SLICING up opponents with ruthless efficiency was Hawthorn's recipe for success over the past two Grand Finals, but this year's premiership will almost certainly be won and lost in the clinches.
It's no secret the Sydney Swans and Western Bulldogs are the AFL's top-two contested ball teams, with hardened midfields custom built for the ferocious scrap looming at the MCG.
But it's what happens after they win the contested ball that will dictate the result of the Grand Final.
At stoppages, the Dogs leave their opponents chasing shadows by flicking the ball around with quick hands until they can free up a teammate.
Under coach of the year Luke Beveridge, they're ranked No.1 in the AFL for exiting stoppages via handball. Once inside their attacking half they force opponents to fight to regain every metre of territory.
"Their ability to get out of contests is as good as I've seen," a rival club's assistant coach told AFL.com.au.
"If the Doggies can keep the ball in their forward half they'll win. Time in forward half will be a massive stat this week."
Beveridge's men boast the League's second best inside 50 differential when they've won this season and are also ranked second for time in forward half.
And this September they're back to being a scoring threat.
Suddenly, the Dogs have found their bite and are averaging 98 points this finals series after looking toothless in the final 10 games of the season (75ppg).
"They haven't got the biggest names in their forward line, but guys like Josh Dunkley, Zaine Cordy and Clay Smith just play their roles," the assistant said.
If the Swans can keep a leash on the Dogs' onballers and limit their scores from clearances, then a third flag in 12 seasons could be headed to Sydney.
John Longmire demands physicality from his players and nothing upsets the 2012 premiership coach more than broken tackles.
Across the season, the Swans are the League's most effective tackling team, led by tough nuts like Luke Parker, Tom Mitchell and Kieren Jack, and feast on the turnovers that creates.
But in their six losses, the Swans' effective tackling plummets to 17th in the AFL, and Longmire lamented their inability to contain the Giants in a shock qualifying final defeat.
"They out-tackled us, the tackles we did lay weren't effective enough, and they were able to run," Longmire said post-match.
The Swans' effective tackle percentage dipped to 58 against GWS, but they've ratcheted up their attack on the man since, tackling at 74 per cent against the Crows and 71 when they blitzed a shellshocked Geelong from the opening bounce of their preliminary final.
"GWS were elite with their hands and once they got that first or second handball out of congestion they just got the Swans on the outside, but I reckon the Doggies are even better than the Giants," the assistant coach said.
"I reckon the Swans made a mistake against GWS by worrying too much about the Giants' outside footy and what ended up happening is they weren't ruthless at the contest.
"If the Swans are on the game with their effective tackling and their ability to hunt the Dogs it will be a pretty good game."
In their only meeting this season, the Dogs gained the upper hand at clearances (+9) and just shaded the Swans for contested ball (+1) and inside 50s (+3).
That clash hung in the balance and it took an ice-cold Jason Johannisen set shot in the dying seconds to seal the deal.
It was the second consecutive four-point win for the Bulldogs at the SCG, and with two of the League's toughest teams preparing to go head-to-head again, we could be set for an unforgettable Grand Final.
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