1981 VFL grand final

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The 1981 VFL Grand Final was played on 26 September 1981 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between Carlton and Collingwood. Carlton won by 20 points, finishing 12.20 (92) to 10.12 (72) in front of 112,964 spectators. Carlton’s captain was Mike Fitzpatrick, and Bruce Doull won the Norm Smith Medal as the best player on the day.

Collingwood led by as much as 21 points late in the third quarter, but Carlton kicked the last six goals of the game to grab the win. In the final term, Ken Sheldon opened with a goal to bring Carlton within four, Rod Ashman then put them in front, and goals from Mark Maclure and David McKay sealed the victory for Carlton.

Peter Moore, Collingwood’s captain, famously threw away his runner-up medal after the loss. This marked Collingwood’s third straight Grand Final defeat and their fourth in five years, part of the dreaded “Colliwobbles.” Carlton collected their 13th premiership, tying Collingwood for the most VFL flags.

Carlton had finished on top of the ladder with 17 wins and 5 losses, and beat Geelong by 40 in the Second Semi to reach the Grand Final. Collingwood, also 17–5, had beaten Fitzroy and Geelong in the finals but could not overturn Carlton on the day.

As of 2025, this remains the last Grand Final meeting between Carlton and Collingwood. It was one of the last Grand Finals played with the old MCG scoreboard before a new one was installed in 1982, with the old scoreboard eventually moved to Manuka Oval. Some players swapped guernseys after the game.