AFTER a Grand Final epic as tight as a tourniquet, Travis Varcoe went for a wander.

PIES FALL SHORT Full match coverage and stats

As the final siren sounded on an astonishing West Coast premiership, Collingwood's sentimental favourite Varcoe walked aimlessly by himself.

The vanquished Varcoe looked to the skies, saluting his sister Maggie, who had passed away just four weeks ago after a freak accident when playing footy.

Varcoe tapped his heart twice, then kissed his hand.

After his personal tribute, he picked up three Collingwood teammates who had sunk to the ground, weighed down by defeat - just as his teammates had helped pick him up after his sister's death.

Varcoe graciously entered the celebratory Eagles mob, shaking hands with, among others, Dom Sheed.

Sheed and his left foot had just entered footy folklore.

With less than two minutes remaining of the nerve-jangler, Sheed put the Eagles in front with what became the premiership-winning goal.

THE MOMENT Sheed's 'impossible goal'

Just inside an MCG boundary line, Sheed threaded a left-footed 35 metre set shot to give a remarkable Grand Final a remarkable end.

The Eagles conceded the initial five goals of the game – the first, booted by Varcoe, whose goal on the run triggered a Collingwood scoring spree: five goals to nothing.

Just 22 minutes in, the Pies led by 28 points.

They held the lead for all but nine minutes of the entire game.

But they were five points down when it mattered most: the final siren.