View source for Melbourne Football Club

{{Short description|Australian rules football club}}
{{About|the Australian rules football club|the association football (soccer) club|Melbourne City FC}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox australian football club
  | color1 =#0f1131
  | color2 =#ffffff
  | color3 =solid #de0316
  | clubname  = Melbourne Football Club
  | image = Melbournefc.svg
  | image_size = 180px
  | fullname  = Melbourne Football Club Limited<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abr.business.gov.au/ABN/View?abn=27005686902|title=Current details for ABN 27 005 686 902|website=ABN Lookup|date=November 2014|publisher=Australian Business Register|access-date=4 August 2020}}</ref>
  | nicknames = '''AFL:''' ''Demons, Dees''<br />'''Indigenous rounds:''' ''Narrm''
  | formernicknames = ''Redlegs, Fuchsias'' <small> (prior to 1933) </small>
  | season    = [[2024 Melbourne Football Club season|<span style="color:#ffffff">2025</span>]]
  | afterfinals    = 14th
  | home&away      = 14th
  | topgoalkicker  = [[Kysaiah Pickett]] (40 goals)
  | bestandfairest = 
  | bestandfairestname = Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy
  | founded   = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1858}}<ref>''Bell's Life in Victoria'', 10 July 1858</ref><ref>''The Footballer An annual Record of Football in Victoria'', 1875</ref><ref>''100 Years of Football, The Story of the Melbourne Football Club'', 1958</ref><ref>{{cite AustLII|litigants=Smith v Australian Football League|ATMO|20|2012}}.</ref>
  | colours   =  {{color box|#0f1131}} Navy Blue {{color box|#de0316}} Red
  | league    = '''[[Australian Football League|AFL]]:''' Men<br />'''[[AFL Women's|AFLW]]:''' Women
  | president  = [[Brad Green (footballer)|Brad Green]]
  | ceo       = Paul Guerra 
  | coach     = '''AFL:''' [[Steven King (footballer)|Steven King]]<br />'''AFLW:''' [[Mick Stinear]]
  | captain   = '''AFL:''' [[Max Gawn]]<br />'''AFLW:''' [[Kate Hore]]
  | premierships = '''VFL/AFL''' (13) {{hlist|[[1900 VFL Grand Final|1900]]|[[1926 VFL Grand Final|1926]]|[[1939 VFL Grand Final|1939]]|[[1940 VFL Grand Final|1940]]|[[1941 VFL Grand Final|1941]]|[[1948 VFL Grand Final|1948]]|[[1955 VFL Grand Final|1955]]|[[1956 VFL Grand Final|1956]]|[[1957 VFL Grand Final|1957]]|[[1959 VFL Grand Final|1959]]|[[1960 VFL Grand Final|1960]]|[[1964 VFL Grand Final|1964]]|[[2021 AFL Grand Final|2021]]}} '''AFLW''' (1)<br />[[2022 AFL Women's season 7|2022 (S7)]]<br />'''Reserves''' (12) {{hlist|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1931]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1932]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1933]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1934]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1935]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1939]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1949]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1956]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1969]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1970]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1984]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1993]]}}'<br />'''Victorian''' (3){{hlist|[[1870 Victorian football season|1870]]|[[1872 Victorian football season|1872]]|[[1876 Victorian football season|1876]]}}
  | ground    = '''AFL:''' [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] (100,024)<br />'''AFLW:''' [[Casey Fields]] (9,000)<ref>{{cite web|title=Casey Fields|url=http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=300|website=austadiums.com|publisher=Austadiums|access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref>
  | capacity  = 
  | trainingground = '''AFL/AFLW:''' [[Yarra Park|Gosch's Paddock]], [[Casey Fields]]
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  | url       = [https://www.melbournefc.com.au melbournefc.com.au]
  | jumper    = 
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}}

The '''Melbourne Football Club''', nicknamed the '''Demons''' or colloquially the '''Dees''', is a professional [[Australian rules football]] club based in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria, Australia]]. It competes in the [[Australian Football League]] (AFL), the sport's premier competition and plays its home games at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] (MCG).

Melbourne is the world's [[oldest football clubs|oldest professional club of any football code]]. A loosely organised Melbourne side began playing in the winter of 1858. The following year, the club was officially established and four members codified "[[Laws of Australian rules football#Melbourne Rules of 1859|The Rules of the Melbourne Football Club]]"—the basis of Australian rules football. The club was a dominant force in the early years of the game and a foundation member of the [[Victorian Football Association]] (VFA) in 1877 and the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1896, now the national AFL. Melbourne has won 13 VFL/AFL premierships, the latest in [[2021 AFL Grand Final|2021]]. The club was a foundation team of the [[AFL Women's]] league (AFLW), and won its first AFLW premiership in [[2022 AFL Women's season 7|2022 season 7]].

The football club has been a sporting section of the [[Melbourne Cricket Club]] (MCC) since 2009, having previously been associated with the MCC between 1889 and 1980.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mcc.org.au/Club%20Sport/Melbourne%20Football%20Club.aspx | title=Melbourne Football Club becomes an MCC Sporting Section again | publisher=Melbourne Cricket Club | access-date=21 February 2012 | quote=...on April 1, 2009, the Melbourne Football Club once again became a Sporting Section of the Melbourne Cricket Club...}}</ref>

==History==

===1858: Foundations===
{{See also|Origins of Australian football}}
{{multiple image
 | align        = left
 | direction    = horizontal
 | header_align = center
 | total_width  = 300
 | image1    = Tom Wills 1857.jpg
 | caption1  = After promoting the formation of, and captaining an 1858 incarnation of the club, [[Tom Wills]] co-wrote Melbourne's first laws.
 | image2    = John Longstaff HCA Harrison.jpg
 | caption2  = Wills' cousin [[H. C. A. Harrison]] captained Melbourne from 1861 to 1872, and later served as club president.
}}
In the winter and spring of 1858, a loosely organised football team known as 'Melbourne' played in a series of scratch matches in [[Yarra Park|the parklands]] outside the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]]. This team was captained by [[Tom Wills]], a prominent athlete and captain of the [[Victoria cricket team]], who, on 10 July that year, had [[s:Winter Practice|a letter]] of his published by the Melbourne-based ''[[Bell's Life in Victoria and Sporting Chronicle]]'', in which he calls for the formation of a "foot-ball club" with a "code of laws" to keep cricketers fit during winter. Other figures associated with this embryonic Melbourne side included [[Melbourne Cricket Club]] members [[James Bryant (Australian cricketer)|Jerry Bryant]], [[William Hammersley]] and [[J. B. Thompson]], and teacher [[Thomas H. Smith]]. Whereas, fresh contemporary evidence from Bell's Life confirms the prominent role Jerry Bryant played in formation of the Melbourne Football Club at his Parade Hotel on the 21st May 1859.<ref name="oldnews.com">"Football," Bell's Life in Victoria and Sporting Chronicle Melbourne, Victoria, Australia". ''www.oldnews.com''. July 31, 1858. Retrieved 2025-05-19.</ref><ref name="Bell 1859">"Football" Bell's Life in Victoria and Sporting Chronicle, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, May 21, 1859.</ref>

It is possible that the first game played involving the Melbourne team took place on or adjacent to the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 14 August following Bryant's call for 'all good kicks' to take part with a subsequent match held among the Melbourne Cricket Club members on 30 August.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1858-08-14|title=FOOTBALL.|work=Bell's Life in Victoria and Sporting Chronicle|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201379231|access-date=2021-09-26}}</ref> On 25 September, Melbourne was challenged to a match by the [[South Yarra Football Club (1858–1873)|South Yarra Football Club]] featuring 26 players a side, with Melbourne winning the game.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1858-10-04|title=A NATIVE BURIAL.|work=Portland Guardian and Normanby General Advertiser|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64509220|access-date=2021-09-26}}</ref> Although the club had not yet been established as a formal entity,{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} the year 1858 has long been recognised as being the foundation year of the Melbourne Football Club and for Australian rules football.

===1859–1876: establishment and early years===
With the cricket season finished ''[[The Argus (Melbourne)|The Argus]]''  reported in early May 1859 that the membership of the "Melbourne Football Club" was growing 'owing, probably, to its being no longer confined to members of the Melbourne Cricket Club'.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1859-05-09|title=MONDAY, MAY 9, 1859.|work=Argus|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5680838|access-date=2021-09-26}}</ref> On 14 May the club held its first match of the year in the Richmond Paddock with two sides captained by Smith and Bryant, with Bryant's side kicking two goals for victory.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1859-05-14|title=SATURDAY, MAY 14, 1859.|work=Argus|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5681133|access-date=2021-09-26}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=MONDAY, MAY 1[?], 1859. - The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) - 16 May 1859|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5681186|access-date=2021-09-26|newspaper=Argus|date=16 May 1859 |language=en}}</ref> A subsequent meeting was held to elect a Secretary, Treasurer and committee of five to administer the affairs of the club and to draft its rules, whilst an application to the MCC was made for use of the MCG on Wednesdays and Saturdays.<ref name=":1" /> Although most Melbourne players and officials were associated with the MCC, the football club was not initially allowed to use its ground, so matches were played on the fields at [[Yarra Park]].

[[File:Parade Hotel Melbourne.jpg|thumb|left|Former Parade Hotel near the MCG, where in 1859 the "[[Laws of Australian rules football#Melbourne Rules of 1859|Rules of the Melbourne Football Club]]" were drafted]]
On 17 and 21 May 1859, Wills, Hammersley, Thompson and Smith met near the MCG at the Parade Hotel, owned by Bryant, to draft "[[Laws of Australian rules football#Melbourne Rules of 1859|The Rules of the Melbourne Football Club]]".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5681588 |title=MONDAY, MAY&nbsp;23, 1859. |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)|The Argus]] |location=Melbourne |date=23 May 1859 |access-date=7 May 2011 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The resulting ten codified rules are [[Laws of Australian rules football|the laws]] from which Australian rules football evolved.

In the early years of the club, football matches were conducted on a casual basis with no set fixture and teams often having to cancel engagements due to a lack of players. The first mention of an interclub match played under the new code was between Melbourne and South Yarra in July 1859, with Hammersley as Melbourne's inaugural captain.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5684253 |title=MONDAY, JULY&nbsp;11, 1859. |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)|The Argus]] |location=Melbourne |date=11 July 1859 |access-date=7 May 2011 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In 1860 Melbourne played its first match against the [[Geelong Football Club]] in Geelong with the match resulting in a draw.

In 1861, Melbourne participated in the Caledonian Society [[Challenge Cup (Australian rules football)|Challenge Cup]], but lost the trophy to the [[Melbourne University Football Club]]. The club pushed for its rules to be the accepted rules, however many of the early suburban matches were played under compromised rules decided between the captains of the competing teams.

[[File:Australian Football Yarra Park 1874.jpg|thumb|Melbourne playing in [[Yarra Park]] at the start of the 1874 season]]
By 1866 several other clubs had also adopted an updated version of Melbourne's rules, drafted at a meeting chaired by Wills' cousin, [[H. C. A. Harrison]]. Harrison was a key figure in the early years of the club; he often served as captain and, in later years, as president. Due to his popular reputation and administrative efforts, he was officially named "Father of Australian Football" in 1908, the year of the sport's golden jubilee.

During the 1870s, Melbourne fielded teams in the Seven Twenties and [[Challenge Cup (Australia)|South Yarra Cup]] competitions.

===1877–1896: Victorian Football Association===
[[File:Melbourne fc 1879.jpg|thumb|left|Melbourne side of 1879]]
In 1877, Melbourne became a founding member of the [[Victorian Football Association]] (VFA). During the same year the club took part in the first interstate football match involving a South Australian side, {{SANFL Vic}}, defeating the home side 1–0.<ref>"FOOTBALL.". ''The South Australian Advertiser'' (Adelaide) (National Library of Australia). 13 August 1877. p. 7. Retrieved 21 January 2015.</ref> Melbourne never won a VFA premiership, although they were consistently one of the stronger teams in the competition, finishing as runners-up four times, to [[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]] in 1877, [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]] in 1878 and twice to [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]] in 1893 and 1894.

In 1884 Melbourne's stand at the MCG which catered for 3,000 spectators burned down precipitating a series of financial constraints for the club. With mounting debts, club officials running up unauthorised accounts, poor on-field form and players leaving to join other clubs, Melbourne's future was in serious jeopardy by 1888. It was proposed that the MCC intervene to provide assistance given the closeness of the two clubs and the fact that football matches generated significant gate revenue for the MCC.

At the end of the 1889 season, the MFC and MCC committees met and agreed to amalgamation of the two. The football club would become a section of the cricket club with the MCC handling the MFC's immediate and ongoing financial concerns. Melbourne's on-field prospects soon lifted finishing fourth on the ladder in 1892 and vying the Premiership in 1893. This was to be the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership that produced 12 VFL Premierships between 1900 and 1964.<ref name=":0" />

===1897–1932: early years in the Victorian Football League===
[[File:Performance Chart AFL MEL.svg|thumb|Chart of yearly ladder positions for Melbourne in [[Australian Football League|VFL/AFL]]]]
[[File:Melbourne fc 1900.jpg|thumb|right|Melbourne team that won its first VFL premiership in [[1900 VFL grand final|1900]]]]
In 1897, Melbourne joined other VFA powerhouse clubs Essendon, Collingwood, Fitzroy, Geelong, and South Melbourne to form the breakaway [[Victorian Football League (1897–1989)|Victorian Football League]] with Carlton and St Kilda also joining. In the first season of the new competition, [[Jack Leith]] was the league's leading goalscorer while [[Fred McGinis]] emerged as a champion player and league identity being judged Champion of the Colony for the season.<ref name=":0" /> In 1900, McGinis helped take Melbourne to its [[1900 VFL grand final|first VFL premiership]], defeating [[Fitzroy Football Club|Fitzroy]] in a Grand Final upset at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground; and, in 1904, [[Vin Coutie]] kicked 39 goals to be the League's leading goalkicker. But, despite this success, including playing in the finals again in 1902, Melbourne's first decade of the 20th century was poor on-field, with the club taking out the Wooden Spoon in [[1905 VFL season|1905]] and [[1906 VFL season|1906]].

In the 1910s the team had adopted the nickname 'Fuchsias' alongside the pre-existing Redlegs name and in 1912 the club adopted a club song to the tune of 'You're A Grand Old Flag". [[Harry Brereton]] was the VFL leading goalscorer in the 1911 and 1912 season. During this time the club took pride in its policy of amateurism and when [[World War I]] broke out, the club strongly petitioned for the league being suspended to prevent fit professional footballers from joining the war effort. In 1916 the club refused to take part in the competition for three seasons, returning in 1919. 14 Melbourne players lost their lives in the conflict, including Arthur Mueller 'Joe' Pearce, Clifford Burge, Jack Doubleday, Desmond McDonald, Ralph Robertson, Percy Rodriguez and Alfred Williamson.<ref name=":0" /> For instance, in May 1919, an unidentified former Melbourne footballer, wrote to the football correspondent of ''The Argus'' as follows:
::"In 1914 the Melbourne football team, [[Melbourne University Football Club#VFL history|after its junction with the University]], was a fine team, and succeeded in reaching the semi-finals.<br />Out of this combination the following players enlisted and served at the front:—<br />[[Charlie Lilley|C. Lilley]] (seriously wounded), [[Johnny Hassett|J. Hassett]], [[Hedley Tomkins|H. Tomkins]] (severely wounded), [[Jack Evans (footballer, born 1891)|J. Evans]] (seriously wounded), [[Bill Hendrie|W. Hendrie]], [[Roy Park (sportsman)|R. L. Park]], [[Jack Doubleday|J. Doubleday]] (died), [[Arthur Best|A. Best]], [[Cliff Burge|C. Burge]] (killed), [[Alf Williamson|C. (viz., A.) Williamson]] (killed), [[Jack Brake|J. Brake]], [[Rupe Lowell|R. Lowell]], [[Eric Parsons (Australian footballer)|E. Parsons]] (seriously wounded), [[Joe Pearce (footballer)|A. M. Pearce]] (killed), [[Frank Lugton|F. Lugton]] (killed), [[Alf George|A. George]], [[Charlie Armstrong (footballer)|C. Armstrong]], [[Percy Rodriguez (footballer)|P. Rodriguez]] (killed), [[Jack Connole|J. Cannole (viz., Connole)]], [[Alexander Fraser (Australian politician)|A. Fraser]] (seriously wounded), [[Tim Collins (footballer)|T. Collins]].<br />These are all players of note, and in themselves would have formed a very fine side, but there is only one of them playing at the present time, viz., C. Lilley, who, as a matter of fact, takes the field under some disability owing to severe wounds which he received on service." — ''The Argus'', 16 May 1919.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1468346 'Old Boy', "Football: Notes and Comments", ''The Argus'', (Friday, 16 May 1919), p.8.]</ref>

Melbourne had little success  in the immediate post-war years having not played a final since 1915, taking out another Wooden Spoon in 1919. However, finals form would return with the team defeating Geelong and later losing to Collingwood in 1925. In 1926 [[Albert Chadwick]] captain-coached the team to its second league Premiership defeating Collingwood in the [[1926 VFL Grand Final|Grand Final.]] Melbourne's greatest player at this time was [[Ivor Warne-Smith]], who in the Premiership year won the club's first [[Brownlow Medal]]. Warne-Smith went on to win a second Brownlow in 1928, a year in which Melbourne would play finals again. Chadwick and Warne-Smith would both go on to have influential administrative roles in the club's most successful period in the 1950s.

===1933–1964: dominant years ===
The Great Depression took a financial toll on the club with  poor on-field performances and some players having the pressure of having to search for employment. Melbourne's fortunes were lifted however for the 1933 season when it lured Richmond's premiership winning coach Frank "Checker" Hughes and Richmond's secretary Percy Page to the club.

Hughes was a tough and disciplined coach inspiring the changing of the club's nickname from the Fuchsias to the Demons.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/melbourne-demons/melbourne-presidents-plan-to-turn-the-demons-into-the-yankees-20140608-zs162.html|title=Melbourne president's plan to turn the Demons into the Yankees|last=Wilson|first=Caroline|date=8 June 2014|work=[[The Age]]|access-date=4 June 2015}}</ref> {{cquote|You are playing like a lot of flowers. Lift your heads and play like demons!|15px|15px|Hughes during a speech to his players<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame-member/frank-e-checker-hughes/|title=Frank E 'Checker' Hughes|website=SAHOF.org.au|publisher=[[Sport Australia Hall of Fame Awards]]|access-date=26 September 2020}}</ref>
}}

Under Hughes' leadership, and with star players including captain [[Allan La Fontaine]], rover [[Percy Beames]], backman [[Jack Mueller]] and [[Norm Smith]] at full forward, the Demons played finals in 1936 and 1937, and became the third club after Carlton and Collingwood to win three successive premierships in [[1939 VFL Grand Final|1939]], [[1940 VFL Grand Final|1940]] and [[1941 VFL Grand Final|1941]].<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/12685233 Taylor, Percy, "Melbourne are Proud of their Great War Record", ''The Australasian'', (Saturday, 24 June 1944), p.23.]</ref>

Tragedy would fall on the club soon after with 11 players giving their lives whilst serving in World War 2. These players included premiership players [[Keith Truscott|Keith 'Bluey' Truscott]], [[Harold Ball]], [[Syd Anderson (footballer, born 1918)|Syd Anderson]] and [[Ron Barassi Sr.|Ron Barassi Sr]], all for whom club awards have been dedicated to, with the club's [[Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy|Best and Fairest]] award named in honour of Truscott.

Hughes left the club at the end of the 1941 season but returned in 1945. The next year [[Don Cordner]] became the second Demon to win the Brownlow Medal with Melbourne reaching the [[1946 VFL Grand Final|grand final]], losing to Essendon by a margin of 63 points. [[Fred Fanning]] was the VFL leading goal scorer in 1943, 1944, 1945 and 1947 when he also kicked the league record 18 goals in a match during the last game of the season (a record that still stands). In 1948, Melbourne met Essendon in a [[1948 VFL Grand Final|grand final]] rematch. The Bombers' inaccurate kicking of 7 goals and 27 behinds resulted in the first ever drawn VFL grand final. The Demons returned the next week to win its sixth premiership with Jack Mueller kicking six goals in the match. Hughes retired again as coach at the end of the season and after being denied the position by a single vote of the club's committee, Norm Smith moved to Fitzroy to take a position as captain-coach.

[[File:Australian rules footballer Norm Smith.jpg|thumb|upright|Demons great [[Norm Smith]] coached the club to six premierships]]
New coach Allan La Fontaine had limited success despite the Demons playing finals in 1950 and bringing talented new players into the club. After the Demons took out the Wooden Spoon in 1951, Smith returned to take up the coaching position in the 1952 season and set about forging a new team with future club champion [[Ron Barassi]] joining in 1953 under the newly created [[Father–son rule|father-son rule]]. In 1954, the Demons made the [[1954 VFL Grand Final|Grand Final]] losing to a rampaging Footscray. In 1955 the Demons cemented their position as the best team in the league finishing top of the ladder and taking out the Premiership in the [[1955 VFL Grand Final|Grand Final]] against Collingwood. Melbourne became the only VFL team to win three premierships in succession twice by winning the [[1956 VFL Grand Final|1956]] and [[1957 VFL Grand Final|1957]] grand finals against Collingwood and Essendon. The Demons suffered a shock defeat to their rivals Collingwood in the [[1958 VFL Grand Final|1958 grand final]], but would regain the premiership following wins in the [[1959 VFL Grand Final|1959]] and [[1960 VFL Grand Final|1960]] grand finals against Essendon and Collingwood.

Despite playing in the finals series in 1961, 1962 and 1963, Melbourne failed to reach a grand final until 1964 when the Demons finished top of the ladder again. In one of the most thrilling [[1964 VFL Grand Final|grand finals]], Melbourne won its 12th VFL premiership in the dying seconds of the game against Collingwood with back-pocket player [[Neil Crompton (footballer)|Neil Crompton]] kicking the winning goal.

After the 1954 Grand Final loss to Footscray, no team was able to score 100 points against the Demons until Collingwood in round 5 1963. The next team was Geelong with 110 in round 1 1964. and dominant period of any team in the VFL/AFL no other team has ever won 10 premierships in just 31 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Companion volume to Grand Finals Volume I—1897-1938 |url=https://books.slatterymedia.com/uploads/store_items/grand-finals-volume-ii-1939-1978/files/look_inside.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503030617/https://books.slatterymedia.com/uploads/store_items/grand-finals-volume-ii-1939-1978/files/look_inside.pdf |archive-date=2021-05-03 |url-status=live |access-date=4 October 2023 |website=Slattery Media Group}}</ref>

===1965–1986: decades of disappointment===
In one of the greatest shock moves in the VFL history, Ron Barassi transferred to Carlton as captain-coach for the 1965 season. Despite this, Melbourne were still the dominant team of the league, winning its first eight games in succession. After having lost just three games, the club's committee made the startling decision to sack Norm Smith as coach before its Round 13 fixture against North Melbourne. Hughes returned to coach the Demons in a losing game, while Melbourne identities, including Barassi took to the media to defend Smith. Smith was reinstated however the damage was done, the Demons would only win one more game and subsequently missed out on finals for the first time since 1953. Melbourne would not play in another finals series until 1987.

Smith coached two more seasons with Melbourne and a succession of coaches followed trying to reverse the Demons fortunes including [[John Beckwith (footballer)|John Beckwith]] (1968–70), [[Ian Ridley]] (1971–73), [[Bob Skilton]] (1974–77) and [[Dennis Jones (Australian footballer)|Dennis Jones]] (1978). Melbourne languished near the bottom of the ladder throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, including three wooden spoons in 1969, 1974 and 1978. Despite possessing gifted players including [[Robert Flower]] and [[Greg Wells (footballer, born 1950)|Greg Wells]], the introduction of country zoning and poor management hampered the club's fortunes. Melbourne tried to supplement its list by recruiting older players from successful teams including [[Carl Ditterich|Carl Diterich]] who played in two separate engagements with the Demons, the first between 1973 and 1975 and then serving as captain-coach in 1979 and 1980.

Melbourne's best start to a season was in 1971 when the club was at the top of the ladder after the first round and maintained that position until it lost to [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]] in round 6. Melbourne was still in second place at the start of the second half of the season but a dramatic slump had them dropping to fifth position five weeks later. They finished with only two more wins and a draw.

In 1976, Melbourne missed what looked to be an almost certain finals appearance. In the final round, the Demons only needed to beat bottom side Collingwood, and  for Footscray to lose to the top side Carlton. The Demons beat Collingwood at Victoria Park but an unexpected drawn match between Footscray and Carlton saw the Bulldogs edge out the Demons for the finals. Melbourne would then fall back into the bottom quarter of the ladder the following season, and in 1979 they suffered the worst defeat in VFL/AFL history, losing to {{AFL Fit}} by 190 points in [[1979 VFL season#Round 17|round 17]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/demon-legends-disappointed-by-coach-sacking-20110731-1i6wr.html|title=Demon legends disappointed by coach sacking|newspaper=The Age|first=Will|last=Brodie|date=1 August 2011|access-date=31 December 2015}}</ref> although they would beat Essendon the following week.

[[File:Melbourne80s.png|frame|left|Melbourne's 1980s shield logo]]
In an effort to attract more members and to improve the club's finances the club legally separated from the MCC, becoming a public company. In 1981, under the chairmanship of Sir [[Billy Snedden]], and with a public campaign backed by radio broadcaster Derryn Hinch, Ron Barassi returned to Melbourne as coach and immediately appointed Robert Flower as captain. When he left the Demons in 1965 it was felt Barassi would eventually return and his arrival caused much excitement and an expectation of immediate success. Barassi set about implementing a 5-year plan for the Demons to win a Premiership, however the Demons finished 1981 with the wooden spoon after winning only one game. Recruits [[Brian Wilson (Australian rules footballer)|Brian Wilson]] from Footscray and [[Peter Moore (Australian rules footballer)|Peter Moore]] from Collingwood would win the club's 4th and 5th Brownlow Medals in 1982 and 1984. However, despite sound recruiting, Barassi was unable to take the Demons to an elusive finals series and John Northey took up the coaching position in 1986.

===1987–2006: rollercoaster years===
Melbourne would finally make the finals in 1987 in dramatic fashion needing to beat Footscray at the Western Oval and requiring Geelong to lose to Hawthorn. The Demons beat the Bulldogs by two goals with the Hawks beating the Cats by three points in the dying seconds of the game. Both matches took place at the same time, with the Melbourne fans cheering towards the end of the game when news came through of the Hawks win. Melbourne cruised into the Preliminary Final defeating North Melbourne by 118 points and Sydney by 76 points. In Robert Flower's last game, the Demons lead the Hawks by 4 points at the final siren, though Hawthorn's [[Gary Buckenara]] had a free kick 55 metres out. But Melbourne Irish recruit [[Jim Stynes]] ran across the mark and incurred a 15-metre penalty, bringing Buckenara close enough to kick the winning goal after the siren. The Demons would try to exact revenge on the Hawks in the 1988 [[1988 VFL Grand Final|Grand Final]] but were trounced by 96 points.

From 1987 to 1991, Melbourne had five positive win–loss differentials in successive seasons which the club had not been able to achieve since the 1950s. Thereafter things went downhill for Northey, although Jim Stynes won the Brownlow in 1991. In 1992, the club finished 11th, and Northey was replaced by [[Neil Balme]] as coach. Balme coached Melbourne into the finals in 1994, but a last game loss to Brisbane saw them drop out of the top-eight in 1995, and the club lingered at or near the bottom of the ladder for most of the 1996 season.

By 1996, the club was also in dire financial straits. The club's board led by past club champion [[Ian Ridley]] as president decided on the desperate step of a [[Melbourne Hawks|merger with Hawthorn]]. In the ensuing weeks, a passionate debate was fought between pro and anti-merger supporters. In the first few days of this debate, lifelong supporters Mark and Anthony Jenkins met with coterie member George Zagon to form the Demon Alternative – an anti-merger group that was to significantly impact on the plans of the incumbent board. Former player and politician [[Brian Dixon (Australian footballer)|Brian Dixon]] and Rabbi [[Joseph Gutnick]] became the prominent leaders of the Demon Alternative group. The group quickly organised itself into a credible option for Melbourne supporters; however given the support of the AFL and other factors, when the merger issue was put to a vote, a majority of Melbourne members supported the board. In a meeting on the opposite side of town, Hawthorn members rejected their board's proposal and eventually the merger was defeated.

Gutnick and Mark Jenkins were co-opted onto the club's board in the aftermath with Gutnick later being voted in as president. He put $3 million of his own money into the club, and sacked Balme as coach midway through the 1997 season. In 1998, under new coach [[Neale Daniher]], the club spent most of the season in the top eight and beat the eventual premiers [[Adelaide Football Club|Adelaide]] in the Qualifying Final. Melbourne also eliminated [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]], but lost to North Melbourne in the Preliminary Final. In 1999 Melbourne finished in the bottom three.

In an exciting finish to the 2000 season, Melbourne stormed its way into the [[2000 AFL Grand Final|Grand Final]], but were convincingly beaten by ladder leaders Essendon. Melbourne missed out on finals in 2001 finishing 11th, but would finish sixth in 2002 to eventually lose its semi-final to Adelaide at the MCG in a controversial ‘away’ game, only played in Melbourne due to the AFL's contractual obligations with the MCG. Captain [[David Neitz]] would play his best season winning the [[Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy|Best and Fairest]] award and winning the club's first [[Coleman Medal]] as the league's leading goalscorer kicking 75 goals. Gutnick was replaced by [[Gabriel Szondy]] as president at the end of the year winning 65% of the members' vote.

In 2003, Melbourne plunged into new on and off-field crises, winning only five games for the year and posting a $1 million loss. Szondy resigned as president and it seemed that Daniher's tenure as coach was under threat. Melbourne played finals again in 2004. In a seesawing Elimination Final, the Demons lost to Essendon by less than a goal.   During the 2004 post-season, Melbourne player [[Troy Broadbridge]] was killed in the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|2004 Boxing Day tsunami]], when he was swept off [[Phi Phi]] island in [[Thailand]]. His body was found on 3 January 2005, and brought home. A funeral was held on 20 January 2005 in recognition to the No. 20 guernsey he wore during his playing days. During the 2005 off-season, the whole team travelled to the island in which Broadbridge was killed to build a new school for those struck by the tsunami. The No.20 jumper was then rested for two years.

Melbourne finished the 2005 season in seventh position but lost the elimination final to Geelong by 55 points. In 2006, after a slow start, Melbourne again finished the season in seventh position. After defeating St Kilda in the second Elimination Final by 18 points the season ended the following week when [[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle]] beat the Demons by 28 points. Daniher had become the club's the second longest-serving coach while Neitz became Melbourne's all-time leading goal-kicker on 19 May, surpassing [[Norm Smith]]'s previous record of 546 goals. Two weeks later, he broke [[Robert Flower]]'s long standing record of 272 games, making him the longest serving Demon in history.

===2007–2017: years of struggle===
At the start of the 2007 AFL season, Melbourne were thought by many pundits to be contenders for the Premiership, but injuries to key players across the team resulted in the Demons losing its opening nine matches. Daniher resigned as coach mid-season with [[Mark Riley (Australian rules coach)|Mark Riley]] appointed as caretaker coach. Late in the season, David Neitz became the first Melbourne player to play 300 games.

[[File:David neitz.jpg|thumb|[[David Neitz]] retired as the club's games and goals record holder, along with being the longest serving captain]]
[[Dean Bailey]] was appointed coach for the [[2008 AFL season|2008 season]], however Melbourne lost their first six matches, before breaking through with a record comeback win in round seven against Fremantle. Melbourne finished the season poorly finishing last on the ladder, taking out its first Wooden Spoon since 1997.

Off field, the club remained in turmoil. In its 150th anniversary year club CEO Steve Harris resigned and was replaced by former [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] tennis champion [[Paul McNamee]] in early 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2008-03-18/mcnamee-named-melbourne-ceo|title=McNamee named Melbourne CEO|author=AAP|date=18 March 2008|website=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=1 June 2015}}</ref> Club President Paul Gardner also resigned mid-season making way for former club champion [[Jim Stynes]] who inherited a $4.5 million debt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/demons-debt-soars-to-45m/story-e6frf9mf-1111116636347|title=Chairman Jim Stynes drops Melbourne bombshell|last=McFarlane|first=Glenn|date=15 June 2008|website=[[Herald Sun]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]|access-date=1 June 2006}}</ref> Stynes immediately got to work and was instrumental in Melbourne's ‘Debt Demolition’ campaign held in a Kensington warehouse on 5 August. More than $1.3 million was raised on the night, with more than $3 million pledged to the cause.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/born-again-dees/story-e6frf9jf-1111117118427|title=$1.3m raised on Melbourne Demons' most-important night|last=Stevens|first=Mark|date=6 August 2008|website=[[Herald Sun]]|publisher=[[News Corp (2013–present)|News Corp]]|access-date=1 June 2015}}</ref> The Stynes' board sacked McNamee after just four months following criticism of him holidaying in Wimbledon to compete in a legends match.<ref>{{cite web|date=24 July 2008|title=Paul McNamee wanted Jonathan Brown|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/macca-wanted-brown/story-e6frf7jo-1111117003178|access-date=1 June 2015|website=[[Herald Sun]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]}}</ref> New club CEO [[Cameron Schwab]] declared that it required urgent AFL assistance to continue, requesting additional funding to its special annual distribution. In December, a fallout in negotiations between the Melbourne Cricket Club resulted in the MCC not committing an expected $2 million to the club and Schwab declared that the club's immediate future was in doubt.<ref>{{cite web|date=18 December 2008|title=Funding critical for Dees|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/funding-critical-for-dees/story-e6frepho-1111118365060|access-date=1 June 2015|website=[[The Courier Mail]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]}}</ref> This doubt was quickly put to bed when the AFL and MCC finalised negotiations. The AFL committed $1 million to the club in 2009, with the MCC matching the AFL contribution.<ref>{{cite web|date=19 December 2008|title=Demons given $2m funding package|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-12-19/demons-given-2m-funding-package/245726|access-date=1 June 2015|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]]}}</ref>

Melbourne endured another poor season in 2009, winning just four matches to claim back-to-back Wooden Spoons. The year was made worse in July when Jim Stynes revealed he was fighting cancer. He temporarily stood down, with vice-chairman Don McLardy stepping up in his absence. In 2010 the club's on-field fortunes lifted, as they finished the season 12th on the ladder.

The club's 2011 season took a dramatic turn when the Demons suffered its second greatest loss in league history, going down to Geelong at Kardinia Park in round 19 by 186 points. Bailey was immediately sacked as coach with former club captain [[Todd Viney]] coaching the remaining games to finish 13th on the ladder. In August the club announced that its goal of wiping out the club's debt had finally been achieved<ref>{{Cite news| last=Niall| first=Jake| title= Demons wipe out last of their $5m debt|work=The Age|location=Australia| date=5 August 2010| url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/demons-wipe-out-last-of-their-5m-debt-20100805-11fu2.html| access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> and new coach Mark Neeld was announced in September.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/neeld-aims-to-toughen-up-demons-20110917-1kert.html|title=Neeld aims to toughen up Demons|last=Lienert|first=Sam|date=17 September 2011|website=[[The Age]]|publisher=[[Fairfax Media]]|access-date=1 June 2015}}</ref>

In 2012 Jim Stynes retired as president, with vice-president Don McLardy stepping up to take the reins. Tragically, on March 20, Stynes’ long fight with cancer came to an end. He was given a state funeral, given his remarkable legacy on and off the field. The AFL investigated Melbourne's 2009 season in August, following comments made by former Demon and Carlton player, Brock McLean, that the club had not been trying to win.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/carlton-midfielder-brock-mclean-reveals-he-left-melbourne-demons-because-the-club-was-tanking/story-e6frf3e3-1226438977035#.USRRGpLh2F8|title=Carlton midfielder Brock McLean reveals he left Melbourne Demons because the club was tanking|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=30 July 2012|website=[[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports]]|publisher=[[News Corp (2013–present)|News Corp]]|access-date=20 February 2013}}</ref> See: ''[[Melbourne Football Club tanking scandal]]''

In 2013, Melbourne managed just one win from its first 11 games and Neeld was sacked as coach in Round 17 with assistant coach Neil Craig being appointed caretaker. This was precipitated by the departures of CEO Schwab and President McLardy. In September the club announced Sydney premiership coach [[Paul Roos (Australian rules footballer)|Paul Roos]] signed a two-year deal to coach the Demons, with the option of a third year.

Paul Roos' first year in his tenure as the Demons' coach saw an improvement from their 2013 season, with the Demons doubling their win tally. Under Roos, the club continued to steadily improve winning 7 games in 2015 and key forward [[Jesse Hogan]] won Melbourne's second [[AFL Rising Star]] award. Roos left Melbourne after another improved season in 2016 with assistant coach Simon Goodwin taking over in a planned succession.

Melbourne finished the 2017 season in ninth place with a win–loss record of 12–10, missing out on eighth spot to West Coast by 0.5%.

Melbourne made history in 2017, competing as one of the eight foundation clubs in the inaugural [[AFL Women's]] competition. Led by captain [[Daisy Pearce]] and coach [[Mick Stinear]], Melbourne took on the Brisbane Lions in the first game of the new league at Casey Fields.

At the end of the 2018 season Melbourne finished in fifth place on the ladder reaching the finals series for the first time since 2006.  The Demons advanced to an eventual Preliminary final defeat to West Coast after defeating Geelong and Hawthorn. Melbourne's success could not be maintained in 2019 with the Demons finishing 17th on the ladder. In the shortened 2020 season interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Melbourne would finish ninth on the Ladder winning nine and losing eight games.

=== 2021: premiership success after 57 years ===
[[File:Melbourne fans celebrate grand final win.jpg|thumb|Demons fans celebrate at [[Forrest Place]] in [[Perth]] following Melbourne's 2021 premiership win the previous day over the [[Western Bulldogs]] at [[Perth Stadium|Optus Stadium]]]]

Melbourne's victory over North Melbourne in Round 7 of the 2021 season put them on the top of the ladder for the first time since the third round of [[2005 AFL season|2005]]. They won their first nine matches of a season for the first time since [[1956 VFL season|1956]]. Melbourne's win over [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]] in Round 21 put them at the top of the ladder again and secured their first double chance in a finals series since the [[2000 AFL season|2000 season]]. Their next win against Adelaide equalled their most wins in a season from 1956. With captain [[Max Gawn]] kicking a [[Kicks after the siren in Australian rules football|goal after the siren]] in the Round 23 match against Geelong, Melbourne finished the season as minor premiers for the first time since [[1964 VFL season|1964]]. After defeating [[Brisbane Lions|Brisbane]] in a qualifying final at the Adelaide Oval and [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]] in a preliminary final at Optus Stadium, the Demons reached their first grand final since [[2000 AFL Grand Final|2000]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-11|title=Party like it's 1954! Bulldogs stun footy world to book date with Demons: AFL Grand Final guide|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-grand-final-2021-start-time-venue-teams-when-is-the-grand-final-who-is-in-the-grand-final-how-to-watch-stats-news/news-story/98dd9a19cf33411c4ff1debb87c1573e|access-date=2021-09-11|website=Fox Sports|language=en}}</ref> On 25 September, Melbourne won its 13th VFL/AFL premiership, defeating the Western Bulldogs by 74 points in the [[2021 AFL Grand Final|grand final]] at Optus Stadium in Perth; it was their first premiership since their [[1964 VFL Grand Final|1964 victory]] against Collingwood. [[Christian Petracca]] was unanimously judged as best on the ground, winning the club's first [[Norm Smith Medal]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Laughton |first1=Max |title=A Grand New Flag: Demons end 57 years of AFL agony with 17 minutes of magic |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-grand-final-2021-melbourne-demons-vs-western-bulldogs-live-updates-score-start-time-video-stream-blog/news-story/bc1bb66f7efccb9d3eac5aa333669230 |access-date=25 September 2021 |work=Fox Sports |date=25 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
{| style="margin-right:4px; margin-top:8px; float:right; border:1px #000000 solid; border-radius:8px; background:#FFFFFF; font-family:Verdana; font-size:8pt; text-align:center;"
|-
| width=200 | ''[[2021 AFL Grand Final]]'' || ''G'' || ''B'' || ''Total''
|-
| style="text-align:left" |   [[File:AFL_Melbourne_Icon.jpg|16px]] Melbourne || '''21''' || '''14''' || '''140'''
|-
| style="text-align:left" |  [[File:AFL Footscray Icon.jpg|16px]] Western Bulldogs || 10 || 6 || 66
|-
| Venue: [[Perth Stadium]]
|colspan="3"| Crowd: 61,118<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/682152/saturday-night-lights-massive-tv-audience-for-perth-grand-final|title=Saturday night lights: Massive TV audience for Perth Grand Final|work=[[Australian Football League]]|date=26 September 2021|access-date=4 October 2021}}</ref>
|}

=== 2022–present ===

Melbourne's premiership defence began with 10 straight victories, increasing their streak from last year to 17, before suffering three losses on the bounce to fellow finalists Fremantle, Sydney and Collingwood. The Demons’ form in the second half of the 2022 season was inconsistent, but the reigning premiers emphatically secured a spot in the top four after a comfortable 58-point victory over Brisbane in the final round. The Demons finished second with a win–loss record of 16 wins and six losses, but came undone in the finals, bowing out in straight sets after losing to Sydney and Brisbane in the qualifying and semi final respectively.

The 2023 season for Melbourne was widely similar to its predecessor, going on frequent winning streaks and suffering sporadic losses to record 16 wins and seven losses for a fourth-placed finish. Their season ended in week two of the finals, losing to Collingwood and Carlton in the qualifying and semi final respectively, becoming the first team to suffer consecutive straight sets exits in two seasons under the current [[AFL final eight system|AFL finals system]].

The [[2024 AFL season]] saw Melbourne miss finals for the first time since 2020, with the club finishing 14th with a total of 11 wins and 12 losses. Despite spending large periods of the season within the top eight, Melbourne lost 5 of their last 6 matches to drop out of finals calculations. The year was compounded by a myriad of on and off-field issues including a season ending injury to [[Christian Petracca]] during the annual [[King's Birthday match (AFL)|King's Birthday match]] after he was kneed in the ribs late in the first quarter by Collingwood captain [[Darcy Moore]].

Melbourne entered the [[2025 AFL season|2025 season]] with the backing of many parts of the football media system to return to finals, though the club won fewer games than the previous year and sacked coach [[Simon Goodwin]] with three rounds remaining in the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/aug/05/afl-premiership-coach-simon-goodwin-sacked-by-melbourne-demons|title='A massive call': AFL premiership coach Simon Goodwin sacked by Melbourne Demons|work=The Guardian|author=Jack Snape|date=5 August 2025}}</ref> Senior assistant [[Troy Chaplin]] was named as caretaker coach for the last three rounds of the 2025 season with the club once again finishing in 14th position.

On September 12, 2025, former Geelong and St Kilda player [[Steven King (footballer)|Steven King]] was appointed as the 33rd coach of the Melbourne Football Club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1416757/king-of-the-castle-melbourne-demons-appoint-geelong-cats-assistant-steven-king-as-coach|title=King crowned: Demons appoint Cats assistant as coach|work=AFL.com|author=Callum Twomey |date=12 September 2025}}</ref> Following King's appointment as coach, during the [[2025 AFL draft|2025 AFL Trade Period]], the club farewelled club champions [[Christian Petracca]] and [[Clayton Oliver]] who joined the [[Gold Coast Suns]] and [[Greater Western Sydney Giants]] respectively.

==Club symbols==

=== Colours ===
In one of the first practice matches between Melbourne teammates in 1859, both red and blue were worn and these colours quickly became associated with the Melbourne Football Club, although they were not used as part of the team's uniform.

In 1872, club member Larry Bell brought some red stockings back from England which were teemed with blue knickerbockers and jerseys and red caps. It is at this time that the team became known as the 'Redlegs'. Bell also brought back with him blue stockings which were reputedly given to the [[Carlton Football Club]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Carrol|first=Lynda|title=The Grand Old Flag|publisher=Hardie Grant|year=1999|pages=41}}</ref>

=== Uniform ===
In the early days of Australian football, players would wear whatever sporting clothing they had. As most of its players were members of the Melbourne Cricket Club, it quickly became the trend for Melbourne players to wear predominantly white clothes, which gave rise to the team being called the 'Invincible Whites'. For a brief period in 1861 and 1862, the club adopted magenta flannel shirts, but these were soon abandoned.

From 1872, a more standardised uniform was adopted, although it remained common for footballers to wear a mismatch of uniforms. Most footballers had dispensed with wearing cricket whites and were now choosing to wear woollen navy [[Guernsey (clothing)|guernseys]] which were more suitable for winter play. The Melbourne team distinguished itself with red socks and a red cap. A canvas lace up guernsey was introduced in 1884 which featured a red leather strip down the middle and was worn by players up until 1915. In 1906, some players wore a navy woollen guernsey with a small red yoke around the neck. When Melbourne re-entered the competition for the [[1919 VFL season|1919 season]], a standardised uniform was used with a red V on a navy jumper. In 1925, the V was made smaller and raised to the collar with a red horizontal band added to the waist.<ref name=":0" />

The current club jumper of a red V-shaped yoke on a navy background was first adopted in 1935, and apart from very slight variations over the years, and a period in which royal blue was used between 1975 and 1986 due to the introduction of colour television, the jumper has remained the same.

The Melbourne clash strip, new in 2018, consists of a retro-inspired home strip of royal blue with a red yoke, including white shorts as worn between 1975 and 1986. The alternate away strip is the same as the home strip, with the difference being the back entirely in red to allow the club to wear a non-white alternate strip.

[[New Balance]] have manufactured Melbourne's on- and off-field apparel since 2011.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-01-11/melbourne-extends-new-balance-partnership|title=Melbourne extends New Balance partnership|website=melbournefc.com.au|access-date=12 June 2018}}</ref>

====Uniform evolution====
Throughout its history, Melbourne has had different guernsey designs, as follows:<ref>[https://www.footyjumpers.com/seasons.htm VFL Uniforms by season (since 1897)] on FootyJumpers.com</ref>
{|
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _collar_buttons|pattern_sh=_blacktop|pattern_so=|body= |shorts= |socks= |title= 1858–61 & 1863–71 }}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _collar_buttons|pattern_sh=_blacktop|pattern_so=|body= FF0059|shorts= |socks= |title= 1861–62}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b=|pattern_sh=_blacktop|pattern_so=|body= 061A33|shorts= 002D62|socks= ff0000|title= 1872–83 }}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _thinredvertical|pattern_so=|body= 061A33|shorts= 002D62|socks= ff0000|title= 1884–1915 }}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _redcollar|pattern_so=|body= 061A33|shorts= 061A33|socks= ff0000|title= 1905–15}}
|}
{|
|
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _Vwidered|pattern_so=|body= 061A33|shorts= 000000|socks= ff0000|title= 1919–24}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _redhorizontal2|pattern_so=|body= 061A33|shorts= 000000|socks= ff0000|title= 1925–34}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _red_v_top|pattern_so=|body= 061A33|shorts= 000000|socks= ff0000|title= 1935–74}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _red_v_top|pattern_sh= _redsides|pattern_so=|body= 004AE5|shorts= 004AE5|socks= ff0000|title= 1975–86}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _red_v_top|pattern_sh= _redsides|pattern_so=|body= 061A33|shorts= 061A33|socks= ff0000|title= 1987–present}}
|}

===Mascot===
[[File:Ronnie deeman.jpg|thumb|Ronald Deeman – Melbourne Football Club's mascot, pictured at Melbourne's home ground, the MCG.]]
In 1933, Melbourne was beginning to rebuild its side and abandoned the name 'Fuchsias' for a more ferocious title—the 'Demons'. This was inspired by then coach [[Frank Hughes (footballer, born 1894)|Frank "Checker" Hughes]] reportedly saying to the players in a game to 'lift up your heads and play like demons!'.<ref name=":0" /> Over the years, the club has used various iterations of demons as club mascots. This includes Ronald Deeman from the [[Mascot Manor|AFL Mascot Manor]] franchise.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2003-12-12|title=Meet Jock, Moz, Bruiser ...|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/meet-jock-moz-bruiser-20031212-gdwx6v.html|access-date=2021-05-14|website=The Age|language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Demons Mascots 18.02.17.jpg|thumb|Checker and Daisy in February 2017]] 
The current club mascots are Chuck, Checker, and Cheeky. Chuck is named after legendary coach Frank "Checker" Hughes; Daisy is named after the inaugural captain of the women's team, [[Daisy Pearce]];<ref>{{Cite news |title=Daisy the new female mascot |website=melbournefc.com.au |url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-02-05/daisy-the-new-female-mascot |access-date=6 February 2017}}</ref> and Flash is named after the 2009 [[Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal|Keith "Bluey" Truscott Medal]]list, [[Aaron Davey]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-07-21/flash-mascot-to-be-unveiled|title='Flash' mascot to be unveiled|website=melbournefc.com.au|access-date=22 July 2017}}</ref>

===Song===
The official Melbourne Football Club song is called "It's a Grand Old Flag" (sung to the tune of [[George M. Cohan]]'s 1906 song "[[You're a Grand Old Flag]]"). The song was first adopted by the club in 1912. The Demons primarily repeat the first verse of the song.

''It's a grand old flag, it's a high-flying flag'',

''It's the emblem for me and for you;''

''It's the emblem of the team we love,''

''The team of the Red and the Blue.''

''Every heart beats true for the Red and the Blue,''

''And we sing this song to you:''

''Should old acquaintance be forgot,''

''Keep your eye on the Red and the Blue.''

A second verse was reputedly written by club champion [[Keith Truscott|Keith "Bluey" Truscott]] in 1940, referencing the club's [[1939 VFL Grand Final|1939]] and [[1926 VFL Grand Final|1926]] VFL premiership titles. The club resurrected the original second verse for the [[2011 Melbourne Football Club season|2011 season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2011-02-11/the-second-verse-returns|title=The second verse returns|last=Carroll|first=Lynda|date=11 February 2011|website=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]}}</ref>

''Oh, the team played fine in the year Thirty-nine,''

''We’re the Demons that no one can lick;''

''And you'll find us there at the final bell,''

''With the spirit of Twenty-six.''

''Every heart beats true, for the Red and the Blue,''

''And we sing this song to you:''

''Should old acquaintance be forgot,''

''Keep your eye on the Red and the Blue.''

===Sponsorship===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|- style="background:#bdb76b;"
! Year !! Kit Manufacturer !! Major Sponsor !! Shorts Sponsor !! Bottom Back Sponsor !! Top Back Sponsor
|-
| 1978–83 || rowspan="7" | - || [[Mayne Group|Mayne Nickless]] ||rowspan=5| - ||rowspan=5| - ||rowspan=25| -
|-
| 1984 ||[[Hertz Global Holdings|Hertz]]
|-
| 1985–91 || Drake International
|-
| 1992 || Snowy Mountain
|-
| 1993 || Pioneer Homes
|-
| 1994 ||[[Tooheys|Tooheys Blue Demons]]||[[Tooheys|Blue]]||rowspan=2|[[Tooheys Brewery|Tooheys]]
|-
| 1995–97 ||[[Tooheys Brewery|Tooheys]]||[[Suncorp|Metway Bank]]
|-
| 1998 ||rowspan=2|[[Canterbury of New Zealand|Canterbury]]||rowspan=5|[[LG Electronics|LG]]||[[Tooheys Brewery|Tooheys Victoria]]||rowspan=5|[[LG Electronics]]
|-
| 1999 ||rowspan=2|[[Hahn Brewery|Hahn]]
|-
| 2000 ||rowspan=2|[[Fila]]
|-
| 2001–02 ||[[Tooheys|Tooheys New]]
|-
| 2003 ||rowspan=4|[[Asics]]||rowspan=2|[[Subway (restaurant)|Subway]]
|-
| 2004 ||[[Primus Telecommunications (Australia)|iPrimus]]||rowspan=4|[[Primus Telecommunications (Australia)|Primus Telecom]]
|-
| 2005–06 || rowspan="3" |[[Primus Telecommunications (Australia)|Primus Telecom]]|| Red Energy
|-
| 2007 ||rowspan=3|[[The Age]]
|-
| 2008 ||rowspan=3|[[Reebok]]
|-
| 2009 ||rowspan=3|[[Hankook]]||rowspan=3|[[Kaspersky Lab]]
|-
| 2010 ||[[Volvo]]
|-
| 2011 ||rowspan=9|[[New Balance]]||rowspan=2| Metro Solar
|-
| 2012 ||rowspan=2|[[Webjet]]||rowspan=2|[[Opel]]
|-
| 2013 || -
|-
| 2014–16 || rowspan="2" |[[Automotive Holdings Group|AHG]]|| NT ||[[Automotive Holdings Group|AHG]]
|-
| 2017 ||rowspan=2|[[IG Group|IG]]||rowspan=2| iSelect
|-
| 2018 ||rowspan=4|[[Zurich Insurance Group|Zurich]]
|-
| 2019 ||[[Johnnie Walker]]||rowspan=3|[[Jaguar Cars]]
|-
| 2020 ||rowspan=2|[[Hertz]]||[[Zurich Insurance|Zurich]]
|-
| 2021– ||[[Beyond Bank]]
|}

==Home and training grounds==
[[File:Melbourne_Cricket_Ground,_Melbourne,_Victoria.jpg|thumb|Melbourne Cricket Ground, the club's home venue for AFL matches]]
[[File:Melbourne warm up.jpg|thumb|Players training at Goschs Paddock, the club's main training ground in 2017]]
Melbourne's home ground has been the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] (MCG) since 1889. From that time to 1980, the team was part of the [[Melbourne Cricket Club]]'s sporting sections. The MCC operates and partially owns the MCG. The two clubs severed ties in 1980, though restored the relationship in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mcc.org.au/club-sport/club-sport/melbourne-football-club|title=Melbourne Football Club|work=Melbourne Cricket Club}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2013-12-11/mcc-logo-on-mfc-jumper-appropriate-gough|title=MCC logo embedded on MFC jumper|work=Melbourne Football Club|date=11 December 2013}}</ref> The club trained on the MCG until 1985, at which point they shifted to the [[Junction Oval]] in [[St Kilda, Victoria|St Kilda]], which served as the club's training base from 1986 until 2010.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne|page=26|author=Ashley Browne|date=7 July 1994|title=$500,000 facelift for Junction Oval}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Herald Sun|publication-place=Melbourne|author=Damian Barrett|date=28 March 2008|access-date=21 December 2014|title=Dees to move department to Casey|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/dees-to-move-department-to-casey/story-e6frexzi-1111115907621}}</ref> In 2009, the Demons first moved their training facilities from the Junction Oval to [[Casey Fields]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/nsw/dees-to-move-department-to-casey-ng-3ec82ec3e9ebee4ddf158091781f1e8b|title=Dees to move department to Casey|date=March 27, 2008|access-date=November 11, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/458728/era-ends-no-more-footy-at-junction-oval|title=Era ends: No more footy at Junction Oval|date=21 July 2015|access-date=12 March 2022}}</ref> Currently, the Demons' football offices and indoor training facilities are based at [[AAMI Park]], where they moved in late 2010, and its administrative offices located within the MCG.<ref name=2021trainingarticle>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-news-2021-melbourne-demons-new-training-base-facilities-goschs-paddock-casey-fields-tom-morris/news-story/cdafa95cfe3fa4d6c4e204be43d56942|title=Exclusive: Demons hatch plans to FINALLY solve eight-year problem|work=Fox Sports|date=18 August 2021|author=Tom Morris}}</ref> The club trains on the adjacent [[Yarra Park|Gosch's Paddock public oval]]. The oval was upgraded in the 2021/22 off-season to increase the dimensions to better match the measurements of the MCG and [[Docklands Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.miragenews.com/demons-community-to-win-from-goschs-paddock-606062/|title=Demons, Community To Win From Gosch's Paddock Upgrade|work=miragenews.com|date=2 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/993070/goschs-paddock-to-undergo-redevelopment|title=Gosch's Paddock to undergo redevelopment|date=1 August 2021|access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.austadiums.com/news/1007/goschs-paddock-oval-to-be-upgraded-for-melbourne-football-club|title=Gosch's Paddock Oval to be upgraded for Melbourne Football Club|work=Austadiums |date=4 August 2021|access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref> Redevelopment of Goschs Paddock oval commenced on 5 December 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1037541/goschs-paddock-redevelopment-commences|title=Gosch's Paddock redevelopment commences|date=5 December 2021|access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref> Given AAMI Park is co-tenanted with three other professional sporting clubs, Melbourne have often investigated moving to a dedicated club-specific facility.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/golly-gosch-demons-eye-site-for-new-home-20190724-p52acv.html|title=Golly Gosch: Demons eye site for new home|work=The Age|date=24 July 2019}}</ref> In August 2021 it was reported the club was considering moving all its football and administrative offices, and indoor training facilities, to the land where Car Park E next to AAMI Park is located.<ref name=2021trainingarticle/> In December 2023, the club commenced a feasibility study of land within the [[Caulfield Racecourse]] Reserve.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1477323/melbourne-commences-caulfield-feasibility-study|title=Melbourne commences Caulfield feasibility study|date=12 December 2023|work=Melbourne FC}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/what-would-the-demons-move-to-caulfield-racecourse-mean-for-locals-20240221-p5f6sp.html|title=What would the Demons' move to Caulfield Racecourse mean for locals?|work=The Age|date=28 February 2024|author=Rachael Dexter}}</ref><ref name=AgeOct24>{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-s-70-million-funding-gap-threatens-caulfield-home-base-plans-20241024-p5kl3o.html|title=The $70 million funding gap that could threaten the Demons' dreams|work=The Age|author=Peter Ryan |date=24 October 2024 }}</ref>

Aside from the MCG, Melbourne also plays home games in the [[Northern Territory]]: from 2010 to 2019, Melbourne played one home game per year at [[Marrara Oval]], and have played one home game per year at [[Traeger Park]] since 2014.

Melbourne maintains a presence at Casey Fields in [[Cranbourne East]], the home ground of its AFLW team and VFL/VFLW affiliate the [[Casey Demons]]. It based its AFL training program at the venue for the duration of the 2021 season, which was interrupted by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/coronavirus-protocols-melbourne-move-afl-program-to-casey-20200312-p549c5.html|title=Coronavirus protocols: Melbourne move AFL program to Casey|work=The Age|date=2 March 2020}}</ref> The club trains at Casey regularly during the summer and once every one or two weeks during the football season.<ref name=AgeOct24/>

==Membership base and supporters==
Melbourne has improved their membership and attendances steadily since the failed [[Melbourne Hawks|Hawthorn merger]] in 1996, building a membership base of over 30,000 since 2009. The membership record of 36,937 was set in 2011 before it was broken in April 2016 to finish with 39,211 for the 2016 season, this record was broken the next year in April 2017. In May 2017, Melbourne signed up 40,000 members for the first time. In May 2019, Melbourne signed up 50,000 members for the first time. A 2000 [[Roy Morgan Research|Roy Morgan]] AFL survey suggested that Melbourne supporters had the highest household income.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/finding-3324-201303010056|title=Essendon Bombers blitz off-field in Victoria but Sydney Swans Australia's Favourite Team|access-date=25 July 2021|archive-date=25 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725100345/http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/finding-3324-201303010056|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! Year !! Members !! Finishing position including finals position
|-
| align=left|[[1984 VFL season|1984]] || 6,297 || {{sort|09|9th}}
|-
| align=left|[[1985 VFL season|1985]] || 5,801 || {{sort|11|11th}}
|-
| align=left|[[1986 VFL season|1986]] || 4,511 || {{sort|11|11th}}
|-
| align=left|[[1987 VFL season|1987]] || 3,122 || {{sort|03|3rd}}
|-
| align=left|[[1988 VFL season|1988]] || 10,078 || {{sort|02|2nd}}
|-
| align=left|[[1989 VFL season|1989]] || 8,184 || {{sort|04|4th}}
|-
| align=left|[[1990 AFL season|1990]] || 10,111 || {{sort|04|4th}}
|-
| align=left|[[1991 AFL season|1991]] || 10,153 || {{sort|04|4th}}
|-
| align=left|[[1992 AFL season|1992]] || 8,681 || {{sort|11|11th}}
|-
| align=left|[[1993 AFL season|1993]] || 10,097 || {{sort|10|10th}}
|-
| align=left|[[1994 AFL season|1994]] || 10,648 || {{sort|04|4th}}
|-
| align=left|[[1995 AFL season|1995]] || 9,544 || {{sort|09|9th}}
|-
| align=left|[[1996 AFL season|1996]] || 12,964 || {{sort|14|14th}}
|-
| align=left|[[1997 AFL season|1997]] || 15,350 || {{sort|16|16th}}
|-
| align=left|[[1998 AFL season|1998]] || 17,870 || {{sort|04|4th}}
|-
| align=left|[[1999 AFL season|1999]] || 19,713 || {{sort|14|14th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2000 AFL season|2000]] || 18,227 || {{sort|02|2nd}}
|-
| align=left|[[2001 AFL season|2001]] || 22,940 || {{sort|11|11th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2002 AFL season|2002]] || 20,152 || {{sort|06|6th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2003 AFL season|2003]] || 20,844 || {{sort|14|14th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2004 AFL season|2004]] || 25,252 || {{sort|07|7th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2005 AFL season|2005]] || 24,220 || {{sort|08|8th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2006 AFL season|2006]] || 24,698 || {{sort|05|5th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2007 AFL season|2007]] || 28,077 || {{sort|14|14th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2008 AFL season|2008]] || 29,619 || {{sort|16|16th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2009 AFL season|2009]] || 31,506 || {{sort|16|16th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2010 AFL season|2010]] || 33,358 || {{sort|12|12th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2011 AFL season|2011]] || 36,937 || {{sort|13|13th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2012 AFL season|2012]] || 35,345 || {{sort|16|16th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2013 AFL season|2013]] || 33,177 || {{sort|17|17th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2014 AFL season|2014]] || 35,911 || {{sort|17|17th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2015 AFL season|2015]] || 35,953 || {{sort|13|13th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2016 AFL season|2016]] || 39,211 || {{sort|11|11th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2017 AFL season|2017]] || 42,233 || {{sort|09|9th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2018 AFL season|2018]] || 44,279 || {{sort|04|4th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2019 AFL season|2019]] || 52,421 || {{sort|17|17th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2020 AFL season|2020]] || 40,571 ||  {{sort|09|9th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2021 AFL season|2021]] || 53,188 ||  {{sort|1|1st}}
|-
| align=left|[[2022 AFL season|2022]] || 66,484 ||  {{sort|05|5th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2023 AFL season|2023]] || 70,785 ||  {{sort|06|6th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2024 AFL season|2024]] || 65,479 ||  {{sort|14|14th}}
|-
| align=left|[[2025 AFL season|2025]] || 58,563 ||  {{sort|14|14th}}
|}

=== Notable supporters ===
{{More citations needed section|date=September 2021}}
{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* Sir [[Henry Bolte]] (Premier of Victoria) 
* [[Rupert Murdoch]] (businessman)
* [[John So]] (Lord Mayor of Melbourne)<ref name="FoxSupporters">{{cite news |last1=Beveridge |first1=Riley |title=Your AFL club's most famous supporters, from Barack Obama to Cam Newton |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/your-afl-clubs-most-famous-supporters-from-barack-obama-to-cam-newton/news-story/03eb54659866d587cf9c2cc4b9f3d8c5 |access-date=25 September 2021 |work=[[Fox Sports]] |date=29 January 2016 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Anthony Mundine]] (Boxer and Rugby League player)<ref name="FoxSupporters"/>
* Sir [[Billy Snedden]] (Politician)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Walsh |first1=Kay |last2=Schedvin |first2=Bernie |title=Snedden, Sir Billy Mackie (1926–1987) |chapter=Sir Billy Mackie Snedden (1926–1987) |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/snedden-sir-billy-mackie-15519 |website=[[Australian Dictionary of Biography]] |publisher=National Centre of Biography, [[Australian National University]] |access-date=25 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Baz Luhrmann|Baz Lurhman]] (Film Director)<ref name="FoxSupporters"/>
* [[Rod Laver]] (Tennis player)<ref>{{cite news |title=Dee force is strong with this one! Skywalker's shout-out |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/melbourne-demons/afl-grand-final-dee-force-is-strong-with-this-one-mark-hamills-shout-out-for-melbourne-demons-c-3936760 |access-date=25 September 2021 |work=[[PerthNow]] |agency=[[The Sunday Times (Western Australia)]] |date=11 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Don Lane]] (Television personality)
* [[Derryn Hinch]] (Radio Presenter)
* [[Neil Mitchell (radio presenter)|Neil Mitchell]] (Radio Presenter)
* [[Russel Howcroft]] (Businessman and Radio Presenter)
* [[Ron Walker (businessman)|Ron Walker]] (Businessman)
* [[Roderick Carnegie|Rod Carnegie]] (Businessman)
* [[Robert Champion de Crespigny]] (Businessman)
* [[Hamish Blake]] (Comedian)
* [[Ryan Shelton]] (Comedian)
* [[Rhea Ripley]] (Professional wrestler)
* [[Rob Sitch]] (Comedian)
* [[Christian O'Connell]] (radio presenter)
* [[Ella Hooper]] (musician)
* [[Wilbur Wilde]] (Musician)
* [[Jim Keays]] (Musician)
* [[Nazeem Hussain]] (Comedian)<ref>{{cite web |title=Nazeem Is Fired Up For The Grand Final |url=https://10play.com.au/theproject/exclusives/2021/nazeem-is-fired-up-for-the-grand-final/tpv210924xcijn |website=[[10 Play (Network 10)|10 Play]] |publisher=[[Network 10]] |access-date=25 September 2021 |language=en-AU |date=24 September 2021 |quote=It's AFL Grand Final weekend and mad Demons supporter Nazeem Hussain is here to give us a completely unbiased look at the big game.}}</ref>
* [[Shane Bourne]] (Comedian)
* [[Ian Henderson (news presenter)|Ian Henderson]] (newsreader)
* [[Mal Walden]] (Newsreader)
* [[The Temper Trap|Temper Trap]] (Music group)
* [[David Hobson (tenor)|David Hobson]] (Singer)
* [[Peter Russell-Clarke]] (chef, author and illustrator)
* [[Alan Stockdale]] (Politician)
* [[Tony Staley]] (Politician)
* [[Brad Hodge]] (Australian cricketer)
* [[Steve Moneghetti]] (marathon runner)
* Titus O'Reily (Comedian)
* [[Beverley O'Connor]] (television and radio personality)
* [[James Tomkins (rower)|James Tomkins]] (Olympic Rower)
* [[Mack Horton]] (Olympic Swimmer)
* [[Nicky Buckley]] (television personality)
* [[Geoff Cox]] (television presenter)
* [[Rob Gell]] (television weatherman)
* [[Greg Evans (television host)|Greg Evans]] (television host)
* [[Mike Sheahan]] (sports writer)
* [[Michael Veitch]] (comedian and writer)
* [[Tim Wilson (Australian politician)|Tim Wilson]] (Politician)
* Clint Stanaway (Channel 9 news reporter)
* [[Archie Thompson]] (Soccer player)
* [[Andrew Daddo]] (Television presenter)
* [[Matt Doran (journalist)|Matt Doran]] (Journalist)
* [[James Frecheville]] (Actor) 
* Adam Samuel (Radio personality) 
* [[Christian Welch]] (NRL player)
* [[Aunty Donna|Broden Kelly]] (Comedian, Actor, Recording Artist, Dancer, Director, Producer, Podcaster and all-round nice guy)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/1327778/episode-69-aunty-donnas-broden-kelly | title=Latest Video &#124; Melbourne Football Club }}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|title=Dees fans loved every moment of Friday night's thriller, right down to Jake Melksham's match winner. All Dees fans, that is, except @thefootywithbro 😬 #TheFrontBar|user=thefrontbar7|number=1681621521029292034}}
</ref> }}

==Club honours==

===Club achievements===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#bdb76b;" align="center"| '''Premierships'''
|- style="background:#bdb76b;"
! style="width: 225px;" | Competition
! style="width: 145px;" | Level
!Wins
!Years Won
|-
|rowspan=3 scope="row" style="text-align: left"|'''[[Australian Football League]]'''||[[List of VFL/AFL premiers|Seniors]]||13||[[1900 VFL Grand Final|1900]], [[1926 VFL Grand Final|1926]], [[1939 VFL Grand Final|1939]], [[1940 VFL Grand Final|1940]], [[1941 VFL Grand Final|1941]], [[1948 VFL Grand Final|1948]], [[1955 VFL Grand Final|1955]], [[1956 VFL Grand Final|1956]], [[1957 VFL Grand Final|1957]], [[1959 VFL Grand Final|1959]], [[1960 VFL Grand Final|1960]], [[1964 VFL Grand Final|1964]], [[2021 AFL Grand Final|2021]]
|-
|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|Reserves]] <small>(1919–1999)</small>||12||[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1931]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1932]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1933]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1934]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1935]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1939]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1949]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1956]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1969]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1970]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1984]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1993]]
|-
|[[List of VFL/AFL premiers#VFL/AFL Thirds/Under-19s premierships|Under 19s]] <small>(1946–1991)</small>||6||[[List of VFL/AFL premiers#VFL/AFL Thirds/Under-19s premierships|1947]], [[List of VFL/AFL premiers#VFL/AFL Thirds/Under-19s premierships|1953]], [[List of VFL/AFL premiers#VFL/AFL Thirds/Under-19s premierships|1964]], [[List of VFL/AFL premiers#VFL/AFL Thirds/Under-19s premierships|1971]], [[List of VFL/AFL premiers#VFL/AFL Thirds/Under-19s premierships|1981]], [[List of VFL/AFL premiers#VFL/AFL Thirds/Under-19s premierships|1983]]
|-
|'''[[AFL Women's]]'''||[[List of AFL Women's premiers|Seniors]]||1||[[2022 AFL Women's season 7 Grand Final|2022 (S7)]]
|-
|'''[[Victorian Football Association]]'''||Seniors <small>(1877–1896)</small>||Nil||-
|-
|'''[[History of Australian rules football in Victoria (1859–1900)|Victorian Premiership]]'''||Seniors <small>(1870–1876)</small>||3||[[1870 Victorian football season|1870]], [[1872 Victorian football season|1872]], [[1876 Victorian football season|1876]]
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#bdb76b;" align="center"| '''Other titles and honours'''
|-
||'''[[McClelland Trophy]]'''||Various{{efn|name=mcclelland|text=Between 1951 and 1990 the McClelland Trophy was awarded to the club with the highest-aggregate points across the VFL/AFL seniors premiership, VFL/AFL reserves premiership, and VFL/AFL under 19s premiership. Between 1991 and 2022 it was awarded to the club who finished on top of the AFL premiership ladder, thereby merging it with the [[List of VFL/AFL minor premiers|minor premiership]]. Since 2023 it has been awarded to the club with the highest aggregate-points across the AFL and AFL Women's competitions.}}||6||[[1955 VFL season|1955]], [[1956 VFL season|1956]], [[1958 VFL season|1958]], [[1990 AFL season|1990]], [[2021 AFL season|2021]], [[2023 AFL season|2023]]
|-
|'''[[AFLX|AFLX Tournament]]'''||Seniors||1||[[2018 AFLX competition|2018]]
|-
|'''[[VFL/AFL pre-season competition]]'''||Seniors||1||[[1989 Panasonic Cup (Australian rules football)|1989]]
|-
|'''[[VFL Night Series]]'''||Seniors||2||[[1971 Heinz Cup|1971]], [[1987 VFL Night Series|1987]]
|-
|'''[[Lightning football#Top level lightning premiership winners|Lightning Premiership]]'''||Seniors||1||[[1952 VFL Lightning Premiership|1952]]
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#bdb76b;" align="center"| '''Finishing positions'''
|-
|rowspan=3 scope="row" style="text-align: left"| '''[[Australian Football League]]'''||[[List of VFL/AFL minor premiers|Minor premiership]]||10||[[1939 VFL season|1939]], [[1940 VFL season|1940]], [[1955 VFL season|1955]], [[1956 VFL season|1956]], [[1957 VFL season|1957]], [[1958 VFL season|1958]], [[1959 VFL season|1959]], [[1960 VFL season|1960]], [[1964 VFL season|1964]], [[2021 AFL season|2021]]
|-
||[[AFL Grand Final|Grand Finalist]]||5||[[1946 VFL Grand Final|1946]], [[1954 VFL Grand Final|1954]], [[1958 VFL Grand Final|1958]], [[1988 VFL Grand Final|1988]], [[2000 AFL Grand Final|2000]]
|-
||[[List of VFL/AFL wooden spoons|Wooden spoons]]||12||[[1905 VFL season|1905]], [[1906 VFL season|1906]], [[1919 VFL season|1919]], [[1923 VFL season|1923]], [[1951 VFL season|1951]], [[1969 VFL season|1969]], [[1974 VFL season|1974]], [[1978 VFL season|1978]], [[1981 VFL season|1981]], [[1997 AFL season|1997]], [[2008 AFL season|2008]], [[2009 AFL season|2009]]
|-
|rowspan=3 scope="row" style="text-align: left"| '''[[AFL Women's]]'''||[[List of AFL Women's minor premiers|Minor premiership]]||Nil||-
|-
||[[AFL Women's Grand Final|Grand Finalist]]||1||[[2022 AFL Women's season 6 Grand Final|2022 (S6)]]
|-
||[[List of VFL/AFL wooden spoons#AFL Women's|Wooden spoons]]||Nil||-
|}

===Melbourne Team of the Century===
The Melbourne Football Club Team of the Century was announced on 24 June 2000 at [[Crown Melbourne|Crown Casino]]. The selectors were [[Percy Beames]] (former player and journalist), Lynda Carroll (club historian), Bill Guest (MFC Director), Greg Hobbs (journalist), [[John Mitchell (administrator)|John Mitchell]] (former MFC and MCC President), Linda Pearce (journalist), Dudley Phillips (supporter), Stephen Phillips (media consultant) and [[Mike Sheahan]] (journalist), with CEO John Anderson as non-voting chairman.<ref>(4 December 2006) [http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/33941/default.aspx "Celebrating the Century"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227145200/http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/33941/default.aspx |date=27 December 2010 }}. Melbourne FC. Retrieved 11 August 2010.</ref>

{{Aussie rules team | title =  {{font color|#CC2031|Melbourne Team of the Century}} | color = #061A33
| backpocket1 = [[John Beckwith (footballer)|John Beckwith]]
| fullback = [[Tassie Johnson]]
| backpocket2 = [[Don Cordner]]
| halfbackflank1 = [[Noel McMahen]]
| centrehalfback = [[Gary Hardeman]]
| halfbackflank2 = [[Don Williams (footballer, born 1935)|Don Williams]]
| wing1 = [[Brian Dixon (Australian footballer)|Brian Dixon]]
| centre = [[Allan La Fontaine]]
| wing2 = [[Robert Flower]]
| halfforwardflank1 = [[Hassa Mann]]
| centrehalfforward = [[Ivor Warne-Smith]]
| halfforwardflank2 = [[Garry Lyon]]
| forwardpocket1 = [[Jack Mueller]]
| fullforward = [[Norm Smith]]
| forwardpocket2 = [[Percy Beames]]
| ruck = [[Denis Cordner]]
| ruckrover = [[Ron Barassi]] (Captain)
| rover = [[Stuart Spencer (footballer)|Stuart Spencer]]
| interchange1 = [[Frank 'Bluey' Adams|Frank Adams]]
| interchange2 = [[Albert Chadwick]]
| interchange3 = [[Wally Lock]]
| interchange4 = [[Laurie Mithen]]
| interchange5 = [[Jim Stynes]]
| interchange6 = [[Todd Viney]]
| coach = [[Norm Smith]]
}}
[[Stan Alves]], [[Ian Ridley]], [[Bob Johnson (Australian footballer, born 1935)|Bob Johnson]] and [[Greg Wells (footballer, born 1950)|Greg Wells]] were all named as emergencies.

===Hall of Fame===
The Hall of Fame was introduced in 2001 with [[Norm Smith]] inducted directly as a legend. The Hall of Fame consists of five legends and forty-four inductees.
{{Australian football Hall of Fame
|Current team Name = Melbourne Football Club
|All Team Names = Melbourne
|ColorA# =0F1131
|ColorB# =FFFFFF
|ColorC# =0F1131
|ColorD# =FFFFFF
|Team Name 1 = '''Legends'''
|List 1.1 = '''''[[Ron Barassi]]'''''
|List 1.2 = [[Don Cordner]]
|List 1.3 = [[Jack Mueller]]
|List 1.4 = [[Ian Ridley]]
|List 1.5 = '''''[[Norm Smith]]'''''
|List 1.6 = [[Jim Stynes]]
|List 1.7 = '''[[Ivor Warne-Smith]]'''
|Team Name 2 = '''Inductees'''
|List 2.1 = [[Frank 'Bluey' Adams|Frank Adams]]<br />Sam Allica<br />[[Stan Alves]]<br />[[Ron Baggott]]<br />'''[[Percy Beames]]<br />'''[[John Beckwith (footballer)|John Beckwith]]<br />[[Joe Blair]]<br />[[Barry Bourke]]<br />[[Jim Cardwell]]
|List 2.2 = [[Geoff Case]]<br />'''[[Albert Chadwick]]'''<br />[[Denis Cordner]]<br />'''[[Brian Dixon (Australian footballer)|Brian Dixon]]'''<br />'''[[Robert Flower]]'''<br />[[Maurie Gibb]]<br />[[Gary Hardeman]]<br />'''[[H. C. A. Harrison|H.C.A. Harrison]]'''<br />[[Greg Healy]]
|List 2.3 = '''[[Frank 'Checker' Hughes|Frank Hughes]]'''<br />[[Alan Johnson (Australian footballer)|Alan Johnson]]<br />'''[[Bob Johnson (Australian footballer, born 1935)|Bob Johnson]]'''<br />[[Tassie Johnson]]<br />'''[[Allan La Fontaine]]'''<br />[[Clyde Laidlaw]]<br />[[Wally Lock]]<br />[[Brett Lovett]]<br />[[Garry Lyon]]
|List 2.4 = '''[[Hassa Mann]]'''<br />'''[[William C. McClelland|William McClelland]]'''<br />[[Fred McGinis]]<br />[[Shane McGrath (footballer, born 1919)|Shane McGrath]]<br />[[Noel McMahen]]<br />[[Laurie Mithen]]<br />'''[[Jack Mueller]]'''<br />'''[[David Neitz]]'''<br />Percy Page
|List 2.5 = Dudley Phillips<br />'''[[Stuart Spencer (footballer)|Stuart Spencer]]'''<br />'''[[Jim Stynes]]'''<br />[[Todd Viney]]<br />[[Greg Wells (footballer, born 1950)|Greg Wells]]<br />[[Sean Wight]]<br />[[Don Williams (footballer, born 1935)|Don Williams]]<br />'''[[Tom Wills]]'''
|}}

==="150 Heroes"===
Melbourne FC announced its "150 Heroes" to celebrate its 150th anniversary at [[Crown Melbourne|Crown Casino]] on 7 June 2008. Each player, or their closest relative, was presented with an official 150 heroes medallion. The criteria for inclusion was games played (minimum of 100), [[Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal|best-and-fairest awards]], premierships, [[Brownlow Medal]]s, contribution to the club and state representation. Those who died in the war were judged based on their achievements before their death.

The heroes named were:

[[Jim Abernethy]],
[[Frank 'Bluey' Adams|Frank Adams]],
[[Bill Allen (footballer)|Bill Allen]],
[[Stan Alves]],
[[Syd Anderson (footballer, born 1918)|Syd Anderson]],
[[Tony Anderson]],
[[Lance Arnold]],
[[Ron Baggott]],
[[Garry Baker]],
[[Harold Ball]],
[[Ron Barassi]],
[[Percy Beames]],
[[John Beckwith (footballer)|John Beckwith]],
[[George Bickford]],
[[Ray Biffin]],
[[Barry Bourke]],
[[Harry Brereton]],
[[Cameron Bruce]],
[[Keith Carroll]],
[[Geoff Case]],
[[Albert Chadwick]],
[[Noel Clarke]],
[[Geoff Collins (Australian rules footballer)|Geoff Collins]],
[[Jack Collins (footballer, born 1904)|Jack Collins]],
[[Chris Connolly (footballer)|Chris Connolly]],
[[Bob Corbett (footballer)|Bob Corbett]],
[[Denis Cordner]],
[[Don Cordner]],
[[Ted Cordner]],
[[Vin Coutie]],
[[Harry Coy]],
[[Jimmy Davidson (Australian footballer)|Jim Davidson]],
[[Frank Davis (Australian rules footballer)|Frank Davis]],
[[Ross Dillon]],
[[Carl Ditterich]],
[[Brian Dixon (Australian footballer)|Brian Dixon]],
[[Len Dockett]],
[[Adrian Dullard]],
[[Hugh Dunbar]],
[[Richie Emselle]],
[[Fred Fanning]],
[[Jeff Farmer (footballer)|Jeff Farmer]],
[[Matthew Febey]],
[[Steven Febey]],
[[Dick Fenton-Smith]],
[[Rowley Fischer]],
[[Robert Flower]],
[[Laurie Fowler]],
[[Maurie Gibb]],
[[Peter Giles (footballer)|Peter Giles]],
[[Terry Gleeson]],
[[Brad Green (footballer)|Brad Green]],
[[Rod Grinter]],
[[George Heinz|George Haines]],
[[Gary Hardeman]],
[[H. C. A. Harrison|Henry Harrison]],
[[Gerard Healy]],
[[Greg Healy]],
[[Dick Hingston]],
[[Paul Hopgood]],
[[Danny Hughes]],
[[Anthony Ingerson]],
[[Edward Jackson (footballer)|Eddie Jackson]],
[[Alan Johnson (Australian footballer)|Alan Johnson]],
[[Bob Johnson (Australian footballer, born 1935)|Bob Johnson]],
[[Tassie Johnson]],
[[Trevor Johnson (footballer)|Trevor Johnson]],
[[Travis Johnstone]],
[[Gordon Jones (Australian footballer)|Gordon Jones]],
[[Les Jones (footballer, born February 1910)|Les Jones]],
[[Bryan Kenneally]],
[[Allan La Fontaine]],
[[Clyde Laidlaw]],
[[Frank Langley]],
[[Jack Leith]],
[[Andrew Leoncelli]],
[[Charlie Lilley]],
[[Wally Lock]],
[[Harry Long (footballer)|Harry Long]],
[[John Lord (footballer, born 1937)|John Lord]],
[[Andy Lovell]],
[[Brett Lovett]],
[[Glenn Lovett]],
[[Garry Lyon]],
[[Hassa Mann]],
[[George Margitich]],
[[Peter Marquis]],
[[Bernie Massey]],
[[Anthony McDonald (Australian footballer)|Anthony McDonald]],
[[James McDonald (Australian footballer)|James McDonald]],
[[Fred McGinis]],
[[Shane McGrath (footballer, born 1919)|Shane McGrath]],
[[Bob McKenzie (footballer)|Bob McKenzie]],
[[Col McLean]],
[[Ian McLean (footballer)|Ian McLean]],
[[Noel McMahen]],
[[Ken Melville]],
[[Laurie Mithen]],
[[Peter Moore (Australian rules footballer)|Peter Moore]],
[[Jack Mueller (footballer)|Jack Mueller]],
[[David Neitz]],
[[Stephen Newport]],
[[Jack O'Keefe]],
[[Andrew Obst]],
[[Gordon Ogden]],
[[Greg Parke (footballer)|Greg Parke]],
[[Joe Pearce (footballer)|Joe Pearce]],
[[Jack Purse]],
[[Ian Ridley]],
[[Guy Rigoni]],
[[Frank Roberts (Australian footballer)|Frank Roberts]],
[[Russell Robertson]],
[[Alby Rodda]],
[[Brian Roet]],
[[Peter Rohde]],
[[Alan Rowarth]],
[[David Schwarz (footballer)|David Schwarz]],
[[Norm Smith]],
[[Steven Smith (Australian rules footballer)|Steven Smith]],
[[Earl Spalding]],
[[Stuart Spencer (footballer)|Stuart Spencer]],
[[Charlie Streeter]],
[[Steven Stretch]],
[[Jim Stynes]],
[[Tony Sullivan]],
[[Dick Taylor (Australian rules footballer)|Dick Taylor]],
[[Ted Thomas (footballer, born 1898)|Ted Thomas]],
[[Ian Thorogood]],
[[Stephen Tingay]],
[[John Townsend (footballer)|John Townsend]],
[[Keith Truscott]],
[[Geoff Tunbridge]],
[[Bill Tymms]],
[[Barrie Vagg]],
[[Francis Vine]],
[[Todd Viney]],
[[Ivor Warne-Smith]],
[[Ray Wartman]],
[[Athol Webb]],
[[Greg Wells (footballer, born 1950)|Greg Wells]],
[[Jeff White (Australian footballer)|Jeff White]],
[[Sean Wight]],
[[Don Williams (footballer, born 1935)|Don Williams]],
[[Brian Wilson (Australian rules footballer)|Brian Wilson]],
[[Stan Wittman]],
[[Shane Woewodin]],
[[Graeme Yeats]],
[[Charlie Young (footballer, born 1877)|Charlie Young]],
[[Adem Yze]]

==Match records==
*'''Highest score:''' 182 points<ref name="gamesrecords">{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/teams/melbourne/gamer.html|title=Melbourne – Game Records|access-date=1 June 2015|publisher=AFL Tables}}</ref> <br />Round 21, 1986 ([[Melbourne Cricket Ground|MCG]]) – Melbourne 28.14 (182) vs {{AFL NM}} 14.13 (97)<br />Round 5, 1991 (MCG) – Melbourne 28.14 (182) vs North Melbourne 17.10 (112)
*'''Lowest score:''' 2 points<ref name="gamesrecords"/> <br />Round 16, 1899 ([[Brunswick Street Oval]]) – Melbourne 0.2 (2) vs {{AFL Fit}} 5.10 (40)
*'''Highest score conceded:''' 238 points<ref name="gamesrecords"/> <br />Round 17, 1979 ([[Waverley Park]]) – Melbourne 6.12 (48) vs Fitzroy 36.22 (238)
*'''Lowest score conceded:''' 8 points<ref name="gamesrecords"/> <br />Round 7, 1903 (MCG) – Melbourne 4.8 (32) vs {{AFL Car}} 1.2 (8)
*'''Biggest winning margin:''' 141 points<ref name="gamesrecords"/> <br />Round 9, 1926 (MCG) – Melbourne 21.28 (154) vs {{AFL Haw}} 1.7 (13)
*'''Biggest losing margin:''' 190 points<ref name="gamesrecords"/> <br />Round 17, 1979 (Waverley Park) – Melbourne 6.12 (48) vs Fitzroy 36.22 (238)
*'''Highest losing score:''' 151 points<ref name="gamesrecords"/> <br />Round 10, 1940 (MCG) – Melbourne 22.19 (151) vs {{AFL Ess}} 24.10 (154)
*'''Lowest winning score:''' 28 points<ref name="gamesrecords"/> <br />Round 9, 1908 (MCG) 1897 – Melbourne 4.4 (28) vs Fitzroy 3.7 (25)<br />Round 15, 1909 (MCG) – Melbourne 4.4 (28) vs {{AFL Uni}} 2.15 (27)
*'''Longest winning streak:''' 19 games<ref name="streaks">{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/teams/melbourne/streaks.html|title=Streaks – Melbourne|access-date=4 June 2015|publisher=AFL Tables}}</ref><br />Round 15, 1955 vs North Melbourne (MCG) to round 13, 1956 vs Carlton (MCG)
*'''Longest losing streak:''' 20 games<ref name="streaks"/><br />Round 4, 1981 vs {{AFL StK}} (MCG) to round 1, 1982 vs {{AFL Syd}} ([[Sydney Cricket Ground|SCG]])
*'''Record attendance (home and away game):''' 99,346<ref name="attendances">{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/crowds/melbourne.html|title=Melbourne Attendances|access-date=1 June 2015|publisher=AFL Tables}}</ref> <br />Round 10, 1958 (MCG) vs {{AFL Col}}
*'''Record attendance (finals match):''' 115,802<ref name="attendances"/> <br />Grand Final, 1956 (MCG) vs Collingwood
*'''Most goals in a match by an individual:''' 18 goals<ref>{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/teams/melbourne/leadinggk.html|title=Melbourne Goalkicking Records|access-date=4 June 2015|publisher=AFL Tables}}</ref><br /> [[Fred Fanning]] – round 19, 1947 ([[Junction Oval]]) vs St Kilda
*'''Most disposals in a match by an individual, since 1965:''' 48 disposals<ref>{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/teams/melbourne/playershi.html|title=Melbourne – Season and Game Records (1965–2015)|access-date=4 June 2015|publisher=AFL Tables}}</ref><br /> [[Greg Wells (footballer, born 1950)|Greg Wells]] – round 13, 1980 (MCG) vs Fitzroy

==Current squad==
{{Melbourne Football Club AFL personnel}}

==Honour board==
The honour board is listed from the first VFL/AFL season and includes the following individual awards:
*'''[[Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy]]''' – awarded to the Melbourne Football Club's [[best and fairest]] player. Named after [[Keith Truscott]] who died in World War II.
* '''Leading goalkicker award''' – awarded to the player who kicks the most goals during the season.
* '''Harold Ball Memorial Trophy''' – awarded to the best first-year player between 1933 and 2011, and to the best young player from 2012 onward. Named in honour of [[Harold Ball]] who died in World War II and won the award in 1939.

'''Legend:''' <br />
{{color box|#ffc423|^}} ''Premiers'',   {{color box|Silver|*}} ''Grand finalist'', {{color box|#98FB98|†}} ''Finals'',  {{color box|#ebc2af|‡}} ''Wooden spoon'' <br />
'''''Bold italics: competition leading goal kicker'''''

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#bdb76b;"
! Season !! Position !! President !! Secretary/general<br />manager/CEO !!  Coach !! Captain(s) !! Best and fairest !! Leading goalkicker (total) !! Harold Ball Memorial Trophy{{ref|2|2}}
|-
| 1897 ||style="background:#98FB98;"| 4th†  || [[H. C. A. Harrison]] || [[R. C. McLeod]] ||  || [[Ned Sutton]] ||  || '''''[[Jack Leith]] (22)''''' ||
|-
| 1898 ||6th  || [[H. C. A. Harrison]] || [[Amos Norcott (footballer)|Amos Norcott]] ||  || [[Ned Sutton]] ||  || [[Charlie Young (footballer, born 1877)|Charlie Young]] (21) ||
|-
| 1899 ||6th  || [[H. C. A. Harrison]] || [[Amos Norcott (footballer)|Amos Norcott]] ||  || [[Eddie Sholl]] ||  || [[Jack Leith]] (21) ||
|-
| 1900 ||style="background:#ffc423;" | 1st^  || [[H. C. A. Harrison]] || [[Amos Norcott (footballer)|Amos Norcott]] ||  || [[Dick Wardill]] ||  || [[Tommy Ryan (Australian footballer)|Tommy Ryan]] (24) ||
|-
| 1901 ||5th  || [[H. C. A. Harrison]] || [[Amos Norcott (footballer)|Amos Norcott]] ||  || [[William C. McClelland]] ||  || [[Frank Langley]] (17) ||
|-
| 1902 ||style="background:#98FB98;"| 4th†  || [[H. C. A. Harrison]] || [[Amos Norcott (footballer)|Amos Norcott]] ||  || [[William C. McClelland]] ||  || [[Jack Leith]] (26) ||
|-
| 1903 ||7th  || [[H. C. A. Harrison]] || [[Amos Norcott (footballer)|Amos Norcott]] ||  || [[William C. McClelland]] ||  || [[Vince Coutie]] (19) ||
|-
| 1904 ||6th  || [[H. C. A. Harrison]] || [[Amos Norcott (footballer)|Amos Norcott]] ||  || [[William C. McClelland]] ||  || '''''[[Vince Coutie]] (39)''''' ||
|-
| 1905 ||style="background:#ebc2af;"| 8th‡ || [[H. C. A. Harrison]] || [[Amos Norcott (footballer)|Amos Norcott]] ||  || [[Frank Langley]] ||  || [[Harry Cordner]] (16) ||
|-
| 1906 ||style="background:#ebc2af;"| 8th‡ || [[H. C. A. Harrison]] || [[Amos Norcott (footballer)|Amos Norcott]] ||  || [[Arthur Sowden]] ||  || [[Basil Onyons]] (16) ||
|-
| 1907 ||7th  || [[T. F. Morkham]] || [[George Beachcroft]] || [[Alex Hall (Australian footballer)|Alex Hall]] || [[Vince Coutie]] ||  || [[Jack Leith]] (21) ||
|-
| 1908 ||8th  || [[T. F. Morkham]] || [[Amos Norcott (footballer)|Amos Norcott]] || [[Alex Hall (Australian footballer)|Alex Hall]] || [[Hugh Purse]] ||  || [[Vince Coutie]] (37) ||
|-
| 1909 ||5th  || [[T. F. Morkham]] || [[J. A. Harper]] || [[Alex Hall (Australian footballer)|Alex Hall]] || [[Bernie Nolan (footballer)|Bernie Nolan]] ||  || [[Harry Brereton]] (34) ||
|-
| 1910 ||9th  || [[T. F. Morkham]] || [[G. W. Lamb]] || [[Eddie Drohan]] || [[Vince Coutie]] ||  || [[Stan Fairbairn]] (24) ||
|-
| 1911 ||7th  || [[A. A. Aitken]] || [[G. W. Lamb]]|| [[Alex Hall (Australian footballer)|Alex Hall]] ||[[Vince Coutie]] ||  || '''''[[Harry Brereton]] (46)''''' ||
|-
| 1912 ||6th  || [[William C. McClelland]] || [[Andrew Manzie]] || [[Alex Hall (Australian footballer)|Alex Hall]] ||[[Alf George]] ||  || '''''[[Harry Brereton]] (56)''''' ||
|-
| 1913 ||9th  || [[William C. McClelland]] || [[Andrew Manzie]] || [[Alex Hall (Australian footballer)|Alex Hall]] || [[Alf George]] ||  || [[Michael Maguire (footballer)|Mick Maguire]] (13) ||
|-
| 1914 ||9th  || [[William C. McClelland]] || [[Andrew Manzie]] || [[Len Incigneri]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7268349 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)|The Argus]] |location=Melbourne |date=1 May 1914 |access-date=31 July 2011 |page=13 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>''VFL Football Record'', 2 May 1914 p.15</ref> || [[Len Incigneri]] ||  || [[Arthur Best]] (30) ||
|-
| 1915 ||style="background:#98FB98;"| 4th†  || [[William C. McClelland]] || [[Andrew Manzie]] || [[Jack McKenzie (footballer, born 1881)|Jack McKenzie]] || [[Jack McKenzie (footballer, born 1881)|Jack McKenzie]] ||  || [[Roy Park (sportsman)|Roy Park]] (35) ||
|-
| 1916–1918{{ref|3|3}} || — || [[William C. McClelland]] || [[Andrew Manzie]] || [[George Heinz]] || [[George Heinz]] ||  ||  ||
|-
| 1919 || style="background:#ebc2af;"| 9th‡ || [[William C. McClelland]] || [[Andrew Manzie]] || [[George Heinz]] || [[George Heinz]] ||  || [[George Heinz]] (15) ||
|-
| 1920 || 8th || [[William C. McClelland]] || [[Andrew Manzie]] || [[Gerald Brosnan]] || [[George Heinz]] ||  || [[Harry Harker]] (23) ||
|-
| 1921 || 6th || [[William C. McClelland]] || [[Andrew Manzie]] || [[Percy Wilson (footballer)|Percy Wilson]] || [[Percy Wilson (footballer)|Percy Wilson]] ||  || [[Harry Harker]] (47) ||
|-
| 1922 || 6th  || [[William C. McClelland]] || [[Andrew Manzie]] || [[Percy Wilson (footballer)|Percy Wilson]] || [[Percy Wilson (footballer)|Percy Wilson]] ||  || [[Harry Harker]] (47) ||
|-
| 1923 || style="background:#ebc2af;"| 9th‡ || [[William C. McClelland]] || [[Andrew Manzie]] || [[Percy Wilson (footballer)|Percy Wilson]] || [[Percy Wilson (footballer)|Percy Wilson]] ||  || [[Percy Tulloh]] (31) ||
|-
| 1924 || 8th || [[William C. McClelland]] || [[Andrew Manzie]] || [[Gordon Rattray]] || [[Albert Chadwick]]  ||  || [[Percy Tulloh]] (24) ||
|-
| 1925 || style="background:#98FB98;"| 3rd† || [[William C. McClelland]] || [[Andrew Manzie]] || [[Albert Chadwick]] || [[Albert Chadwick]]  ||  || [[Harry Davie]] (56) ||
|-
| 1926 || style="background:#ffc423;" | 1st^ || [[William C. McClelland]] || [[Andrew Manzie]] || [[Albert Chadwick]] || [[Albert Chadwick]]  ||  || [[Harry Moyes]] (55) ||
|-
| 1927 || 5th || [[Vernon Ransford]] || [[Andrew Manzie]] || [[Albert Chadwick]] || [[Albert Chadwick]]  ||  || [[Harry Davie]] (40) ||
|-
| 1928 || style="background:#98FB98;"| 3rd† || [[Vernon Ransford]] || [[Andrew Manzie]] || [[Ivor Warne-Smith]] || [[Ivor Warne-Smith]] ||  || [[Bob Johnson (Australian footballer, born 1902)|Bob Johnson]] (55) ||
|-
| 1929 || 5th || [[Joe Blair]] || [[Andrew Manzie]] || [[Ivor Warne-Smith]]  || [[Ivor Warne-Smith]] ||  || [[Dick Taylor (Australian rules footballer)|Dick Taylor]] (30) ||
|-
| 1930 || 5th || [[Joe Blair]] || [[Andrew Manzie]] || [[Ivor Warne-Smith]]  || [[Ivor Warne-Smith]] ||  || [[George Margitich]] (73) ||
|-
| 1931 || 8th || [[Joe Blair]] || [[Andrew Manzie]] || [[Ivor Warne-Smith]]  || [[Ivor Warne-Smith]] ||  || [[George Margitich]] (66) ||
|-
| 1932 || 9th || [[Joe Blair]] || [[Charlie Streeter]] || [[Ivor Warne-Smith]]  || [[Francis Vine]] ||  || [[George Margitich]] (60) ||
|-
| 1933 || 10th || [[Joe Blair]] || [[Percy Page (administrator)|Percy Page]] || [[Frank 'Checker' Hughes]]  || [[Francis Vine]] ||  || [[Bob Johnson (Australian footballer, born 1902)|Bob Johnson]] (62) || [[Les Jones (footballer, born February 1910)|Les Jones]]
|-
| 1934 || 6th || [[Joe Blair]] || [[Percy Page (administrator)|Percy Page]] || [[Frank 'Checker' Hughes]]  || [[Colin Niven]] ||  || [[Jack Mueller (footballer)|Jack Mueller]] (52) || [[Allan La Fontaine]]
|-
| 1935 || 6th || [[Joe Blair]] || [[Percy Page (administrator)|Percy Page]] || [[Frank 'Checker' Hughes]]  || [[Colin Niven]] || [[Allan La Fontaine]] || [[Maurie Gibb]] (59) || [[Ray Wartman]]
|-
| 1936 || style="background:#98FB98;"| 3rd† || [[Joe Blair]] || [[Percy Page (administrator)|Percy Page]] || [[Frank 'Checker' Hughes]]  || [[Allan La Fontaine]] || [[Allan La Fontaine]] || [[Eric Glass]] (56) ||
|-
| 1937 || style="background:#98FB98;"| 3rd† || [[Joe Blair]] || [[Percy Page (administrator)|Percy Page]] || [[Frank 'Checker' Hughes]]  || [[Allan La Fontaine]] || [[Jack Mueller (footballer)|Jack Mueller]] || [[Ron Baggott]] (51) ||
|-
| 1938 || 5th || [[Joe Blair]] || [[Percy Page (administrator)|Percy Page]] || [[Frank 'Checker' Hughes]]  || [[Allan La Fontaine]] || [[Norm Smith]] || [[Norm Smith]] (80) || [[Dick Hingston]]
|-
| 1939 || style="background:#ffc423;" | 1st^ || [[Joe Blair]] || [[Percy Page (administrator)|Percy Page]] || [[Frank 'Checker' Hughes]]  || [[Allan La Fontaine]] || [[Jack Mueller (footballer)|Jack Mueller]] || [[Norm Smith]] (54) || [[Harold Ball]]
|-
| 1940 || style="background:#ffc423;" | 1st^ || [[Joe Blair]] || [[Percy Page (administrator)|Percy Page]] || [[Frank 'Checker' Hughes]] || [[Allan La Fontaine]] || [[Ron Baggott]]  || [[Norm Smith]] (86) || [[Col McLean]]
|-
| 1941 || style="background:#ffc423;" | 1st^ || [[Joe Blair]] || [[Percy Page (administrator)|Percy Page]] || [[Frank 'Checker' Hughes]] || [[Allan La Fontaine]]  || [[Allan La Fontaine]]  || [[Norm Smith]] (89) || [[Ted Cordner]]
|-
| 1942 || 8th || [[Joe Blair]] || [[Jack Chessell]] || [[Percy Beames]] || [[Percy Beames]]  || [[Allan La Fontaine]]  || [[Fred Fanning]] (37) ||
|-
| 1943 || 7th || [[Joe Blair]] || [[Jack Chessell]] || [[Percy Beames]] || [[Percy Beames]]  || [[Don Cordner]]  || '''''[[Fred Fanning]] (62''''') ||
|-
| 1944 || 8th || [[Joe Blair]] || [[Jack Chessell]] || [[Percy Beames]] || [[Percy Beames]]  || [[Norm Smith]]  || '''''[[Fred Fanning]] (87)''''' || [[Es Downey]]
|-
| 1945 || 9th || [[Joe Blair]] || [[Jack Chessell]] || [[Frank 'Checker' Hughes]] || [[Norm Smith]]  || [[Fred Fanning]] || '''''[[Fred Fanning]] (67)''''' ||
|-
| 1946 || style="background:Silver;"| 2nd* || [[Joe Blair]] || [[Jack Chessell]] || [[Frank 'Checker' Hughes]] || [[Norm Smith]]  || [[Jack Mueller]] || [[Jack Mueller (footballer)|Jack Mueller]] (58) || [[Len Dockett]]
|-
| 1947 || 6th || [[William Flintoft]] || [[Jack Chessell]] || [[Frank 'Checker' Hughes]] || [[Norm Smith]]  || [[Wally Lock]] || '''''[[Fred Fanning]] (97)''''' || [[Eddie Jackson (Australian footballer)|Eddie Jackson]]
|-
| 1948 || style="background:#ffc423;" | 1st^ || [[William Flintoft]] || [[Alex Gray (administrator)|Alex Gray]] || [[Frank 'Checker' Hughes]] || [[Don Cordner]] || [[Alby Rodda]]  || [[Lance Arnold]] (41) ||
|-
| 1949 || 5th || [[William Flintoft]] || [[Alex Gray (administrator)|Alex Gray]] || [[Allan La Fontaine]]  || [[Don Cordner]]  || [[Len Dockett]]  || [[Bob McKenzie (footballer)|Bob McKenzie]] (40) || [[Mike Woods (Australian footballer)|Mike Woods]]
|-
| 1950 || style="background:#98FB98;"| 4th† || [[Albert Chadwick]] || [[A. S. Thompson]] || [[Allan La Fontaine]]  || [[Shane McGrath (footballer, born 1919)|Shane McGrath]] || [[Denis Cordner]]  || [[Denis Cordner]] (36) ||
|-
| 1951 || style="background:#ebc2af;"| 12th‡ || [[Albert Chadwick]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Allan La Fontaine]]  || [[Denis Cordner]] || [[Noel McMahen]] || [[Bob McKenzie (footballer)|Bob McKenzie]] (40) || [[John Beckwith (footballer)|John Beckwith]]
|-
| 1952 || 6th || [[Albert Chadwick]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Norm Smith]] || [[Denis Cordner]] || [[Geoff McGivern (footballer)|Geoff McGivern]]  || [[Noel Clarke (footballer)|Noel Clarke]] (49) ||
|-
| 1953 || 11th || [[Albert Chadwick]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Norm Smith]] || [[Denis Cordner]] || [[Ken Melville]] || [[Bob McKenzie (footballer)|Bob McKenzie]] (38) || [[Ken Melville]]
|-
| 1954 || style="background:Silver;"| 2nd* || [[Albert Chadwick]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Norm Smith]] || [[Geoff Collins (Australian rules footballer)|Geoff Collins]] || [[Denis Cordner]] || [[Noel Clarke (footballer)|Noel Clarke]] (51) || [[Bob Johnson (Australian footballer, born 1935)|Bob Johnson]]
|-
| 1955 || style="background:#ffc423;" | 1st^ || [[Albert Chadwick]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Norm Smith]] || [[Noel McMahen]] || [[Stuart Spencer (footballer)|Stuart Spencer]] || [[Stuart Spencer (footballer)|Stuart Spencer]] (34) || [[Trevor Johnson (footballer)|Trevor Johnson]]
|-
| 1956 || style="background:#ffc423;" | 1st^ || [[Albert Chadwick]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Norm Smith]] || [[Noel McMahen]] || [[Stuart Spencer (footballer)|Stuart Spencer]] || [[Bob Johnson (Australian footballer, born 1935)|Bob Johnson]] (43) || [[Jim Sandral]]
|-
| 1957 || style="background:#ffc423;" | 1st^ || [[Albert Chadwick]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Norm Smith]] || [[John Beckwith (footballer)|John Beckwith]]  || [[John Beckwith (footballer)|John Beckwith]] || [[Athol Webb]] (56) || [[Geoff Tunbridge]]
|-
| 1958 || style="background:Silver;"| 2nd* || [[Albert Chadwick]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Norm Smith]] || [[John Beckwith (footballer)|John Beckwith]]  || [[Laurie Mithen]] || [[Ron Barassi]] (44),<br />[[Athol Webb]] (44) || [[Alan Rowarth]]
|-
| 1959 || style="background:#ffc423;" | 1st^ || [[Albert Chadwick]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Norm Smith]] || [[John Beckwith (footballer)|John Beckwith]]  || [[Laurie Mithen]]  || [[Ron Barassi]] (46) || [[Hassa Mann]]
|-
| 1960 || style="background:#ffc423;" | 1st^ || [[Albert Chadwick]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Norm Smith]] || [[Ron Barassi]]   || [[Brian Dixon (Australian footballer)|Brian Dixon]]  || [[Ian Ridley]] (38) || [[Ray Nilsson]]
|-
| 1961 || style="background:#98FB98;"| 3rd† || [[Albert Chadwick]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Norm Smith]] || [[Ron Barassi]]   || [[Ron Barassi]]  || [[Bob Johnson (Australian footballer, born 1935)|Bob Johnson]] (36) || [[Brian Roet]]
|-
| 1962 || style="background:#98FB98;"| 4th† || [[Albert Chadwick]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Norm Smith]] || [[Ron Barassi]]   || [[Hassa Mann]] || [[Laurie Mithen]] (37) || [[John Townsend (footballer)|John Townsend]]
|-
| 1963 || style="background:#98FB98;"| 3rd† || [[Donald Duffy]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Norm Smith]] || [[Ron Barassi]]   || [[Hassa Mann]] || [[Barry Bourke]] (48) || [[Barry Bourke]]
|-
| 1964 || style="background:#ffc423;" | 1st^ || [[Donald Duffy]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Norm Smith]] || [[Ron Barassi]]   || [[Ron Barassi]] || [[John Townsend (footballer)|John Townsend]] (35) || [[Graeme Jacobs]]
|-
| 1965 || 7th || [[Donald Duffy]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Norm Smith]] || [[Hassa Mann]]  || [[John Townsend (footballer)|John Townsend]]  || [[John Townsend (footballer)|John Townsend]] (34) ||
|-
| 1966 || 11th || [[Donald Duffy]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Norm Smith]] || [[Hassa Mann]]  || [[Terry Leahy (footballer)|Terry Leahy]] || [[Barrie Vagg]] (20) || [[Terry Leahy (footballer)|Terry Leahy]]
|-
| 1967 || 7th || [[Donald Duffy]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Norm Smith]] || [[Hassa Mann]]  || [[Hassa Mann]]  || [[Hassa Mann]] (38) ||
|-
| 1968 || 8th || [[Donald Duffy]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[John Beckwith (footballer)|John Beckwith]] || [[Hassa Mann]] || [[Ray Groom]] || [[Hassa Mann]] (29) || [[Greg Parke (footballer)|Greg Parke]]
|-
| 1969 || style="background:#ebc2af;"| 12th‡ || [[Donald Duffy]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[John Beckwith (footballer)|John Beckwith]] || [[Hassa Mann]]  || [[John Townsend (footballer)|John Townsend]] || [[Ross Dillon]] (48) || [[Paul Rowlands]]
|-
| 1970 || 10th || [[Donald Duffy]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[John Beckwith (footballer)|John Beckwith]] || [[Tassie Johnson]] || [[Frank Davis (Australian rules footballer)|Frank Davis]]  || [[Ross Dillon]] (41) || [[Graham Molloy]]
|-
| 1971 || 7th || [[Donald Duffy]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Ian Ridley]] || [[Frank Davis (Australian rules footballer)|Frank Davis]] || [[Greg Wells (footballer, born 1950)|Greg Wells]]  || [[Paul Callery]] (38) || 
|-
| 1972 || 8th || [[Donald Duffy]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Ian Ridley]] || [[Frank Davis (Australian rules footballer)|Frank Davis]] || [[Stan Alves]] || [[Greg Parke (footballer)|Greg Parke]] (63) || [[Ross Brewer]]
|-
| 1973 || 10th || [[Donald Duffy]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Ian Ridley]] || [[Stan Alves]] || [[Carl Ditterich]]  || [[Ross Brewer]] (32) || [[Robert Flower]]
|-
| 1974 || style="background:#ebc2af;"| 12th‡ || [[Donald Duffy]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Bob Skilton]]  || [[Stan Alves]] || [[Stan Alves]]  || [[Ross Brewer]] (40) || [[Garry Baker]]
|-
| 1975 || 10th || [[John Mitchell (administrator)|John Mitchell]] || [[Jim Cardwell]] || [[Bob Skilton]]  || [[Stan Alves]] || [[Laurie Fowler]]  || [[Greg Wells (footballer, born 1950)|Greg Wells]] (32) || [[Marty Lyons (Australian footballer)|Marty Lyons]]
|-
| 1976 || 6th || [[John Mitchell (administrator)|John Mitchell]] || [[Ivan Moore]] || [[Bob Skilton]]  || [[Stan Alves]] || [[Greg Wells (footballer, born 1950)|Greg Wells]]  || [[Ray Biffin]] (47) || [[Peter O'Keefe (footballer)|Peter O'Keefe]]
|-
| 1977 || 11th || [[John Mitchell (administrator)|John Mitchell]] || [[Ray Manley (administrator)|Ray Manley]] || [[Bob Skilton]]  || [[Greg Wells (footballer, born 1950)|Greg Wells]] || [[Robert Flower]]  || [[Ross Brewer]] (26) || [[Tom Flower]]
|-
| 1978 || style="background:#ebc2af;"| 12th‡ || [[John Mitchell (administrator)|John Mitchell]] || [[Ray Manley (administrator)|Ray Manley]] || [[Dennis Jones (Australian footballer)|Dennis Jones]]  || [[Greg Wells (footballer, born 1950)|Greg Wells]] || [[Garry Baker]]  || [[Henry Coles (footballer)|Henry Coles]] (33) || [[Peter Thorne (Australian footballer)|Peter Thorne]]
|-
| 1979 || 11th || [[Wayne Reid]] || [[Ray Manley (administrator)|Ray Manley]] || [[Carl Ditterich]] || [[Carl Ditterich]] || [[Laurie Fowler]]  || [[Robert Flower]] (33) || [[Peter Giles (footballer)|Peter Giles]]
|-
| 1980 || 9th || [[Wayne Reid]] || [[Richard Seddon (administrator)|Richard Seddon]] || [[Carl Ditterich]] || [[Carl Ditterich]] || [[Laurie Fowler]]  || [[Brent Crosswell]] (31) || [[Stephen Bickford]]
|-
| 1981 || style="background:#ebc2af;"| 12th‡ || [[Billy Snedden]] || [[Richard Seddon (administrator)|Richard Seddon]] || [[Ron Barassi]] || [[Robert Flower]] || [[Steven Smith (Australian rules footballer)|Steven Smith]]  || [[Mark "Jacko" Jackson|Mark Jackson]] (76) || [[Mark "Jacko" Jackson|Mark Jackson]]
|-
| 1982 || 8th || [[Billy Snedden]] || [[Richard Seddon (administrator)|Richard Seddon]] || [[Ron Barassi]] || [[Robert Flower]] || [[Steven Icke]]  || [[Gerard Healy]] (77) || [[Adrian Battiston]]
|-
| 1983 || 8th || [[Billy Snedden]] || [[Richard Seddon (administrator)|Richard Seddon]] || [[Ron Barassi]] || [[Robert Flower]] || [[Alan Johnson (Australian footballer)|Alan Johnson]] || [[Robert Flower]] (40) || [[Russell Richards]]
|-
| 1984 || 9th || [[Billy Snedden]] || [[Richard Seddon (administrator)|Richard Seddon]] || [[Ron Barassi]] || [[Robert Flower]] || [[Gerard Healy]]  || [[Kelvin Templeton]] (51) || [[Graeme Yeats]]
|-
| 1985 || 11th || [[Billy Snedden]] || [[Ray Manley (administrator)|Ray Manley]] || [[Ron Barassi]] || [[Robert Flower]] || [[Danny Hughes]]  || [[Brian Wilson (Australian rules footballer)|Brian Wilson]] (40) || [[Rod Grinter]]
|-
| 1986 || 11th || [[Billy Snedden]],{{ref|6|6}}<br />[[Stuart Spencer (footballer)|Stuart Spencer]] || [[Ray Manley (administrator)|Ray Manley]] || [[John Northey]] || [[Robert Flower]] || [[Greg Healy]]  || [[Greg Healy]] (35) || [[Garry Lyon]]
|-
| 1987 ||style="background:#98FB98;"| 3rd†  || [[Stuart Spencer (footballer)|Stuart Spencer]] || [[Tony King (footballer)|Tony King]] || [[John Northey]] || [[Robert Flower]] || [[Steven Stretch]]  || [[Robert Flower]] (47) || [[Steven O'Dwyer]]
|-
| 1988 ||style="background:Silver;"| 2nd* || [[Stuart Spencer (footballer)|Stuart Spencer]] || [[Tony King (footballer)|Tony King]] || [[John Northey]] || [[Greg Healy]] || [[Steven O'Dwyer]]  || [[Ricky Jackson (Australian footballer)|Ricky Jackson]] (43) || [[Andy Lovell]]
|-
| 1989 ||style="background:#98FB98;"| 4th†  || [[Stuart Spencer (footballer)|Stuart Spencer]] || [[Tony King (footballer)|Tony King]] || [[John Northey]] || [[Greg Healy]] || [[Alan Johnson (Australian footballer)|Alan Johnson]]  || [[Darren Bennett (footballer)|Darren Bennett]] (34) || [[Luke Beveridge]]
|-
| 1990 ||style="background:#98FB98;"| 4th†  || [[Stuart Spencer (footballer)|Stuart Spencer]] || [[Tony King (footballer)|Tony King]] || [[John Northey]] || [[Greg Healy]] || [[Garry Lyon]]  || [[Darren Bennett (footballer)|Darren Bennett]] (87) || [[Rod Keogh]]
|-
| 1991 ||style="background:#98FB98;"| 4th†  || [[Stuart Spencer (footballer)|Stuart Spencer]],{{ref|7|7}}<br />[[Ian Ridley]] || [[Tony King (footballer)|Tony King]] || [[John Northey]] || [[Garry Lyon]] || [[Jim Stynes]] || [[Allen Jakovich]] (71) || [[Allen Jakovich]]
|-
| 1992 ||11th  || [[Ian Ridley]] || [[Tony King (footballer)|Tony King]]{{ref|7|7}},<br />[[Hassa Mann]] || [[John Northey]] || [[Garry Lyon]] || [[Glenn Lovett]]  || [[Allen Jakovich]] (40) || [[Chris Sullivan (Australian rules footballer)|Chris Sullivan]]
|-
| 1993 ||10th  || [[Ian Ridley]] || [[Hassa Mann]] || [[Neil Balme]] || [[Garry Lyon]] || [[Todd Viney]]  || [[Allen Jakovich]] (39) || [[David Neitz]]
|-
| 1994 ||style="background:#98FB98;"| 4th†  || [[Ian Ridley]] || [[Hassa Mann]] || [[Neil Balme]] || [[Garry Lyon]] || [[Garry Lyon]]  || [[Garry Lyon]] (79) || [[Paul Prymke]]
|-
| 1995 ||9th  || [[Ian Ridley]] || [[Hassa Mann]] || [[Neil Balme]] || [[Garry Lyon]] || [[Jim Stynes]]  || [[Garry Lyon]] (77) || [[Adem Yze]]
|-
| 1996 ||14th  || [[Ian Ridley]],{{ref|7|7}}<br />[[Joseph Gutnick]] || [[Hassa Mann]] || [[Neil Balme]] || [[Garry Lyon]] || [[Jim Stynes]]  || [[David Neitz]] (56) || [[Darren O'Brien]]
|-
| 1997 ||style="background:#ebc2af;"| 16th‡  || [[Joseph Gutnick]] || [[Hassa Mann]],{{ref|7|7}}<br />[[Cameron Schwab]] || [[Neil Balme]],{{ref|4|4}}<br />[[Greg Hutchison]]{{ref|5|5}} || [[Garry Lyon]] || [[Jim Stynes]]  || [[David Neitz]] (30),<br />[[Jeff Farmer (footballer)|Jeff Farmer]] (30) || [[Anthony McDonald (Australian footballer)|Anthony McDonald]]
|-
| 1998 || style="background:#98FB98;"| 4th† || [[Joseph Gutnick]] || [[Cameron Schwab]] || [[Neale Daniher]] || [[Todd Viney]] || [[Todd Viney]]  || [[Jeff Farmer (footballer)|Jeff Farmer]] (47) || [[Guy Rigoni]]
|-
| 1999 || 14th || [[Joseph Gutnick]] || [[Cameron Schwab]],{{ref|7|7}}<br />[[John Anderson (administrator)|John Anderson]] || [[Neale Daniher]] || [[Todd Viney]] || [[David Schwarz (footballer)|David Schwarz]] || [[David Neitz]] (46) || [[Peter Walsh (footballer)|Peter Walsh]]
|-
| 2000 || style="background:Silver;"| 2nd* || [[Joseph Gutnick]] || [[John Anderson (administrator)|John Anderson]] || [[Neale Daniher]] || [[David Neitz]] || [[Shane Woewodin]]  || [[Jeff Farmer (footballer)|Jeff Farmer]] (76) || [[Matthew Whelan]]
|-
| 2001 || 11th || [[Joseph Gutnick]],{{ref|7|7}}<br />[[Gabriel Szondy]] || [[John Anderson (administrator)|John Anderson]] || [[Neale Daniher]] || [[David Neitz]] || [[Adem Yze]]  || [[Russell Robertson]] (42) || [[Scott Thompson (footballer, born 1983)|Scott Thompson]]
|-
| 2002 || style="background:#98FB98;"| 6th† || [[Gabriel Szondy]] || [[John Anderson (administrator)|John Anderson]] || [[Neale Daniher]] || [[David Neitz]] || [[David Neitz]]  || '''''[[David Neitz]] (82)''''' || [[Steven Armstrong]]
|-
| 2003 || 14th || [[Gabriel Szondy]],{{ref|7|7}}<br />[[Paul Gardner (AFL)|Paul Gardner]] || [[Ray Ellis (administrator)|Ray Ellis]] || [[Neale Daniher]] || [[David Neitz]] || [[Russell Robertson]] || [[David Neitz]] (65) || [[Ryan Ferguson (footballer)|Ryan Ferguson]]
|-
| 2004 || style="background:#98FB98;"| 7th† || [[Paul Gardner (AFL)|Paul Gardner]] || [[Steve Harris (CEO)|Steve Harris]] || [[Neale Daniher]] || [[David Neitz]] || [[Jeff White (Australian footballer)|Jeff White]] || [[David Neitz]] (69) || [[Aaron Davey]]
|-
| 2005 || style="background:#98FB98;"| 8th† || [[Paul Gardner (AFL)|Paul Gardner]] || [[Steve Harris (CEO)|Steve Harris]] || [[Neale Daniher]] || [[David Neitz]] || [[Travis Johnstone]] || [[Russell Robertson]] (73) || [[Chris Johnson (Australian footballer born 1986)|Chris Johnson]]
|-
| 2006 || style="background:#98FB98;"| 5th† || [[Paul Gardner (AFL)|Paul Gardner]] || [[Steve Harris (CEO)|Steve Harris]] || [[Neale Daniher]] || [[David Neitz]] || [[James McDonald (Australian footballer)|James McDonald]] || [[David Neitz]] (68) || [[Clint Bartram]]
|-
| 2007 || 14th || [[Paul Gardner (AFL)|Paul Gardner]] || [[Steve Harris (CEO)|Steve Harris]] || [[Neale Daniher]],{{ref|6|6}}<br />[[Mark Riley (Australian rules coach)|Mark Riley]]{{ref|5|5}}  || [[David Neitz]] || [[James McDonald (Australian footballer)|James McDonald]] || [[Russell Robertson]] (42)|| [[Ricky Petterd]]
|-
| 2008 || style="background:#ebc2af;"| 16th‡ || [[Paul Gardner (AFL)|Paul Gardner]],{{ref|7|7}}<br />[[Jim Stynes]] || [[Paul McNamee]]{{ref|4|4}}<br />[[Cameron Schwab]] || [[Dean Bailey]] || [[David Neitz]] || [[Cameron Bruce]] || [[Brad Miller (footballer)|Brad Miller]] (26)|| [[Cale Morton]]
|-
| 2009 || style="background:#ebc2af;"| 16th‡ || [[Jim Stynes]] || [[Cameron Schwab]] || [[Dean Bailey]] || [[James McDonald (Australian footballer)|James McDonald]]|| [[Aaron Davey]] || [[Russell Robertson]] (29)|| [[Liam Jurrah]]
|-
| 2010 || 12th || [[Jim Stynes]] || [[Cameron Schwab]] || [[Dean Bailey]] || [[James McDonald (Australian footballer)|James McDonald]]|| [[Brad Green (footballer)|Brad Green]] || [[Brad Green (footballer)|Brad Green]] (55) || [[Tom Scully]]
|-
| 2011 || 13th || [[Jim Stynes]] || [[Cameron Schwab]] || [[Dean Bailey]],{{ref|4|4}}<br />[[Todd Viney]]{{ref|5|5}}  || [[Brad Green (footballer)|Brad Green]] || [[Brent Moloney]] || [[Liam Jurrah]] (40) || [[Jeremy Howe]]
|-
| 2012 || 16th || [[Jim Stynes]],{{ref|7|7}}<br />[[Don McLardy]] || [[Cameron Schwab]] || [[Mark Neeld]] || [[Jack Grimes (footballer)|Jack Grimes]], <br />[[Jack Trengove]] || [[Nathan Jones (Australian footballer)|Nathan Jones]] || [[Mitch Clark (Australian footballer)|Mitch Clark]] (29) || [[Tom McDonald (Australian footballer)|Tom McDonald]]
|-
| 2013 || 17th || [[Don McLardy]],{{ref|7|7}}<br />[[Glen Bartlett]] || [[Cameron Schwab]],{{ref|7|7}}<br />[[Peter Jackson (football administrator)|Peter Jackson]] || [[Mark Neeld]],{{ref|4|4}}<br />[[Neil Craig]]{{ref|5|5}}  || [[Jack Grimes (footballer)|Jack Grimes]], <br />[[Jack Trengove]] || [[Nathan Jones (Australian footballer)|Nathan Jones]] || [[Jeremy Howe]] (28) || [[Jack Viney]]
|-
| 2014 || 17th || [[Glen Bartlett]] || [[Peter Jackson (football administrator)|Peter Jackson]] || [[Paul Roos (Australian rules footballer)|Paul Roos]] || [[Jack Grimes (footballer)|Jack Grimes]], <br />[[Nathan Jones (Australian footballer)|Nathan Jones]] || [[Nathan Jones (Australian footballer)|Nathan Jones]] || [[Chris Dawes (Australian footballer)|Chris Dawes]] (20) || [[Dom Tyson]]
|-
| 2015 || 13th || [[Glen Bartlett]] || [[Peter Jackson (football administrator)|Peter Jackson]] || [[Paul Roos (Australian rules footballer)|Paul Roos]] || [[Nathan Jones (Australian footballer)|Nathan Jones]] || [[Bernie Vince]] || [[Jesse Hogan]] (44) || [[Jesse Hogan]]
|-
| 2016 || 11th || [[Glen Bartlett]] || [[Peter Jackson (football administrator)|Peter Jackson]] || [[Paul Roos (Australian rules footballer)|Paul Roos]] || [[Nathan Jones (Australian footballer)|Nathan Jones]] || [[Jack Viney]] || [[Jesse Hogan]] (41) || [[Jayden Hunt]]
|-
| 2017 || 9th || [[Glen Bartlett]] || [[Peter Jackson (football administrator)|Peter Jackson]] || [[Simon Goodwin]] || [[Nathan Jones (Australian footballer)|Nathan Jones]]<br />[[Jack Viney]] || [[Clayton Oliver]] ||[[Jeff Garlett]] (42)  || [[Clayton Oliver]]
|-
| 2018 ||style="background:#98FB98;"| 4th†  || [[Glen Bartlett]] || [[Peter Jackson (football administrator)|Peter Jackson]] || [[Simon Goodwin]] || [[Nathan Jones (Australian footballer)|Nathan Jones]]<br />[[Jack Viney]] || [[Max Gawn]] ||[[Tom McDonald (Australian footballer)|Tom McDonald]] (53)  || [[Bayley Fritsch]]
|-
| 2019 || 17th || [[Glen Bartlett]] || [[Gary Pert]] || [[Simon Goodwin]] || [[Nathan Jones (Australian footballer)|Nathan Jones]]<br />[[Jack Viney]] || [[Max Gawn]]<br />[[Clayton Oliver]] ||[[Christian Petracca]] (22) || [[Harrison Petty]]
|-
|2020
|9th
|[[Glen Bartlett]]
|[[Gary Pert]]
|[[Simon Goodwin]]
|[[Max Gawn]]
|[[Christian Petracca]]
|[[Bayley Fritsch]] (22)
|[[Luke Jackson (footballer)|Luke Jackson]]
|-
|2021
|style="background:#ffc423;" | 1st^
|[[Glen Bartlett]],{{ref|7|7}}<br />[[Kate Roffey]]
|[[Gary Pert]]
|[[Simon Goodwin]]
|[[Max Gawn]]
|[[Clayton Oliver]]
|[[Bayley Fritsch]] (59)
|[[Kysaiah Pickett]]
|-
|2022
|style="background:#98FB98;" | 5th†
|[[Kate Roffey]]
|[[Gary Pert]]
|[[Simon Goodwin]]
|[[Max Gawn]]
|[[Clayton Oliver]]
|[[Bayley Fritsch]] (55)
|[[Jake Bowey]]
|-
|2023
|style="background:#98FB98;" | 6th†
|[[Kate Roffey]]
|[[Gary Pert]]
|[[Simon Goodwin]]
|[[Max Gawn]]
|[[Christian Petracca]]
|[[Bayley Fritsch]] (38)
|[[Judd McVee]],<br />[[Jacob van Rooyen]]
|-
|2024
|14th
|[[Kate Roffey]]
|[[Gary Pert]]
|[[Simon Goodwin]]
|[[Max Gawn]]
|[[Jack Viney]]
|[[Bayley Fritsch]] (41)
|[[Caleb Windsor]]
|-
|2025
|14th
|[[Brad Green (footballer)|Brad Green]]
|[[David Chippindall]]{{ref|8|8}}
|[[Simon Goodwin]],{{ref|9|9}}<br />[[Troy Chaplin]]{{ref|10|10}}
|[[Max Gawn]]
|[[Max Gawn]]
|[[Kysaiah Pickett]] (40)
|[[Harvey Langford]]
|}

==Individual awards==

===Best and Fairest===
:''See [[Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal]]''

===Norm Smith Medal winners===
{{Main|Norm Smith Medal}}

*[[Christian Petracca]] (2021)

===Brownlow Medal winners===
{{Main|Brownlow Medal}}

*[[Ivor Warne-Smith]] (1926, 1928)
*[[Don Cordner]] (1946)
*[[Brian Wilson (Australian rules footballer)|Brian Wilson]] (1982)
*[[Peter Moore (Australian rules footballer)|Peter Moore]] (1984)
*[[Jim Stynes]] (1991)
*[[Shane Woewodin]] (2000)

===Leigh Matthews Trophy===
{{Main|Leigh Matthews Trophy}}

* [[Jim Stynes]] (1991)

===VFL Leading Goalkicker Medal winners (1897–1954)===
*[[Jack Leith]] (1897)
*[[Vince Coutie]] (1904)
*[[Harry Brereton]] (1911, 1912)
*[[Fred Fanning]] (1943, 1944, 1945, 1947)

===Coleman Medal winners (since 1955)===
{{Main|Coleman Medal}}

*[[David Neitz]] (2002)

===AFL Rising Star winners===
{{Main|AFL Rising Star}}

*[[Jared Rivers]] (2004)
*[[Jesse Hogan]] (2015)
*[[Luke Jackson (footballer)|Luke Jackson]] (2021)

===Mark of the Year winners===
{{Main|Mark of the Year}}

*[[Shaun Smith (Australian rules footballer)|Shaun Smith]] (1995) (''Mark of the Century'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-demons-jeremy-howe-the-greatest-hanger-of-them-all-20150525-gh9707.html|title=Melbourne Demons Jeremy Howe the greatest 'hanger' of them all|last=Connolly|first=Rohan|date=25 May 2015|website=[[The Age]]|publisher=[[Fairfax Media]]|access-date=1 June 2015}}</ref>
*[[Michael Newton (Australian rules footballer)|Michael Newton]] (2007)
*[[Liam Jurrah]] (2010)
*[[Jeremy Howe]] (2012)

===Goal of the Year winners===
{{Main|Goal of the Year (AFL)}}

*[[Jeff Farmer (footballer)|Jeff Farmer]] (1998)

===All-Australian – AFL (since 1991)===
{{Main|All-Australian team}}

*[[Jim Stynes]] (1991, 1993)
*[[Garry Lyon]] (1993, 1994, 1995)
*[[Stephen Tingay]] (1994)
*[[Neil Balme]] (1994 (Coach))
*[[David Neitz]] (1995, 2002)
*[[Todd Viney]] (1998)
*[[Jeff Farmer (footballer)|Jeff Farmer]] (2000)
*[[Adem Yze]] (2002)
*[[Jeff White (Australian footballer)|Jeff White]] (2004)
*[[James McDonald (Australian footballer)|James McDonald]] (2006)
*[[James Frawley (Australian rules footballer)|James Frawley]] (2010)
*[[Mark Jamar]] (2010)
*[[Max Gawn]] (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 (Captain), 2022, 2024, 2025)
*[[Michael Hibberd]] (2017)
*[[Clayton Oliver]] (2018, 2021, 2022)
*[[Christian Petracca]] (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
*[[Jake Lever]] (2021)
*[[Steven May]] (2021, 2022)
*[[Simon Goodwin]] (2021 (Coach))
*[[Kysaiah Pickett]] (2025)

===VFL Team of the Year (1982–1990)===
*[[Gerard Healy]] (1982, 1984)
*[[Robert Flower]] (1982, 1983, 1984)
*[[Steven Icke]] (1982)
* [[Brian Wilson (Australian rules footballer)|Brian Wilson]] (1982)
* [[Peter Moore (Australian rules footballer)|Peter Moore]] (1984)
*[[Steven Stretch]] (1987)
*[[Sean Wight]] (1987)
*[[Steven O'Dwyer]] (1988)
*[[Brett Lovett]] (1988, 1989, 1990)
* [[Alan Johnson (Australian footballer)|Alan Johnson]] (1989)
*[[Garry Lyon]] (1989, 1990)

===All-Australian players – Interstate Carnivals (1953–1988)===
*[[Ron Barassi]] (1956, 1958, 1961)
*[[Brian Dixon (Australian footballer)|Brian Dixon]] (1961)
*[[Hassa Mann]] (1966)
*[[Gary Hardeman]] (1972)
*[[Robert Flower]] (1980, 1983)
*[[Danny Hughes]] (1988)

===National team representatives (since 1998)===
{{Main|Australia international rules football team}}

*[[Jeff Farmer (footballer)|Jeff Farmer]] (1998)
*[[David Neitz]] (1998, 2002)
*[[Jim Stynes]] (1998)
*[[Todd Viney]] (1998)
*[[Shane Woewodin]] (2000)
*[[Adem Yze]] (2000, 2002)
*[[Cameron Bruce]] (2002, 2004)
*[[Clint Bizzell]] (2003)
*[[Brad Green (footballer)|Brad Green]] (2004, 2010, 2011)
*[[Aaron Davey]] (2005, 2006, 2013)
*[[Brent Moloney]] (2005)
*[[Russell Robertson]] (2005)
*[[James I. McDonald|James McDonald]] (2006)
*[[James Frawley (Australian rules footballer)|James Frawley]] (2010, 2011)
*[[Colin Sylvia]] (2011)
*[[Jack Trengove]] (2011)
*[[Dom Barry]] (2013)
*[[Michael Hibberd]] (2017)
*[[Neville Jetta]] (2017)

==AFL Women's team==
[[File:DaisyLeadsOutTeam18.02.17.jpg|thumb|Melbourne captain Daisy Pearce leads her players past the men's side during round 3 of the 2017 AFL Women's season.]]

In June 2013, the club fielded a [[women's Australian rules football|women's representative]] side known as the Chappettes against {{AFLW|WB}} in the first AFL-sanctioned women's exhibition match, held at the MCG. The two teams competed annually over the next three years for the Hampson-Hardeman Cup.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Twomey|first1=Callum|title=First bounce for women's footy at the MCG|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-06-24/first-bounce-for-women|access-date=16 October 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|date=16 October 2016}}</ref> In 2016, when the AFL announced plans for [[AFL Women's]], an eight team national women's league competition, Melbourne was asked to submit an application for a licence alongside other AFL clubs.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lane|first1=Samantha|title=Gold Coast latest out, but AFL awaits 16 women's team bids|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/gold-coast-latest-out-but-afl-awaits-16-womens-team-bids-20160420-goaojj.html|access-date=13 November 2016|work=The Age|date=20 April 2016}}</ref> The club was one of four Melbourne-based clubs to be granted a licence that year.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chalkley-Rhoden|first1=Stephanie|title=AFL Women's league: Collingwood, Carlton among eight clubs in new national competition|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-15/teams-unveiled-for-national-afl-womens-competition/7511612|access-date=13 November 2016|work=ABC.com.au|date=11 July 2016}}</ref>

The club's first players were marquee signings [[Daisy Pearce]] and [[Melissa Hickey]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Matthews|first1=Bruce|title=Sixteen of the best: women's marquees named|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-07-27/sixteen-of-the-best-womens-league-marquee-players-named|access-date=16 October 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|date=27 July 2016}}</ref> The full list was completed later in the year with signings and selections made in the October [[2016 AFL Women's draft|draft period]].

[[Oakleigh Chargers]] coach [[Mick Stinear]] was appointed the team's inaugural head coach in September 2016.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Dinny Navaratnam |author2=Bruce Matthews |author3=Nathan Schmook |author4=Lee Gaskin |title=Women's league coaches revealed: Dees name coach|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-09-15/womens-league-coaches-revealed|access-date=13 November 2016|work=AFL.com,au|date=15 September 2016}}</ref>

===Current squad===
{{Melbourne Football Club AFL Women's personnel}}

===Season summaries===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#bdb76b;font-size: 87%"
! colspan="9" | Melbourne AFLW honour roll
|- style="background:#bdb76b;font-size: 87%;"
! Season !! Ladder !! W–L–D !! Finals !! Coach !! Captain(s) !! Best and fairest !! [https://australianfootball.com/leagues/every_goalkicker/AFL/138/Women%27s+Premiership+Season/245?season_from=2021&season_to=2021&limit=1000 Leading goal kicker]
|-style="font-size: 87%;"
|[[2017 AFL Women's season|2017]]
|3rd 
|5–2–0
|DNQ
|[[Mick Stinear]]
|[[Daisy Pearce]]
|[[Daisy Pearce]]
|[[Alyssa Mifsud]] (9)
|-
|-style="font-size: 87%;"
|[[2018 AFL Women's season|2018]]
|3rd 
|4–3–0
|DNQ
|[[Mick Stinear]]
|[[Daisy Pearce]]
|[[Daisy Pearce]] (2) 
|[[Tegan Cunningham]] (9)
|-
|-style="font-size: 87%;"
|[[2019 AFL Women's season|2019]]
|4th ^ 
|4–3–0
|DNQ
|[[Mick Stinear]]
|[[Elise O'Dea]] & [[Shelley Scott]]
|[[Karen Paxman]] 
|[[Tegan Cunningham]] (8)
|-
|-style="font-size: 87%;"
|[[2020 AFL Women's season|2020]]
|4th ^ 
|4–2–0
|Semi-final
|[[Mick Stinear]]
|[[Daisy Pearce]]
|[[Shelley Scott]]
|[[Kate Hore]] (5)
|-
|-style="font-size: 87%;"
|[[2021 AFL Women's season|2021]]
|4th 
|7–2–0
|Preliminary final
|[[Mick Stinear]]
|[[Daisy Pearce]]
|[[Tyla Hanks]] & [[Karen Paxman]] (2)
|[[Kate Hore]] (12)
|-
|[[2022 AFL Women's season 6|<small>2022 (S6)</small>]]
|<small>2nd</small>
|<small>9–1–0</small>
|<small>Grand final</small>
|<small>[[Mick Stinear]]</small>
|<small>[[Daisy Pearce]]</small>
|<small>[[Daisy Pearce]] (3)</small>
|<small>[[Tayla Harris]] (18)</small>
|-
|[[2022 AFL Women's season 7|<small>2022 (S7)</small>]]
|<small>2nd</small>
|<small>9–1–0</small>
|<small>[[AFL Women's season seven Grand Final|Premiers]]</small>
|<small>[[Mick Stinear]]</small>
|<small>[[Daisy Pearce]]</small>
|<small>[[Kate Hore]]</small>
|<small>[[Kate Hore]] (17)</small>
|-
|[[2023 AFL Women's season|<small>2023</small>]]
|<small>2nd</small>
|<small>8–2–0</small>
|<small>Semi Final</small>
|<small>[[Mick Stinear]]</small>
|<small>[[Kate Hore]]</small>
|<small>[[Tyla Hanks]] (2) & [[Kate Hore]] (2)</small>
|<small>[[Eden Zanker]] (23)</small>
|-
|[[2024 AFL Women's season|<small>2024</small>]]
|<small>9th</small>
|<small>6–5–0</small>
|<small>DNQ</small>
|<small>[[Mick Stinear]]</small>
|<small>[[Kate Hore]]</small>
|<small>[[Kate Hore]] (3)</small>
|<small>[[Alyssa Bannan]] (12)</small>
|}
<small>^ Denotes the ladder was split into two conferences. Figure refers to the club's overall finishing position in the home-and-away season.</small>

==See also==
{{Portal|Sports|Australia}}
*[[Casey Demons]] (Melbourne is in an affiliation with Casey in the [[Victorian Football League]] and [[VFL Women's]])
*[[List of Melbourne Football Club players]]
*[[List of Melbourne Football Club seasons]]
*[[Melbourne Hawks]]
*[[Sport in Victoria]]
*[[Sport in Australia]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
:1.{{note|1}}The [[2020 AFL season]] was shortened by five rounds as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].
:2.{{note|2}}Awarded to the best first year player (1933–2011), then to the best young player (2012–present).
:3.{{note|3}}In recess owing to war.
:4.{{note|4}}Sacked mid-season.
:5.{{note|5}}Caretaker coach.
:6.{{note|6}}Retired mid-season.
:7.{{note|7}}Resigned mid-season.
:8.{{note|8}}Caretaker CEO.
:9.{{note|}}Sacked mid-season.
:10.{{note|}}Caretaker coach.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [http://demonwiki.org/ Demon Wiki – Online Encyclopedia of the Melbourne Football Club]
* [https://www.flashscore.com.au/team/north-melbourne/SU2u0plA/results/ Melbourne Demons results] - Latest scores for Melbourne Football Club

{{Melbourne Football Club}}
{{Navboxes
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|list =
{{VFL/AFL minor premiers}}
{{VFL/AFL premiers}}
{{Australian Football League}}
{{AFL reserves}}
{{AFL Under-19s}}
{{AFL Women's}}
{{AFL Women's premiers}}
{{VFL}}
{{Melbourne Sports Teams}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Melbourne Football Club| ]]
[[Category:Australian rules football clubs established in 1858]]
[[Category:Australian Football League clubs]]
[[Category:Australian rules football clubs in Melbourne]]
[[Category:1858 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Former Victorian Football League clubs]]
[[Category:AFL Women's clubs]]
[[Category:Sport in the City of Melbourne (LGA)]]