In a historically low scoring match marred by persistent heavy rain, Collingwood defeated Richmond by twelve points, to win its sixth VFL premiership.

Collingwood was a more experienced and bigger-bodied team, while Richmond was known as a more speedy, skilful and youthful side,[2] and an even match was expected.

[5] Conditions were also very windy: during the first half of the curtain-raiser (before the rain began), fourteen of fifteen goals had been scored with the aid of the strong south-westerly wind.

[5][3] Richmond attacked first and most often in the first ten minutes of play without score, its best chance a shot by Frank O'Brien which went between the goal posts but was called back for a free kick to Collingwood.

[5][2] George Rudolph secured Richmond's first behind with a long kick which hit the goal post low down.

[5] Another strong attempt was stopped by Syd Coventry,[2] before Richmond managed two more behinds: one by Allan Geddes in the rush,[5][10] and the other by Jack McCormack from a long range free kick.

[5] The match was a gruelling scramble through the rain and slush, and Collingwood's defence led by Syd Coventry had done its best to keep Richmond goalless.

Rowe kicked his second behind after Collingwood rebounded from Richmond's attack,[5] and Gordon Coventry had a shot from a sharp angle but put it out of bounds.

[5][10] After 35 minutes play across the two quarters, Gordon Coventry kicked the match's first goal,[11] capitalising on sustained pressure to secure a long set shot with the wind from the southern flank.

[5][10] Then, shortly before half time, Gordon Coventry received a pass from Harry Collier and snapped his second goal, extending the margin to 14 points.

[12] The players, who were mud sodden,[11] changed into fresh uniforms, with second guernseys underneath for warmth; many of the Richmond players' partially visible under-guernseys were in an assortment of non-Richmond colours, giving the team an unusual multi-coloured appearance, while Collingwood remained in uniform black and white.

[2][11] Collingwood crowded the match to defend its lead, before advancing the ball and kicking three quick behinds, the third to Harris coming particularly close to goal.

Late in the match, Collingwood's Harold Rumney kicked out of bounds from a shot from right in front which would have put the result beyond doubt.

Albert Collier, Charlie Dibbs, Leo Wescott, Frank Murphy, Percy Rowe and Bob Makeham (who was widely lauded for his strong marking) also figured among Collingwood's best.

[5] Frank O'Brien, who also handled the ball well, forward/followers Jack Fincher and Doug Hayes, and defenders Cyril Lilburne and Don Harris were also among the best.

[16] A charity rematch for the Lord Mayor's fund was considered for the following Saturday to make up for the lack of spectacle and takings,[11] but Collingwood declined to play against Richmond at risk that its premiership would be diminished in the event of defeat.

[19] Neither team made any changes to its initially selected semi-final eighteen for the match, but Richmond made one late change: George Robinson coming in for Jack Baggott – the club's leading goalkicker in his first senior season – who suffered a side injury after falling heavily from a high mark in Thursday's training session.