The playing of a finals series at the end of the season dates back to the establishment of the Victorian Football League in 1897.
The systems in use have typically been combinations of single- and double elimination tournaments designed to give higher ranked teams an easier path to the premiership.
As part of its arrangements, the league introduced a system of finals in its inaugural season, to be contested after the home-and-away matches by the top four teams.
The new system meant that the premiership could not be decided until the final match had been played, generating greater public interest at the end of the season; by comparison, the VFA system awarded the premiership to the team with the best win–loss record across the season, with the provision for a single playoff match only if two teams were tied for first place.
Additionally, it was arranged that the gate from finals matches be shared amongst all teams, guaranteeing a better dividend to the league's weaker clubs.
Under the current arrangement, all Victorian finals matches are scheduled at the MCG – except in cases when two finals are to be held in Victoria on the same day, in which case Docklands Stadium or (in the event of Geelong being the home team) Kardinia Park may be used for the match expected to draw the lower crowd.
[2] Based on the current contract between the AFL and the Victorian Government, the grand final will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground every year until at least 2059, regardless of the states of origin of the teams involved.
Attempts were made during the late 1970s and early 1980s to shift the grand final to VFL Park, but a bitter political struggle which included the Cain State Government ultimately blocked this move at the end of 1983.
Prior to the nationalisation of the league, it was considered philosophically desirable that the finals be played on neutral ground, and one club delegate went as far as proposing in 1961 – after Melbourne had won five premierships in six years – that the MCG's goal posts should be moved prior to each Melbourne finals match to nullify its home ground advantage (the idea was overwhelmingly voted down and the delegate was roundly laughed at for his suggestion).