In 1976, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man. A player could be substituted for any reason; however, once substituted, a player could not return to the field of play under any circumstances. Teams played each other in a home-and-away season of 22 rounds; matches 12 to 22 were the "home-and-way reverse" of matches 1 to 11. Once the 22 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1976 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the "McIntyre Final Five system".
The reserves premiership was won by. Collingwood 23.17 defeated 19.15 in the Grand Final, held as a curtain-raiser to the seniors Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 25 September.
The opening round match between South Melbourne and Geelong at the Lake Oval saw the Swans kick the highest losing score on record, beating Melbourne's 1940 record.
The Round 1 match between Carlton and Collingwood at Princes Park saw a massive all-in brawl that involved virtually every player from both sides, with Collingwood's Phil Carman the chief target.
The Round 9 match between North Melbourne and Essendon at the Arden Street Oval witnessed a comic moment in the third quarter as the two field umpires who officiated in the game gave conflicting directions in the passage of play, which was finally resolved with a ball-up. North Melbourne won the match with only 17 fit players on the field.
In Round 10, North Melbourne's Malcolm Blight kicked a booming torpedo punt 65–70 metres out from goal after the final siren at Princes Park, which sailed through for a goal that won the match for North Melbourne. HSV Channel 7football commentatorMichael Williamson exclaimed after the match, "I have seen it all, now. I have seen it all!!"
The Round 21 match between Footscray and Fitzroy at VFL Park was the first match to provide the lowest two scores of a season.
Collingwood's six wins is the most by a wooden spooner in VFL/AFL history.
