1. Swans' preliminary final chances took a major hit
It was a sensational start to the night for the home side with a seven-goal opening term, but two significant injuries in the second quarter put a dampener on the win. Co-captain Jarrad McVeigh was the first key Swan to go down when he limped off with a left calf strain, and while the veteran bravely came back on to play as a deep forward after half-time to help with rotations, he barely last five minutes and is at long odds to play next week. Speedster Gary Rohan was the next casualty when he crashed into a marking contest while getting back to help out his defence late in the second term, and immediately clutched his right knee. The lively forward, who kicked the opening goal of the game, had been a handy contributor for the Swans, but he cut a solemn figure as he was carried into the Swans' rooms on the back of the medi-cab. With ruckman Kurt Tippett (jaw) and Callum Mills (hamstring) already missing, and in doubt for next week, the Swans could take on Geelong with some major injury worries.

2. The league's best defence proved too good for Adelaide's forward threats
Going into the semi-final, Taylor Walker, Eddie Betts, Josh Jenkins and Tom Lynch loomed as the troublemakers for the Swans, but the star quartet failed to fire a shot when it really mattered at the SCG. All Australian defender Nick Smith put a blanket over Betts, while Jeremy Laidler kept tabs on Lynch, and both Crows failed to touch the footy in the first quarter. Dane Rampe responded to his poor game last week to keep Walker quiet, and Heath Grundy was the master in his duel with Jenkins, who was virtually unsighted. Betts managed to find some space to kick two goals in the third term, and finished with three for the game, but Smith won virtually all of the pair's one-on-one contests for the night.

3. Isaac Heeney's midfield move might be fast-tracked
The gun youngster has been a dangerous forward for the Swans in his two seasons at the club, but is sure to be a midfielder in the future, and showed why against the Crows. Heeney gathered 21 touches in the first half playing on a wing after McVeigh went down, with his marking and sure hands in a fierce contest simply outstanding. His willingness to work deep into defence to help his back six was also a feature of Heeney's performance, showing off his selflessness, a trait that coach John Longmire demands from all of his players. Knee tendonitis issues have meant that the 20-year-old's training has to be managed, so his tank isn't quite there yet, but once he develops the stamina to match his running power and obvious talent, Heeney will be a serious midfield prospect. A class bit of body work to mark and goal in the final term put icing on his game, and he finished with 32 possessions for the night.

4. Charlie Cameron's future could be on the wing
The nippy forward was hardly seen in the first half but helped ignite the visitors with a huge third quarter on the wing opposed to Dan Hannebery. Cameron had six possessions, three inside 50s and booted a brilliant running goal in the third term, but didn't just confine his work to the Crows' forward half. At one stage, Cameron charged back with the flight of the ball inside his back 50 to cut off a certain mark and goal to Lance Franklin, with no regard for what was coming the other way. With blistering speed and an appetite to take on the opposition at every opportunity, Cameron could be a damaging wingman for coach Don Pyke in the mould of Fremantle's Stephen Hill.

5. Crumbing forwards are worth their weight in goals
Franklin commands all the headlines and opposition attention, but it was a couple of the Swans' smallest players that hurt the Crows on Saturday night. Tom Papley and Ben McGlynn might play the same role, and have been vying for the same spot in the side at times this season, but they worked beautifully in tandem at ground level. Papley kicked four goals from 14 possessions, while McGlynn nailed three from his 19 touches, and also laid five tackles. Franklin booted four of his own and provided the usual highlights, but the little men were just as good and extremely effective for the winners, especially at big moments when the Crows mounted a charge on several occasions in the second half.