1. An imbalance in the inside 50 count that saw West Coast trail it 35-44 at game’s end, meant the Eagles defence was under constant pressure. But generally they handled the heat pretty well. And the latest addition to the defensive structure, as the match committee strives to cover the loss of four time All-Australian Jeremy McGovern, showed his capacity to step up. Josh Rotham had to play the role of a tall defender and did well, with 12 disposals and eight marks to play an important role.

2. Still on the inside 50 metre theme, it also made it tough for the forwards to kick a winning score and they had to make the most of opportunities that came their way. In the end they held up their end of the contract, as West Coast won by 22 points. Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy were shining lights up front, both kicking two goals, with Darling, in particular, pivotal in the success with 12 possessions while Kennedy took three of the team’s nine marks inside 50.

3. Brad Sheppard, particularly in the last few years, has forged his reputation around taking the opposition’s most dangerous small and medium-sized forwards. Against the Blues he spent much of the game alongside veteran Blues star Eddie Betts. He even followed him inside the forward 50 metre arc in the third term and that led to him kicking his first goal in three years – a clever snap across his body. It literally ensured he won the points in his personal battle. Betts kicked just one behind from 11 possessions.

4. The pressure that Carlton brought to the contest to establish a 19-point advantage was elite. There’s a calculation on the pressure that teams bring to a contest and the Blues led that 2.09 to 1.86 and they were absolutely fierce. They also led the tackle count 77-56 and were brilliant around the contests – particularly to the middle part of the third term. In the end the Eagles won the contested possession count 120-117 which was important in the reversal of fortunes.

5. The domination of the Eagles from the centre clearances when they got on a roll was electrifying. In the last couple of seasons, because of the 6-6-6-rule, clubs could not drop a player back so Carlton could not resume with an extra number behind the ball. To try to counter it and arrest the one-way traffic heading into their defensive half, wingman Sam Docherty started on the far corner of the centre square and sprinted back to help out the defence.