The Bulldogs faced a familiar problem, of their own making, early in the game. They were hunting the ball, hunting any Swans who had it and creating plenty of opportunities, but burning the ball almost every time they headed into their forward line, either kicking without looking, kicking too quickly, taking too long and looking more disorganised than the Swans, who had scored their first goal by then and missed another two. Zaine Cordy was one of many culprits for the Bulldogs, snapping out on the full from the pocket when he could have passed to Lachie Hunter, but he made up for it just before the 20 minute mark. After Heath Grundy marked 40 metres from the Bulldogs' goal he handballed sideways to Callum Mills, who tried to step around Cordy and get the ball clear. Cordy grabbed him from front-on, held on, won a free kick and kicked the best goal of his young career from 45 metres out on the boundary. Down by eight points the Dogs were all of a sudden up, about and in the game, a Tory Dickson goal less than two minutes later pushing them to the front.

SECOND QUARTER

The Swans have huge heart, and did not allow the Bulldogs' momentum early in the second quarter - they kicked three of the first four goals to lead by 16 points - to grow into anything more. Josh Kennedy, Tom Mitchell, Luke Parker and Dan Hannebery were among those who made sure of that. Rohan knew what no-one else seemed to - that the umpire had called play on - when he marked about 30 metres out, kept moving, leaned back and snapped a goal. But it was Hunter and Liam Picken who combined to create the most memorable moment of the term. Picken ran onto a loose ball in the forward pocket, shook his opponent away, grabbed the ball, flicked it back towards Hunter and kept running away from goal. Hunter, confronted by two Swans, lifted the ball up high and handballed it over the back of his head towards Picken while looking in the opposite direction. Picken looked up for one second, looked down for another and threw the ball onto his boot, curling a goal through from the pocket.

THIRD QUARTER

Look up one-percenters in the Western Bulldogs' history book; if there isn't a picture of Dale Morris there, there should be by the time the next edition comes up. The defender was coming at a loose ball from an awkward angle midway through the third term but had no choice but to throw himself at it; a mostly open forward line loomed ahead of Sydney forward Tom Papley had he been able to gather it and run away from the diving Dog. Morris flung himself over the ball, trapped it, fed it straight back out and watched as his teammates whisked it to the other end of the ground. One free kick - to Luke Dahlhaus after a Sydney fend-off - helped them keep the ball in their half. Another - to Clay Smith for a high tackle that didn't quite seem to connect - set up a shot on goal. Smith scored, the Bulldogs took the lead and by the end of the quarter had stretched it back out to eight points.

FOURTH QUARTER

Where to start? Liam Picken's chase down tackle on Dane Rampe? Tom Boyd's third goal, set up when Dale Morris stripped Lance Franklin of the ball? Jason Johannisen's running goal from 50 metre that seemed to land in just the right spot between Rampe and Jeremy Laidler's outstretched on the goal line and secure the win, only to be overruled by the upstairs umpire? Picken's third goal, where he grabbed the ball in the goal square, turned and thumped if through, absolutely put things beyond doubt. Jake Stringer, who had barely touched the ball before he ripped it out of a stoppage and was celebrating before it had finished flying through. But let's give this one to Bob Murphy, who has led his team so well for so long, who helped get them here. With a few minutes to go the Bulldogs' captain stood on the boundary line, tears in his eyes, watching his teammates end a tremendously long wait with a tremendous ever, and get their hands on the club's second-ever premiership cup. Coach Luke Beveridge removing his medallion, calling Murphy up onto the podium and handing it over is a moment that will not be easily forgotten anyone watching this game.