1. Shuey can shake off a tight tag and recover from a slow start
First Trent Cotchin then Dan Hannebery. North Melbourne defender Ben Jacobs has claimed some big scalps this finals series and looked to have gained another at half-time on Saturday night. Luke Shuey, who has averaged more than 24 disposals this season, had touched the ball just five times and kicked a goal, which came from a dubious free kick from Nick Dal Santo. Jacobs had zero possessions to the main break courtesy of his old-fashioned tagging job that meant he only had eyes for Shuey. But the Eagles' ball-winner broke free in the third quarter with an explosive through-traffic goal that gave his side a 22-point lead, and still maintained a presence at the clearances despite Jacobs' hard work to play an important role in the Eagles' fight back.

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2. How the west won – and who will be relieved this week
There would have been many nervous Perth-based charter flight operators at half-time with the Eagles behind after Fremantle's finals exit on Friday night. It looked as though Josh Kennedy was going to play a lone hand in the Eagles' forward line before they all got involved after the big break as the Kangaroos struggled to kick goals. The second half saw the home side nail seven goals to three, which sealed its Grand Final berth and made plenty of small plane pilots very happy for the coming week.

3. The battle of the big birds replaces a predicted WA derby decider
Just two weeks ago, West Australian football reigned supreme with both local teams winning their opening finals and finding themselves perfectly placed to progress through to the decider without leaving Perth. With the Dockers falling on Friday night, the Eagles will now have to fly the flag for their state in what's expected to be a high-scoring quality shoot-out against Hawthorn at the MCG in a week's time. While it won't be the derby WA locals wanted, it certainly has the potential to be a highly entertaining goal-fest.

4. Josh Kennedy's importance stretches beyond bags of goals
The Roos raced to a 20-point lead after kicking the game's opening three goals, which left the Eagles reeling after they failed to register a major before quarter-time. Known for their spread of goalkicking options, none of them were able to assert themselves on the contest with the Roos directing traffic for much of the opening term. However, their first goal created a spark with Coleman medallist Kennedy bravely colliding with Scott Thompson and finding his feet first after the bruising contest. He played on and rammed through his first of two goals six minutes into the second. With no other forward targets firing in the first half, it was an important moment that got the Eagles moving after they appeared stunned early on.

5. When things get tough, the tough get going
Matt Priddis was another Eagle who was down on his usual level of effectiveness in the first half as the Roos gave most of the 40,080 fans in attendance a big scare. But the cream always rises to the top and in the second half, the Brownlow medallist got going and helped lift his team to its first Grand Final since 2006. Priddis finished with 26 disposals – 11 contested – seven clearances and laid seven tackles, and kicked the goal early in the third quarter that gave the Eagles their first lead of the game.

6. Andrew Swallow went to Perth prepared to lead the way
It was an incredibly tough performance from Swallow, who put his head down from the first bounce and was determined to get in and fight for what would have been a remarkable Grand Final berth from eighth position. During the Roos' outstanding first half, Swallow was their best player and ended as their second-highest disposal winner behind Brent Harvey, who had 26. Swallow collected 25 and won nine clearances, but it was his relentless pressure that was so important in the first half as the Roos forced the Eagles into panic mode.