After some research, I believe the answer to be that there are 3 different people who answer to achieving the most premierships as VFL-AFL players and coaches:
The first was Jock McHale, who won 2 premierships solely as a player for Collingwood - the first being in 1903 - his first year at the club. He then went on to coach Collingwood to a record 8 premierships = 10 total premierhips.
The second was Norm Smith, who played for Melbourne Football Club from 1937. He played in 4 premierships for the club. Later he went on to coach 6 premierships over an 11 year period = 10 total premierhips.
The third was Ron Barassi, who played for Melbourne, winning 6 Premierhips as a player only with that club. Following his time at Melbourne, he accepted a coaching opportunity with Carlton, which club won 2 premierships during his short stay with the club. He then went on to coach North Melbourne for a further 2 premierships = 10 total premierships!
However, of those premierhips, some won by Ron Barassi and Jock McHale were achieved as playing coaches.
Essendon and Carlton have both won 16 premierships - the most premierships won by any team. Hmmmmmmmmmmm that`s interesting about that.
As a player only, the record is held by Michael Tuck - 7 premierships.
Carlton and Essendon have 16 premiership's each. Collingwood has won 15.
Essendon and Carlton - 16 each.
Brisbane Lions
Essendon and Carlton with 16 premierships each.
East Fremantle with 29 premierships
Michael Tuck (Hawthorn) 7 premierships
During the 1950's and 1960's, Norm Smith coached the Melbourne Football Club to 6 Premierships over 11 seasons, with 11 consecutive finals appearances! Those were the days when only 4 teams made the finals. None other has even approached that kind of record.
As of May 2011, Essendon and Carlton share the honor of having won the most VFL/AFL Premierships with sixteen apiece.
Because they won the most premierships
Roosters are second.
The Boston Celtics with 17 Championships.
It is Carlo Alberto Pereira he won a world cup as a player and he also won it with Brazil as a coach.
Bill Russell has the most rings of anyone, with 11 as a player and 2 as a coach.
Yes because they have a great coach Michael Maguire, have won the most premierships 21 and are the oldest since 1901. Go with the Rabbitohs and they will win the premiership for 2012. The St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Bulldogs don't do well!
Carlton have won 16 Grand Finals. Although Essendon have was 16 premierships, it has won only 14 grand finals. The premierships of 1897 and 1924 were decided by a round robin finals series and no grand final was played in those years.