Preliminary Final, 1946
Melbourne vs Collingwood
Saturday 28 September
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 59,444
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.3 | 5.9 | 9.13 | 16.17.113 |
| Collingwood | 5.8 | 8.11 | 13.12 | 14.16.100 |
Melbourne win by 13 points
Goalkickers: Jack Mueller 8, Ernie O'Rourke 3, Jim Mitchell 2, Adrian Dullard 1, Alby Rodda 1, Norm Smith 1
Milestones:
Nil
After beating Footscray in the Semi Final, the Demons were given an unexpected extra week off after Essendon and Collingwood played out a draw in their semi. Demon chairman Joe Blair had died during the week, and players wore black armbands in his honour.
Collingwood were the better side most of the day but failed to take advantage. Melbourne got the first goal before the opposition took over. The Pies were battle hardened, and after three weeks off Melbourne looked sluggish trailing by as much as 29 points during the second quarter. The Demons had the first chance at a goal in the second term but a shot on goal fell in the square. From there Collingwood outpaced their heavier opponents and held a 23 point lead at the last break before they became leg weary.
Little did the Magpies know that Mueller might not even have played after pulling a thigh muscle during Thursday night training, and he was only cleared to play shortly before the first bounce. He started in the ruck, but with an eye to preserving him he soon went forward and it turned out to be a key move.
O'Rourke got the first goal of the last quarter to reduce the gap before Collingwood reinstated the gap with a goal of their own. From there it was all Melbourne - they kicked the next six, including four of Mueller's eight in the last twenty minutes as the Magpies stopped to a walk and as three tough games in a row took their toll on the Magpies, Melbourne booked their place in the Grand Final.
Best were Mueller, Dockett and Mitchell. Dockett suffered a bruised thigh and was replaced by 19th man Byfield six minutes before the end of the game.
Notes
Some sources say Dockett had a back injury
Media
Sporting Globe - 25/09/1946
Sporting Globe - 25/09/1946
Age - 27/09/1946
Argus - 27/09/1946
Herald - 28/09/1946
Sporting Globe - 28/09/1946
Age - 30/09/1946
Argus - 30/09/1946
Sporting Globe - 02/10/1946
Football Record Week 4 finals 1946
Football Record Week 5 finals 1946