Coach: Keith McKenzie
Captain: TBD
Best & Fairest: Peter Fyffe
Leading Goalkicker: Paul O'Brien 53 goals (5th in the competition after the H&A season), Peter Warburton 26 goals (eq. 22nd in the competition), Brian Walsh 24 goals (25th in the competition)
Position: 3rd
Premier: Richmond
Old List
M. Amos, B. Armstrong, D. Baird, I. Collins, N. Chandler, G. Crane, B. Crosswell, B. Doull, R. Redmond, T. Fyffe, A. Gallagher, B. Gill, K. Hall, P. Hirst, E. Hopkins, S. Jackson, A. Jesaulenko, P. Jones, G. Lawson-Smith, A. Lukas, D. McKay, R. McLean, D. Mulcair, J. Nicholls, P. O'Brien, P. Pinnell, B. Quirk, I. Robertson, S. Silvagni, V. Waite, R. Walls.New
Peter Hall (Castlemaine), Trevor Keogh (Sandhurst), Robert Kirkman (Coburg), Eric Pascoe (Bendigo), Geoff Southby (Sandhurst), Brian Walsh (Sandhurst), Peter Warburton (Tatura), Robert White 2 (U19), John Warden (1970 supplementary)Supplementary
John Clements, Daryl Gutterson, John O'Connell, Geoff Wickham, Graeme Clark (Kyneton), D. Roberts (Kilsyth), David Routledge (U19), Mark White (Lexton).To be considered when available John Goold.
Off
P. Ali (Coburg), D. Dunlop, W. Lofts (retired), D. Munari (Hobart), I. Nicoll (Preston), P. Purtell, P. Smith (Port Melbourne), B. Thornley (Preston)Round 1: 3rd April 1971
Carlton 17.14.116
North Melbourne 16.18.114
Played at Arden Street.
Result: Won by 2 points.
Goalkickers: Graeme Clark 5, Paul O'Brien 3, Adrian Gallagher 2, David Routledge 2, Peter Warburton 2, John Warden 2, Serge Silvagni 1.
Best: Serge Silvagni< Barry Armstrong, Adrian Gallagher, Ian Collins
Round 2: 10th April 1971
Carlton 13.18.96
Essendon 14.10.94
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Lost by 2 points
Goalkickers: Paul O'Brien 5, David Routledge 2, John Warden 2, Peter Hall 1, Graeme Clark 1, Peter Warburton 1, Eric Pascoe.
Best: Barry Armstrong, Paul O'Brien, Peter Warburton, Ian Collins, Mark White, John Clements, John Warden.
Round 3: 17th April 1971
Melbourne 16.16.112
Carlton 12.12.84
Result: Lost by 28 points
Goalkickers: Peter Hall 2, Paul O'Brien 2, Graeme Robertson 2, Brian Walsh 2, Mark Amos 1, Daryl Gutterson 1, Peter Warburton 1, John Warden 1.
Best: Mark Amos, Barry Armstrong, John Warden, Geoff Wickham, Daryl Gutterson, Robert White 2, Brian Walsh, Graeme Robertson, Ian Collins.
Played at the MCG.
Round 4: 24th April 1971
Carlton 12.16.88
Geelong 9.11.65
Result: Lost by 23 points
Goalkickers: Paul O'Brien 4, Robert White 2 3, Paul Hurst 1, John Warden 1, Peter Warburton 1, Graeme Clark 1, Peter Hall 1.
Best: John Warden, Robert White 2, Peter Warburton, Graeme Clark, Peter Hall, Mark White, Gary Lawson-Smith.
Round 5: 1st May 1971
Carlton 9.20.74
St Kilda 4.11.35
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Won by 39 points
Goalkickers: Ricky McLean 3, Paul O'Brien 2, Graeme Robertson 2, Bryan Quirk 1, Daryl Gutterson 1.
Best: Ricky McLean, Paul Hurst, John Warden, Peter Fyffe, Bruce Doull, Robert White 2.
Round 6: 8th May 1971
Sth Melb. 11.15.81
Carlton 17.19.121
Played at the Lakeside Oval.
Result: Won by 40 points
Goalkickers: Brian Walsh 5, Paul O'Brien 3, Peter Warburton 2, Ricky McLean 2, John Warden 1, Ken Laker 1, David Routledge 1, Bruce Doull, Alex Gellately 1.
Best: Brian Walsh, Bryan Quirk, John Warden, Ricky McLean, Paul O'Brien, John O'Connell.
Round 7: 15th May 1971
Carlton 11.18.84
Footscray 19.17.131
Played at VFL Park.
Result: Lost by 47 points
Goalkickers: Paul O'Brien 6, Barry Riordan 2, John Warden 1, Peter Warburton 1, Robert White 2 1.
Best: Peter Warburton, Paul O'Brien, John O'Connell, Robert White 2, Barry Mulcair, Ken Laker.
Round 8: 22nd May 1971
Richmond 17.19.121
Carlton 16.12.108
Played at the MCG.
Result: Lost by 13 points
Goalkickers: Paul O'Brien 4, Brian Walsh 3, Peter Warburton 2, Peter Hall 2, Barry Riordan 2, Graeme Clark 2, Rodney Hanton 1.
Best: Mark White, Barry Riordan, Gary Lawson-Smith, Brian Walsh, Barry Mulcair, Daryl Gutterson.
Round 9: 29th May 1971
Carlton 11.17.83
Hawthorn 7.12.54
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Won by 29 points
Goalkickers: Paul O'Brien 3, John Warden 3, Daryl Gutterson 2, Andy Lukas 1, Robert White 2 1, Paul Hurst 1.
Best: Paul Hurst, Brian Walsh, Bob Edmond, Daryl Gutterson, John Warden, Robert White 2.
Round 10: 5th June 1971
Carlton 17.11.113
Fitzroy 13.14.92
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Won by 21 points
Goalkickers: Paul O'Brien 4, Graeme Clark 4, Bryan Quirk 3, Brian Walsh 2, Peter Warburton 1, Andy Lukas 1, Paul Hurst 1, Peter Hall 1.
Best: John O'Connell, Garry Crane, Graeme Clark, Paul O'Brien, Mark White, Peter Fyffe.
Round 11: 14th June 1971
Carlton 12.14.86
Collingwood 12.05.77
Played at VFL Park.
Result: Won by 9 points
Goalkickers: Paul O'Brien 5, Graeme Clark 2, Garry Crane 1, Bryan Quirk 1, Robert White 2 1, Daryl Gutterson 1, Ricky McLean 1.
Best: Ricky McLean, Bryan Quirk, Daryl Gutterson, Peter Warburton, Tony McCumber, Brian Walsh.
Round 12: 19th June 1971
Carlton 12.17.89
Nth Melb. 13.14.92
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Lost by 3 points
Goalkickers: Paul O'Brien 2, Peter Jones 2, Graeme Clark 2, Daryl Gutterson 2, John Boyd 1, Paul Hurst 1, Peter Warburton 1, Bruce Doull 1.
Best: Paul Hurst, Syd Jackson, Bruce Doull, Peter Jones, Robert White 2, Daryl Gutterson.
Round 13: 26th June 1971
Essendon 10.19.79
Carlton 9.06.60
Played at Windy Hill.
Result: Lost by 19 points
Goalkickers: Paul O'Brien 4, Syd Jackson 2, Peter Warburton 2, Graeme Robertson 1.
Best: Graeme Robertson, Bruce Doull, Paul O'Brien, Peter Fyffe, Tony Smith, Gary Lawson-Smith.
Round 14: 3rd July 1971
Carlton 7.20.62
Melbourne 15.07.97
Played at VFL Park.
Result: Lost by 35 points
Goalkickers: Peter Warburton 2, John Boyd 2, Chris Mitchell 1, Graeme Robertson 1, Robert White 2 1.
Best: Bruce Doull, Peter Fyffe, Peter Warburton, Chris Mitchell, Robert White 2, John Boyd.
Round 15: 10th July 1971
Carlton 24.23.167
Geelong 2.08.20
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Won by 147 points
Goalkickers: Robert White 2 5, Ricky McLean 4, Peter Warburton 4, Peter Hall 3, Paul Hurst 3, Graeme Robertson 2, Ian Collins 1, Syd Jackson 1, Neil Chandler 1.
Best: Bruce Doull, Ian Collins, Paul O'Brien, Robert White 2, Daryl Gutterson, Rod Austin.
Round 16: 17th July 1971
Carlton 11.23.89
St Kilda 5.10.40
Played at Moorabbin Oval.
Result: Won by 49 points
Goalkickers: Graeme Clark 2, Peter Hall 2, Ricky McLean 2, Neil Chandler 1, Paul Hurst 1, Trevor Keogh 1, Peter Purtell 1, Peter Warburton 1.
Best: Peter Fyffe, Gary Lawson-Smith, Barry Mulcair, Andy Lukas, Robert White 2, Peter Warburton.
Round 17: 24th July 1971
Carlton 13.11.89
Sth Melb. 7.10.52
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Won by 37 points
Goalkickers: John Warden 2, Daryl Gutterson 2, Graeme Robertson 2, Brian Walsh 2, Peter Jones 2, Peter Hall 1, Graeme Clark 1, Syd Jackson 1.
Best: Trevor Keogh, Gary Lawson-Smith, Brian Walsh, Neil Chandler, Peter Jones, Andy Lukas.
VFL Reserves Leading Goalkickers after this round; Paul O'Brien was 4th with 47 goals and Peter Warburton was 18th with 22 goals
Round 18: 31st July 1971
Footscray 13.07.85
Carlton 12.17.89
Played at the Western Oval.
Result: Won by 4 points
Goalkickers: Syd Jackson 4, Brian Walsh 2, Paul Hurst 2, Graeme Robertson 2, Gary Lawson-Smith 1, Peter Jones 1, Paul O'Brien 1.
Best: Andy Lukas, John Warden, Peter Jones, Ian Collins, Brian Walsh, Syd Jackson.
Round 19: 7th August 1971
Richmond 13.9.87
Carlton 10.9.69
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Lost by 18 points
Goalkickers: Brent Crosswell 2, Ricky McLean 2, Graeme Clark 1, Peter Jones 1, Bryan Quirk 1, Graeme Robertson 1, John Warden 1, Brian Walsh 1.
Best: John Warden, Peter Fyffe, Ian Collins, Paul Hurst, Peter Hall, Daryl Gutterson.
Round 20: 14th August 1971
Hawthorn 12.12.84
Carlton 4.18.42
Played at Glenferrie Oval.
Result: Lost by 42 points
Goalkickers: Peter Warburton 1, Paul O'Brien 1, Paul Hurst 1, Graeme Clark 1.
Best: Peter Fyffe, Paul O'Brien, Paul Hurst, Phil Pinnell, Brent Crosswell, Brian Walsh.
Round 21: 21st August 1971
Carlton 21.20.146
Fitzroy 13.15.93
Played at the Junction Oval.
Result: Won by 42 points
Goalkickers: Brian Walsh 6, Trevor Keogh 5, Ricky McLean 3, Graeme Robertson 3, Garry Crane, Daryl Gutterson, Bryan Quirk, Peter Warburton 1.
Best: Trevor Keogh, Brian Walsh, Garry Crane, Phil Pinnell, Gary Lawson-Smith, Rod Austin.
Round 22: 28th August 1971
Carlton 18.11.119
Collingwood 8.15.63
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Won by 56 points
Goalkickers: Trevor Keogh 4, Graeme Robertson 4, Paul O'Brien 3, Peter Warburton 2, John Warden 2, Brian Walsh 1, Peter Hall 1, Paul Hurst 1.
Best: Trevor Keogh, Phil Pinnell, Peter Warburton, Graeme Robertson, Brian Walsh, Paul O'Brien, Gary Lawson-Smith, John Warden.
1971 End of Home & Away Season Ladder
| Pos | Team | Wins | Losses | Draws | Points | For | Against | % |
| 1 | Richmond | 18 | 4 | 0 | 72 | 2340 | 1797 | 130.2 |
| 2 | Essendon | 17 | 5 | 0 | 68 | 2376 | 1752 | 135.6 |
| 3 | Hawthorn | 16 | 6 | 0 | 64 | 2081 | 1735 | 119.9 |
| 4 | Carlton | 14 | 8 | 0 | 56 | 2074 | 1778 | 116.6 |
| 5 | Melbourne | 13 | 9 | 0 | 52 | 2228 | 1931 | 115.4 |
| 6 | Collingwood | 10 | 12 | 0 | 40 | 2046 | 2148 | 95.3 |
| 7 | Nth Melb. | 8 | 14 | 0 | 32 | 2117 | 2268 | 93.3 |
| 8 | Footscray | 9 | 13 | 0 | 36 | 1897 | 2263 | 83.8 |
| 9 | Fitzroy | 7 | 15 | 0 | 28 | 2197 | 2085 | 105.4 |
| 10 | Sth Melb. | 7 | 15 | 0 | 28 | 1723 | 2206 | 78.1 |
| 11 | Geelong | 7 | 15 | 0 | 28 | 1805 | 2350 | 76.8 |
| 12 | St Kilda | 6 | 16 | 0 | 24 | 1624 | 2195 | 74.0 |
Note:
- This was the last season of the Final Four Finals Series.
- Fitzroy lost 16 points for having an unregistered player.
1971 Reserves Finals Series
1st Semi Final
Carlton 15.12.102
Hawthorn 9.16.70
Result: Won by 32 points
Goalkickers: Ricky McLean 5, Brian Walsh 2, Peter Hall 2, Paul Hurst 2, Gary Lawson-Smith 1, Paul O'Brien 1, Bryan Quirk 1, Daryl Gutterson 1.
Best: Brian Walsh, Paul Hurst, Ricky McLean, John O'Connell, Andy Lukas, Bruce Doull.
2nd Semi Final - Essendon 12.16.88 d Richmond 12.12.84
Preliminary Final
Richmond 14.11.95
Carlton 6.11.47
Result: Lost by 48 points
Goalkickers: Bruce Doull 1, Gary Lawson-Smith 1, Brian Walsh 1, Neil Chandler 1, Paul Hurst 1, John Warden 1.
Best: John O'Connell, Barry Mulcair, Bruce Doull, Peter Warburton, Paul Hurst, John Warden.
Grand Final - Richmond 14.14.98 d Essendon 18.18.66