2016 AFL season

2016 AFL premiership season
Teams	18
Matches played	54
Attendance	1,939,614 (35,919 per match)
Highest attendance	85,082 (Round 5 Collingwood vs Essendon)
← 2015 2017 →

The 2016 Australian Football League season is the ongoing 120th season of the elite Australian rules football competition. There are 18 teams competing in the league, the same as the previous four seasons. The first game was played on Thursday, 24 March, and the Grand Final will be played on Saturday, 1 October.

Pre-season

NAB Challenge

For the third consecutive year, the NAB Challenge series took place, featuring 27 practice matches played over 25 days, which began on February 18 and ended on March 13. The matches were stand-alone, with no overall winner of the series. Each team played three games, many of which were played at suburban or regional venues, with all games televised on Fox Footy. The super goal was retained for these pre-season matches.

Rule changes

The following rule changes were made for the 2016 season:

• The interchange rules were significantly altered to give each team four interchange players and a maximum of 90 rotations per game (excluding concussion, blood rule and stretcher interchanges). This replaced the 2015 protocol in which team had three interchange players and a substitute and a maximum of 120 rotations per game.^[1]
• The scope of tackles covered by the existing 'dangerous tackles' rule was expanded, with both umpires and the tribunal more strictly penalising players for tackles including a lifting, slinging or rotating technique.^[2]
• A stricter interpretation of the existing 'deliberate out of bounds' rule is to be applied.^[2]
• The width of the protected zone on either side of a player with a mark or free kick was increased from five metres to ten metres. The rule was trialled in the 2016 pre-season before being endorsed shortly for the premiership season.^[3]
• A provision for the AFL to appeal to the tribunal against an inadequate penalty will be introduced; previously, players had the right to appeal their charges or penalties but the AFL did not have the right to appeal against an acquittal or lenient penalty.^[2]
• A thirty-second countdown clock, within which a player taking a set shot must begin their approach, was displayed on the scoreboard at most AFL grounds. This replaced the previous system in which the umpire was responsible for judging the thirty second time limit. The change was not implemented at grounds which lacked existing infrastructure to support it.^[4]
• The Grand Final Replay was abolished, with the provisions which were introduced in 1991 for five minutes each way of extra time in drawn finals now also applying to a drawn Grand Final. A new provision was also introduced to all finals to allow for an untimed period of golden point extra time to decide the game if scores remained level after extra time.^[5]

Premiership season

Notable features of the draw include:

• Due to the weighted rule, Collingwood and Essendon met only once in the regular season for the first time since 1991, on Anzac Day.^[6]
• Due to poor results in the Friday night timeslot in 2015, Carlton will not feature on Friday nights during the regular season, but will still play the annual Thursday night season opener against Richmond in round 1.^[7]
• Melbourne and Richmond again met on Anzac Eve, which this season fell on a Sunday night. It was the only Sunday night match for the season, with the timeslot's unpopularity causing it to be scrapped after the 2014 season.^[8] The New Zealand Anzac Day match was scrapped from the fixture.^[9]
• Due to the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Greater Western Sydney's primary home ground (Spotless Stadium) was unavailable until round 6, therefore the club's first two home games were played at its secondary home ground, Manuka Oval.^[10]
• One month prior to the season, the Sydney Swans and ANZ Stadium came to an agreement to end their contract one year earlier than its scheduled conclusion, resulting in all eleven Sydney home games being played at the Sydney Cricket Ground, instead of eight at the S.C.G. and three at ANZ Stadium. ANZ Stadium may still be used for finals matches during 2016.^[11]
• The inclusion of the first ever AFL sanctioned LGBT pride game for premiership points, to be held in round 21 between St Kilda and the Sydney Swans.^[12]
• There will be a bye round between round 23 and the first week of the finals, to ensure that teams participating in the finals field their strongest side possible ahead of their first final.^[13] It was since announced in February 2016 that the annual E. J. Whitten Legends Game would be played in the football-free weekend, shifting from its mid-season slot.^[14]
• All starting times are local.

Round 1

	Round 1 (Opening Round)
Thursday, 24 March (7:25 pm)	Richmond 14.8 (92)	def.	Carlton 12.11 (83)	MCG (crowd: 75,706)	Report
Saturday, 26 March (1:40 pm)	Melbourne 12.8 (80)	def.	Greater Western Sydney 10.18 (78)	MCG (crowd: 28,505)	Report
Saturday, 26 March (3:35 pm)	Gold Coast 17.19 (121)	def.	Essendon 9.6 (60)	Metricon Stadium (crowd: 16,239)	Report
Saturday, 26 March (7:25 pm)	Sydney 18.25 (133)	def.	Collingwood 7.11 (53)	SCG (crowd: 33,857)	Report
Saturday, 26 March (7:25 pm)	North Melbourne 16.11 (107)	def.	Adelaide 14.13 (97)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 25,485)	Report
Sunday, 27 March (1:10 pm)	Western Bulldogs 15.13 (103)	def.	Fremantle 5.8 (38)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 27,832)	Report
Sunday, 27 March (2:50 pm)	Port Adelaide 20.13 (133)	def.	St Kilda 15.10 (100)	Adelaide Oval (crowd: 43,807)	Report
Sunday, 27 March (4:40 pm)	West Coast 26.10 (166)	def.	Brisbane Lions 15.12 (102)	Domain Stadium (crowd: 35,201)	Report
Monday, 28 March (3:20 pm)	Geelong 18.8 (116)	def.	Hawthorn 12.14 (86)	MCG (crowd: 74,218)	Report
Fremantle's score of 5.8 (38) was its lowest ever score against the Western Bulldogs.

Round 2

	Round 2
Friday, 1 April (7:50 pm)	Collingwood 13.9 (87)	def.	Richmond 12.14 (86)	MCG (crowd: 72,761)	Report
Saturday, 2 April (1:15 pm)	Adelaide 22.12 (144)	def.	Port Adelaide 11.20 (86)	Adelaide Oval (crowd: 51,585)	Report
Saturday, 2 April (2:10 pm)	Essendon 11.14 (80)	def.	Melbourne 10.7 (67)	MCG (crowd: 50,424)	Report
Saturday, 2 April (3:35 pm)	Brisbane Lions 11.17 (83)	def. by	North Melbourne 17.15 (117)	Gabba (crowd: 18,021)	Report
Saturday, 2 April (7:25 pm)	St Kilda 5.6 (36)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 13.15 (93)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 37,353)	Report
Saturday, 2 April (4:40 pm)	Fremantle 14.16 (100)	def. by	Gold Coast 19.12 (126)	Domain Stadium (crowd: 34,208)	Report
Sunday, 3 April (1:10 pm)	Greater Western Sydney 13.11 (89)	def.	Geelong 11.10 (76)	Manuka Oval (crowd: 13,656)	Report
Sunday, 3 April (3:20 pm)	Hawthorn 14.15 (99)	def.	West Coast 7.11 (53)	MCG (crowd: 42,977)	Report
Sunday, 3 April (4:40 pm)	Carlton 10.11 (71)	def. by	Sydney 20.11 (131)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 33,146)	Report

Round 3

	Round 3
Friday, 8 April (7:50 pm)	Port Adelaide 17.10 (112)	def.	Essendon 7.9 (51)	Adelaide Oval (crowd: 44,601)	Report
Saturday, 9 April (1:45 pm)	St Kilda 18.11 (119)	def.	Collingwood 14.6 (90)	MCG (crowd: 50,903)	Report
Saturday, 9 April (2:10 pm)	Richmond 13.14 (92)	def. by	Adelaide 19.14 (128)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 29,951)	Report
Saturday, 9 April (4:35 pm)	Sydney 14.9 (93)	def.	Greater Western Sydney 10.8 (68)	SCG (crowd: 37,045)	Report
Saturday, 9 April (7:25 pm)	Gold Coast 13.17 (95)	def.	Carlton 5.11 (41)	Metricon Stadium (crowd: 13,885)	Report
Saturday, 9 April (5:40 pm)	West Coast 12.20 (92)	def.	Fremantle 8.11 (59)	Domain Stadium (crowd: 40,555)	Report
Sunday, 10 April (1:10 pm)	North Melbourne 21.10 (136)	def.	Melbourne 20.11 (131)	Blundstone Arena (crowd: 12,607)	Report
Sunday, 10 April (3:20 pm)	Western Bulldogs 13.12 (90)	def. by	Hawthorn 14.9 (93)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 46,808)	Report
Sunday, 10 April (4:40 pm)	Geelong 18.17 (125)	def.	Brisbane Lions 7.14 (56)	Simonds Stadium (crowd: 23,320)	Report

Round 4

	Round 4
Friday, 15 April (6:10 pm)	West Coast 18.17 (125)	def.	Richmond 9.3 (57)	Domain Stadium (crowd: 38,860)	Report
Saturday, 16 April (1:45 pm)	Essendon 6.6 (42)	def. by	Geelong 9.18 (72)	MCG (crowd: 42,723)	Report
Saturday, 16 April (2:10 pm)	Hawthorn 13.9 (87)	def.	St Kilda 13.6 (84)	Aurora Stadium (crowd: 15,173)	Report
Saturday, 16 April (4:35 pm)	Brisbane Lions 14.23 (107)	def.	Gold Coast 14.10 (94)	Gabba (crowd: 20,041)	Report
Saturday, 16 April (7:25 pm)	Carlton 7.7 (49)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 13.7 (85)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 27,622)	Report
Saturday, 16 April (7:10 pm)	Adelaide 16.17 (113)	def.	Sydney 15.13 (103)	Adelaide Oval (crowd: 51,330)	Report
Sunday, 17 April (1:10 pm)	Greater Western Sydney 22.19 (151)	def.	Port Adelaide 9.11 (65)	Manuka Oval (crowd: 10,028)	Report
Sunday, 17 April (3:20 pm)	Collingwood 9.13 (67)	def. by	Melbourne 16.6 (102)	MCG (crowd: 47,558)	Report
Sunday, 17 April (4:40 pm)	North Melbourne 20.12 (132)	def.	Fremantle 14.17 (101)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 23,393)	Report
Greater Western Sydney's winning margin of 86 points against Port Adelaide is GWS's biggest ever winning margin.

Round 5

	Round 5 (Anzac Round)
Friday, 22 April (7:50 pm)	Hawthorn 17.10 (112)	def.	Adelaide 17.7 (109)	MCG (crowd: 45,781)	Report
Saturday, 23 April (1:45 pm)	Sydney 12.16 (88)	def.	West Coast 7.7 (49)	SCG (crowd: 35,427)	Report
Saturday, 23 April (4:35 pm)	Gold Coast 11.15 (81)	def. by	North Melbourne 18.11 (119)	Metricon Stadium (crowd: 13,351)	Report
Saturday, 23 April (7:25 pm)	Western Bulldogs 17.18 (120)	def.	Brisbane Lions 10.7 (67)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 25,097)	Report
Saturday, 23 April (7:15 pm)	Port Adelaide 8.11 (59)	def. by	Geelong 16.11 (107)	Adelaide Oval (crowd: 44,937)	Report
Sunday, 24 April (1:10 pm)	St Kilda 12.7 (79)	def. by	Greater Western Sydney 19.12 (126)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 21,052)	Report
Sunday, 24 April (2:15 pm)	Fremantle 9.14 (68)	def. by	Carlton 10.12 (72)	Domain Stadium (crowd: 34,796)	Report
Sunday, 24 April (7:10 pm)	Melbourne 20.9 (129)	def.	Richmond 14.12 (96)	MCG (crowd: 59,968)	Report
Monday, 25 April (3:20 pm)	Collingwood 22.10 (142)	def.	Essendon 11.7 (73)	MCG (crowd: 85,082)	Report
Melbourne won two consecutive matches in the same season for the first time since 2011.

Round 6

	Round 6
Friday, 29 April (7:50 pm)	North Melbourne 9.7 (61)	def.	Western Bulldogs 6.9 (45)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 47,622)	Report
Saturday, 30 April (1:45 pm)	Melbourne 15.6 (96)	def. by	St Kilda 20.15 (135)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 27,260)	Report
Saturday, 30 April (1:40 pm)	Adelaide 14.13 (97)	def.	Fremantle 8.16 (64)	Adelaide Oval (crowd: 47,423)	Report
Saturday, 30 April (4:35 pm)	Greater Western Sydney 24.14 (158)	def.	Hawthorn 12.11 (83)	Spotless Stadium (crowd: 13,766)	Report
Saturday, 30 April (7:25 pm)	Geelong 25.18 (168)	def.	Gold Coast 7.6 (48)	Simonds Stadium (crowd: 23,007)	Report
Saturday, 30 April (7:25 pm)	Richmond 8.11 (59)	def. by	Port Adelaide 13.16 (94)	MCG (crowd: 27,077)	Report
Sunday, 1 May (1:10 pm)	Brisbane Lions 14.10 (94)	def. by	Sydney 15.7 (97)	Gabba (crowd: 14,646)	Report
Sunday, 1 May (3:20 pm)	Carlton 10.12 (72)	def.	Essendon 8.9 (57)	MCG (crowd: 43,827)	Report
Sunday, 1 May (2:40 pm)	West Coast 18.16 (124)	def.	Collingwood 9.8 (62)	Domain Stadium (crowd: 37,931)	Report
Greater Western Sydney's score of 24.14 (158) is its highest ever score.

Round 7

	Round 7
Friday, 6 May (7:50 pm)	Richmond 13.12 (90)	def. by	Hawthorn 21.10 (136)	MCG (crowd: 49,678)	Report
Saturday, 7 May (1:45 pm)	Collingwood	vs.	Carlton	MCG
Saturday, 7 May (2:10 pm)	Geelong	vs.	West Coast	Simonds Stadium
Saturday, 7 May (4:35 pm)	Sydney	vs.	Essendon	SCG
Saturday, 7 May (5:10 pm)	Gold Coast	vs.	Melbourne	Metricon Stadium
Saturday, 7 May (7:25 pm)	Western Bulldogs	vs.	Adelaide	Etihad Stadium
Saturday, 7 May (5:40 pm)	Fremantle	vs.	Greater Western Sydney	Domain Stadium
Sunday, 8 May (3:20 pm)	St Kilda	vs.	North Melbourne	Etihad Stadium
Sunday, 8 May (4:10 pm)	Port Adelaide	vs.	Brisbane Lions	Adelaide Oval

Round 8

	Round 8
Friday, 13 May (7:20 pm)	Adelaide	vs.	Geelong	Adelaide Oval
Saturday, 14 May (1:45 pm)	Essendon	vs.	North Melbourne	Etihad Stadium
Saturday, 14 May (2:10 pm)	Hawthorn	vs.	Fremantle	Aurora Stadium
Saturday, 14 May (4:35 pm)	Greater Western Sydney	vs.	Gold Coast	Spotless Stadium
Saturday, 14 May (7:25 pm)	Richmond	vs.	Sydney	MCG
Saturday, 14 May (7:25 pm)	Brisbane Lions	vs.	Collingwood	Gabba
Sunday, 15 May (1:10 pm)	Carlton	vs.	Port Adelaide	Etihad Stadium
Sunday, 15 May (3:20 pm)	Melbourne	vs.	Western Bulldogs	MCG
Sunday, 15 May (2:40 pm)	West Coast	vs.	St Kilda	Domain Stadium

Round 9

	Round 9
Friday, 20 May (7:50 pm)	Hawthorn	vs.	Sydney	MCG
Saturday, 21 May (1:45 pm)	Collingwood	vs.	Geelong	MCG
Saturday, 21 May (2:10 pm)	Gold Coast	vs.	Adelaide	Metricon Stadium
Saturday, 21 May (4:05 pm)	Port Adelaide	vs.	West Coast	Adelaide Oval
Saturday, 21 May (5:40 pm)	Fremantle	vs.	Richmond	Domain Stadium
Saturday, 21 May (7:25 pm)	North Melbourne	vs.	Carlton	Etihad Stadium
Sunday, 22 May (1:10 pm)	Melbourne	vs.	Brisbane Lions	MCG
Sunday, 22 May (3:20 pm)	Greater Western Sydney	vs.	Western Bulldogs	Spotless Stadium
Sunday, 22 May (2:40 pm)	St Kilda	vs.	Essendon	Etihad Stadium

Round 10

	Round 10 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round)
Friday, 27 May (7:50 pm)	Sydney	vs.	North Melbourne	SCG
Saturday, 28 May (1:45 pm)	Brisbane Lions	vs.	Hawthorn	Gabba
Saturday, 28 May (1:40 pm)	Melbourne	vs.	Port Adelaide	TIO Traeger Park
Saturday, 28 May (4:35 pm)	St Kilda	vs.	Fremantle	Etihad Stadium
Saturday, 28 May (7:25 pm)	Essendon	vs.	Richmond	MCG
Saturday, 28 May (7:10 pm)	Adelaide	vs.	Greater Western Sydney	Adelaide Oval
Sunday, 29 May (1:10 pm)	Carlton	vs.	Geelong	Etihad Stadium
Sunday, 29 May (3:20 pm)	Collingwood	vs.	Western Bulldogs	MCG
Sunday, 29 May (2:40 pm)	West Coast	vs.	Gold Coast	Domain Stadium

Round 11

	Round 11
Friday, 3 June (7:50 pm)	North Melbourne	vs.	Richmond	Blundstone Arena
Saturday, 4 June (1:45 pm)	Hawthorn	vs.	Melbourne	MCG
Saturday, 4 June (2:10 pm)	Carlton	vs.	Brisbane Lions	Etihad Stadium
Saturday, 4 June (4:35 pm)	Geelong	vs.	Greater Western Sydney	Simonds Stadium
Saturday, 4 June (5:40 pm)	Fremantle	vs.	Essendon	Domain Stadium
Saturday, 4 June (7:25 pm)	Gold Coast	vs.	Sydney	Metricon Stadium
Sunday, 5 June (1:10 pm)	Collingwood	vs.	Port Adelaide	MCG
Sunday, 5 June (3:20 pm)	Western Bulldogs	vs.	West Coast	Etihad Stadium
Sunday, 5 June (4:10 pm)	Adelaide	vs.	St Kilda	Adelaide Oval
The match between North Melbourne and Richmond at Blundstone Arena will be the first time Tasmania hosts a Friday night game for premiership points.[15]

Round 12

	Round 12
Friday, 10 June (7:50 pm)	Essendon	vs.	Hawthorn	Etihad Stadium
Saturday, 11 June (1:10 pm)	Port Adelaide	vs.	Western Bulldogs	Adelaide Oval
Saturday, 11 June (4:35 pm)	Brisbane Lions	vs.	Fremantle	Gabba
Saturday, 11 June (7:25 pm)	Geelong	vs.	North Melbourne	Etihad Stadium
Saturday, 11 June (5:40 pm)	West Coast	vs.	Adelaide	Domain Stadium
Sunday, 12 June (1:10 pm)	St Kilda	vs.	Carlton	Etihad Stadium
Sunday, 12 June (3:20 pm)	Richmond	vs.	Gold Coast	MCG
Sunday, 12 June (4:40 pm)	Greater Western Sydney	vs.	Sydney	Spotless Stadium
Monday, 13 June (3:20 pm)	Melbourne	vs.	Collingwood	MCG

Round 13

	Round 13
Friday, 17 June (7:50 pm)	North Melbourne	vs.	Hawthorn	Etihad Stadium
Saturday, 18 June (1:40 pm)	Brisbane Lions	vs.	West Coast	Gabba
Saturday, 18 June (2:35 pm)	Fremantle	vs.	Port Adelaide	Domain Stadium
Saturday, 18 June (7:25 pm)	Western Bulldogs	vs.	Geelong	Etihad Stadium
Sunday, 19 June (1:10 pm)	Sydney	vs.	Melbourne	SCG
Sunday, 19 June (4:40 pm)	Essendon	vs.	Greater Western Sydney	Etihad Stadium
	Bye: Adelaide, Carlton, Collingwood, Gold Coast, Richmond, St Kilda

Round 14

	Round 14
Thursday, 23 June (7:20 pm)	Adelaide	vs.	North Melbourne	Adelaide Oval
Friday, 24 June (7:50 pm)	Collingwood	vs.	Fremantle	MCG
Saturday, 25 June (1:40 pm)	Richmond	vs.	Brisbane Lions	MCG
Saturday, 25 June (4:35 pm)	Greater Western Sydney	vs.	Carlton	Spotless Stadium
Saturday, 25 June (7:25 pm)	St Kilda	vs.	Geelong	Etihad Stadium
Sunday, 26 June (3:20 pm)	Hawthorn	vs.	Gold Coast	Aurora Stadium
	Bye: Essendon, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Sydney, West Coast, Western Bulldogs

Round 15

	Round 15
Thursday, 30 June (6:10 pm)	West Coast	vs.	Essendon	Domain Stadium
Friday, 1 July (7:50 pm)	Port Adelaide	vs.	Richmond	Adelaide Oval
Saturday, 2 July (1:40 pm)	Gold Coast	vs.	St Kilda	Metricon Stadium
Saturday, 2 July (4:35 pm)	Sydney	vs.	Western Bulldogs	SCG
Saturday, 2 July (7:25 pm)	Carlton	vs.	Collingwood	MCG
Sunday, 3 July (3:20 pm)	Melbourne	vs.	Adelaide	MCG
	Bye: Brisbane Lions, Fremantle, Geelong, Greater Western Sydney, Hawthorn, North Melbourne

Round 16

	Round 16 (Multicultural Round)
Thursday, 7 July (7:20 pm)	Port Adelaide	vs.	Hawthorn	Adelaide Oval
Friday, 8 July (7:50 pm)	Geelong	vs.	Sydney	Simonds Stadium
Saturday, 9 July (1:40 pm)	Greater Western Sydney	vs.	Collingwood	Spotless Stadium
Saturday, 9 July (4:35 pm)	Gold Coast	vs.	Brisbane Lions	Metricon Stadium
Saturday, 9 July (7:25 pm)	Western Bulldogs	vs.	Richmond	Etihad Stadium
Saturday, 9 July (7:10 pm)	Melbourne	vs.	Fremantle	TIO Stadium
Sunday, 10 July (1:10 pm)	Carlton	vs.	Adelaide	MCG
Sunday, 10 July (1:20 pm)	West Coast	vs.	North Melbourne	Domain Stadium
Sunday, 10 July (4:40 pm)	Essendon	vs.	St Kilda	Etihad Stadium

Round 17

	Round 17
Thursday, 14 July (7:20 pm)	Sydney	vs.	Hawthorn	SCG
Friday, 15 July (6:10 pm)	Fremantle	vs.	Geelong	Domain Stadium
Saturday, 16 July (1:40 pm)	Richmond	vs.	Essendon	MCG
Saturday, 16 July (4:35 pm)	North Melbourne	vs.	Port Adelaide	Etihad Stadium
Saturday, 16 July (7:25 pm)	Western Bulldogs	vs.	Gold Coast	Cazaly's Stadium
Saturday, 16 July (7:10 pm)	Adelaide	vs.	Collingwood	Adelaide Oval
Sunday, 17 July (1:10 pm)	Carlton	vs.	West Coast	MCG
Sunday, 17 July (3:20 pm)	St Kilda	vs.	Melbourne	Etihad Stadium
Sunday, 17 July (4:40 pm)	Brisbane Lions	vs.	Greater Western Sydney	Gabba

Round 18

	Round 18
Friday, 22 July (7:50 pm)	Collingwood	vs.	North Melbourne	Etihad Stadium
Saturday, 23 July (1:45 pm)	Sydney	vs.	Carlton	SCG
Saturday, 23 July (2:10 pm)	Gold Coast	vs.	Fremantle	Metricon Stadium
Saturday, 23 July (2:35 pm)	West Coast	vs.	Melbourne	Domain Stadium
Saturday, 23 July (7:25 pm)	Geelong	vs.	Adelaide	Simonds Stadium
Saturday, 23 July (7:25 pm)	Western Bulldogs	vs.	St Kilda	Etihad Stadium
Sunday, 24 July (1:10 pm)	Essendon	vs.	Brisbane Lions	Etihad Stadium
Sunday, 24 July (3:20 pm)	Hawthorn	vs.	Richmond	MCG
Sunday, 24 July (4:10 pm)	Port Adelaide	vs.	Greater Western Sydney	Adelaide Oval

Round 19

	Round 19
Friday, 29 July (7:50 pm)	Geelong	vs.	Western Bulldogs	Simonds Stadium
Saturday, 30 July (1:45 pm)	Greater Western Sydney	vs.	Richmond	Manuka Oval
Saturday, 30 July (2:10 pm)	Hawthorn	vs.	Carlton	Aurora Stadium
Saturday, 30 July (4:35 pm)	Collingwood	vs.	West Coast	MCG
Saturday, 30 July (7:25 pm)	North Melbourne	vs.	St Kilda	Etihad Stadium
Saturday, 30 July (7:25 pm)	Brisbane Lions	vs.	Port Adelaide	Gabba
Sunday, 31 July (1:10 pm)	Melbourne	vs.	Gold Coast	MCG
Sunday, 31 July (1:20 pm)	Fremantle	vs.	Sydney	Domain Stadium
Sunday, 31 July (4:10 pm)	Adelaide	vs.	Essendon	Adelaide Oval

Round 20

	Round 20
Friday, 5 August (7:50 pm)	Richmond	vs.	Collingwood	MCG
Saturday, 6 August (1:45 pm)	Sydney	vs.	Port Adelaide	SCG
Saturday, 6 August (2:10 pm)	Melbourne	vs.	Hawthorn	MCG
Saturday, 6 August (4:35 pm)	Gold Coast	vs.	Greater Western Sydney	Metricon Stadium
Saturday, 6 August (7:25 pm)	Western Bulldogs	vs.	North Melbourne	Etihad Stadium
Saturday, 6 August (7:10 pm)	Adelaide	vs.	Brisbane Lions	Adelaide Oval
Sunday, 7 August (1:10 pm)	Carlton	vs.	St Kilda	MCG
Sunday, 7 August (3:20 pm)	Geelong	vs.	Essendon	Etihad Stadium
Sunday, 7 August (2:40 pm)	Fremantle	vs.	West Coast	Domain Stadium

Round 21

	Round 21
Friday, 12 August (7:50 pm)	Western Bulldogs	vs.	Collingwood	Etihad Stadium
Saturday, 13 August (1:45 pm)	Brisbane Lions	vs.	Carlton	Gabba
Saturday, 13 August (2:10 pm)	Hawthorn	vs.	North Melbourne	MCG
Saturday, 13 August (4:35 pm)	Greater Western Sydney	vs.	West Coast	Spotless Stadium
Saturday, 13 August (7:25 pm)	St Kilda	vs.	Sydney	Etihad Stadium
Saturday, 13 August (7:10 pm)	Port Adelaide	vs.	Melbourne	Adelaide Oval
Sunday, 14 August (1:10 pm)	Essendon	vs.	Gold Coast	Etihad Stadium
Sunday, 14 August (3:20 pm)	Richmond	vs.	Geelong	MCG
Sunday, 14 August (2:40 pm)	Fremantle	vs.	Adelaide	Domain Stadium

Round 22

	Round 22
Friday, 19 August (6:10 pm)	West Coast	vs.	Hawthorn	Domain Stadium
Saturday, 20 August (1:45 pm)	North Melbourne	vs.	Sydney	Blundstone Arena
Saturday, 20 August (2:10 pm)	Richmond	vs.	St Kilda	MCG
Saturday, 20 August (4:35 pm)	Greater Western Sydney	vs.	Fremantle	Spotless Stadium
Saturday, 20 August (7:25 pm)	Collingwood	vs.	Gold Coast	Etihad Stadium
Saturday, 20 August (7:10 pm)	Port Adelaide	vs.	Adelaide	Adelaide Oval
Sunday, 21 August (1:10 pm)	Carlton	vs.	Melbourne	MCG
Sunday, 21 August (3:20 pm)	Brisbane Lions	vs.	Geelong	Gabba
Sunday, 21 August (4:40 pm)	Essendon	vs.	Western Bulldogs	Etihad Stadium

Round 23

	Round 23
26–28 August	Hawthorn	vs.	Collingwood	MCG
26–28 August	Adelaide	vs.	West Coast	Adelaide Oval
26–28 August	Essendon	vs.	Carlton	MCG
26–28 August	Gold Coast	vs.	Port Adelaide	Metricon Stadium
26–28 August	Sydney	vs.	Richmond	SCG
26–28 August	St Kilda	vs.	Brisbane Lions	Etihad Stadium
26–28 August	North Melbourne	vs.	Greater Western Sydney	Etihad Stadium
26–28 August	Geelong	vs.	Melbourne	Simonds Stadium
26–28 August	Fremantle	vs.	Western Bulldogs	Domain Stadium
The final round has been left floated in order to schedule the games based on teams' ladder position and likelihood of playing finals, dates and times for matches are determined in early August.

Win/Loss table

Colour	Result
Green	Win
Red	Loss
Blue	Draw

Bold – Home game
X – Bye
Opponent for round listed above margin
This table can be sorted by margin, winners are represented in the first half of each column, and losers are represented in the second half of each column once sorted

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
Adelaide	NM 10	PA 58	Rich 36	Syd 10	Haw 3	Fre 33	WB	Gee	GC	GWS	StK	WCE	X	NM	Mel	Car	Col	Gee	Ess	BL	Fre	PA	WCE
Brisbane Lions	WCE 64	NM 34	Gee 69	GC 13	WB 53	Syd 3	PA	Col	Mel	Haw	Car	Fre	WCE	Rich	X	GC	GWS	Ess	PA	Ade	Car	Gee	StK
Carlton	Rich 9	Syd 60	GC 54	WB 36	Fre 4	Ess 15	Col	PA	NM	Gee	BL	StK	X	GWS	Col	Ade	WCE	Syd	Haw	StK	BL	Mel	Ess
Collingwood	Syd 80	Rich 1	StK 29	Mel 35	Ess 69	WCE 62	Car	BL	Gee	WB	PA	Mel	X	Fre	Car	GWS	Ade	NM	WCE	Rich	WB	GC	Haw
Essendon	GC 61	Mel 13	PA 61	Gee 30	Col 69	Car 15	Syd	NM	StK	Rich	Fre	Haw	GWS	X	WCE	StK	Rich	BL	Ade	Gee	GC	WB	Car
Fremantle	WB 65	GC 26	WCE 33	NM 31	Car 4	Ade 33	GWS	Haw	Rich	StK	Ess	BL	PA	Col	X	Mel	Gee	GC	Syd	WCE	Ade	GWS	WB
Geelong	Haw 30	GWS 13	BL 69	Ess 30	PA 48	GC 120	WCE	Ade	Col	Car	GWS	NM	WB	StK	X	Syd	Fre	Ade	WB	Ess	Rich	BL	Mel
Gold Coast	Ess 61	Fre 26	Car 54	BL 13	NM 38	Gee 120	Mel	GWS	Ade	WCE	Syd	Rich	X	Haw	StK	BL	WB	Fre	Mel	GWS	Ess	Col	PA
Greater Western Sydney	Mel 2	Gee 13	Syd 25	PA 86	StK 47	Haw 75	Fre	GC	WB	Ade	Gee	Syd	Ess	Car	X	Col	BL	PA	Rich	GC	WCE	Fre	NM
Hawthorn	Gee 30	WCE 46	WB 3	StK 3	Ade 3	GWS 75	Rich	Fre	Syd	BL	Mel	Ess	NM	GC	X	PA	Syd	Rich	Car	Mel	NM	WCE	Col
Melbourne	GWS 2	Ess 13	NM 5	Col 35	Rich 33	StK 39	GC	WB	BL	PA	Haw	Col	Syd	X	Ade	Fre	StK	WCE	GC	Haw	PA	Car	Gee
North Melbourne	Ade 10	BL 34	Mel 5	Fre 31	GC 38	WB 16	StK	Ess	Car	Syd	Rich	Gee	Haw	Ade	X	WCE	PA	Col	StK	WB	Haw	Syd	GWS
Port Adelaide	StK 33	Ade 58	Ess 61	GWS 86	Gee 48	Rich 35	BL	Car	WCE	Mel	Col	WB	Fre	X	Rich	Haw	NM	GWS	BL	Syd	Mel	Ade	GC
Richmond	Car 9	Col 1	Ade 36	WCE 68	Mel 33	PA 35	Haw	Syd	Fre	Ess	NM	GC	X	BL	PA	WB	Ess	Haw	GWS	Col	Gee	StK	Syd
St Kilda	PA 33	WB 57	Col 29	Haw 3	GWS 47	Mel 39	NM	WCE	Ess	Fre	Ade	Car	X	Gee	GC	Ess	Mel	WB	NM	Car	Syd	Rich	BL
Sydney	Col 80	Car 60	GWS 25	Ade 10	WCE 39	BL 3	Ess	Rich	Haw	NM	GC	GWS	Mel	X	WB	Gee	Haw	Car	Fre	PA	StK	NM	Rich
West Coast	BL 64	Haw 46	Fre 33	Rich 68	Syd 39	Col 62	Gee	StK	PA	GC	WB	Ade	BL	X	Ess	NM	Car	Mel	Col	Fre	GWS	Haw	Ade
Western Bulldogs	Fre 65	StK 57	Haw 3	Car 36	BL 53	NM 16	Ade	Mel	GWS	Col	WCE	PA	Gee	X	Syd	Rich	GC	StK	Gee	NM	Col	Ess	Fre
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

Ladder

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	%	Pts	Qualification
1	North Melbourne	6	6	0	0	672	538	124.9	24	2016 finals
2	Geelong	6	5	1	0	664	380	174.7	20
3	Sydney	6	5	1	0	645	448	144.0	20
4	Western Bulldogs	6	4	2	0	536	344	155.8	16
5	Greater Western Sydney	6	4	2	0	670	476	140.8	16
6	West Coast	6	4	2	0	609	467	130.4	16
7	Adelaide	6	4	2	0	688	564	122.0	16
8	Hawthorn	6	4	2	0	560	610	91.8	16
9	Melbourne	6	3	3	0	605	592	102.2	12
10	Gold Coast	6	3	3	0	565	595	95.0	12
11	Port Adelaide	6	3	3	0	549	612	89.7	12
12	St Kilda	6	2	4	0	553	625	88.5	8
13	Collingwood	6	2	4	0	501	637	78.6	8
14	Carlton	6	2	4	0	388	528	73.5	8
15	Richmond	6	1	5	0	482	646	74.6	4
16	Brisbane Lions	6	1	5	0	509	719	70.8	4
17	Essendon	6	1	5	0	363	586	61.9	4
18	Fremantle	6	0	6	0	430	622	69.1	0

Updated to match(es) played on 1 May 2016. Source: AFL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.

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.

	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23
1	North Melbourne	4	8	12	16	20	24
2	Geelong	4	4	8	12	16	20
3	Sydney	4	8	12	12	16	20
4	Western Bulldogs	4	8	8	12	16	16
5	Greater Western Sydney	0	4	4	8	12	16
6	West Coast	4	4	8	12	12	16
7	Adelaide	0	4	8	12	12	16
8	Hawthorn	0	4	8	12	16	16
9	Melbourne	4	4	4	8	12	12
10	Gold Coast	4	8	12	12	12	12
11	Port Adelaide	4	4	8	8	8	12
12	St Kilda	0	0	4	4	4	8
13	Collingwood	0	4	4	4	8	8
14	Carlton	0	0	0	0	4	8
15	Richmond	4	4	4	4	4	4
16	Brisbane Lions	0	0	0	4	4	4
17	Essendon	0	4	4	4	4	4
18	Fremantle	0	0	0	0	0	0

Finals series

Week one

	Qualifying finals
	1st	vs.	4th
	2nd	vs.	3rd

	Elimination finals
	5th	vs.	8th
	6th	vs.	7th

Week two

	Semi finals
	QF1 Loser	vs.	EF1 Winner
	QF2 Loser	vs.	EF2 Winner

Week three

	Preliminary finals
	QF1 Winner	vs.	SF2 Winner
	QF2 Winner	vs.	SF1 Winner

Week four

	Grand Final
Saturday, 1 October (2:30 pm)	PF1 Winner	vs.	PF2 Winner	Melbourne Cricket Ground
		Q1 Q2 Q3 Final		Television broadcast: Seven Network

Attendances

By club

2016 AFL attendances

Club	Total	Games	Avg. per game	Home total	Home games	Home avg.
Adelaide	272507	6	45418	150338	3	50113
Brisbane Lions	136506	6	22751	52888	3	17629
Carlton	228982	6	38164	104595	3	34865
Collingwood	290161	5	58032	205401	3	68467
Essendon	239069	5	47814	93147	2	46574
Fremantle	208207	6	34701	69004	2	34502
Geelong	221861	6	36977	120545	3	40182
Gold Coast	120731	6	20122	43475	3	14492
Greater Western Sydney	124052	6	20675	37450	3	12483
Hawthorn	238723	6	39787	103931	3	34644
Melbourne	226322	6	37720	115733	3	38578
North Melbourne	140659	6	23443	109107	4	27277
Port Adelaide	222035	6	37006	133345	3	44448
Richmond	304323	6	50721	132734	3	44245
St Kilda	195548	6	32591	109308	3	36436
Sydney	205451	6	34242	106329	3	35443
West Coast	230951	6	38492	152547	4	38137
Western Bulldogs	212334	6	35389	99737	3	33246

By ground

2016 ground attendances

Ground	Total	Games	Avg. per game
Adelaide Oval	283683	6	47281
Aurora Stadium	15173	1	15173
Blundstone Arena	12607	1	12607
Domain Stadium	183620	5	36724
Etihad Stadium	372621	12	31052
Gabba	52888	3	17629
Manuka Oval	23684	2	11842
MCG	703683	13	54129
Metricon Stadium	43475	3	14492
Simonds Stadium	46327	2	23164
Spotless Stadium	13766	1	13766
SCG	106329	3	35443

By round

2016 round attendances

Round	Total	Games	Avg. Per Game
Round 1	360,850	9	40,094
Round 2	354,131	9	39,348
Round 3	299,675	9	33,297
Round 4	276,728	9	30,748
Round 5	365,491	9	40,610
Round 6	282,559	9	31,395

Awards

Milestones

Name	Club	Milestone	Round
Rischitelli, MichaelMichael Rischitelli	Gold Coast	200 AFL games	Round 1
Montagna, LeighLeigh Montagna	St Kilda	250 AFL games	Round 1
Riewoldt, NickNick Riewoldt	St Kilda	300 AFL games	Round 2
Priddis, MattMatt Priddis	West Coast	200 AFL games	Round 3
Patfull, JoelJoel Patfull	Greater Western Sydney	200 AFL games	Round 4
Burgoyne, ShaunShaun Burgoyne	Hawthorn	300 AFL games	Round 5
Eade, RodneyRodney Eade	Gold Coast	600 AFL games played/coached	Round 5

Club leadership

Club	Coach	Captain(s)	Vice-captain(s)	Leadership group	Ref
Adelaide	Don Pyke	Taylor Walker		Richard Douglas, Sam Jacobs, Rory Sloane, Daniel Talia, Scott Thompson, Nathan van Berlo	[16][17]
Brisbane Lions	Justin Leppitsch	Tom Rockliff	Pearce Hanley, Daniel Rich, Dayne Zorko, Dayne Beams, Daniel Merrett		[18]
Carlton	Brendon Bolton	Marc Murphy	Kade Simpson	Patrick Cripps, Ed Curnow, Sam Docherty, Bryce Gibbs, Andrew Walker	[19]
Collingwood	Nathan Buckley	Scott Pendlebury	Nathan Brown, Steele Sidebottom, Taylor Adams, Brent Macaffer		[20]
Essendon	John Worsfold	Brendon Goddard	Mark Baguley	Joe Daniher, James Gwilt, Zach Merrett, David Zaharakis	[21][22]
Fremantle	Ross Lyon	David Mundy		Nathan Fyfe, Aaron Sandilands, Lee Spurr, Matthew Pavlich, Michael Johnson	[23][24]
Geelong	Chris Scott	Joel Selwood	Harry Taylor	Mark Blicavs, Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan, Tom Hawkins	[25]
Gold Coast	Rodney Eade	Gary Ablett	Tom Lynch, Dion Prestia, Steven May	Nick Malceski, Michael Rischitelli, David Swallow, Jarrod Harbrow, Matt Rosa, Jaeger O'Meara	[26]
Greater Western Sydney	Leon Cameron	Phil Davis Callan Ward	Heath Shaw	Matthew Buntine, Stephen Coniglio, Dylan Shiel, Devon Smith	[27]
Hawthorn	Alastair Clarkson	Luke Hodge		Jarryd Roughead, Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Josh Gibson, Isaac Smith	[28]
Melbourne	Paul Roos	Nathan Jones		Max Gawn, Colin Garland, Jack Viney, Bernie Vince, Tom McDonald	[29][30]
North Melbourne	Brad Scott	Andrew Swallow	Jack Ziebell	Shaun Higgins, Jamie Macmillan, Scott Thompson	[31]
Port Adelaide	Ken Hinkley	Travis Boak	Hamish Hartlett	Brad Ebert, Jack Hombsch, Tom Jonas, Matthew Lobbe, Justin Westhoff, Ollie Wines	[32]
Richmond	Damien Hardwick	Trent Cotchin	Brett Deledio, Ivan Maric	Alex Rance, Shane Edwards	[33]
St Kilda	Alan Richardson	Nick Riewoldt		David Armitage, Sean Dempster, Jarryn Geary, Leigh Montagna, Jack Newnes, Jack Steven, Maverick Weller	[34]
Sydney	John Longmire	Kieren Jack Jarrad McVeigh		Heath Grundy, Daniel Hannebery, Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker, Dane Rampe, Nick Smith	[35]
West Coast	Adam Simpson	Shannon Hurn	Josh Kennedy	Eric Mackenzie, Matt Priddis, Luke Shuey	[36]
Western Bulldogs	Luke Beveridge	Robert Murphy	Easton Wood	Matthew Boyd, Marcus Bontempelli, Dale Morris	[37]

Team changes

Player changes

List of 2016 AFL player changes

Name Club Date Notes Cavka, DamienDamien Cavka West Coast 25 January 2016 Retired due to ongoing foot injury, effective immediately[38] Jaensch, MatthewMatthew Jaensch Adelaide 26 February 2016 Retired due to no longer having a passion for playing professionally[39] Tatupu, Shem-KelvinShem-Kelvin Tatupu Hawthorn 15 March 2016 Retired due to losing passion for the game[40] Clarke, JustinJustin Clarke Brisbane Lions 31 March 2016 Retired due to ongoing concussion, effective immediately[41]

Club financials

2016 AFL membership figures

Club	Members
Adelaide	41,000
Brisbane Lions	22,764
Carlton	47,601
Collingwood	55,000
Essendon	53,381
Fremantle	46,283
Geelong	50,125
Gold Coast	12,112
Greater Western Sydney	12,302
Hawthorn	73,012
Melbourne	37,597
North Melbourne	41,797
Port Adelaide	59,522
Richmond	70,784
St Kilda	36,868
Sydney	51,785
West Coast	61,173
Western Bulldogs	33,622
Total	806,728

As of 2 May 2016

• Adelaide, Collingwood and Fremantle numbers as of 6 December 2015

Notable events

Essendon supplements scandal

On 12 January 2016, after appealing the AFL anti-doping tribunal's verdict that 34 past and present Essendon players were found not guilty of taking an illegal substance during the 2012 season, the Court of Arbitration for Sport returned a final verdict of guilty; as a result, these players, including twelve still at the club, five at another as well as 17 players who are currently playing at lower levels or have retired altogether, will be suspended for the entire season.^[42]

References

1. Peter Ryan (3 September 2015). "Sub rule abolished, interchange cap reduced". Australian Football League. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
2. Peter Ryan (17 December 2015). "AFL cracks down on dangerous tackles, deliberate out-of-bounds". Australian Football League. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
3. Peter Ryan (8 March 2016). "Players get 10-metre protection zone as AFL locks down rules". Australian Football League. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
4. Peter Rolfe (15 March 2016). "Goalkicking shot clock to feature on scoreboards for first time". Herald Sun (Melbourne, VIC). Retrieved 17 March 2016.
5. Twomey, Callum (19 April 2016). "No more Grand Final replays". Australian Football League. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
6. MacFarlane, Glenn (24 October 2015). "AFL 2016: West Coast Eagles to face Brisbane in opening round". The Australian. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
7. Robinson, Mark (26 October 2015). "Carlton cut from Friday night footy in 2016 after poor performances in the timeslot". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
8. Edwards, Nat (27 October 2015). "Blues banished from Friday night after poor efforts in 2015". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
9. Schmook, Nathan (27 October 2015). "No New Zealand games in 2016 as Saints' Kiwi push teeters on the brink". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
10. Cordy, Neil (27 October 2015). "GWS Giants’ first home game against Hawthorn, Sydney to start 2016 against Collingwood". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
11. Adam Curley; Matt Thompson (29 February 2016). "Swans exit ANZ Stadium deal one year early". Retrieved 4 March 2016.
12. Stark, Jill (29 October 2015). "St Kilda and Sydney to play AFL's first gay pride game". Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
13. Browne, Ashley (29 October 2015). "No games week before finals in fixture stunner". BigPond. Australian Football League. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
14. Guthrie, Ben (16 February 2016). "Channel Seven, AFL unite to broadcast EJ Whitten Legends Game". Australian Football League. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
15. Browne, Ashley (29 October 2015). "AFL Fixture: Top teams to light up Friday nights". AFL.com.au (Bigpond). Retrieved 29 October 2015.
16. Capel, Andrew (22 December 2015). "Taylor Walker will be Adelaide captain but leadership spots up for grabs, says Crows coach Don Pyke". Adelaide Now (News Corp Australia). Retrieved 14 February 2016.
17. Rucci, Michelangelo (17 February 2016). "Adelaide leadership group increases to seven - and brings back Sam Jacobs and Richard Douglas". Adelaide Now (News Corp Australia). Retrieved 18 February 2016.
18. Hamilton, Andrew (22 January 2016). "Daniel Merrett elevated to Brisbane Lions vice-captain in expanded leadership group". The Courier-Mail (News Corp Australia). Retrieved 3 February 2016.
19. Anderson, Jon (15 February 2016). "Marc Murphy retains Carlton captaincy in seven-man Blues leadership group". Herald Sun (News Corp Australia). Retrieved 15 February 2016.
20. Gleeson, Michael (3 February 2016). "Brent Macaffer not in his own top 22 but he's a Collingwood leader". The Age (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 3 February 2016.
21. Cherny, Daniel (22 January 2016). "Essendon announce Brendon Goddard as captain for 2016". The Age (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 3 February 2016.
22. Twomey, Callum (24 March 2016). "Daniher joins Bombers' leadership group". AFL.com.au (Bigpond). Retrieved 24 March 2016.
23. Quartermaine, Braden (15 January 2016). "New Dockers captain David Mundy says he expected Matthew Pavlich to ‘roll on again’ as skipper for 2016". Perth Now (News Corp Australia). Retrieved 3 February 2016.
24. Balme, Ned (15 January 2016). "Introducing your 2016 leaders". fremantlefc.com.au (BigPond). Retrieved 29 January 2016.
25. Auciello, Michael (23 February 2016). "Patrick Dangerfield in Geelong Cats’ 2016 leadership group". Geelong Advertiser (News Corp Australia). Retrieved 23 February 2016.
26. Cherny, Daniel (31 January 2016). "Gold Coast include out-of-contract youngsters in extended leadership group". The Age (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 3 February 2016.
27. "GWS add youngsters to AFL leadership group". SBS. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
28. Wood, Lauren (15 December 2015). "Luke Hodge has support of Hawthorn teammates to remain captain". Herald Sun (News Corp Australia). Retrieved 3 February 2016.
29. Cherny, Daniel (11 December 2015). "Melbourne announce Nathan Jones as captain again for 2016". The Age (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 14 February 2016.
30. Morris, Tom (10 March 2016). "Melbourne announces entire 2015 leadership group, except for skipper Nathan Jones, has changed". Fox Sports (Australia) (News Corp Australia). Retrieved 10 March 2016.
31. Tate, Andrew (3 February 2016). "North Melbourne keeps Andrew Swallow as captain". The Age (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 3 February 2016.
32. Rucci, Michelangelo (24 February 2016). "Jack Hombsch and Justin Westhoff new faces in Port Adelaide’s eight-man leadership group". The Advertiser (News Corp Australia). Retrieved 25 February 2016.
33. "Cotchin captain as two join Tigers leaders". AFL.com.au (BigPond). 15 January 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
34. Gould, Russell; Sewell, Eliza (8 February 2016). "Nick Riewoldt to captain St Kilda in 2016, will become fifth player to lead his club 200 times". Herald Sun (News Corp Australia). Retrieved 9 February 2016.
35. Cordy, Neil (18 February 2016). "AFL 2016: Sydney Swans expand leadership group to include Dan Hannebery, Heath Grundy, Dane Rampe". The Daily Telegraph (News Corp Australia). Retrieved 18 February 2016.
36. Chadwick, Justin (18 January 2016). "Shannon Hurn to return as West Coast Eagles captain". Herald Sun (News Corp Australia). Retrieved 3 February 2016.
37. Clark, Jay (24 January 2016). "Marcus Bontempelli and Easton Wood elevated into Western Bulldogs leadership group". Herald Sun (News Corp Australia). Retrieved 3 February 2016.
38. Malcom, Alex (25 January 2016). "Foot injury forces young Eagle into retirement". AFL.com.au (Bigpond). Retrieved 25 January 2016.
39. Thring, Harry (26 February 2016). "I've lost my passion". AFL.com.au (Bigpond). Retrieved 26 February 2016.
40. Ryan, Peter (15 March 2016). "Hawthorn rookie Shem Tatupu quits AFL". AFL.com.au (Bigpond). Retrieved 15 March 2016.
41. "Justin Clarke Reveals Future". Lions.com.au (Bigpond). 31 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
42. Travis King (12 January 2016). "Guilty: court bans the Essendon 34 for 2016". Australian Football League. Retrieved 12 January 2016.

External links

• Official AFL website