It was the first carnival to be hosted in Queensland and with the ANFC spending more than £15,000 as part of a major effort to promote the code in the state.
Rain was a constant throughout the carnival and as a result most games were held on a soggy Brisbane Exhibition Ground.
The Tasmanian team joined them, having qualified through winning Section B of the 1947 Carnival and a team representing the VFA competed in the top section for the first time, as they were now full members of the Australian National Football Council.
The VFA defeated South Australia by eight points in what was the biggest upset of the tournament.
[2] However the ANFC's gate takings were well below expected, resulting in a massive £10,000 loss.