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)