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Carlton's Ted Kennedy had begun at Essendon, whilst the Same Old's Jim 'Bull' Martin was formerly of the Blues.
Selections and poor media rooms aside, the press and the fans enjoyed a tense opening term, with the Blues striking first (The Herald):
A mighty roar from nearly 40,000 throats was sent up when the ball was set in motion. Kennedy forwarded to Hammond, and a behind followed soon after the start.
The Carltonians were again attacking hard, but Busbridge relieved away to the right and the ball went sailing to the wing centre. Jinks centred from half back and Marchbank played the ball on to the forward line, where Gotz grabbed it. With a running punt he bagged first goal of the day. The Carlton flags were fluttered in thousands round the ring and the barrackers from the north roared with delight.
The Age reported it slightly differently with a snap goal and some physicality in response:
By good play Jinks gave a chance to Marchbank, who kicked short, but Gotz snapped a goal cleverly for Carlton. Then a determined attack by Essendon brought Clark’s powerful defensive play into prominence and the countryman Heaphy apparently losing his head, sent Flynn flying with a vigorous back push.
Carlton went further ahead shortly after:
Then Marchback, marking from Payne drop-kicked Carlton’s second goal. The premiers of the last two seasons were playing right at their top, and a good bit of concerted play by Lang and Elliott enabled Gardiner to cleverly screw another behind, making Carlton’s score 2.3 to nil –a big lead to achieve in the first 20 minutes of a final match for the premiership, and with a cross-wind blowing.
In the last few minutes of the quarter, Essendon were able to strike back. They opened their score with a behind before Shea kicked Essendon’s first major with a snap shot. Carlton were up by 8 points at the first break; incidentally this would be close to the final margin. At the quarter time break, Worrall swung the changes and Jinks, Flynn and Alex ‘Bongo’ Lang replaced Johnson, Hammond and Elliott in the rucks.
Carlton at once attacked, and a nice succession of passes by Kennedy, Lang and Elliott enabled Gardiner to add a behind, and immediately afterwards the Carlton captain, Elliott, out of a crowd, kicked a goal from the ground. (The Age)
Griffiths, who was playing like a Trojan, passed to Legge, who made amends for some previous fumbling by kicking Essendon’s second goal, and a brief period of sharply and evenly contested play ensured before Gardiner passed to Kennedy, who, being left alone, had a good clear space to himself, which clearly indicated lack of observation by the Essendon captain. Several times Kennedy, through being poorly guarded, had streaked away from the centre wing with the ball, and on this occasion he was near enough to score Carlton’s fourth goal with a grand long place kick. (The Age)
The players were making a splendid spectacle. It was full of vim and dash. The pace at times was tremendous. Free kicks were numerous, but these may always be looked for in matches of this kind where the players are apt to be over keen. (The Herald)
Off they went again, Marchbank played over to Kennedy, who made another brilliant dash along the right wing. Gotz next entered into possession and when hard pressed punched the ball to Gardiner. The little man was sent sprawling, but Kelly chipped in and grabbing the ball, drove it between the posts. Fifth goal to Carlton. (The Herald)
On a difficult day for play, with a diagonal wind impacting on everyone’s kicking, Carlton had scored 5 majors to Essendon’s 2 for the first half.
