'The Football Record': special editions for the 1948 1st Semi-Final, Collingwood V Footscray, ; 2nd Semi-Final, Essendon V Melbourne; Preliminary Final, Melbourne V Collingwood; the Grand Final, Essendon V Melbourne; and the Grand Final Replay Essendon V Melbourne; all are more-or-less aged, condition overall. (5). The Grand Final between Melbourne and Essendon, held at the MCG on 2 October 1948, was a drawn match: Melbourne 10.9 (69) to Essendon 7.27 (69), before a crowd of 85,815. Melbourne 13.11 (89) defeated Essendon 7.8 (50), in the Grand Final Replay that was held at the MCG on 9 October 1948, in front of 52,226 people.