Coach: Ray Ball
Captain: TBD
Vice Captain: TBD
Best and Fairest: Terry Dean
Position: 10th
Premier: Melbourne
Round 1 - March 28th 1981
Carlton 19.13.127
Richmond 16.15.111
Result: Win by 16 points
Goalkickers: Mark Buckley 8, Spiro Kourkoumelis 4, Marco Zanon 3, F.Miller 2, Stephen Gumley, Michael Jennings.
Best: F.Miller, Marco Zanon, Darren Ogier, Mark Buckley, W.Faure, Robertson.
Reports: Garry Williams (Carl) by boundary umpire G.Garrett on a charge of striking M.Lockman (Rich) with a right hand to the face in the second quarter.
Round 2 - April 5th 1981
Hawthorn 23.13.151
Carlton 13.20.98
Result: Lost by 53 points
Goalkickers: Mark Buckley 3, A.Crouch 3, Michael Jennings 2, Spiro Kourkoumelis 2, Stephen Gumley 2, D.Cheeseman 1.
Best: Mark Buckley, D.Cheeseman, Terry Dean, P.McInerney, Wayne Holt, Spiro Kourkoumelis.
Round 3 - April 12th 1981
Carlton 15.17.107
Fitzroy 15.16.106
Result: Won by 1 point
Goalkickers: Stephen Gumley 3, Mark Buckley 2, F.Miller 2, B.Robertson 2, Michael Jennings 1, R.Jones 1, Spiro Kourkoumelis 1, Darren Ogier 1, Aidan Saggers 1, Marco Zanon 1.
Best: Spiro Kourkoumelis, Marco Zanon, Terry Dean, Stephen Gumley, Robertson, Wayne Holt.
Round 4 - April 12th 1981
Footscray 14.18.102
Carlton 14.11.95
Result: Lost by 7 points
Goalkickers: Spiro Kourkoumelis 3, Walsh 2, A.Crouch 2, Mark Buckley 2, Darren Ogier 2, Garry Williams 2, Marco Zanon 1.
Best: Marco Zanon, J.Gravina, Spiro Kourkoumelis, Wayne Holt, Garry Williams, Mark Buckley.
Round 5 - April 19th 1981
Carlton 23.16.154
St Kilda 14.13.97
Result: Won by 57 points
Goalkickers: F.Miller 7, Stephen Gumley 3, Spiro Kourkoumelis 3, C.Freeman 2, Neil Gaghan 2, Walsh 2, B.Buckley 1, Rose 1, Neil Woods 1, Robertson 1.
Best: Terry Dean, Mark Buckley, Stephen Gumley, Robertson, F.Miller, Darren Ogier.
Round 6 - April 26th 1981
Carlton 14.15.99
Collingwood 14.14.98
Result: Won by 1 point
Goalkickers: Mark Buckley 3, F.Miller 3, Marco Zanon 2, Neil Gaghan 1, Stephen Gumley 1, Spiro Kourkoumelis 1, Mandaiob 1, Darren Ogier 1, Walsh 1.
Best: Terry Dean, Neil Gaghan, Spiro Kourkoumelis, Darren Ogier, Marco Zanon, Stephen Gumley.
Round 7 - May 10th 1981
Melbourne 20.27.147
Carlton 10.7.67
Result: Lost by 80 points
Goalkickers: Neil Woods 4, D.Cheeseman 1, Neil Gaghan 1, Handley 1, F.Miller 1, Darren Ogier 1, Marco Zanon 1.
Best: Neil Gaghan, Marco Zanon, D.Cheeseman, F.Miller, Garry Williams, Mandalra.
Round 8 - May 17th 1981
Geelong 24.25.169
Carlton 9.10.64
Result: Lost by 105 points
Goalkickers: Mark Buckley 2, F.Miller 2, A.Saggers 2, McFerran 1, Darren Ogier 1, Marco Zanon 1.
Best: Terry Dean, Darren Ogier, Stephen Gumley, Marco Zanon, Garry Williams, Allwell.
Round 9 - May 24th 1981
Carlton 10.15.75
Sth Melbourne 10.14.74
Result: Won by 1 point
Goalkickers: Michael Jennings 2, Darren Ogier 2, Walsh 2, Mark Buckley 1, Neil Gaghan 1, Aidan Saggers 1, Jim Telford 1.
Best: Stephen Gumley, Mark Buckley, Garry Williams, Mandalra, Darren Ogier, Walsh.
Round 10 - May 31st 1981
Carlton 13.10.88
Essendon 7.15.57
Result: Won by 31 points
Goalkickers: Garry Williams 3, Wooley 3, D.Cheeseman 2, Harman 2, Neil Gaghan 1, Wayne Holt 1, F.Miller 1.
Best: Darren Ogier, Garry Williams, Wayne Holt, Michael Jennings, F.Miller, Aidan Saggers.
Round 11 - June 7th 1981
Carlton 13.12.90
Nth Melb 11.20.86
Result: Won by 4 points
Goalkickers: Harman 4, F.Miller 3, Worley 3, D.Cheeseman 1, Dwyer 1, Aidan Saggers 1.
Best: Marco Zanon, Michael Jennings, A.Saggers, R.Wilkie, F.Miller, Neil Gaghan.
Round 12 - June 14th 1981
Hawthorn 8.13.61
Carlton 7.09.51
Result: Lost by 10 points
Goalkickers: Worley 5, R.Butler 1, Michael Jennings 1.
Best: R.Wilkie, Ron Evans, P.McInerney, R.Allwell, C.Allwell, Worley.
Round 13 - June 21st 1981
Fitzroy 14.13.97
Carlton 9.15.69
Result: Lost by 28 points
Goalkickers: Stephen Gumley 3, Darren Ogier 2, Worley 2, Terry Dean 1, F.Miller 1.
Best: Terry Dean, Stephen Gumley, F.Miller, Marco Zanon, W.Faure, Michael Jennings.
Round 14 - June 28th 1981
Footscray 9.15.69
Carlton 8.10.58
Result: Lost by 11 points
Goalkickers: Stephen Gumley 3, Michael Jennings 1, Darren Ogier 1, Sadkiewicz 1, Worley 1, Marco Zanon 1.
Best: NA
Round 15 - July 5th 1981
Carlton 9.11.65
St Kilda 7.14.56
Result: Lost by 9 points
Goalkickers: Darren Ogier 2, Worley 2, D.Cheeseman, Neil Gaghan, Stephen Gumley, Michael Jennings, Marco Zanon.
Best: D.Cheeseman, Michael Jennings, Terry Dean, Ron Evans, Worley, Darren Ogier.
Round 16 - July 19th 1981
Collingwood 21.10.136
Carlton 16.11.107
Result: Lost by 29 points
Goalkickers: Worley 4, Neil Gaghan 3, Michael Jennings 3, Darren Ogier 2, Marco Zanon 2, R.Butler 1, Hanley 1.
Best: Neil Gaghan, Michael Jennings, Allwell, Marco Zanon, Robertson.
Round 17 - July 26th 1981
Melbourne 26.20.176
Carlton 8.02.50
Result: Lost by 126 points
Goalkickers: A.Crouch 3, Hanley 2, Wayne Holt 2, Terry Dean 1.
Best: Marco Zanon, Ron Evans, Aidan Saggers, Terry Dean, Allwell, Hanley.
Round 18 - August 2nd 1981
Geelong 24.16.150
Carlton 6.09.45
Result: Lost by 105 points
Goalkickers: A.Crouch 3, Darren Ogier 2, Terry Dean 1.
Best: Terry Dean, Marco Zanon, Wayne Holt, Ron Evans, Aidan Saggers, R.Butler.
Round 19 - August 9th 1981
Sth Melbourne 15.10.100
Carlton 11.1.76
Result: Lost by 24 points
Goalkickers: A.Crouch 3, Neil Gaghan 3, Michael Jennings 3, Wayne Holt 2.
Best: Stephen Gumley, Wayne Holt, Michael Jennings, Terry Dean, Marco Zanon, Sadkiewicz.
Round 20 - August 16th 1981
Essendon 13.20.98
Carlton 12.15.87
Result: Lost by 11 points
Goalkickers: Mark Buckley 3, Stephen Gumley 2, F.Miller 2, Garry Williams 2, Shane Baldwin 1, Terry Dean 1, Michael Jennings 1.
Best: Terry Dean, Darren Ogier, Stephen Gumley, Wayne Holt, Shane Baldwin, Pearce.
Reports: Evans (Carlton) reported by field umpire Lawlok for allegedy striking Fellows (Essendon) with the right clenched fist to the face in the fourth quarter.
Round 21 - August 23rd 1981
Carlton 15.08.98
Nth Melbourne 11.16.82
Result: Won by 16 points
Goalkickers: Terry Dean 5, A.Crouch 4, D.Cheeseman 1, Stephen Gumley 1, Hanley 1, P.McInerney 1, Mandaliti 1, Matthews 1.
Best: Marco Zanon, D.Cheeseman, Terry Dean, W.Faure, Darren Ogier, Robertson.
Round 22 - August 30th 1981
Carlton 6.12.48
Richmond 6.12.48
Result: Drawn game
Goalkickers: F.Miller 2, A.Crouch 1, Harman 1, Wayne Holt 1, Stephen Gumley 1.
Best: Stephen Gumley, R.Butler, Robertson, Mark Buckley, Marco Zanon, Michael Jennings.
1981 End of Home & Away Season Ladder
| Pos | Team | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points | For | Against | % |
| 1 | Geelong | 19 | 0 | 3 | 76 | 2609 | 1708 | 152.7 |
| 2 | Fitzroy | 15 | 0 | 7 | 60 | 2525 | 2036 | 124.0 |
| 3 | Melbourne | 14 | 0 | 8 | 56 | 2356 | 1937 | 121.6 |
| 4 | Footscray | 14 | 0 | 8 | 56 | 2195 | 1928 | 113.8 |
| 5 | Hawthorn | 13 | 0 | 9 | 52 | 2213 | 2020 | 109.5 |
| 6 | Sth Melbourne | 12 | 0 | 10 | 48 | 2123 | 1959 | 108.4 |
| 7 | Nth Melbourne | 10 | 0 | 12 | 40 | 2180 | 2390 | 91.2 |
| 8 | Richmond | 9 | 1 | 12 | 38 | 2032 | 2001 | 101.5 |
| 9 | Essendon | 8 | 0 | 14 | 32 | 1909 | 2392 | 79.8 |
| 10 | Carlton | 7 | 1 | 14 | 30 | 1818 | 2281 | 79.7 |
| 11 | Collingwood | 7 | 0 | 15 | 28 | 1986 | 2264 | 87.7 |
| 12 | St Kilda | 3 | 0 | 19 | 12 | 1775 | 2805 | 63.3 |
1981 U/19's Finals Series
Elimination Final
Hawthorn 19.16.130 d Footscray 18.20.128
Qualifying Final
Fitzroy 21.08.134 d Melbourne 11.15.81
1st Semi Final
Melbourne 30.23.203 d Hawthorn 13.12.90
2nd Semi Final
Geelong 22.12.144 d Fitzroy 16.11.107
Preliminary Final
Melbourne 16.15.111 d Fitzroy 14.20.104
Grand Final
Melbourne 19.18.132 d Geelong 14.17.101