After dropping to eighth in 1945 and missing the finals, Essendon was back in business in 1946, finishing on top and two games clear.

After trailing Melbourne at half-time in the Grand Final, the Bombers kicked 11 goals to one in the third quarter and ran out easy winners.

Gordon Lane kicked seven goals - still the equal highest by an Essendon player in a winning Grand Final.

The game returned to the MCG for the first time since 1941.

Essendon 7.2  9.7  20.15  22.18 (150)
Melbourne 8.3  10.4  11.5  13.9 (87)

Best: Lane, Hutchison, Buttsworth, Ruddell, Bushby, H. Lambert

Goals: Lane 7, Brittingham 4, Hutchison 3, D. Reynolds 3, McClure 2, Equid, Rawle, Cassin

Team

B: L. Gardiner, C. Ruddell, P. Bushby

HB: H. Tonkes, W. Buttsworth, H. Lambert

C: G. Hassell, B. Pearson, B. Harper

HF: H. Equid, G. Lane, D. Reynolds

F: B. McClure, B. Brittingham, K. Rawle

R: G. Abbott, J. Cassin, B. Hutchison

Reserves: J. Jones, C. Lambert

Captain/coach: Dick Reynolds

Honours

Best and fairest: Bill Hutchison

Leading goalkicker: Bill Britingham (66)