Supporters were “Up the Junction” in 1944, making their way to the Junction Oval, hosting the Grand Final for the first time since 1899, baked by hot winds on a 30C day with trams and busses on strike. It had been another tough wartime season, so tough even Jack Dyer got suspended, for the only time in his career. Some had suggested that anyone who hit Dyer deserved a Victoria Cross. The Tigers had considered a boycott in protest against a teammate's suspension but were in their third Grand Final in a row against Fitzroy, back in the Grand Final 22 years after their last premiership. As the Allies progressed through Europe and the Pacific, football administrators grappled with the future of football, would their be peace in our time between the VFL and the VFA?

Join us as we delve into the stories of resilience, sportsmanship, and historical significance that shaped the 1944 VFL season.