| Team |
Nickname |
League |
Qualification |
Participation (bold indicates winners)1 |
| Enter in Round 1 |
| Essendon |
Bombers |
VFL |
Winners of the 1984 Victorian Football League |
9th (Previous: 1893, 1911, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Hawthorn |
Hawks |
VFL |
Runners-Up in the 1984 Victorian Football League |
9th (Previous: 1971, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Collingwood |
Magpies |
VFL |
Third Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League |
9th (Previous: 1896, 1910, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Carlton |
Blues |
VFL |
Fourth Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League |
14th (Previous: 1907, 1908, 1914, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Fitzroy |
Lions |
VFL |
Fifth Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League |
8th (Previous: 1913, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Geelong |
Cats |
VFL |
Sixth Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League |
7th (Previous: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Footscray |
Bulldogs |
VFL |
Seventh Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League |
8th (Previous: 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Richmond |
Tigers |
VFL |
Eighth Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League |
11th (Previous: 1969, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Melbourne |
Demons |
VFL |
Ninth Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League |
7th (Previous: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Sydney |
Swans |
VFL |
Tenth Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League |
10th (Previous: 1888, 1890, 1909, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| North Melbourne |
Kangaroos |
VFL |
Eleventh Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League |
9th (Previous: 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Norwood |
Redlegs |
SANFL |
Winners of the 1984 South Australian National Football League |
12th (Previous: 1888, 1907, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) |
| Port Adelaide |
Magpies |
SANFL |
Runners-Up in the 1984 South Australian National Football League |
12th (Previous: 1890, 1910, 1913, 1914, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982) |
| Swan Districts |
Swans |
WAFL |
Winners of the 1984 West Australian Football League |
6th (Previous: 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982) |
| East Fremantle |
Sharks |
WAFL |
Runners-Up in the 1984 West Australian Football League |
7th (Previous: 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981) |
| Enter in Qualifying Playoff |
| St Kilda |
Saints |
VFL |
Twelfth Place in the 1984 Victorian Football League |
7th (Previous: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
| Queensland |
Maroons |
QAFL |
Winners of the 1984 Escort Shield |
6th (Previous: 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984) |