1. Buddy's corkie may have cost him another milestone
Heading into the match Franklin needed seven goals to draw level with Leigh Matthews (72 goals for Hawthorn from 29 finals) in fourth spot for most goals kicked in VFL/AFL finals in history, which seemed like a big ask in such a massive game. The task looked even harder when Buddy went goalless in the opening term and copped a bad cork to his right thigh, but as he does he turned the game - and his own day - on its head in a matter of minutes after quarter-time. Franklin snagged his first inside 60 seconds, added two more in the next five minutes and went to the long break with four to his name as the Swans ended the contest. He failed to add to his tally in the third quarter, and when he was put on ice – literally – for the last term, it robbed Buddy of his chance to reel in Matthews. It leaves the superstar on 69 goals from 22 finals, but he'll get another crack against Geelong next week.
2. Essendon's players embarrassed themselves when the heat got turned up
The Bombers hadn't won a final since 2004 going into their clash with the Swans and, apart from a fierce 15-minute burst to start the game, the visitors looked anything like a top-eight side. After Joe Daniher took a screamer and converted the game's opening goal in the fourth minute, Sydney piled on 10 straight majors either side of the first break, and made their opposition look worse than second rate. The glaring statistic that showed Sydney's dominance was the fact the home side kicked 10.3 from 17 inside 50s in the second term alone. On a night when such a proud club had so much to be excited about after coming out of a dark few years, the insipid first half was a letdown. Experienced heads like Brendon Goddard, Michael Hurley and James Kelly had little impact in defence, speedsters Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Orazio Fantasia failed to provide a spark inside 50, while the midfield unit was also out muscled. It will be a seriously long summer for John Worsfold's men.
3. Luke Parker produced on his milestone night
The Swans vice-captain was outstanding in his 150th game, and backed up his midweek promise of taking it to Essendon's onballers with his physicality. When the game was still alive in the first half Parker had a game-high 14 possessions, 10 of those contested, and added seven tackles and six clearances. The 2016 Brownlow medal runner-up even found time to show some flair in the second quarter to pull down a hanger as the Bombers wilted. Taken with pick 40 in the 2010 NAB AFL draft, Parker has been one of the great bargains of recent times, and the 2012 premiership player, club champion and All Australian will be a key for the Swans when they take on Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood's Cats next week.
4. John Longmire's selection of Callum Sinclair proved the right call
It would have been a tough decision for the coach when he decided to bring Sam Naismith back, and it was somewhat surprising that Sinclair got the nod ahead of Kurt Tippett, but the big West Australian rewarded the faith with an outstanding performance. Opposed to All Australian defender Michael Hurley, Sinclair took four marks in the opening term and looked unstoppable in the air. The Swans averaged just 12 contested marks a game during the regular season but had 18 to half-time compared to Essendon's four, and Sinclair had three of them. Sinclair finished the night with three goals from nine marks and may have consolidated his spot for the rest of the year.
5. It was a sad way for Jobe Watson and James Kelly to farewell the game
It happens sometimes but rarely do players get a fairytale ending to their career, and it was more like a nightmare for the Bomber veterans. Watson got his hands on the footy but couldn't have the influence he was known for in his prime, while Kelly was steady in defence, but also had a tough night. The pair, who have played 500+ games between them, have had a profound influence on the Essendon footy club both on and off the field, with Kelly also a favourite son at Geelong, and both deserved more in their final outing. It leaves the Bombers with plenty of work to do as they attempt to fill the hole of experience, with the likes of Darcy Parish, Andrew McGrath and Josh Begley leading the next wave of young guns.
