Essendon endured a 17-year premiership drought before finally winning its 11^th flag.

The MCG had been taken over by the US Air Force to billet its personnel, so every finals game that year was played at Princes Park.

It was the first of four premierships for Dick Reynolds as captain-coach.

His brother Tom was the Bombers' leading goalkicker in 1942, with 61 goals to his name.

Essendon 2.6  8.14  14.16  19.18 (132)
Richmond 2.4  4.4  5.10  11.13 (79)

Best: D. Reynolds, Dearle, Abbott, Coward, Buttsworth, Flanagan

Goals: Lane 6, D. Reynolds 4, Cassin 3, Exelby 2, Dearle 2, Abbott, T. Reynolds

Team

B: E. Plummer, C. Ruddell, P. Bushby

HB: B. Flanagan, W. Buttsworth, A. Hird

C: E. Coward, L. Dearle, J. Caesar

HF: G. Abbott, G. Lane, B. Hutchison

F: T. Reynolds, T. Leehane, M. Exelby

R: H. Torney, J. Cassin, D. Reynolds

Reserve: S. Silk

Captain/coach: Dick Reynolds

Average age: 25

Average games: 68

Honours

Best and fairest: Dick Reynolds

Leading goalkicker: Tom Reynolds (61)