1981 AFC Night Series

The 1981 Australian Football Championships Night Series was the 3rd edition of the AFC Night Series, a VFL-organised national club Australian rules football tournament between the leading clubs from the VFL, the SANFL, the WAFL and State Representative Teams.[1]

1981 AFC Night Series
AFC Escort Championships
Tournament details
Dates7 March - 14 July 1981
Teams34
Venue(s)8 (in 6 host cities)
Final positions
ChampionsEssendon (1st title)
Runners-upCarlton
Tournament statistics
Matches played35
Attendance223,959 (6,399 per match)

A total of 34 teams from across Australia played 35 matches over five months, with the qualifying rounds held during the pre-season and the main draw held midweek throughout the premiership season.

Qualified Teams
Team Nickname League Qualification Participation (bold indicates winners)1
Enter in Round 3
Richmond Tigers VFL Winners of the 1980 Victorian Football League 7th (Previous: 1969, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1980)
Collingwood Magpies VFL Runners-Up in the 1980 Victorian Football League 5th (Previous: 1896, 1910, 1979, 1980)
Geelong Cats VFL Third Place in the 1980 Victorian Football League 3rd (Previous: 1979, 1980)
Carlton Blues VFL Fourth Place in the 1980 Victorian Football League 10th (Previous: 1907, 1908, 1914, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1976, 1979, 1980)
North Melbourne Kangaroos VFL Fifth Place in the 1980 Victorian Football League 5th (Previous: 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980)
South Melbourne Swans VFL Sixth Place in the 1980 Victorian Football League 6th (Previous: 1888, 1890, 1909, 1979, 1980)
Enter in Round 1
Essendon Bombers VFL Seventh Place in the 1980 Victorian Football League 5th (Previous: 1893, 1911, 1979, 1980)
Hawthorn Hawks VFL Eighth Place in the 1980 Victorian Football League 5th (Previous: 1971, 1976, 1979, 1980)
Melbourne Demons VFL Ninth Place in the 1980 Victorian Football League 3rd (Previous: 1979, 1980)
Footscray Bulldogs VFL Tenth Place in the 1980 Victorian Football League 4th (Previous: 1976, 1979, 1980)
St Kilda Saints VFL Eleventh Place in the 1980 Victorian Football League 3rd (Previous: 1979, 1980)
Fitzroy Lions VFL Twelfth Place in the 1980 Victorian Football League 4th (Previous: 1913, 1979, 1980)
Port Adelaide Magpies SANFL Winners of the 1980 South Australian National Football League 10th (Previous: 1890, 1910, 1913, 1914, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
Norwood Redlegs SANFL Runners-Up in the 1980 South Australian National Football League 9th (Previous: 1888, 1907, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
Sturt Double Blues SANFL Third Place in the 1980 South Australian National Football League 9th (Previous: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980)
Glenelg Tigers SANFL Fourth Place in the 1980 South Australian National Football League 7th (Previous: 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
West Torrens Eagles SANFL Fifth Place in the 1980 South Australian National Football League 3rd (Previous: 1979, 1980)
Central District Bulldogs SANFL Sixth Place in the 1980 South Australian National Football League 4th (Previous: 1977, 1979, 1980)
South Adelaide Panthers SANFL Seventh Place in the 1980 South Australian National Football League 7th (Previous: 1893, 1896, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
North Adelaide Roosters SANFL Eighth Place in the 1980 South Australian National Football League 6th (Previous: 1971, 1972, 1977, 1979, 1980)
West Adelaide Bloods SANFL Ninth Place in the 1980 South Australian National Football League 8th (Previous: 1908, 1909, 1911, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
Woodville Woodpeckers SANFL Tenth Place in the 1980 South Australian National Football League 3rd (Previous: 1979, 1980)
South Fremantle Bulldogs WAFL Winners of the 1980 West Australian Football League 5th (Previous: 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980)
Swan Districts Swans WAFL Runners-Up in the 1980 West Australian Football League 4th (Previous: 1976, 1979, 1980)
East Perth Royals WAFL Third Place in the 1980 West Australian Football League 6th (Previous: 1972, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
Claremont Tigers WAFL Fourth Place in the 1980 West Australian Football League 4th (Previous: 1977, 1979, 1980)
West Perth Falcons WAFL Fifth Place in the 1980 West Australian Football League 7th (Previous: 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
Perth Demons WAFL Sixth Place in the 1980 West Australian Football League 5th (Previous: 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
East Fremantle Sharks WAFL Seventh Place in the 1980 West Australian Football League 6th (Previous: 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
Subiaco Lions WAFL Eighth Place in the 1980 West Australian Football League 4th (Previous: 1973, 1979, 1980)
Australian Capital Territory Rams ACTAFL State Representative Team 5th (Previous: 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
New South Wales Blues NSWAFL State Representative Team 5th (Previous: 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
Queensland Maroons QAFL State Representative Team 4th (Previous: 1977, 1978, 1980)
Tasmania Devils TANFL State Representative Team 6th (Previous: 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
1 Includes previous appearances in the Championship of Australia and NFL Night Series.

Venues
Melbourne Adelaide Perth Brisbane Canberra Hobart
Waverley Park Norwood Oval Subiaco Oval Claremont Oval Leederville Oval Chelmer Oval Phillip Oval North Hobart Oval
Capacity: 72,000 Capacity: 22,000 Capacity: 53,000 Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 22,000 Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 26,000

Knockout stage

Round 1

Round 2

Round 2 Playoff

Round 3

Quarter Finals

Semi Finals

Australian Football Championships Night Series Final
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References
  1. David Eastman. "1981 AFC Escort Championships".
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