John Coleman burst onto football’s stage with a 12-goal debut in round one and 100 goals for the season, his milestone coming in the grand final when he kicked six.
Essendon had finished fourth on percentage, equal on points with second and third.
The Bombers led all day in the Grand Final to beat Carlton by 73 points.
The win came as a relief to Bombers fans after the club finished runner-up in 1947 - by one point - and runner-up again in 1948, having drawn the first Grand Final and losing the replay.
Essendon 3.3 7.7 12.15 18.17 (125)
Carlton 2.4 2.10 3.12 6.16 (52)
Best: McClure, May, Hutchison, Coleman, Brittingham, McDonald
Goals: Coleman 6, Rawle 3, Hutchison 2, Syme 2, Jones 2, McEwin, Leehane, D. Reynolds
Team
B: A. Thaw, B. Brittingham, W. May
HB: L. Gardiner, R. McConnell, N. McDonald
C: V. Fisher, H. Lambert, B. Bradley
HF: J. Jones, T. Leehane, R. McEwin
F: D. Reynolds, J. Coleman, K. Rawle
R: B. McClure, B. Syme, B. Hutchison
Reserves: G. Lane, G. Hassell
Captain/Coach: D. Reynolds
Honours
Best and fairest: John Coleman
Leading goalkicker: John Coleman (100)