THE TEAM at AFL.com.au is predicting a narrow Swans win, but a potential Bulldogs Norm Smith Medal in Saturday's Grand Final at the MCG.
Our 15 reporters favour the Swans 9-6 overall in their tips, but there is a fair bit of support for tenacious Dog Luke Dahlhaus to be named best on the ground.
Dahlhaus has been selected by three reporters as the likely winner of the Norm Smith, equal with second-year Swans gun Isaac Heeney, and hardened midfielder Josh Kennedy.
The biggest margin of victory predicted is 23 points to the Swans, indicating a close contest is likely to be the order of the day.
Bulldogs midfielder Lachie Hunter is the clear favourite to lead the disposal count for all players, picked by five of our reporters.
Check out the reporters' tips below and make your selection.
Nick Bowen
Winner: Sydney Swans, 11 points
Norm Smith Medal: Josh Kennedy
Most disposals: Lachie Hunter (37)
First kick: Marcus Bontempelli
First goal: Tory Dickson
Last goal: Lance Franklin
The talking point: In the dying minutes, the Bulldogs mount one final charge, pumping the ball deep inside their forward 50. As the ball drops short, Tom Boyd looks best placed to mark before Dane Rampe screams in from the side to take match-saving grab.
Sting should sing: King of Pain
WATCH: The last two minutes the last time they met
Ashley Browne
Winner: Sydney Swans, 10 points
Norm Smith Medal: Josh Kennedy
Most disposals: Jack Macrae (30)
First kick: Kieren Jack
First goal: Ben McGlynn
Last goal: Tory Dickson
The talking point: Two great midfielders going at each other, but the Dogs might struggle to quell the Swans' forward line if Franklin gets going and Tippett clunks a few. Jake Stringer needs to stand up and provide some spark and something for the Swans defenders to worry about.
Sting should sing: I Hope The Bulldogs Love Their Children Too
Adam Curley
Winner: Western Bulldogs, 11 points
Norm Smith Medal: Jack Macrae
Most disposals: Jack Macrae (37)
First kick: Luke Parker
First goal: Tom Papley
Last goal: Tom Boyd
The talking point: Jake Stringer turns a horrible day on its head when moved into the midfield for the final term, after being blanketed by All Australian Dane Rampe. The star Bulldog inspires his side to victory after trailing by 20-points at the last change.
Sting should sing: Bat out of Hell by Meatloaf
Ryan Davidson
Winner: Western Bulldogs, 11 points
Norm Smith Medal: Luke Dahlhaus
Most disposals: Lachie Hunter (27)
First kick: Josh Kennedy
First goal: Toby McLean
Last goal: Ben McGlynn
The talking point: Headlines will abound that the AFL's longest premiership drought has been broken when Luke Beveridge and Easton Wood lift the cup to a sea of adoring red, white and blue faithful.
Sting should sing: Sons of the 'Scray
Mega-preview: Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs
Nat Edwards
Winner: Sydney Swans, seven points
Norm Smith Medal: Josh Kennedy
Most disposals: Jack Macrae (30)
First kick: Lachie Hunter
First goal: Clay Smith
Last goal: Tom Papley
The talking point: Sydney Swans' youngsters make their mark on the big stage. Not overawed by the occasion, the Swans young guns in Isaac Heeney, Tom Papley, and Zak Jones rise to the challenge, leading the charge towards their first flag. Sting should sing: Nothing. I'd rather listen to Vance Joy
Lee Gaskin
Winner: Sydney Swans, three points
Norm Smith Medal: Isaac Heeney
Most disposals: Luke Parker (32)
First kick: Josh Kennedy
First goal: Lance Franklin
Last goal: Tory Dickson
The talking point: The Swans will skip away to a four-goal lead at the main break before the Bulldogs display the fight they're renowned for to get back in the contest. The Dogs will surge late, but Heath Grundy will replicate Leo Barry's famous mark from the 2005 Grand Final to secure the Swans the flag.
Sting should sing: Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Ben Guthrie
Winner: Sydney Swans by 17 points
Norm Smith Medal: Isaac Heeney
Most disposals: Josh Kennedy (32)
First kick: Dan Hannebery
First goal: Tory Dickson
Last goal: Gary Rohan
The talking point: When the game is at its most fierce in the third term, Isaac Heeney elevates himself above all others with a standout performance on the game's biggest stage.
Sting should sing: Every Breath You Take
Travis King
Winner: Western Bulldogs, eight points
Norm Smith Medal: Luke Dahlhaus
Most disposals: Luke Dahlhaus (34)
First kick: Josh Kennedy
First goal: Lance Franklin
Last goal: Clay Smith
The talking point: Charging into a wide-open forward line, Lance Franklin's 70m kick dribbles just to the wrong side of the behind post and he's pinged for deliberate out of bounds. The Dogs sweep the ball to the other end for Clay Smith to kick the match-sealing goal.
Sting should sing: King of Pain
Alex Malcolm
Winner: Sydney Swans, six points
Norm Smith Medal: Dan Hannebery
Most disposals: Josh Kennedy (34)
First kick: Marcus Bontempelli
First goal: Lance Franklin
Last goal: Dan Hannebery
The talking point: Franklin imposing himself in a tight, low-scoring encounter. He's had some big days in finals but this will be his finest hour. He'll impose himself physically and create goals through his presence, as he did in the first quarter of the preliminary final.
Sting should sing: Message in a Bottle
The day Buddy dropped eight on the Dogs
Dinny Navaratnam
Winner: Western Bulldogs, four points
Norm Smith Medal: Luke Dahlhaus
Most disposals: Josh Kennedy (32)
First kick: Dan Hannebery
First goal: Tom Papley
Last goal: Lance Franklin
The talking point: It will be a relatively quiet game from Jake Stringer from the first three quarters, but a moment of brilliance with 15 minutes remaining will see him fend off Josh Kennedy before snapping the ball through to put the Dogs ahead by seven points.
Sting should sing: Roxanne
Peter Ryan
Winner: Western Bulldogs, 8 points
Norm Smith Medal: Jason Johannisen
Most disposals: Lachie Hunter (33)
First kick: Dan Hannebery
First goal: Lance Franklin
Last goal: Josh Dunkley
The talking point: Buddy puts in a vintage Grand Final performance, kicking seven goals and showing himself the best player on the ground, but the Western Bulldogs stand up and remain in touch at three-quarter time. Coach Luke Beveridge asks Bob Murphy to address the troops at the last break and the Bulldogs kick six goals to zero in the last quarter to win.
Sting should sing: The Stooges' I Wanna Be Your Dog would be nice, but if he must play his own song then it has to be The Police's Message in a Bottle.
Nathan Schmook
Winner: Sydney Swans, 16 points
Norm Smith Medal: Isaac Heeney
Most disposals: Dan Hannebery (32)
First kick: Josh Kennedy
First goal: Gary Rohan
Last goal: Tory Dickson
The talking point: The battle between young Swans star Isaac Heeney and Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli, who both top off brilliant finals campaigns by playing key roles for their teams. Should the Dogs have done more to stop Heeney?
Sting should sing: Fields of Gold
Matt Thompson
Winner: Western Bulldogs, five points
Norm Smith Medal: Marcus Bontempelli
Most disposals: Lachie Hunter (29)
First kick: Dan Hannebery
First goal: Jake Stringer
Last goal: Clay Smith
The talking point: The umpires will put the whistle away and we'll wonder what all the debate about deliberate rushed behinds and out of bounds was about in the first place.
Sting should sing: De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
Callum Twomey
Winner: Sydney Swans, 23 points
Norm Smith Medal: Luke Parker
Most disposals: Lachie Hunter (34)
First kick: Marcus Bontempelli
First goal: Tom Papley
Last goal: Isaac Heeney
The talking point: Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett combine for eight goals to deliver the Swans a premiership and justify their high-priced moves to the club in recent years.
Sting should sing: Don't Stand So Close To Me
Michael Whiting
Winner: Sydney Swans, 15 points
Norm Smith Medal: Luke Parker
Most disposals: Jack Macrae (32)
First kick: Josh Kennedy
First goal: Jake Stringer
Last goal: Lance Franklin
The talking point: The Bulldogs get plenty of ball, winning contested possessions, clearances and inside 50s, but just can't kick a winning score. The smart Swans defence not only locks down their opponents, but provides enough counter-attacking run to give their own forwards time and space to kick enough goals.
Sting should sing: Holy Grail by Hunters and Collectors
