 Played only shortly after the conclusion of the second World War, the 1945 grand final was the first played in peace time since 1938.The league's normal finals venue, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, remained unavailable as it was still set up for military use, as it had been for the previous four years.As in 1942 and 1943, the league opted to play the finals series, including the Grand Final, at 's home venue, Princes Park, preferring it to the lower capacity St Kilda Cricket Ground which had hosted in 1944.