246 pages, indexed. The pages are lightly tanned, else the book appears unread. "The 1945 VFL Grand Final was Melbourne's first major sporting event after the end of World War II. The game was advertised as "the Victory Grand Final" and signalled an end to global violence and bloodshed. Ironically those are the characteristics that will forever be associated with the game which has entered the folklore of Aussie Rules football as "the Bloodbath". (Back cover)