When has any AFL or VFL team goen undefeated in a season?

Answer 1

This has never been achieved. Although, in 1929 Collingwood went through the full season undefeated. Collingwood lost to Richmond in the first semi-final but went on to win the Premiership. Under the then rules, the minor premiers were always in the Grand Final. So the answer is that it has never happened that a team has remained undefeated for a whole year.

Answer 2

Although the short schedule length of Australian Rules football seasons makes undefeated seasons quite feasible, no VFL/AFL team has yet gone through a complete season without a loss.

In 1929 Collingwood did achieve an unbeaten home-and-away season, but were demolished by Richmond 8-13 (61) to 18-15 (123) in the second semi. They rebounded to beat the Tigers in the Grand Final.

Overall, only the following clubs have remained unbeaten beyond the first half of any home-and-away season:

1. Carlton in 1908, who began 11-0 in an eighteen-game season
2. Collingwood in 1929 (above)
3. South Melbourne in 1932, who began 10-0 in an eighteen-game season but finished 13-5 (fourth) and lost the first semi-final
4. Melbourne in 1955, who began 10-0 in an eighteen-game season and finished 15-3 before winning the flag
5. Melbourne in 1956, who began 13-0 in an eighteen-game season and finished 16-2 before winning the flag
6. West Coast in 1991, who began 12-0 in a twenty-two game season and finished 19-3, but lost the Qualifying Final and Grand Final to Hawthorn
7. Essendon in 2000, who began 19-0 in a twenty-two game season and finished 21-1 before winning the Grand Final for an overall 24-1 record
8. Geelong in 2009, who started 13-0 before finishing 18-4 and winning the Grand Final for a 21-4 record
9. St. Kilda in 2009, who started 19-0 before losing to Essendon and North Mebourne. They finished 20-2 and lost the Grand final to Geelong for a 22-3 record
10. Geelong in 2011, who started 13-0 before losing to Essendon. They finished 19-3 in the home-and-away season and won their three finals to take the premiership and finish 22-3.

Although it is often said that it is harder than ever to go undefeated, the figures above suggest otherwise. Four of the ten teams to remain unbeaten beyond the first half of the home-and-away season have been since 2000. This is probably because of the reduced talent pool under a retractable roof stadium (Docklands Stadium) compared to under an open roof stadium (Waverley Park) since shorter people are of no use in the more aerial game possible at Docklands.

Answer 3

Collingwood have done it back in 1929 or something