| 2021 VFL season | |
|---|---|
| Date | 16 April – 1 September |
| Teams | 22 |
| Premiers | Not awarded |
| Minor premiers | Footscray 1st minor premiership |
| J. J. Liston Trophy | Not awarded |
| Leading goalkicker | Matthew Hammelmann (Aspley) (42 goals) |
The 2021 Victorian Football League season was the 139th season of the Victorian Football Association/Victorian Football League Australian rules football competition. The season commenced on 16 April was curtailed without a premiership awarded on 1 September 2021, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021 season saw significant transition in the composition of the league, with the amalgamation of the North East Australian Football League into the VFL and resulting expansion interstate into New South Wales and Queensland. The league also underwent some shifts as a result of the financial fall-out from the first year of the pandemic, which had seen the 2020 season cancelled without a match played; and, a transition in league rules to strengthen its position as a pathway between underage and professional leagues.
The season was played during and disrupted by the ongoing pandemic, with several rounds of play cancelled owing to restrictions sporadically in place across the three states. The health-related restrictions imposed by the Victoria and New South Wales governments forced the league abandon the season before a finals series could be completed. Footscray was recognised as the minor premier, but no premiership was awarded.[1]