Some sat on their haunches, other standing with their hands on their hips. It is becoming a familiar sight for Swans fans.

For the second time in three seasons, the Swans have fallen at the final hurdle. Two years ago it was they had been battered into submission by the Hawthorn juggernaut. This time they had been banged up by the Western Bulldogs, who for the first time in 62 years are premiers.

Gallant the Swans were, but the pain of this defeat will only be marginally less than that of 2014.

In 2005 it was the Swans' turn to end a drought that had lasted generations, now they had been reduced to the role of villain in Victoria's fairytale. And in fairytales the good guys always win.

The Swans were beaten at their own game by a Bulldogs team that was being spurred on rather than weighed down by history. They may not have been as brutal as the Hawks or even Greater Western Sydney three weeks ago, but the impact was similar.

They out-hunted the Swans, who withstood the onslaught for a half but ultimately buckled.

Josh Kennedy was superb, but was left to do too much in the midfield. Dan Hannebery was missed after Easton Wood cannoned into his knee, while Luke Parker lowered his colours again in a grand final.

Lance Franklin kicked a big goal when the game was in the balance, but was well beaten by the unfashionable Joel Hamling, who played the game of his life.

It was the Bulldogs' million dollar man Tom Boyd who ruled. He had been one of the most maligned players in the competition but those days must surely be over.

In a low-scoring game, his three goals were priceless, so too his marking. No player came close to his six contested marks. His third goal brought the Swans to their knees.

The fast start that has been a strength for the Swans did not eventuate. At their best, they crash and bash and send the Sherrin ricocheting like a pinball. It is controlled chaos, but the pressure from the Bulldogs was so intense that the ball was being treated with as much finesse as a hot potato.

This was hand to hand combat, with neither side able to get the ball clear. Scoring opportunities were rare, the first goal not coming until 12 minutes in, to Parker.

It should have been three goals to nothing, but missed chances hurt the Swans. The Dogs settled after Zaine Cordy bought himself a goal through a strong tackle on Callum Mills, then proceeded to control the next 20 minutes of play.

They rushed the Swans by limiting their space. This played into the hands of their half-backs Jason Johannisen and Matthew Boyd, who patrolled their zones with the alertness that Ricky Ponting used to show inside the circle in the other major sport played at the venue.

The Dogs were winning key contests and making the most of their chances. They could not miss, whether it be from the boundary line or with snaps over their shoulder.

Liam Picken's at the 11-minute mark stretched the Dogs' lead to 16 points - and Melbourne's western suburbs were rocking.

Sensing the urgency, Kennedy imposed himself on the game. It was as if he had his grandfather's famous "don't think, do" echoing in his mind.

Everything the Swans did had his fingerprints. Pace he does not have, but his reaction times are faster than most. He won important clearances but it was his two goals, both from stoppages that were invaluable.

A trend had been set. Both teams were enjoying decent-sized chunks of play where they had the run of play and how much they made of it was instructive.

The Dogs' turn came in what they call the premiership quarter. The ball was parked in their half. Boyd was playing like a colossus, bringing back memories of Tom Hawkins' famous coming of age in the 2011 grand final.

He may not have been kicking goals but he was imposing in the air, at times harder to pass than Pong. His big moment was to come.