2. The Dogs' youngsters are stacked full of character
Zaine Cordy hasn't been a major player in the Bulldogs' brilliant finals run, but he's made a habit of making some big moments count. The young tall forward made a mistake by ignoring Lachie Hunter at the top of the goalsquare early, before kicking the ball out on the full, then a minute later, was softly pushed aside in a marking contest with Heath Grundy. But he didn't drop his head, and when Grundy dished off to Callum Mills, Cordy jumped on the Rising Star winner to earn himself a free kick. The 19-year-old then calmly slotted the Dogs' opening goal from an acute angle, and everybody had forgotten his earlier howler.

3. Josh Kennedy's first half was one of for the ages
He was ranked as one the game's best inside midfielders heading into the match, and by half-time of the Grand Final, the star Swan had all but jumped clear of the rest of the competition. Kennedy had an incredible 22 possessions, five inside 50s, three tackles, two centre clearances, and two crucial second-quarter goals. The 28-year-old monstered the Bulldogs through the middle of the ground, and sparked the Swans' run of four straight goals, when they reeled in a 16-point deficit to lead by eight points midway through the term. A big body around stoppages, Kennedy proved almost unstoppable for the Dogs, and once again showed why he's so highly regarded as a big game specialist.

4. Tom Boyd came of age when faced with his biggest test
The former No.1 draft selection has copped his fair share of heat for his form and contract, but he took a significant step forward against the Swans. Boyd jumped at the footy like we've rarely seen so far in his short career, and took eight marks, six of them contested in the decider. It's a performance that could finally kick start the 21-year-old and give him the confidence to assert himself on the competition, like Geelong's Tom Hawkins did back in the Cats' 2011 flag win. His third goal deep into the last term was monstrous.

5. Liam Picken is made for finals
The Bulldogs hard nut has been a revelation during the finals so far and was brilliant again in the big one. A last-quarter hanger showed just how far he's come from being the team's tagger and dour stopper. Picken's competitiveness and team-first attitude have always been his forte, and he's now added the polish. Finished with 25 possessions and three crucial goals, two of them in a pulsating last term.

6. The Joel Hamling-Lance Franklin duel was a beauty
Nobody gave Hamling a chance of curbing the superstar's influence, but he did as well as anyone could have expected. Franklin suffered an ankle injury in the opening term, which looked to affect his mobility, and he still finished the match with 16 disposals, eight marks, and a goal, but Hamling's ability to fight and scrap for every contest was outstanding. The young defender has had his critics at times, and he can thank his teammates up the ground for helping him out, but he can rest easy knowing he has that premiership medallion around his neck, and played a huge part in it.

7. There's will be some sore boys after this epic
Players from both sides treated the last game of the year like it was their last, as they should, and they're lucky there is no next week. Franklin (ankle), Hannebery (knee), and Jason Johannisen (calf) all played on despite obvious injuries, and there were countless others who were bashed and crashed in massive contests around the ground. All 44 men played their hearts out in a classic decider, and the fans and everyone looking on, were treated to an epic.

8. Heath Grundy's intercept marking is elite
The veteran was outstanding deep in defence for the losers with nine marks, four of them contested, under immense pressure from the Bulldogs. The Dogs played into his hands on several occasions by bombing the footy inside 50, and the 30-year-old cleaned up like he always does. Grundy finished the day with 21 possessions and seven rebound 50s for the Swans, and can hold his head high in a losing cause.