It was the 55th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the premiers for the 1952 VFL season.

The match, attended by 81,304 spectators, was won by Geelong by 46 points, marking that club's fifth premiership victory and second in succession.

In to the side was Les Smith, Harvey Stevens and Keith Batchelor who made his debut at full back.

It took until the halfway mark of the third before Geelong finally decided enough was enough and in a blitz added five goals to finish the quarter with a 39 point lead.

With the game out of reach the Magpies attack constantly for little reward, seven behinds from their slow, lumbersome forwards.