Seasons in the Competition

In addition to being one of the Foundation Clubs of the AFL, Carlton is also one of two Clubs to have played in each and every season since the inception of the VFL. In wartime, the difficulties of society had often meant that teams and competitions were limited for players and funds, but Carlton – plus our arch-nemesis Collingwood – can proudly proclaim to have been in every single season of the VFL and AFL…all 125 seasons (as at the conclusion of season 2021).

Note: Carlton is the only club to have played every season since 1864.

Completed Seasons	Span	Clubs	Years Missing
129	1897 - 2025*	Carlton and Collingwood	N/A
128	1897 – 1915; 1917 - 2025*	South Melbourne / Sydney	1916
127	1897 – 1915; 1918 - 2025*	Essendon and St Kilda	1916 and 1917
126	1897 - 1915, 1917 - 1941 & 1944 - 2025*	Geelong	1916 & 1942 -43
126	1897 - 1915 & 1919 - 2025*	Melbourne	1916, 1917, 1918
118	1908 - 2025*	Richmond	Joined 1908
100	1897 - 1996	Fitzroy (pre-merger)	Merged 1997
101	1925 - 2025*	Hawthorn, Footscray and North Melbourne	Joined 1925
39	1987 - 2025*	Brisbane (Bears + Lions) and West Coast	Joined 1987
35	1991 - 2025*	Adelaide	Joined 1991
31	1995 - 2025*	Fremantle	Joined 1995
29	1997 - 2025*	Port Power	Joined 1997
15	2011 - 2025*	Gold Coast Suns	Joined 2011
14	2012 - 2025*	GWS Giants	Joined 2012

NB Updated for Season 2025

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