This moment is the seventh of a virtual series presenting the Bombers' best 30 moments over 150 years, which fans can vote on for their chance to win prizes. Click here to view and vote, and see the schedule and prizes below.
With the war finally over, many former or future VFL players returned to Australia to begin rebuilding the country in the post-war era. At Essendon, some 17 past or future premiership heroes arrived at Windy Hill in time for the 1946 football season.
Having missed the finals in 1945, captain-coach Dick Reynolds now had a list of high-quality players at his disposal. Indeed, each of Gordon Abbott, Noel Allanson, Jack Cassin, Jack Collins, Harry Equid, Vic Fisher, Bert Harper, Jack Jones, brothers Chris and Harold Lambert, Gordon Lane, Ted Leehane, Bob McClure, Bill Pearson, Keith Rawle, Cec Ruddell and Herb Tonkes were welcome sights at pre-season training.
With such a strong playing list now assembled, Reynolds, along with rover Bill Hutchison, led the post-war Bombers to 15 wins and a top-placed finish - their most successful season since 1911. But, in the semi-final clash with Collingwood, an unlikely draw- just the second in VFL finals history - halted Essendon’s charge.
A week later in the replay, the Bombers came from behind to beat the Magpies by 19 points. Their Grand Final opponent was Melbourne, which had won all of its previous five Grand Finals. When the Demons jumped out to an early five-goal lead in 1946, it appeared their unblemished record would remain intact.
But, with Hutchison and Reynolds leading the way, and a dominant Lane making his presence felt at centre half-forward, the Bombers fought back to within seven points at quarter-time. It was the highest combined first-quarter score in Grand Final history: 8.3 (51) to 7.2 (44). In a tightly fought second term, the Demons took a three-point lead into half-time.
The third quarter has long been known as the “premiership quarter”, and there has been no greater example in Grand Final history than Essendon’s blistering third-term effort in 1946. The Bombers kicked 11.8 to just 1.1 in the third quarter to stun the 73,743 in attendance. When Reynolds was later asked about the onslaught that turned a three-point deficit into a 64-point lead, he said, “I felt I was a traffic cop just guiding them on down our way. We just got the ball anyway, anyhow. I don’t think we had any opponents at all.”
It was the highest scoring quarter in a VFL Grand Final to that point, setting up the highest final score, 22.18 (150) to 13.9 (87), and greatest Grand Final-winning margin (63 points) to that time. In a best-on-ground display, the 25-year-old Lane kicked seven goals, becoming just the fifth VFL player to score at least seven in a Grand Final.
SCHEDULE OF MOMENTS
Round 1 (launching May 6) - 1872-1939
Round 2 (launching May 10) - 1940-1959
Round 3 (launching May 15) - 1960-1979
Round 4 (launching May 20) - 1980-1989
Round 5 (launching May 25) - 1990-1999
Round 6 (launching May 30) - 2000-2021
Round 7 (launching June 4) - Finals round
PRIZES
Round 1 – One 2022 merchandise pack, including an Essendon New Era Black on Black 9FORTY Snapback cap ($40) and an Essendon Heritage Bar Scarf ($30)
Round 2 – One Essendon Fibre of Football Scarf ($80)
Round 3 - One Essendon Football Club 150-year anniversary commemorative mosaic ($295)
Round 4 – One Essendon Football Club 150-year anniversary commemorative mosaic ($295)
Round 5 – One 2022 team-signed guernsey ($500)
Round 6 – One copy of the Red & Black Collection special 150th anniversary book ($329)
Round 7 – One copy of the Red & Black Collection special 150th anniversary book ($329) and one 2022 team-signed guernsey ($500)
