE 20Rich 19 X 1 StK 1Frem 3WB 5Carl 2Adel 73BL 49WCE 23Melb 1PA 38Geel 27GWS 83NM 26StK 4 X Syd 42Rich 92Adel 95Carl 24Ess 10 Coll 69BL 91Haw 70GWS 72 X X X X 18 Ess 72WCE 52Rich 49Geel 4Frem 24Syd 41StK 44Haw 33Carl 93Melb 26GCS 83Adel 21NM 23 X Ess 6BL 20Rich 27Coll 47PA 1 Syd 2Haw 56 WB 61GCS 72 WB 58 BL 3Coll 4Rich 89 6 Adel 32WB 19NM 16StK 5Geel 23Carl 5Melb 5GWS 33Rich 36PA 31BL 19 X Ess 19Syd 19WCE 6Coll 4Frem 31Geel 24BL 27 NM 22GWS 56 GCS 70WCE 38 X X X X 9 PA 26Geel 80Ess 18Syd 22StK 40Rich 43Haw 5GCS 1WCE 16GWS 26Adel 2Coll 41 X Frem 14BL 33Carl 5WB 8WCE 13StK 19Rich 33Coll 17Syd 53NM 5 X X X X 17 Frem 82BL 20Haw 16Adel 12Ess 58PA 16Carl 58Geel 24Syd 5WB 25Rich 37GCS 26GWS 23 X Coll 44StK 39Ess 5BL 12WCE 49Haw 22Geel 55PA 86Melb 5 X X X X 12 Melb 26Carl 16BL 17Rich 7WCE 42NM 16Coll 39Adel 20GCS 38Haw 31StK 70 X Frem 21Geel 11WB 25Adel 57BL 48Rich 38GWS 1Ess 59Syd 47NM 86Frem 43 X X X X 10 Carl 33Coll 44GWS 49PA 7Syd 22Melb 43WB 47Frem 25Haw 36Ess 23NM 37Geel 67Adel 33 X StK 33GCS 92GWS 27PA 38Coll 32 Melb 33Carl 28WCE 6BL 27BL 47 XGeel 19GWS 89 3 (P) GCS 1Ess 11Fre 5Haw 5Melb 40Adel 29GWS 44WCE 18Coll 41Carl 13PA 70 X GCS 4BL 56Rich 33NM 39Geel 27WB 27Melb 19Adel 22Frem 3Carl 10Syd 45 X X X X 14 WB 17Adel 26Carl 19Melb 22Rich 22GWS 41BL 22Ess 5NM 5Coll 7Geel 22WCE 45 X Haw 19GCS 42Ess 10Carl 7Frem 1Geel 27GWS 2PA 47Melb 53StK 45 X X X X 15 BL 44GWS 52Coll 22Frem 13PA 42Geel 58GCS 23StK 18Melb 16Adel 12WB 61Syd 45 X Ess 35Haw 6Frem 91Coll 1Melb 13NM 49Carl 24Adel 10Rich 6Haw 38Ess55Geel 20 X X 5 Syd 17Haw 19GCS 5Coll 14Carl 44Frem 19Rich 47BL 16Geel 44NM 25WCE 61 X Carl 3Coll 9PA 25Geel 16Melb 8StK 27Frem 47 BL 18 Ess 104 GWS 61 Adel 34 GWS58 X X X 7 Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 F1 F2 F3 GF Ladder

Bold – Home game X – Bye Opponent for round listed above margin

Ladder

Ladder progression Numbers highlighted in green indicates the team finished the round inside the top 8. Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished in first place on the ladder in that round. Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round. Underlined numbers indicates the team had a bye during that round. Subscript numbers indicate ladder position at round's end.

Team1234567891011121314151617181920212223  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Positions of teams round by round

Finals series

Week one

Week two

Week three

Week four

Awards

Major awards The Norm Smith Medal was awarded to 's Dustin Martin. The Brownlow Medal was awarded to 's Nat Fyfe. The Leigh Matthews Trophy was awarded to 's Patrick Cripps. The Coleman Medal was awarded to 's Jeremy Cameron. The Goal of the Year was awarded to 's Eddie Betts. The Mark of the Year was awarded to 's Liam Ryan. The AFL Rising Star was awarded to Carlton's Sam Walsh.

Coleman Medal Larger numbers indicate number of goals scored in each round. Subscript numbers indicate total cumulative goals scored through that round. Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the player led the Coleman Medal at the end of that round. Numbers underlined indicates the player did not play in that round. Player1 234567891011121314151617181920212223Total 1Jeremy Cameron 33 47 714 317 421 324 630 030 030 333 538 139 140 040 343 245 348 654 357 057 158 058 967 67 2Ben Brown 22 35 16 410 212 012 416 521 122 325 530 232 234 034 034 337 643 346 248 452 052 1062 264 64 3Tom Lynch 33 36 410 616 016 117 017 219 322 224 125 126 228 028 331 334 337 340 545 348 250 353 154 54Charlie Cameron 33 47 18 08 08 210 212 012 315 318 220 121 021 526 127 229 433 235 237 441 647 552 254Jack Darling 22 46 17 310 010 010 414 115 116 319 625 126 026 127 532 436 339 443 245 247 350 252 254 6Tom Hawkins 22 24 26 39 110 313 215 419 423 427 431 435 035 035 237 239 140 242 547 350 252 052 052 52 7Tim Membrey 22 24 26 06 410 212 113 114 418 220 121 021 324 125 126 228 028 432 335 338 240 343 144 44Josh Kennedy 00 11 34 37 18 210 212 214 418 321 324 327 027 330 030 030 030 232 739 140 141 142 244 9Taylor Walker 00 11 12 13 36 410 111 213 316 016 117 219 322 022 123 225 328 129 332 436 238 038 543 43 10Michael Walters 33 14 26 28 311 213 114 014 115 217 219 019 625 328 230 131 031 132 133 134 135 137 340 37

Player milestones

Name Club Milestone Round

Best and fairest Club Award name Player Malcolm Blight Medal Merrett–Murray Medal John Nicholls Medal Copeland Trophy W. S. Crichton Medal Doig Medal Carji Greeves Medal Club Champion Kevin Sheedy Medal Peter Crimmins Medal Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy & Clayton Oliver Syd Barker Medal John Cahill Medal Jack Dyer Medal Trevor Barker Award Bob Skilton Medal John Worsfold Medal Charles Sutton Medal Source:

Club leadership Club Coach Captain(s) Vice-captain(s) Leadership group Don Pyke Rory SloaneTaylor Walker Matt Crouch, Richard Douglas, Josh Jenkins, Tom Lynch, Daniel Talia Chris Fagan Dayne Zorko Harris Andrews Jarrod Berry, Allen Christensen, Darcy Gardiner, Ryan Lester, Stefan Martin, Lachie Neale Brendon BoltonDavid Teague Patrick CrippsSam Docherty Ed Curnow, Marc Murphy, Kade Simpson Nathan Buckley Scott Pendlebury Steele Sidebottom Taylor Adams, Lynden Dunn, Jeremy Howe John Worsfold Dyson Heppell Zach Merrett Joe Daniher, Orazio Fantasia, David Myers Ross LyonDavid Hale Nat Fyfe Reece Conca, Joel Hamling, David Mundy, Alex Pearce, Michael Walters Chris Scott Joel Selwood Mark Blicavs, Patrick Dangerfield Mitch Duncan, Tom Stewart, Harry Taylor, Zach Tuohy Stuart Dew David SwallowJarrod Witts Pearce Hanley, Touk Miller Brayden Fiorini, Jarrod Harbrow, George Horlin-Smith, Alex Sexton Leon Cameron Phil Davis Callan Ward Stephen Coniglio, Josh Kelly Matt de Boer Alastair Clarkson Ben Stratton Jack Gunston Ben McEvoy, Jaeger O'Meara, Liam Shiels, Isaac Smith Simon Goodwin Nathan JonesJack Viney Max Gawn, Neville Jetta Brad ScottRhyce Shaw Jack Ziebell Robbie Tarrant Shaun Higgins, Jamie Macmillan Ken Hinkley Tom JonasOllie Wines Hamish Hartlett Damien Hardwick Trent Cotchin Alex Rance, Jack Riewoldt Shane Edwards Alan RichardsonBrett Ratten Jarryn Geary Sebastian Ross Dan Hannebery, Tim Membrey, Dylan Roberton John Longmire Josh KennedyLuke ParkerDane Rampe Isaac Heeney, Jarrad McVeigh, Callum Mills, Tom Papley, Nick Smith Adam Simpson Shannon Hurn Josh Kennedy, Luke Shuey Andrew Gaff, Jeremy McGovern, Nic Naitanui Luke Beveridge Easton Wood Marcus Bontempelli Lachie Hunter, Jason Johannisen, Jackson Trengove, Mitch Wallis

Coach changes