It was the 68th annual grand final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the premiers for the 1965 VFL season.

The match, attended by 104,846 spectators, was won by Essendon by a margin of 35 points, marking that club's 12th premiership victory.

St Kilda were minor premiers for the first time in their history and, after beating Collingwood by a point in the semi-final, found themselves competing in just their second-ever grand final and first since 1913, which they lost to Fitzroy.

Essendon, on the other hand, last won a premiership three years previously.

The Bombers set up their win in the third quarter, scoring five goals to just one by the Saints.