1948 VFL Grand Final

The 1948 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Melbourne Football Club and Essendon Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 2 October 1948. It was the 52nd annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the premiers for the 1948 VFL season. The match, attended by 86,198 spectators, ended in a draw, the first time that a VFL Grand Final had ended in a draw. A week later in the Grand Final replay, attended by 52,226 spectators, Melbourne easily defeated Essendon by 39 points, marking that club's sixth premiership victory.

1948 VFL Grand Final

Essendon
Melbourne
7.27 (69) 10.9 (69)
1 2 3 4
Ess 0.6 2.15 6.21 7.27
Mel 3.0 4.5 6.8 10.9
Date2 October 1948
StadiumMelbourne Cricket Ground
Attendance86,198
1948 VFL Grand Final

Essendon
Melbourne
7.8 (50) 13.11 (89)
1 2 3 4
Ess 0.3 5.5 6.6 7.8
Mel 6.2 9.3 11.6 13.11
Date9 October 1948 (Replay)
StadiumMelbourne Cricket Ground
Attendance52,226
← 1947 VFL Grand Final 1949 →

The two teams would not meet again in a Grand Final until 1957, with Melbourne winning by 61 points.

Grand final

Report

Melbourne sprung a series of surprise selections during the 1948 finals series. After spending most of the season as playing coach of the reserves team, veteran forward Jack Mueller was recalled for the preliminary final against Collingwood and kicked eight goals. However, centre half-back Alan McGowan was reported during the match and subsequently suspended. Ruckman Denis Cordner would take his place for the Grand Final.[1]

Score
Team 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr Final
Essendon 0.6 (6) 2.15 (27) 6.21 (57) 7.27 (69)
Melbourne 3.0 (18) 4.5 (29) 6.8 (44) 10.9 (69)
Attendance: 86,198

Goal Kickers

Melbourne

  • Mueller 6
  • Arnold 1
  • Craddock 1
  • Dullard 1
  • Smith 1

Essendon

  • Hutchison 2
  • Brittingham 2
  • Rawle 2
  • Bradley 1

Grand Final Replay
Team 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr Final
Essendon 0.3 (3) 5.5 (35) 6.6 (42) 7.8 (50)
Melbourne 6.2 (38) 9.3 (57) 11.6 (72) 13.11 (89)
Attendance:52,226

Goal Kickers

Melbourne

  • Mueller 6
  • Arnold 2
  • Rodda 2
  • Dullard 1
  • Smith 1
  • McMahen 1

Essendon

  • Brittingham 2
  • Syme 2
  • Hutchison 1
  • Jones 1
  • Reynolds 1

Grand Final Replay Teams
Essendon
Backs Chris Lambert Cec Ruddell Bob McClure
H/Backs Les Gardiner Wally May Norm McDonald
Centre Line Bob Bradley Albert Harper George Hassell
H/Forwards Jack Jones Ted Leehane Dick Reynolds (c)
Forwards Harry Equid Bill Brittingham Keith Rawle
Rucks/Rover Bob Syme Perc Bushby Bill Hutchison
Reserves Vic Fisher Ron McEwin
Essendon Captain-Coach: Dick Reynolds
Melbourne
Backs Billy Deans Shane McGrath Stan Rule
H/Backs Geoff Collins Denis Cordner Col McLean
Centre Line Len Dockett George Bickford Max Spittle
H/Forwards Noel McMahen Lance Arnold Bob McKenzie
Forwards Jack Mueller Norm Smith Eddie Craddock
Rucks/Rover Don Cordner(c) Adrian Dullard Alby Rodda
Reserves Gordon Bowman Edward Jackson
Melbourne Coach: "Checker" Hughes

Umpire - Jack McMurray

Grand Final Replay Team Changes
Melbourne FC team, premiers

Melbourne

In

Out

Essendon

In

Out

See also

References
  1. Daffey, Paul (2 October 2010). "Drama of 1948 had everything". The Age.
  • AFL Tables: 1948 Season
  • The Official statistical history of the AFL 2004
  • Ross, J. (ed), 100 Years of Australian Football 1897-1996: The Complete Story of the AFL, All the Big Stories, All the Great Pictures, All the Champions, Every AFL Season Reported, Viking, (Ringwood), 1996. ISBN 0-670-86814-0
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.