This season was played under the amended Argus System. South Melbourne was the minor premier, and Collingwood had finished second. The teams both qualified for this match by winning their semi-finals matches.
If Collingwood had won this match, South Melbourne would have had the right to challenge Collingwood to a rematch for the premiership on the following weekend, because South was the minor premier. The winner of that match would then have won the premiership.[1]