The game was played under atrocious ground conditions in front of 16,538 people at the Junction Oval.

[9] The Junction Oval was in an appalling condition,[8] as the ground had not been used since the second Saturday of the sectional round-robin match three weeks earlier (3 September); and, since then, it had been thoroughly top-dressed and "cultivated" in anticipation of the coming cricket season.

[8] Also, the cricket ground's asphalt cycling track that lay between the boundary line and the fence presented a considerable danger to the footballers.

[8] This view was also strongly supported by Fitzroy, whose captain, Alec Sloan, had also taken the step of signing a statutory declaration to the effect that, in his opinion, the ground was entirely unfit to play on.

[11] Essendon immediately lodged an appeal with the VFL against the match arrangement committee's decision, partly on the basis of the condition of the ground and partly because the committee, asked to decide on one of three mutually acceptable venues, had chosen a fourth that was acceptable to neither participant.

Fitzroy selected a set of brothers in its team: Jim and Mick Grace (see TALK page).

[20] Essendon were further demoralized when Fitzroy champion forward and follower Mick Grace, renowned for his marking skill and kicking prowess, flew high over a pack to take a spectacular high mark and kicked a long-range goal.