Carlton finished top of the 1921 VFL ladder with 56 points and 142.0%, eight points clear of Richmond. Richmond won the premiership from 2nd, beating Carlton by 4 points in the Grand Final.
Final VFL ladder · Updated Mon 21 Nov 2022, 4:27pm (Melbourne time)
| Pos | Club | P | Pts | % | W | L | D | PF | PA | Last 5 | Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CarltonCAR | 16 | 56 | 142.0 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 1265 | 891 | WWWWW | Runner-up |
| 2 | RichmondRIC🏆 | 16 | 48 | 116.1 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 1132 | 975 | WWWWW | Premiers |
| 3 | CollingwoodCOL | 16 | 36 | 111.9 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 1066 | 953 | WLWWL | Lost SF |
| 4 | GeelongGEETOP 4 | 16 | 36 | 106.1 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 1118 | 1054 | WLLWL | Lost FW1 |
| 5 | FitzroyFIT | 16 | 28 | 103.9 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 957 | 921 | WLLDW | – |
| 6 | MelbourneMEL | 16 | 28 | 95.4 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 1096 | 1149 | WLWLW | – |
| 7 | SydneySYD | 16 | 22 | 84.6 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 908 | 1073 | WLLLL | – |
| 8 | St KildaSTK | 16 | 18 | 77.1 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 998 | 1295 | LWLLW | – |
| 9 | EssendonESS | 16 | 16 | 80.8 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 965 | 1194 | LLLDL | – |