Ballantyne's Grand Final won't be remembered all too fondly. He missed an early chance at goal – a snap on his left foot – and it started a trend for him. In total he kicked two behinds but another couple of shots also failed to score. He missed a crucial shot late in the game. As the Dockers made a very late surge, he missed a running attempt at goal. He will rue the opportunities he failed to convert. 

Strong over the ball, clean with his hands, and blessed with an ability to just keep running, Barlow was one of Fremantle's best players. He finished with 23 touches and eight tackles, but started to find more and more space in the second and third terms. When the Dockers made their charge in the third quarter, he was one of the key contributors.   

The back-up ruckman started deep forward, and was trying to use his height to expose his opponent Luke Hodge. He dropped an uncontested mark in the second term when thinking pressure was coming, but did rebound to help set up a goal for captain Matthew Pavlich in the third term. Clarke's day ended prematurely, however, when he was subbed out of the game early in the last quarter after only five disposals. 

Having been the talk of the Grand Final pre-match, Crowley might have expected some fiery antics from his Hawthorn opponents. That didn't eventuate, and in the meantime, he focused on his job: stopping Sam Mitchell. And he achieved that, holding Mitchell to 12 touches (his lowest tally since round two, 2009). Crowley played within the rules and won the battle through working hard and knowing how to play his role. 

 

Started the first bounce against Jarryd Roughead but switched early to Jack Gunston, who beat Dawson convincingly. Gunston was too smart for Dawson in one-on-one battles, including a marking contest at the top of Hawthorn's goalsquare when Gunston marked cleverly. Was unlucky to have a free kick called against him for pushing Roughead in the back in the third term. Dawson didn't register a kick – his seven disposals were all handballs. 

 

The versatile Docker had 10 disposals by half-time but didn't really damage Hawthorn with them. After the main break he tried at times to contain Shaun Burgoyne when he moved into the midfield. Of de Boer's 16 disposals, only three were kicks, indicating his willingness to work hard at the stoppages. 

 

A strong game from the under-rated defender, who beat a number of opponents as well as set things up from the back half. He took on and outplayed Paul Puopolo, negating his defensive pressure. On Cyril Rioli he also did a good job, while he also spent some time on Jack Gunston. He laid a terrific tackle on Ben Stratton as the Hawks defender ran through the centre, which led to a Fremantle scoring shot in the third term. Duffield had 17 disposals.  

Fyfe was one of the favourites to win the Norm Smith Medal, and showed why in the first half on Saturday. He had eight disposals in the first term and another 10 in the second to be the leading possession-winner on the ground at the main break. Of those 18, 13 were contested, showing his talent. Unfortunately for the Dockers, however, Fyfe had two shots at goal in the first term, both of which sailed out of bounds on the full. He had another shot later in the game but could manage only a behind, with his wayward kicking the only flaw in his game. Fyfe ended with 28 touches and was sore and sorry. But he could barely have done any more and proved he is a champion of the future. 

Hill started proceedings matched against his brother, Bradley, and after some nervous moments early he settled into a very good Grand Final effort. He was one of Fremantle's better players in their 15-point defeat, particularly in the third term when he was on the end of a number of clearances. He swung on to his left foot, hit targets and was creative with his disposal. 

 

Started strongly and may have been in consideration for the Norm Smith after his first-half. Was everywhere in the opening term, mopping up in defence, taking intercepting marks, and doing it with ease. His run and skill was a standout, and he was also brave. He went back with the flight to take a mark in front of Roughead in the third term, which started the move towards a Michael Walters goal. Showed no signs of the calf injury which had him under a small injury cloud this week. 

Didn’t have the start he would have hoped for, with Mayne not touching the ball in the opening term. He had only three by half-time, and looked like he was in for a really disappointing day. Luckily, he turned it around in the third term. His key moment was a 55-metre set shot goal he slammed home in the third term which got the Dockers within two points of the Hawks. He tried to create throughout, and he had 10 touches after half-time. 

 

Started on Gunston, who kicked the opening goal, before going to Lance Franklin. He managed to blanket Franklin as a goalkicker, with Buddy only booting one major. That, however, came as a result of a silly mistake by McPharlin, who ran over the mark and gave away a 50-metre penalty. McPharlin marked well and shutdown his opponent but made some crucial foot errors that were costly. 

 

Perhaps Freo's most consistent player from start to finish. Gathered seven touches in the first term but came into it in the second quarter. He was most influential player on the ground in the third term, when Freo kicked five goals. He made three clearances for the term and was the most dominant player in the centre square. He fed the ball out but also ran with it. The Hawks sent Liam Shiels to him but he just kept running. Will share best and fairest votes with Fyfe for this game, particularly given he laid seven tackles. 

 

It took until 12 minutes into the second term, but Mzungu booted Fremantle's first goal in a Grand Final when he marked and slotted the shot from a 45-degree angle. Spent a lot of the game roaming up and back the wing, and some of it matched with Jordan Lewis. Energetic at clearances and strong overhead, Mzungu was a solid contributor.  

 

Having had such an influence last week against the Sydney Swans as Fremantle's substitute, Neale again started in the green vest for the Grand Final. He came on in the fourth term for Clarke and had seven disposals. 

The Freo skipper didn't touch the ball in the opening term, but did grab the first mark of the second quarter, which might have lifted his confidence. However, that might not have lasted long given he soon after missed a simple shot at goal from 30 metres. Like all champions, he didn't give in, and his reward for effort came in the third term with two goals. The first was via a free kick, and the other a handball in the goal square, but he had begun to have a presence. That continued for the rest of the game and Pavlich left the MCG with three goals, 13 disposals and six marks. 

 

Found a bit of the ball early across half-back but would look up and see few options leading at him, which meant several of his possessions were wasted. In particular, his first kick across goal was intercepted by Roughead inside 50. Lacked composure several times, including when he had a flying shot at goal in the second term. Kicked a nice snap goal in the last quarter, however, and found 17 disposals. 

Sandilands was always going to dominate in the ruck, it was just a matter if the Dockers would be able to capitalise on it. It took until later in the second term for them to start doing that, and it continued thereafter. Had a huge influence around the stoppages in the third quarter when the midfield was more organised, and tried his heart out around the ground. Finished with 44 hit-outs and 13 disposals to end an outstanding finals series. 

Spurr went off with the blood rule in the opening term and returned with the essential bandage around his forehead. Was brave with his ball use and smothered Luke Breust as he ran into a goal in the second quarter. 

 

Had a bad miss on the run in first term with little pressure around him, which exemplified their slow start. Missed again when he found space near goal in the third term. Had 12 disposals. 

 

Not many people beyond Perth would have recognised the man who was assigned the job of stopping Cyril Rioli, but Sutcliffe put in a good effort. When he had the chance he ran with confidence out of defence, and also jumped around to take the duties on Bradley Hill. Tried hard and the 21-year-old, in only his 23rd AFL game, will be better for the experience. 

 

Walters threatened to turn the game Fremantle's way. After struggling to break into the game in the first half, Walters had an enormous third term. His forward pressure lifted, and he reaped the benefits. At one of the biggest moments of the contest, he slotted a set shot to put Fremantle within 10 points. He kicked another goal in the quarter after taking a 'mini-hanger'.