AN ALL-important statistic went under the radar in the Grand Final lead-up despite the commentary around West Coast's marking power at both ends. 

It was the Eagles' barometer: they won all 15 games before Saturday when they grasped at least 10 marks inside 50. 

That number was just three at half-time of Saturday's Grand Final, with Collingwood holding sway by 12 points after kicking the first five goals of the contest.

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And that's factoring in Josh Kennedy's opening-minute mark in West Coast's forward 50. 

Kennedy's partner-in-crime, Jack Darling, he of the 2015 Grand Final nightmare, had a measly three disposals – and none in the second term – when the half-time siren sounded.

Magpie Jeremy Howe was not only dulling the Eagle's offensive influence, but was hurting him the other way, too.

"In finals, it's all about field position, so we tried to get some deep entries," Darling reflected afterwards.

"But Collingwood were really good today at when I thought I had my opponent beaten, someone else would come in and intercept mark or get in front of me."

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West Coast had started to get its patented kick-mark game style flowing by then, and just needed every forward bar Kennedy to fire a shot.

Darling, after a coach and teammate pep talk in the break, emphatically answered the call and banished his Grand Final demons in one fell swoop.

He regularly ran to poor spots and called for unrealistic passes in the first two quarters, but suddenly began commanding the Sherrin with better positioning – and his marks stuck too.

They came all over the ground – from half-back to deep inside 50 – and with every one the rest of his game came together.

Darling's expert pass to Scott Lycett when he easily could have blazed away from the tip of the 50m deserved a better scoreboard result.

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Lycett returned the favour minutes later, and Darling not only marked the ball, but made his shot count to drag the Eagles within a single straight kick.

The 26-year-old laid back-to-back tackles on different opponents on another occasion to prevent a Collingwood getaway.

In those 30 minutes, Darling amassed seven disposals, six marks (four contested, as many as the Magpies' entire team) and slotted a goal from his sole mark inside 50.

But more importantly, he made Howe accountable, earned a mismatch on Brayden Maynard for a five-minute patch and opened the floodgates for his teammates.

Kennedy still did the lion's share of the lifting, snaring five of West Coast's 13 marks inside 50.

But Darling, Nathan Vardy, Mark LeCras, Liam Ryan, Scott Lycett, Elliot Yeo, Chris Masten and Dom Sheed all chipped in by the final siren and overwhelmed Collingwood.

Sheed's, of course, preceded his premiership-winning goal.

Magpies coach Nathan Buckley reflected on the Eagles' marking prowess in his post-match media conference.

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"We just allowed them to play their game style for too long," Buckley said.

"Ultimately, the aerial battle's really hurt us."

Down the other end, Tom Barrass and Jeremy McGovern combined for an enormous 19 marks (10 intercepts) and 21 spoils.

Shutting down Mr September

One man's name – Steele Sidebottom – was circled and underlined more than any other as West Coast plotted the Magpies' downfall.

Mark Hutchings was always going to get the big job, but how the Eagles attacked it was the fascinating bit.

Sidebottom's versatility as an inside-outside threat who can go forward posed any number of problems, and his form was as good as ever.

He started at half-back, with Liam Ryan alongside him, then bolted into the centre square – setting a trend for the afternoon – where Hutchings, who started on the wing, joined him.

"That was the plan. We predicted that, because that's what he's been doing the whole finals series," Hutchings said.

"They tried to change it a bit mid-game, but our plan worked and we were well prepared."

There was an early and, perhaps, ominous win for Sidebottom.

They both ran to a stoppage at half-back, but Sidebottom pulled up as Hutchings went two metres closer.

Scott Pendlebury won possession, then dished to an unchecked Sidebottom, who found Taylor Adams. The passage eventually resulted in Travis Varcoe's game-opening goal.

"He's a good player and he's going to get some sometimes, but you probably need to stay behind him," Hutchings said.

"You've got to close down his space and you can't get too far in front of him, because he's too smart a player and he gets handball receives."

Sidebottom continued to position himself at half-back or half-forward at centre bounces throughout the first half, but failed to impact the game.

Part of the problem was West Coast basically broke even to half-time in contested possessions and clearances and starved Sidebottom of opportunities to create.

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Collingwood swapped Sidebottom and Jordan De Goey, who was being well contained by Will Schofield in a deep forward role, in a bid to get both players more involved.

Hutchings rubbed his hands together with glee. His job in that regard was as good as done, with him relinquishing the task to defenders Schofield and Liam Duggan.

"He went forward, which is a good result for us, but we trusted the backs to do their thing," Hutchings said.

"They've been great all year and are probably the best backline in the comp … and I could just wash my hands of him and play on the wing."

Sidebottom finished with only 14 disposals (five contested), no goals, five score involvements, four clearances and five tackles.

He racked up 99 possessions in his previous three finals, with no fewer than 27 in any of them.