| 1981 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Ron Cook | ||
| Coach | Allan Jeans | ||
| Captain(s) | Leigh Matthews | ||
| Home ground | Princes Park | ||
| VFL season | 13–9 (6th) | ||
| Finals series | Did not qualify | ||
| Best and Fairest | Terry Wallace | ||
| Leading goalkicker | Leigh Matthews (48) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 92,935 (Round 11 vs. Collingwood) | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 7,992 (Round 22 vs. Melbourne) | ||
| Average home attendance | 22,955 | ||
| |||
The 1981 season was the Hawthorn Football Club's 57th season in the Victorian Football League and 80th overall.