This was North Melbourne's first-ever VFL Grand Final, while Essendon were competing in their fifth successive premiership decider. They were the reigning premiers, having defeated Carlton in the 1949 VFL Grand Final. Essendon's victory sent the retiring Dick Reynolds out in style, although he would come out of retirement for one final game in 1951.
Essendon team photo, 1950. BACK (L–R): Jones, May, Bigelow, McClure, McConnell, Snell, Coleman, Brittingham. CENTRE (L–R): Allanson, C. Lambert, McDonald, McEwin, Reynolds (capt/coach), Hutchison, Gardiner, Hassell. FRONT (L–R): Leehane, Bradley, H. Lambert, Tate.
Essendon
Coleman 4
Reynolds 2
Syme 2
Dale 1
Harper 1
Hutchison 1
McEwin 1
Snell 1
North Melbourne
Spencer 3
Robb 2
Brooker 1
Dynon 1
Notes
^This is the official attendance. Some other sources provide an attendance number of 87,601 [1]
Atkinson, Graeme; Atkinson, Brant (2009). The Complete Book of AFL Finals (4th ed.). The Five Mile Press. ISBN9781742112756.
Main, Jim (2006). When it matters most : the Norm Smith Medallist and best on ground in every Grand Final. Melbourne, Victoria: Bas Publishing. ISBN1920910689.
Ross, John, ed. (1996). 100 Years of Australian Football 1897–1996: The Complete Story of the AFL, All the Big Stories, All the Great Pictures, All the Champions, Every AFL Season Reported. Ringwood, Victoria: Viking. ISBN0-670-86814-0.
