1946 VFL Grand Final — Bombers’ Post-War Demolition

The 1946 VFL Grand Final saw Essendon defeat Melbourne 22.18 (150) to 13.9 (87) at the MCG — a 63-point thrashing in the highest-scoring Grand Final to date. Played on 28 September 1946 in front of 73,000 fans, Essendon’s premiership confirmed Dick Reynolds’s coaching tenure as one of the era’s most successful.

The Build-Up: Bombers’ Era

Essendon, under Dick Reynolds, had been progressively building. The post-war era was beginning.

Melbourne had reached the Grand Final but the Demons’ early-1950s dynasty was years away.

The Match: Bombers’ Demolition

Essendon led from first bounce. Multiple Bombers contributed; the high-scoring 22.18 demonstrated their offensive prowess.

Final score: Essendon 22.18 (150) defeated Melbourne 13.9 (87) — a 63-point margin.

Famous Moments

• Multiple Bombers’ contributions.
• Dick Reynolds’s tactical genius.
• The 63-point Bombers margin.
• The 22.18 scoreline — high-scoring Grand Final.
• The crowd of 73,000.
• Bombers’ supporter celebrations.
• Norm Smith Medal not yet instituted.
• The post-war era beginning.
• Demons’ continuing pre-Norm-Smith struggles.
• Standard MCG atmosphere.

Trivia for the Pub

• Date: 28 September 1946, MCG.
• Final: Essendon 22.18 (150) defeated Melbourne 13.9 (87).
• Margin: 63 points.
• Crowd: 73,000.
• Essendon’s 8th VFL premiership.
• Dick Reynolds’s coaching success.
• The 22 goals scored by Essendon were among the most in any Grand Final.
• Norm Smith Medal not yet instituted.
• The 1946 win was the first major post-war Bombers flag.
• The post-war era began.

The Verdict

The 1946 VFL Grand Final launched the post-war Bombers era. Long live the 1946 Bombers.