2008 AFL season

For the 2008 season of the Arena Football League, see 2008 Arena Football League season.

2008 AFL premiership season
Teams	16
Premiers	Hawthorn 10th premiership
Minor premiers	Geelong 13th minor premiership
Pre-season cup	St Kilda 3rd pre-season cup win
Brownlow Medallist	Adam Cooney Western Bulldogs (24 votes)
Coleman Medallist	Lance Franklin Hawthorn (102 goals)
Attendance
Matches played	185
Total attendance	7,082,949 (38,286 per match)
Highest	100,012 (Grand Final, Geelong vs. Hawthorn)
←  2007 2009  →

The 2008 AFL season was the 112th season of the Australian Football League (AFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Australia, which was known as the Victorian Football League until 1989. The season featured sixteen clubs, ran from 20 March until 27 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs. A significant feature of the season was the celebration of the 150th anniversary since the sport of Australian rules football was first established in 1858.

The premiership was won by the Hawthorn Football Club for the tenth time, after they defeated Geelong by 26 points in the 2008 AFL Grand Final.

NAB Cup

Main article: 2008 NAB Cup

	2008 NAB Cup Grand Final
Saturday, 8 March	Adelaide 0.9.10 (64)	def. by	St Kilda 2.7.9 (69)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 26,823)

Premiership season

Round 1

	Round 1 (Easter and Season Launch)
Thursday, 20 March	Carlton 11.13 (79)	def. by	Richmond 17.7 (109)	MCG (crowd: 72,552)	Report
Thursday, 20 March	Port Adelaide 14.12 (96)	def. by	Geelong 15.15 (105)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 28,206)	Report
Saturday, 22 March	Collingwood 16.15 (111)	def.	Fremantle 13.7 (85)	MCG (crowd: 45,383)	Report [ dead link ]
Saturday, 22 March	West Coast 14.8 (92)	def.	Brisbane Lions 11.10 (76)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 39,591)	Report
Saturday, 22 March	St Kilda 6.15 (51)	def.	Sydney 6.13 (49)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 36,614)	Report
Sunday, 23 March	Western Bulldogs 19.12 (126)	def.	Adelaide 18.15 (123)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 24,835)	Report
Sunday, 23 March	Hawthorn 23.16 (154)	def.	Melbourne 6.14 (50)	MCG (crowd: 40,141)	Report
Monday, 24 March	North Melbourne 9.13 (67)	def. by	Essendon 19.8 (122)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 48,100)	Report

Round 2

	Round 2
Friday, 28 March	Brisbane Lions 13.18 (96)	def.	Collingwood 13.16 (94)	The Gabba (crowd: 33,867)	Report
Saturday, 29 March	Melbourne 9.12 (66)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 24.17 (161)	MCG (crowd: 27,821)	Report [ dead link ]
Saturday, 29 March	Adelaide 21.7 (133)	def.	West Coast 8.9 (57)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 38,162)	Report
Saturday, 29 March	Fremantle 14.13 (97)	def. by	Hawthorn 16.16 (112)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 38,022)	Report
Saturday, 29 March	St Kilda 19.11 (125)	def.	Carlton 12.13 (85)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 43,396)	Report
Sunday, 30 March	Sydney 22.14 (146)	def.	Port Adelaide 11.12 (78)	SCG (crowd: 24,700)	Report
Sunday, 30 March	Geelong 22.18 (150)	def.	Essendon 6.15 (51)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 50,636)	Report
Sunday, 30 March	Richmond 13.8 (86)	def. by	North Melbourne 20.7 (127)	MCG (crowd: 39,292)	Report

Round 3

	Round 3 (Rivalry Round)
Friday, 4 April	Western Bulldogs 19.11 (125)	def.	St Kilda 13.9 (87)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 38,667)	Report
Saturday, 5 April	North Melbourne 13.8 (86)	def. by	Hawthorn 15.12 (102)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 39,816)	Report [ dead link ]
Saturday, 5 April	West Coast 10.13 (73)	def. by	Fremantle 12.15 (87)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 39,027)	Report
Saturday, 5 April	Brisbane Lions 10.11 (71)	def. by	Sydney 13.10 (88)	The Gabba (crowd: 29,061)	Report
Saturday, 5 April	Essendon 23.12 (150)	def.	Carlton 21.8 (134)	MCG (crowd: 64,388)	Report
Sunday, 6 April	Geelong 16.16 (112)	def.	Melbourne 12.10 (82)	Skilled Stadium (crowd: 23,569)	Report
Sunday, 6 April	Richmond 11.12 (78)	def. by	Collingwood 18.14 (122)	MCG (crowd: 70,802)	Report
Sunday, 6 April	Adelaide 12.13 (85)	def.	Port Adelaide 11.13 (79)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 45,524)	Report

Round 4

	Round 4
Friday, 11 April	Essendon 14.14 (98)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 19.14 (128)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 47,641)	Report
Saturday, 12 April	St Kilda 13.16 (94)	def. by	Geelong 21.10 (136)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 44,368)	Report
Saturday, 12 April	North Melbourne 18.19 (127)	def.	Melbourne 11.13 (79)	MCG (crowd: 23,427) (Moved from Gold Coast Stadium)	Report
Saturday, 12 April	Sydney 16.11 (107)	def.	West Coast 5.15 (45)	ANZ Stadium (crowd: 44,235)	Report
Saturday, 12 April	Port Adelaide 16.8 (104)	def. by	Brisbane Lions 18.16 (124)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 25,205)	Report [ dead link ]
Sunday, 13 April	Hawthorn 17.12 (114)	def.	Adelaide 10.10 (70)	Aurora Stadium (crowd: 15,124)	Report
Sunday, 13 April	Carlton 17.9 (111)	def.	Collingwood 13.10 (88)	MCG (crowd: 77,873)	Report
Sunday, 13 April	Fremantle 10.13 (73)	def. by	Richmond 20.17 (137)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 37,541)	Report
The match between North Melbourne and Melbourne was originally fixtured to be played at Gold Coast Stadium, however, due to North Melbourne's refusal to relocate north to the Gold Coast, the match was moved to the Melbourne Cricket Ground. [1]

Round 5

	Round 5
Friday, 18 April	St Kilda 18.15 (123)	def.	Essendon 14.3 (87)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 46,792)	Report
Saturday, 19 April	Geelong 16.18 (114)	def.	Sydney 10.12 (72)	Skilled Stadium (crowd: 24,368)	Report
Saturday, 19 April	Adelaide 12.16 (88)	def.	Fremantle 10.11 (71)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 39,554)	Report
Saturday, 19 April	Brisbane Lions 17.16 (118)	def. by	Hawthorn 19.16 (130)	The Gabba (crowd: 30,019)	Report
Saturday, 19 April	Collingwood 15.15 (105)	def. by	North Melbourne 16.16 (112)	MCG (crowd: 51,990)	Report
Sunday, 20 April	Melbourne 9.14 (68)	def. by	Carlton 15.11 (101)	MCG (crowd: 44,759)	Report
Sunday, 20 April	Western Bulldogs 19.16 (130)	drew with	Richmond 20.10 (130)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 37,767)	Report
Sunday, 20 April	West Coast 16.8 (104)	def. by	Port Adelaide 19.14 (128)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 38,302)	Report

Round 6

	Round 6 (ANZAC Round)
Friday, 25 April	Collingwood 23.16 (154)	def.	Essendon 12.9 (81)	MCG (crowd: 88,999)	Report
Friday, 25 April	Fremantle 13.10 (88)	def. by	Geelong 13.11 (89)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 38,022)	Report [ dead link ]
Saturday, 26 April	Carlton 11.15 (81)	def. by	Adelaide 16.15 (111)	MCG (crowd: 41,033)	Report
Saturday, 26 April	Western Bulldogs 20.14 (134)	def.	West Coast 11.8 (74)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 29,927)	Report
Saturday, 26 April	Port Adelaide 12.10 (82)	def.	St Kilda 9.7 (61)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 20,517)	Report
Sunday, 27 April	Brisbane Lions 19.23 (137)	def.	Melbourne 13.7 (85)	The Gabba (crowd: 22,878)	Report
Sunday, 27 April	North Melbourne 9.10 (64)	drew with	Sydney 8.16 (64)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 28,392)	Report
Sunday, 27 April	Hawthorn 14.22 (106)	def.	Richmond 15.4 (94)	MCG (crowd: 46,076)	Report

Round 7

	Round 7
Friday, 2 May	West Coast 10.14 (74)	def. by	Carlton 17.9 (111)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 41,254)	Report [ dead link ]
Saturday, 3 May	Geelong 15.15 (105)	def.	Brisbane Lions 11.12 (78)	Skilled Stadium (crowd: 23,388)	Report
Saturday, 3 May	Hawthorn 24.10 (154)	def.	Collingwood 13.11 (89)	MCG (crowd: 76,048)	Report
Saturday, 3 May	Richmond 16.11 (107)	def. by	St Kilda 17.8 (110)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 40,585)	Report [ dead link ]
Saturday, 3 May	Adelaide 15.17 (107)	def.	North Melbourne 11.8 (74)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 41,898)	Report
Sunday, 4 May	Sydney 14.10 (94)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 18.4 (112)	SCG (crowd: 29,018)	Report
Sunday, 4 May	Melbourne 17.17 (119)	def.	Fremantle 15.23 (113)	MCG (crowd: 19,423)	Report
Sunday, 4 May	Essendon 15.4 (94)	def. by	Port Adelaide 24.14 (158)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 28,409)	Report

AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match

Main article: AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match

	AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match
Saturday, 10 May	Victoria 21.11 (137)	def.	Dream Team 18.12 (120)	MCG (crowd: 69,294)	Report

Round 8

	Round 8
Friday, 16 May	St Kilda 14.10 (94)	def. by	Collingwood 16.7 (103)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 48,417)	Report
Saturday, 17 May	Hawthorn 17.15 (117)	def.	Port Adelaide 15.12 (102)	Aurora Stadium (crowd: 15,682)	Report
Saturday, 17 May	Richmond 10.9 (69)	def. by	Geelong 14.15 (99)	MCG (crowd: 37,275)	Report
Saturday, 17 May	Carlton 12.20 (92)	def. by	Brisbane Lions 18.17 (125)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 38,675)	Report
Saturday, 17 May	North Melbourne 13.11 (89)	def.	West Coast 12.11 (83)	Gold Coast Stadium (crowd: 6,354)	Report
Sunday, 18 May	Adelaide 22.18 (150)	def.	Melbourne 11.8 (74)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 35,649)	Report
Sunday, 18 May	Sydney 21.17 (143)	def.	Essendon 7.10 (52)	ANZ Stadium (crowd: 34,904)	Report
Sunday, 18 May	Fremantle 17.9 (111)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 17.12 (114)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 35,624)	Report

Round 9

	Round 9 (Indigenous Round)
Friday, 23 May	Collingwood 20.14 (134)	def.	Geelong 7.6 (48)	MCG (crowd: 78,206)	Report
Saturday, 24 May	Carlton 14.13 (97)	def.	Fremantle 14.4 (88)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 28,955)	Report
Saturday, 24 May	Port Adelaide 14.10 (94)	def. by	Sydney 16.9 (105)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 25,013)	Report
Saturday, 24 May	Essendon 10.12 (72)	def. by	Richmond 16.14 (110)	MCG (crowd: 60,333)	Report
Saturday, 24 May	West Coast 14.13 (97)	def.	Adelaide 5.17 (47)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 35,348)	Report
Sunday, 25 May	Brisbane Lions 21.15 (141)	def.	St Kilda 14.11 (95)	The Gabba (crowd: 27,566)	Report
Sunday, 25 May	Melbourne 12.6 (78)	def. by	Hawthorn 14.13 (97)	MCG (crowd: 41,341)	Report
Sunday, 25 May	Western Bulldogs 16.14 (110)	def. by	North Melbourne 16.17 (113)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 35,471)	Report

Round 10

	Round 10
Friday, 30 May	Adelaide 9.20 (74)	def.	Essendon 10.9 (69)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 41,897)	Report
Saturday, 31 May	Collingwood 27.11 (173)	def.	West Coast 10.13 (73)	MCG (crowd: 52,968)	Report [ dead link ]
Saturday, 31 May	Hawthorn 12.2 (74)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 15.16 (106)	Aurora Stadium (crowd: 19,378)	Report
Saturday, 31 May	Brisbane Lions 18.21 (129)	def.	North Melbourne 15.8 (98)	The Gabba (crowd: 22,118)	Report
Saturday, 31 May	Geelong 19.19 (133)	def.	Carlton 12.5 (77)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 46,231)	Report
Sunday, 1 June	Sydney 21.13 (139)	def.	Richmond 8.9 (57)	SCG (crowd: 26,852)	Report
Sunday, 1 June	St Kilda 19.15 (129)	def.	Melbourne 7.8 (50)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 27,854)	Report
Sunday, 1 June	Fremantle 10.15 (75)	def. by	Port Adelaide 16.7 (103)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 34,236)	Report

Round 11

	Round 11 (Queens Birthday)
Friday, 6 June	North Melbourne 17.12 (114)	def. by	Geelong 19.13 (127)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 38,373)	Report
Saturday, 7 June	Richmond 14.12 (96)	def. by	Adelaide 22.14 (146)	MCG (crowd: 32,767)	Report
Saturday, 7 June	Essendon 12.7 (79)	def. by	Hawthorn 19.16 (130)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 46,377)	Report
Saturday, 7 June	West Coast 11.12 (78)	def. by	Sydney 12.11 (83)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 38,802)	Report
Sunday, 8 June	Brisbane Lions 14.12 (96)	def.	Fremantle 10.14 (74)	The Gabba (crowd: 24,506)	Report
Sunday, 8 June	St Kilda 11.13 (79)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 15.16 (106)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 38,914)	Report
Sunday, 8 June	Port Adelaide 8.15 (63)	def. by	Carlton 10.15 (75)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 29,240)	Report
Monday, 9 June	Melbourne 13.17 (95)	def. by	Collingwood 17.14 (116)	MCG (crowd: 59,548)	Report

Round 12

	Round 12
Friday, 13 June	Essendon 16.17 (113)	def.	West Coast 13.13 (91)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 33,386)	Report
Saturday, 14 June	Western Bulldogs 19.17 (131)	def.	Brisbane Lions 10.8 (68)	MCG (crowd: 39,320)	Report
Saturday, 14 June	Fremantle 18.12 (120)	def.	North Melbourne 9.13 (67)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 34,105)	Report
Saturday, 14 June	Sydney 14.18 (102)	def.	St Kilda 9.13 (67)	SCG (crowd: 25,996)	Report
Saturday, 14 June	Adelaide 10.12 (72)	def. by	Hawthorn 11.10 (76)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 44,559)	Report [ dead link ]
Sunday, 15 June	Geelong 15.18 (108)	def.	Port Adelaide 7.7 (49)	Skilled Stadium (crowd: 21,642)	Report
Sunday, 15 June	Collingwood 12.17 (89)	def. by	Carlton 17.17 (119)	MCG (crowd: 80,310)	Report
Sunday, 15 June	Richmond 16.20 (116)	def.	Melbourne 14.10 (94)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 27,348)	Report

Round 13

	Round 13
Friday, 20 June	St Kilda 10.5 (65)	def.	Fremantle 8.9 (57)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 22,440)	Report
Saturday, 21 June	Hawthorn 10.16 (76)	def. by	North Melbourne 15.13 (103)	MCG (crowd: 42,508)	Report
Saturday, 21 June	Port Adelaide 19.9 (123)	def. by	Richmond 20.7 (127)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 20,923)	Report
Saturday, 21 June	Brisbane Lions 11.17 (83)	def.	Adelaide 10.10 (70)	The Gabba (crowd: 29,964)	Report
Saturday, 21 June	West Coast 5.17 (47)	def. by	Geelong 28.14 (182)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 38,414)	Report
Sunday, 22 June	Melbourne 11.8 (74)	def. by	Sydney 17.12 (114)	Manuka Oval (crowd: 11,437)	Report
Sunday, 22 June	Carlton 15.11 (101)	def. by	Essendon 20.16 (136)	MCG (crowd: 59,177)	Report
Sunday, 22 June	Collingwood 13.11 (89)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 15.9 (99)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 44,885)	Report

Round 14

	Round 14 (Split Round)
Friday, 27 June	Hawthorn 18.18 (126)	def.	West Coast 9.15 (69)	MCG (crowd: 29,138)	Report
Saturday, 28 June	Richmond 12.16 (88)	def. by	Carlton 17.16 (118)	MCG (crowd: 73,503)	Report
Saturday, 28 June	North Melbourne 9.15 (69)	def. by	St Kilda 12.12 (84)	Gold Coast Stadium (crowd: 9,128)	Report
Saturday, 28 June	Western Bulldogs 20.15 (135)	def.	Port Adelaide 11.15 (81)	TIO Stadium (crowd: 11,373)	Report
Sunday, 29 June	Melbourne 14.9 (93)	def.	Brisbane Lions 13.14 (92)	MCG (crowd: 23,278)	Report
Sunday, 29 June	Fremantle 13.13 (91)	def. by	Essendon 14.11 (95)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 34,239)	Report
Friday, 4 July	Adelaide 8.8 (56)	def. by	Geelong 18.16 (124)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 44,377)	Report [ dead link ]
Saturday, 5 July	Sydney 6.14 (50)	def. by	Collingwood 11.13 (79)	ANZ Stadium (crowd: 59,202)	Report

Round 15

	Round 15
Friday, 11 July	Carlton 12.15 (87)	def. by	St Kilda 18.11 (119)	MCG (crowd: 55,658)	Report
Saturday, 12 July	Collingwood 15.16 (106)	def.	Adelaide 11.8 (74)	MCG (crowd: 52,592)	Report
Saturday, 12 July	Geelong 18.10 (118)	def.	Fremantle 6.8 (44)	Skilled Stadium (crowd: 21,286)	Report
Saturday, 12 July	Essendon 24.11 (155)	def.	Brisbane Lions 18.10 (118)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 40,053)	Report
Saturday, 12 July	Port Adelaide 10.14 (74)	def. by	North Melbourne 10.16 (76)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 19,851)	Report
Sunday, 13 July	Hawthorn 15.16 (106)	def.	Sydney 10.15 (75)	MCG (crowd: 49,529)	Report
Sunday, 13 July	Western Bulldogs 14.11 (95)	def.	Melbourne 9.10 (64)	Telstra Dome (crowd: 27,446)	Report
Sunday, 13 July	West Coast 11.9 (75)	def. by	Richmond 24.8 (152)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 37,085)	Report

Round 16

Home team	Home team score	Away team	Away team score	Ground	Crowd	Date	Report
North Melbourne	17.12 (114)	Collingwood	14.12 (96)	Telstra Dome	46,610	Friday, 18 July	AFL.com.au
Geelong	19.17 (131)	Western Bulldogs	10.10 (70)	Skilled Stadium	24,801	Saturday, 19 July	AFL.com.au
Richmond	16.12 (108)	Essendon	15.14 (104)	MCG	56,746	Saturday, 19 July	AFL.com.au
Brisbane Lions	17.11 (113)	West Coast	9.13 (67)	The Gabba	27,784	Saturday, 19 July	AFL.com.au
St Kilda	18.11 (119)	Hawthorn	13.11 (89)	Telstra Dome	41,886	Saturday, 19 July	AFL.com.au
Carlton	18.11 (119)	Sydney	18.13 (121)	Telstra Dome	38,401	Sunday, 20 July	AFL.com.au
Port Adelaide	13.14 (92)	Adelaide	11.14 (80)	AAMI Stadium	31,662	Sunday, 20 July	AFL.com.au
Fremantle	16.18 (114)	Melbourne	10.8 (68)	Subiaco	31,638	Sunday, 20 July	AFL.com.au

Round 17

Home team	Home team score	Away team	Away team score	Ground	Crowd	Date	Report
Hawthorn	11.11 (77)	Geelong	12.16 (88)	MCG	86,179	Friday, 25 July	AFL.com.au
Essendon	19.14 (128)	Collingwood	11.14 (80)	MCG	64,785	Saturday, 26 July	AFL.com.au
West Coast	15.13 (103)	St Kilda	12.14 (86)	Subiaco	34,037	Saturday, 26 July	AFL.com.au
Richmond	18.9 (117)	Brisbane Lions	16.18 (114)	Telstra Dome	31,275	Saturday, 26 July	AFL.com.au
Sydney	6.17 (53)	Adelaide	11.11 (77)	SCG	26,260	Saturday, 26 July	AFL.com.au
Port Adelaide	15.11 (101)	Fremantle	20.9 (129)	AAMI Stadium	19,072	Sunday, 27 July	AFL.com.au
Melbourne	10.10 (70)	North Melbourne	14.14 (98)	MCG	21,330	Sunday, 27 July	AFL.com.au
Western Bulldogs	15.8 (98)	Carlton	18.18 (126)	Telstra Dome	37,879	Sunday, 27 July	AFL.com.au

Round 18

Home team	Home team score	Away team	Away team score	Ground	Crowd	Date	Report
Collingwood	8.14 (62)	Hawthorn	17.14 (116)	MCG	58,307	Friday, 1 August	AFL.com.au
Essendon	19.10 (124)	Melbourne	17.6 (108)	MCG	46,334	Saturday, 2 August	AFL.com.au
Adelaide	13.16 (94)	Carlton	12.14 (86)	AAMI Stadium	40,730	Saturday, 2 August	AFL.com.au
Geelong	20.14 (134)	Richmond	10.11 (71)	Telstra Dome	42,238	Saturday, 2 August	AFL.com.au
North Melbourne	13.14 (92)	Brisbane Lions	11.18 (84)	Gold Coast Stadium	10,037	Saturday, 2 August	AFL.com.au
Western Bulldogs	17.11 (113)	Sydney	14.13 (97)	Manuka Oval	13,550	Sunday, 3 August	AFL.com.au
St Kilda	14.17 (101)	Port Adelaide	14.9 (93)	Telstra Dome	22,878	Sunday, 3 August	AFL.com.au
Fremantle	17.14 (116)	West Coast	12.11 (83)	Subiaco	42,096	Sunday, 3 August	AFL.com.au

Round 19

Home team	Home team score	Away team	Away team score	Ground	Crowd	Date	Report
Melbourne	5.11 (41)	Geelong	24.13 (157)	MCG	34,610	Friday, 8 August	AFL.com.au [ dead link ]
Carlton	18.24 (132)	Port Adelaide	9.12 (66)	Telstra Dome	29,696	Saturday, 9 August	AFL.com.au
Hawthorn	16.14 (110)	Brisbane Lions	5.11 (41)	Aurora Stadium	19,929	Saturday, 9 August	AFL.com.au
Collingwood	14.13 (97)	St Kilda	12.11 (83)	MCG	52,135	Saturday, 9 August	AFL.com.au
Sydney	17.10 (112)	Fremantle	15.18 (108)	SCG	20,846	Saturday, 9 August	AFL.com.au
North Melbourne	21.10 (136)	Western Bulldogs	18.8 (116)	Telstra Dome	31,957	Sunday, 10 August	AFL.com.au
Adelaide	16.12 (108)	Richmond	6.9 (45)	AAMI Stadium	37,562	Sunday, 10 August	AFL.com.au
West Coast	17.11 (113)	Essendon	16.7 (103)	Subiaco	35,288	Sunday, 10 August	AFL.com.au

Round 20

Home team	Home team score	Away team	Away team score	Ground	Crowd	Date	Report
Port Adelaide	10.15 (75)	Collingwood	16.10 (106)	AAMI Stadium	23,694	Friday, 15 August	AFL.com.au [ dead link ]
Essendon	10.13 (73)	Adelaide	19.15 (129)	Telstra Dome	32,184	Saturday, 16 August	AFL.com.au
Melbourne	11.13 (79)	West Coast	5.15 (45)	MCG	17,958	Saturday, 16 August	AFL.com.au
Brisbane Lions	13.12 (90)	Western Bulldogs	10.19 (79)	The Gabba	27,315	Saturday, 16 August	AFL.com.au [ dead link ]
Sydney	14.10 (94)	Geelong	20.13 (133)	ANZ Stadium	44,955	Saturday, 16 August	AFL.com.au
Richmond	16.9 (105)	Hawthorn	10.16 (76)	MCG	44,523	Sunday, 17 August	AFL.com.au
Carlton	14.6 (90)	North Melbourne	22.9 (141)	Telstra Dome	43,406	Sunday, 17 August	AFL.com.au
Fremantle	9.15 (69)	St Kilda	17.10 (112)	Subiaco	34,014	Sunday, 17 August	AFL.com.au

Round 21

Home team	Home team score	Away team	Away team score	Ground	Crowd	Date	Report
Western Bulldogs	23.13 (151)	Essendon	15.15 (105)	Telstra Dome	37,294	Friday, 22 August	AFL.com.au
Richmond	15.15 (105)	Fremantle	15.8 (98)	MCG	24,881	Saturday, 23 August	AFL.com.au
Port Adelaide	18.21 (129)	Melbourne	7.9 (51)	AAMI Stadium	18,875	Saturday, 23 August	AFL.com.au
Brisbane Lions	16.13 (109)	Carlton	18.7 (115)	The Gabba	34,327	Saturday, 23 August	AFL.com.au
Collingwood	18.10 (118)	Sydney	10.13 (73)	Telstra Dome	45,507	Saturday, 23 August	AFL.com.au
Geelong	17.13 (115)	North Melbourne	13.4 (82)	Skilled Stadium	24,288	Sunday, 24 August	AFL.com.au
St Kilda	13.17 (95)	Adelaide	6.11 (47)	Telstra Dome	33,811	Sunday, 24 August	AFL.com.au
West Coast	9.8 (62)	Hawthorn	19.19 (133)	Subiaco	37,040	Sunday, 24 August	AFL.com.au

Round 22

Home team	Home team score	Away team	Away team score	Ground	Crowd	Date	Report
Fremantle	12.8 (80)	Collingwood	8.8 (56)	Subiaco	35,106	Friday, 29 August	AFL.com.au
North Melbourne	10.12 (72)	Port Adelaide	23.10 (148)	MCG	22,144	Saturday, 30 August	AFL.com.au
Geelong	24.20 (164)	West Coast	10.5 (65)	Skilled Stadium	21,752	Saturday, 30 August	AFL.com.au
Adelaide	10.16 (76)	Western Bulldogs	9.13 (67)	AAMI Stadium	37,545	Saturday, 30 August	AFL.com.au
Carlton	12.9 (81)	Hawthorn	24.15 (159)	Telstra Dome	49,057	Saturday, 30 August	AFL.com.au
Sydney	17.12 (114)	Brisbane Lions	6.17 (53)	SCG	24,076	Saturday, 30 August	AFL.com.au
Melbourne	6.5 (41)	Richmond	18.13 (121)	MCG	37,046	Sunday, 31 August	AFL.com.au
Essendon	5.9 (39)	St Kilda	21.21 (147)	Telstra Dome	46,161	Sunday, 31 August	AFL.com.au

Win/loss table

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	F1	F2	F3	GF	Ladder
Adelaide	WB -3	WCE +76	PA +6	Haw -44	Frem +17	Carl +30	NM +33	Melb +76	WCE -50	Ess +5	Rich +50	Haw -4	BL -13	Geel -68	Coll -32	PA -12	Syd +24	Carl +8	Rich +63	Ess +56	StK -48	WB +9	Coll -31	X	X	X	5
Brisbane Lions	WCE -16	Coll +2	Syd -17	PA +20	Haw -12	Melb +52	Geel -27	Carl +33	StK +46	NM +31	Frem +22	WB -63	Adel +13	Melb -1	Ess -37	WCE +46	Rich -3	NM -8	Haw -69	WB +11	Carl -6	Syd -61	X	X	X	X	10
Carlton	Rich -20	StK -40	Ess -16	Coll +23	Melb +33	Adel -30	WCE +37	BL -33	Frem +9	Geel -56	PA +12	Coll +30	Ess -35	Rich +30	StK -32	Syd -2	WB +28	Adel -8	PA +66	NM -51	BL +6	Haw -78	X	X	X	X	11
Collingwood	Frem +26	BL -2	Rich +44	Carl -23	NM -7	Ess +73	Haw +65	StK +9	Geel +86	WCE +100	Melb +21	Carl -30	WB -10	Syd +29	Adel +32	NM -18	Ess -48	Haw -54	StK +14	PA +31	Syd +45	Frem -24	Adel +31	StK -34	X	X	8
Essendon	NM +55	Geel -99	Carl +16	WB -30	StK -36	Coll -73	PA -64	Syd -91	Rich -38	Adel -5	Haw -51	WCE +22	Carl +35	Frem +4	BL +37	Rich -4	Coll +48	Melb +16	WCE -10	Adel -56	WB -46	StK -108	X	X	X	X	12
Fremantle	Coll -26	Haw -15	WCE +14	Rich -64	Adel -17	Geel -1	Melb -6	WB -3	Carl -9	PA -28	BL -24	NM +53	StK -8	Ess -4	Geel -74	Melb +46	PA +28	WCE +33	Syd -4	StK -43	Rich -7	Coll +24	X	X	X	X	14
Geelong	PA +9	Ess +99	Melb +30	StK +42	Syd +42	Frem +1	BL +27	Rich +30	Coll -86	Carl +56	NM +13	PA +59	WCE +135	Adel +68	Frem +74	WB +61	Haw +11	Rich +63	Melb +116	Syd +39	NM +33	WCE +99	StK +58	X	WB +29	Haw -26	1
Hawthorn	Melb +104	Frem +15	NM +16	Adel +44	BL +12	Rich +12	Coll +65	PA +15	Melb +19	WB -32	Ess +51	Adel +4	NM -27	WCE +57	Syd +31	StK -30	Geel -11	Coll +54	BL +69	Rich -29	WCE +71	Carl +78	WB +51	X	StK +54	Geel +26	2
Melbourne	Haw -104	WB -95	Geel -30	NM -48	Carl -33	BL -53	Frem +6	Adel -76	Haw -19	StK -79	Coll -21	Rich -22	Syd -40	BL +1	WB -31	Frem -46	NM -28	Ess -16	Geel -116	WCE +34	PA -78	Rich -80	X	X	X	X	16
North Melbourne	Ess -55	Rich +41	Haw -16	Melb +48	Coll +7	Syd 0	Adel -33	WCE +6	WB +3	BL -31	Geel -13	Frem -53	Haw +27	StK -15	PA +2	Coll +18	Melb +28	BL +8	WB +20	Carl +51	Geel -33	PA -76	Syd -35	X	X	X	7
Port Adelaide	Geel -9	Syd -68	Adel -6	BL -20	WCE +24	StK +21	Ess +64	Haw -15	Syd -11	Frem +28	Carl -12	Geel -59	Rich -4	WB -54	NM -2	Adel +12	Frem -28	StK -8	Carl -66	Coll -31	Melb +78	NM +76	X	X	X	X	13
Richmond	Carl +30	NM -41	Coll -44	Frem +64	WB 0	Haw -12	StK -3	Geel -30	Ess +38	Syd -82	Adel -50	Melb +22	PA +4	Carl -30	WCE +77	Ess +4	BL +3	Geel -63	Adel -63	Haw +29	Frem +7	Melb +80	X	X	X	X	9
St Kilda	Syd +2	Carl +40	WB -38	Geel -42	Ess +36	PA -21	Rich +3	Coll -9	BL -46	Melb +79	WB -27	Syd -35	Frem +8	NM +15	Carl +32	Haw +30	WCE -17	PA +8	Coll -14	Frem +43	Adel +48	Ess +108	Geel -58	Coll +34	Haw -54	X	4
Sydney	StK -2	PA +68	BL +17	WCE +62	Geel -42	NM 0	WB -18	Ess +91	PA +11	Rich +82	WCE +5	StK +35	Melb +40	Coll -29	Haw -31	Carl +2	Adel -24	WB -16	Frem +4	Geel -39	Coll -45	BL +61	NM +35	WB -37	X	X	6
West Coast	BL +16	Adel -76	Frem -14	Syd -62	PA -24	WB -60	Carl -37	NM -6	Adel +50	Coll -100	Syd -5	Ess -22	Geel -135	Haw -57	Rich -77	BL -46	StK +17	Frem -33	Ess +10	Melb -34	Haw -71	Geel -99	X	X	X	X	15
Western Bulldogs	Adel +3	Melb +95	StK +38	Ess +30	Rich 0	WCE +60	Syd +18	Frem +3	NM -3	Haw +32	StK +27	BL +63	Coll +10	PA +54	Melb +31	Geel -61	Carl -28	Syd +16	NM -20	BL -11	Ess +46	Adel -9	Haw -51	Syd +37	Geel -29	X	3
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	F1	F2	F3	GF	Ladder

+	Win		Qualified for finals
-	Loss	X	Bye
	Draw		Eliminated

Bold – Home game

Ladder

2008 AFL ladder

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	PP	Pts
1	Geelong	22	21	1	0	2672	1651	161.8	84	Finals series
2	Hawthorn (P)	22	17	5	0	2434	1846	131.9	68
3	Western Bulldogs	22	15	6	1	2506	2112	118.7	62
4	St Kilda	22	13	9	0	2126	1923	110.6	52
5	Adelaide	22	13	9	0	2017	1838	109.7	52
6	Sydney	22	12	9	1	2095	1863	112.5	50
7	North Melbourne	22	12	9	1	2121	2187	97.0	50
8	Collingwood	22	12	10	0	2267	2038	111.2	48
9	Richmond	22	11	10	1	2228	2288	97.4	46
10	Brisbane	22	10	12	0	2156	2200	98.0	40
11	Carlton	22	10	12	0	2217	2354	94.2	40
12	Essendon	22	8	14	0	2130	2608	81.7	32
13	Port Adelaide	22	7	15	0	2118	2208	95.9	28
14	Fremantle	22	6	16	0	1988	2121	93.7	24
15	West Coast	22	4	18	0	1670	2535	65.9	16
16	Melbourne	22	3	19	0	1629	2602	62.6	12

Source: AFL ladder
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Ladder progression

  Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 8.

  Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.

  Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round.

Team ╲ Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
Geelong	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84
Hawthorn	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	36	40	44	44	48	52	52	52	56	60	60	64	68
Western Bulldogs	4	8	12	16	18	22	26	30	30	34	38	42	46	50	54	54	54	58	58	58	62	62
St Kilda	4	8	8	8	12	12	16	16	16	20	20	20	24	28	32	36	36	40	40	44	48	52
Adelaide	0	4	8	8	12	16	20	24	24	28	32	32	32	32	32	32	36	40	44	48	48	52
Sydney	0	4	8	12	12	14	14	18	22	26	30	34	38	38	38	42	42	42	46	46	46	50
North Melbourne	0	4	4	8	12	14	14	18	22	22	22	22	26	26	30	34	38	42	46	50	50	50
Collingwood	4	4	8	8	8	12	12	16	20	24	28	28	28	32	36	36	36	36	40	44	48	48
Richmond	4	4	4	8	10	10	10	10	14	14	14	18	22	22	26	30	34	34	34	38	42	46
Brisbane Lions	0	4	4	8	8	12	12	16	20	24	28	28	32	32	32	36	36	36	36	40	40	40
Carlton	0	0	0	4	8	8	12	12	16	16	20	24	24	28	28	28	32	32	36	36	40	40
Essendon	4	4	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	12	16	20	24	24	28	32	32	32	32	32
Port Adelaide	0	0	0	0	4	8	12	12	12	16	16	16	16	16	16	20	20	20	20	20	24	28
Fremantle	0	0	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	8	8	8	8	12	16	20	20	20	20	24
West Coast	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	12	12	16	16	16	16
Melbourne	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	8	8	8	8	8	8	12	12	12

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

Finals series

Main article: 2008 AFL finals series

	Qualifying and elimination finals					Semi-finals						Preliminary finals					Grand Final
	Sep 7, MCG
	1	Geelong	17.17 (119)
	4	St Kilda	8.13 (61)			Sep 13, MCG
						St Kilda		17.4 (106)
	Sep 6, AAMI Stadium					Collingwood		9.18 (72)				Sep 19, MCG
	5	Adelaide	14.10 (94)									Geelong		12.11 (83)
	8	Collingwood	19.11 (125)									Western Bulldogs		7.12 (54)			Sep 27, MCG
																	Geelong		11.23 (89)
	Sep 6, ANZ Stadium											Sep 20, MCG					Hawthorn		18.7 (115)
	6	Sydney	17.8 (110)									Hawthorn		18.10 (118)
	7	North Melbourne	11.9 (75)			Sep 12, MCG						St Kilda		9.10 (64)
						Western Bulldogs		16.10 (106)
	Sep 5, MCG					Sydney		9.15 (69)
	2	Hawthorn	18.19 (127)
	3	Western Bulldogs	11.10 (76)

Week one

	Qualifying finals
QF2: Friday, 5 September	Hawthorn 18.19 (127)	def.	Western Bulldogs 11.10 (76)	MCG (crowd: 76,703)
QF1: Sunday, 7 September	Geelong 17.17 (119)	def.	St Kilda 8.13 (61)	MCG (crowd: 71,653)

	Elimination finals
EF1: Saturday, 6 September	Adelaide 14.10 (94)	def. by	Collingwood 19.11 (125)	AAMI Stadium (crowd: 37,685)
EF2: Saturday, 6 September	Sydney 17.8 (110)	def.	North Melbourne 11.9 (75)	ANZ Stadium (crowd: 19,127)

Week two

	Semi-finals
SF2: Friday, 12 September Seven Network	Western Bulldogs 16.10 (106)	def.	Sydney 9.15 (69)	MCG (crowd: 42,731)
SF1: Saturday, 13 September Network Ten	St Kilda 17.4 (106)	def.	Collingwood 9.18 (72)	MCG (crowd: 76,707)

Week three

	Preliminary finals
PF1: Friday, 19 September Seven Network	Geelong 12.11 (83)	def.	Western Bulldogs 7.12 (54)	MCG (crowd: 70,143)
PF2: Saturday, 20 September Network Ten	Hawthorn 18.10 (118)	def.	St Kilda 9.10 (64)	MCG (crowd: 77,002)

Week four

Main article: 2008 AFL Grand Final

	Grand Final
GF: Saturday, 27 September Seven Network	Geelong 11.23 (89)	def. by	Hawthorn 18.7 (115)	MCG (crowd: 100,012)

Statistics

Leading goalkickers

^{updated after grand final}

The Coleman Medal was awarded to Lance Franklin for kicking the most goals at the end of the home and away season.

	Player	Club	Games	Goals			Best Performance
				Season	Finals	Total	Goals	Opponent(s)	Round(s)
1	Lance Franklin	Hawthorn	25	102	11	113	9	Essendon	11
2	Brendan Fevola	Carlton	22	99	–	99	8	Essendon, Collingwood	3, 11
3	Daniel Bradshaw	Brisbane Lions	20	75	–	75	7	Hawthorn	5
4	Jarryd Roughead	Hawthorn	24	66	9	75	6	Collingwood, West Coast	7, 14
5	Jonathan Brown	Brisbane Lions	21	70	–	70	6	Carlton, St Kilda, North Melbourne	8, 9, 10
6	Matthew Pavlich	Fremantle	19	67	–	67	8	North Melbourne	12
7	Nick Riewoldt	St Kilda	24	56	9	65	6	Hawthorn	16
8	Matthew Lloyd	Essendon	21	62	–	62	8	Melbourne	18
9	Stephen Milne	St Kilda	24	54	6	60	7	Richmond, Essendon	7, 22
10	Daniel Motlop	Port Adelaide	21	57	–	57	7	Essendon	7

Disposals

Rank	Player	Team	Total
1	Joel Corey	Geelong	730
2	Jimmy Bartel	Geelong	702
3	Sam Mitchell	Hawthorn	667
4	Daniel Cross	Western Bulldogs	663
5	Adam Cooney	Western Bulldogs	637
6	Matthew Boyd	Western Bulldogs	629
7	Kane Cornes	Port Adelaide	613
8	Joel Selwood	Geelong	607
9	Gary Ablett, Jr.	Geelong	606
10	Dane Swan	Collingwood	590

Kicks

Rank	Player	Team	Total
1	Leigh Montagna	St Kilda	388
2	Jimmy Bartel	Geelong	382
3	Dane Swan	Collingwood	368
4	Sam Fisher	St Kilda	359
5	Lindsay Gilbee	Western Bulldogs	352
6	Brent Harvey	North Melbourne	339
7	Joel Corey	Geelong	339
7	Brendon Goddard	St Kilda	337
9	Nick Dal Santo	St Kilda	336
10	Marc Murphy	Carlton	335

Handballs

Rank	Player	Team	Total
1	Daniel Cross	Western Bulldogs	422
2	Joel Corey	Geelong	391
3	Sam Mitchell	Hawthorn	354
4	Kane Cornes	Port Adelaide	345
5	Adam Cooney	Western Bulldogs	326
6	Joel Selwood	Geelong	324
7	Lenny Hayes	St Kilda	322
8	Jimmy Bartel	Geelong	320
9	Shane Tuck	Richmond	318
10	Gary Ablett, Jr.	Geelong	318

Marks

Rank	Player	Team	Total
1	Nick Riewoldt	St Kilda	240
2	Samuel Fisher	St Kilda	228
3	Matthew Richardson	Richmond	220
4	Robert Murphy	Western Bulldogs	204
5	Cameron Mooney	Geelong	201
6	Brendon Goddard	St Kilda	182
7	Paul Medhurst	Collingwood	179
8	Brian Lake	Western Bulldogs	175
9	Brad Johnson	Western Bulldogs	172
10	Clinton Young	Hawthorn	172

Tackles

Rank	Player	Team	Total
1	Brett Kirk	Sydney	151
2	Lenny Hayes	St Kilda	144
3	Jude Bolton	Sydney	143
4	Joel Corey	Geelong	138
5	Domenic Cassisi	Port Adelaide	133
6	Jimmy Bartel	Geelong	124
7	Daniel Cross	Western Bulldogs	117
8	Martin Mattner	Sydney	126
9	James Kelly	Geelong	112
10	Daniel Harris	North Melbourne	109

Hitouts

Rank	Player	Team	Total
1	Aaron Sandilands	Fremantle	646
2	Dean Cox	West Coast	571
3	Darren Jolly	Sydney	543
4	Mark Blake	Geelong	525
5	Jamie Charman	Brisbane Lions	434
6	Steven King	St Kilda	408
7	Dean Brogan	Port Adelaide	397
8	David Hille	Essendon	364
9	Troy Simmonds	Richmond	359
10	Robert Campbell	Hawthorn	358

Awards

• The 2008 Brownlow Medal for the AFL's fairest and best player was awarded to Adam Cooney , of the Western Bulldogs, who polled 24 votes.
• The Leigh Matthews Trophy as the AFL's most valuable player was awarded to Gary Ablett, Jr. , of Geelong.
• The Coleman Medal was awarded to Lance Franklin of Hawthorn, who kicked 102 goals during the home and away season.
• The Norm Smith Medal as the player adjudged best afield in the AFL Grand Final was awarded to Luke Hodge , of Hawthorn.
• The McClelland Trophy was awarded to Geelong for holding top position on the ladder after 22 rounds. ^[2]
• The Wooden Spoon was obtained by Melbourne who finished the season in last place on the ladder after 22 rounds.
• Chris Judd from Carlton was named the captain of the 2008 All-Australian Team , with seven Geelong players named and nine players made their All-Australian debuts. ^[3]
• The AFL Mark of the Year and Alex Jesaulenko Medal was awarded to Matthew Lloyd of Essendon for a spectacular high mark against Melbourne in round 19. ^[4]
• The AFL Goal of the Year and Phil Manassa Medal was awarded to Leon Davis of Collingwood for his chase, tackle and goal against Fremantle in round 22. ^[4]
• The AFL Army Award was awarded to Brett Deledio for the footballer who displays the most courageous and/or team related act of the season, for running with the flight of the ball to attempt a mark in the final minutes of Richmond's round 7 loss to St Kilda. ^[5]

Coleman Medal

• Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the player led the count in that round.

	Player	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	Total
1	Lance Franklin	6	4	5	6	8	1	6	6	3	5	9	1	1	5	4	3	4	8	6	3	4	4	102
2	Brendan Fevola	2	2	8	7	7	1	4	5	1	3	2	8	7	4	3	5	6	5	4	6	2	7	99
3	Daniel Bradshaw	3	3	5	5	7	6	1	1	6	6	0	-	-	4	4	4	3	5	2	2	6	2	75
4	Jonathan Brown	6	2	1	4	0	2	-	6	6	6	3	3	2	5	5	3	3	5	1	3	4	0	70
5	Matthew Pavlich	1	3	5	3	0	5	5	4	4	1	3	8	5	6	1	5	-	4	1	3	-	-	67
6	Jarryd Roughead	3	4	4	1	1	5	6	3	1	4	3	3	2	6	3	3	2	4	1	0	2	5	66
7	Matthew Lloyd	6	0	4	-	0	3	5	1	4	1	2	2	4	1	4	2	4	8	3	3	4	1	62
8	Daniel Motlop	2	2	2	0	4	3	7	2	2	5	1	3	6	0	1	4	2	2	1	-	5	3	57
9	Nick Riewoldt	2	2	2	3	3	3	1	-	1	1	2	1	3	1	3	6	5	3	2	5	3	4	56
10	Stephen Milne	1	4	2	2	2	0	7	2	2	3	1	1	-	4	5	1	2	1	2	3	2	7	54

Rising Star Nominees

Main article: 2008 AFL Rising Star

The AFL Rising Star award for 2008 was awarded to Rhys Palmer from Fremantle. ^[6]

Club Best and Fairests

Club	Award Name	Winner [7]
Adelaide	Malcolm Blight Medal	Nathan Bock
Brisbane Lions	Merrett–Murray Medal	Jonathan Brown [8]
Carlton	John Nicholls Medal	Chris Judd
Collingwood	Copeland Trophy	Dane Swan
Essendon	Crichton Medal	David Hille
Fremantle	Doig Medal	Matthew Pavlich [9]
Geelong	Carji Greeves Medal	Joel Corey
Hawthorn	Peter Crimmins Medal	Lance Franklin [10]
Melbourne	Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal	Cameron Bruce
North Melbourne	Syd Barker Medal	Brent Harvey
Port Adelaide	John Cahill Medal	Kane Cornes
Richmond	Jack Dyer Medal	Brett Deledio
St Kilda	Trevor Barker Award	Sam Fisher [11]
Sydney	Bob Skilton Medal	Jarrad McVeigh
West Coast	Club Champion Award	Dean Cox
Western Bulldogs	Charles Sutton Medal	Daniel Cross

Notable events

• This was the first season in which Carlton and Richmond faced off in what is now the traditional first clash of the season.

• This was the first season since 1998 in which NMFC competed as "North Melbourne" instead of "Kangaroos", following the end of their decade-long experiment with home-away-from-home venues in Sydney, Canberra and the Gold Coast.
• The Western Bulldogs came back from a 37-point deficit against St Kilda at quarter time to win the game by 38 points, a 75-point turnaround, in round 3.
• The Brisbane Lions produced its biggest ever comeback in round 4 against Port Adelaide when they were down by 47 points late in the third quarter to win by 20 points, a 67-point turnaround.
• Sydney forward Barry Hall was suspended for seven weeks, then the equal-longest suspension handed out since the tribunal was reconfigured to a points-based system in 2005, for striking West Coast defender Brent Staker with a clean punch to the head. Later in the season, Fremantle's Dean Solomon beat that record, being suspended for eight weeks after hitting Geelong's Cameron Ling in the cheekbone with an elbow.
• Melbourne won its first game for the season in round 7 against Fremantle by six points, after recovering from a 50-point half-time deficit, the second-largest half-time deficit ever overcome in VFL/AFL history. ^[12] This was the second in a VFL/AFL-record string of five consecutive games which Fremantle lost after holding a three-quarter time lead.
• West Coast suffered its worst ever loss at Subiaco Oval, and worst loss anywhere since 1989, in round 13, losing to Geelong by 135 points.
• In round 13, Dustin Fletcher (in his 288th game) and his father, Ken (264 games), claimed the record of most VFL/AFL games played by a father-son combination (552 games).
• In round 16, Richmond player Joel Bowden deliberately conceded two behinds directly from the kick-in, to waste time while protecting his team's four-point lead over Essendon. This was a major motivation for the introduction of a rule from 2009 that allows the umpire to give award free kick for a deliberate rushed behind.
• With its final-round victory, Geelong matched Essendon's 2000 record of 21 wins in a home-and-away season. Ironically, Geelong also set the record for the highest average losing margin in a VFL/AFL season, with its only loss coming by 86 points against Collingwood.
• In the round 22 match between Carlton and Hawthorn, Hawthorn forward Lance Franklin became the first player since Tony Lockett in 1998 to kick 100 goals in the home-and-away Season. Franklin became the 28th player in VFL/AFL history to reach this milestone, and the first indigenous player to do so.
• In the same game, Brendan Fevola scored seven second-half goals to fall one goal short of the same milestone, becoming the first person in VFL/AFL history to finish on 99 goals for a season.
• The final game of the home and away season saw the 8th-placed St Kilda requiring a win of 90+ points over Essendon to claim 4th place going into the finals. St Kilda recorded a then-record winning margin over Essendon of 108 points which saw the Saints replace Adelaide in 4th place for the finals series.
• On Monday 1 September, Leigh Matthews announced his resignation from his senior coaching position at the Brisbane Lions. Michael Voss took up this position despite committing to West Coast for 2009.
• The second elimination final between Sydney and North Melbourne was, at the time, the lowest crowd number for a final outside Victoria with only 19,127 despite being at ANZ Stadium where Sydney had averaged 50,000 for finals.
• The Grand Final between Geelong and Hawthorn drew a crowd of 100,012, the first crowd over 100,000 people since the 1986 Grand Final.
• By losing the Grand Final after finishing with a home-and-away record of 21–1, Geelong broke the record set in 1935 and 1936 by South Melbourne (16–2) for best record by a non-premier, and the record for most wins by a non-premier held jointly by Collingwood (1973) and West Coast (1991) (both 19 wins).
• Sydney played in a controversial draw against North Melbourne at Telstra Dome in round 6; it was later revealed that Sydney had nineteen men on the field for a brief period of play before, during and after the behind that tied the scores was scored. ^[13] As a direct consequence of this, the league amended the interchange laws in round 9, appointing interchange stewards to police the players and to signal to the field umpires if an infringement has occurred. Any infringement now results in a free kick being awarded. ^[14]

Club leadership

Club	Coach	Captain(s)	Vice Captain(s)/Leadership Group
Adelaide	Neil Craig	Simon Goodwin [15]	Nathan Bassett, Brett Burton, Tyson Edwards, Ben Rutten and Nathan van Berlo
Brisbane Lions	Leigh Matthews	Simon Black, Jonathan Brown, Nigel Lappin and Luke Power [16]	N/A
Carlton	Brett Ratten	Chris Judd [17]	Nick Stevens (vc), Andrew Carrazzo, Heath Scotland and Kade Simpson [18]
Collingwood	Mick Malthouse	Scott Burns [19]	Josh Fraser (vc), Tarkyn Lockyer, Nick Maxwell and Scott Pendlebury
Essendon	Matthew Knights	Matthew Lloyd	Mark McVeigh and David Hille (vc)
Fremantle	Mark Harvey	Matthew Pavlich	Josh Carr (vc)
Geelong	Mark Thompson	Tom Harley	Cameron Ling (vc), Cameron Mooney (vc), Joel Corey, Paul Chapman and Max Rooke
Hawthorn	Alastair Clarkson	Sam Mitchell [20]	Luke Hodge (vc), Shane Crawford, Chance Bateman and Brad Sewell
Melbourne	Dean Bailey	Cameron Bruce and James McDonald	Brock McLean and Brad Miller [21]
North Melbourne	Dean Laidley	Adam Simpson [22]	Brady Rawlings, Daniel Harris, Michael Firrito, Nathan Thompson, Drew Petrie, Corey Jones, Daniel Pratt and Brent Harvey
Port Adelaide	Mark Williams	Warren Tredrea [23]	Brendon Lade (vc), Chad Cornes (vc), Shaun Burgoyne (vc), Michael Wilson, Kane Cornes and Dom Cassisi
Richmond	Terry Wallace	Kane Johnson	Chris Newman (vc), Nathan Foley (vc), Nathan Brown, Troy Simmonds, Joel Bowden and Kayne Pettifer [24]
St Kilda	Ross Lyon	Nick Riewoldt [25]	Lenny Hayes
Sydney	Paul Roos	Leo Barry, Craig Bolton and Brett Kirk [26]	N/A
West Coast	John Worsfold	Darren Glass [27]	Dean Cox (vc), Tyson Stenglein (vc), Matt Priddis, Ashley Hansen and Adam Selwood [28]
Western Bulldogs	Rodney Eade	Brad Johnson	Scott West, Robert Murphy, Daniel Cross, Daniel Giansiracusa, Matthew Boyd and Dale Morris [29]

Umpires

The AFL introduced an additional two boundary umpires in round 21 in order to reduce the error rate and enable the umpires to keep up with the play. ^[30]

Brett Rosebury was appointed the 2008 All-Australian umpire, the first West Australian umpire to receive that honour. Controversially, however, he was not appointed to umpire the AFL Grand Final, with Scott McLaren, Michael Vozzo and Shaun Ryan selected ahead of Rosebury. ^[31]

Scott McLaren umpired his 300th game, ^[32] and Shane McInerney umpired his 250-game, in round 4. ^[33] Experienced field umpires Martin Ellis and Matthew Head both announced their retirements during the year. ^{[34] [35]}

Coach changes

• Surprising some, Leigh Matthews announced his retirement as coach of the Brisbane Lions two days after their final game of the season in what was replaced as a move to make way for potential coaching candidate, Michael Voss. ^[36]

• Despite being newly signed for two years as assistant coach of West Coast, as expected, former Brisbane Lions captain Michael Voss was appointed as coach of the Brisbane Lions, one day after Leigh Matthews resigned. ^[37]

See also

• 2008 Australian football code crowds

Footnotes

1. "Carrara game moved". Perth Now. 20 December 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
2. Cats demolish Eagles by 99 points Archived 15 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
3. Eagles, Dockers picked for All Australian squad Archived 24 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
4. "Looyd, Davis make their mark". Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
5. Richmond's Deledio wins 2008 Army Award Archived 9 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine
6. "Docker Rhys Palmer wins 2008 Rising Star award". PerthNow. 2 September 2008. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
7. "Club best and fairest results". Realfooty. 5 October 2008. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
8. AAP (5 October 2008). "Brown top Lion". Realfooty. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
9. AAP (5 October 2008). "Pavlich named Dockers' best". Realfooty. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
10. Arup, Thomas (5 October 2008). "Franklin is top Hawk in year of personal and team accolades". Realfooty. Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
11. AAP (5 October 2008). "Fisher voted best Saint". Realfooty. Archived from the original on 8 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
12. AFL Tables – Game Records
13. Roos returns fire on North's reaction ^{[ dead link ]}
14. AFL interchange rules overhauled Archived 9 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine
15. "Goodwin to captain the Crows". AdelaideNow. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
16. "Four co-captains may be enough for Lions". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 February 2008. Archived from the original on 30 March 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
17. "Judd will skipper Blues, Stevens to deputy". AFL.com.au. 19 February 2008. Archived from the original on 30 March 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2008.
18. "Each man will get his chance: Ratten". Ben Broad. 23 January 2008. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2008.
19. "Burns to captain Pies". Sebastian Hassett. 6 March 2008. Archived from the original on 30 March 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2008.
20. "Mitchell to captain Hawks". 7 October 2007. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
21. "Neitz decides to stay as Demon's skipper". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 January 2008. Archived from the original on 18 January 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
22. "North leadership group adds two true Roos". Michael Tormey. 30 January 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2007.
23. "Tredrea to lead Power again". AFL. 12 March 2008. Archived from the original on 29 March 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2008.
24. "Newman ready for the challenge". AFL. 2 November 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2008.
25. "Saints appoint Riewoldt sole skipper". AFL. 12 March 2008. Archived from the original on 13 March 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2008.
26. "Bolton steps up". Herald Sun. Australia. 13 February 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
27. Mic Cullen (9 November 2007). "Glass to captain West Coast" . Retrieved 22 January 2008.^{[ dead link ]}
28. "Embley loses leadership role at Eagles". The Age. Melbourne. 4 December 2007. Archived from the original on 6 January 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
29. "Boyd and Morris take the lead at Bulldogs". Jennifer Witham. 22 January 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2008.^{[ dead link ]}
30. Matthews, Bruce (15 September 2008). "More umpires mean fewer mistakes". Herald Sun. Australia. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
31. "All-Australian umpire axed for decider". The Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 23 September 2008. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
32. "AFL umpire to officiate in 300th match". AAP. 9 April 2008. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
33. "Milestones 2008". AFLUA. 20 September 2008. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
34. Morrison, Joel (2 September 2008). "Ellis calls it a day". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
35. Morrison, Joel (2 September 2008). "Head looks to the future". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
36. Lutton, Phil; Matthews walks away from Lions ^{[ permanent dead link ]}; Realfooty; 1 September 2008
37. AAP; Lions hand reins to Voss; Foxsports; 2 September 2008

References

• 2008 Season – AFL Tables
• 2008 AFL season – Finalsiren.com

External links

• AFL (Australian Football League)
• 2008 Interactive Fixture in Excel
• 2008 Schedule By Week as a PDF
• 2008 Schedule By Team as a PDF
• AFL Venue Information