| Team | Nickname | League | Qualification | Participation (bold indicates winners)1 |
|---|
| Essendon | Bombers | VFL | Winners of the1985 Victorian Football League | 10th(Previous:1893,1911,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985) |
| Hawthorn | Hawks | VFL | Runners-Up in the1985 Victorian Football League | 10th(Previous:1971,1976,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985) |
| Footscray | Bulldogs | VFL | Third Place in the1985 Victorian Football League | 9th(Previous:1976,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985) |
| North Melbourne | Kangaroos | VFL | Fourth Place in the1985 Victorian Football League | 10th(Previous:1975,1976,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985) |
| Carlton | Blues | VFL | Fifth Place in the1985 Victorian Football League | 15th(Previous:1907,1908,1914,1968,1970,1972,1976,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985) |
| Geelong | Cats | VFL | Sixth Place in the1985 Victorian Football League | 8th(Previous:1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985) |
| Collingwood | Magpies | VFL | Seventh Place in the1985 Victorian Football League | 10th(Previous:1896,1910,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985) |
| Richmond | Tigers | VFL | Eighth Place in the1985 Victorian Football League | 12th(Previous:1969,1973,1974,1976,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985) |
| Fitzroy | Lions | VFL | Ninth Place in the1985 Victorian Football League | 9th(Previous:1913,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985) |
| Sydney | Swans | VFL | Tenth Place in the1985 Victorian Football League | 11th(Previous:1888,1890,1909,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985) |
| Melbourne | Demons | VFL | Eleventh Place in the1985 Victorian Football League | 8th(Previous:1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985) |
| St Kilda | Saints | VFL | Twelfth Place in the1985 Victorian Football League | 8th(Previous:1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985) |
| Glenelg | Tigers | SANFL | Winners of the1985 South Australian National Football League | 10th(Previous:1973,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983) |
| North Adelaide | Roosters | SANFL | Runners-Up in the1985 South Australian National Football League | 7th(Previous:1971,1972,1977,1979,1980,1981) |