1. The Dogs do it again
The Western Bulldogs came to the SCG last year and won a thrilling contest by less than a kick. Inside the final minute, it looked as though they would fall on the wrong side of the result this year before Jason Johannisen bobbed up and kick a huge goal in the shadows of the final siren. The result means the club has bounced back in the best way possible from last week's loss to Geelong and has kept its top-four hopes alive.
2. Buddy tries to go it alone
Swans spearhead Lance Franklin almost single-handedly willed his side to victory after his side was 19 points down eight minutes into the final term with two goals in almost as many minutes to help put the home side back in front, only to be denied by the last second heroics from Johannisen. Franklin's five allowed him to leapfrog West Coast's Josh Kennedy in the race for the Coleman Medal. Franklin booted 5.4 – including a couple of missed set shots - to reach 52 goals for the year and sit three ahead of Kennedy with eight rounds to go.
3. Don’t forget big Will
Playing his first game of the year after forcing his way back into the side thanks to good form in the VFL, Will Minson's popularity among his teammates was on display when he was swarmed after kicking a goal at the seven-minute mark of the final term to put his side up by 19 points, the biggest lead of the match. While Minson, who played in the ruck and up forward, didn't have much of the footy (six disposals), he had 24 hit-outs battling Callum Sinclair and Toby Nankervis, allowing the Bulldogs to win the clearances 41-32.
4. Parker looks to the EU
Hard-running Swans midfielder Luke Parker drew inspiration from the Euro 2016 tournament being held in France with a spectacular soccered goal in the third term. After Franklin had pried the footy loose, Parker instinctively threw his right foot at the ball, which speared through the big sticks despite the goalkeeper-like dive of Bulldog Jason Johannisen. Parker would add another in the third term to finish with three goals.
5. McVeigh joins illustrious club
A healthy crowd of 33,386 – above the club's season average – was on hand to see Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh qualify for life membership of the AFL. Saturday's clash was McVeigh's 277th senior match for the Swans, which when combined with pre-season matches and international rules contests means he reaches the 300 games required to earn life membership. While the result was not what McVeigh would have wanted, the veteran leader was, as he has often been throughout his decorated career, one of the Swans’ better players.
