<page_title> List of VFL debuts in 1897 </page_title> <section_title> Summary </section_title> <table> <cell> Carlton <col_header> Club </col_header> </cell> <cell> Collingwood <col_header> Club </col_header> <col_header> Carlton </col_header> </cell> <cell> Essendon <col_header> Club </col_header> <col_header> Carlton </col_header> <col_header> Collingwood </col_header> </cell> <cell> Fitzroy <col_header> Club </col_header> <col_header> Carlton </col_header> <col_header> Collingwood </col_header> <col_header> Essendon </col_header> </cell> <cell> Geelong <col_header> Club </col_header> <col_header> Carlton </col_header> <col_header> Collingwood </col_header> <col_header> Essendon </col_header> <col_header> Fitzroy </col_header> </cell> <cell> Melbourne <col_header> Club </col_header> <col_header> Carlton </col_header> <col_header> Collingwood </col_header> <col_header> Essendon </col_header> <col_header> Fitzroy </col_header> <col_header> Geelong </col_header> </cell> <cell> St Kilda <col_header> Club </col_header> <col_header> Carlton </col_header> <col_header> Collingwood </col_header> <col_header> Essendon </col_header> <col_header> Fitzroy </col_header> <col_header> Geelong </col_header> <col_header> Melbourne </col_header> </cell> <cell> South Melbourne <col_header> Club </col_header> <col_header> Carlton </col_header> <col_header> Collingwood </col_header> <col_header> Essendon </col_header> <col_header> Fitzroy </col_header> <col_header> Geelong </col_header> <col_header> Melbourne </col_header> <col_header> St Kilda </col_header> </cell> <cell> 284 <col_header> VFL debuts </col_header> <row_header> Total </row_header> </cell> </table>
The 1897 Victorian Football League (VFL) season saw 284 players make their debut for the eight clubs that comprised the VFL.