1. Best on ground Swan rubs away 'heavy' jibes
After clearing up questions about his weight at a press conference during the week, Dane Swan left little doubt as to his fitness by turning in a super Anzac Medal-winning performance. The 28-year-old had 42 touches, laid six tackles and booted three goals. After the third, from a beautifully roved Darren Jolly ruck tap, Swan rubbed his stomach in a clear reference to those 'heavy' barbs.

2. Finals-like game brings finals-like intensity
They say Anzac Day is the closest a home and away season game comes to a final, and players from both teams played accordingly. In a ferocious, desperate classic of a match, the Bombers laid eight tackles within the first three minutes, and 11 inside their forward 50 in the first 10 minutes. Defying their four-day break leading into the clash, both teams continued to throw themselves at the contest until the very end.

3. Stanton almost the unlikely hero on dirty day
Essendon midfielder Brent Stanton copped an old-fashioned hard tag from Magpie Marty Clarke, and could muster only 13 touches for the match. But the Bomber nearly won the game for his team when he snapped a goal to put them in front with just three minutes left.

4. Umpire review system gets its biggest test
A minute after Stanton's goal, Collingwood's Jarryd Blair thought he'd grabbed back the lead for the Magpies when he soccered a goal from close range. But the umpires weren't sure if he'd made contact below the knee, and sent the decision to a score review. With 86,932 fans at the MCG holding their breath, the video replay confirmed what Blair already knew, and Magpies fans went into raptures.

5. Brown blankets Crameri in long-awaited comeback
Playing his first game since the 2010 Grand Final after two serious knee injuries, Collingwood key defender Nathan Brown made an important contribution for his team. The 23-year-old was given the job on Stewart Crameri, the hero of the Bombers' big win over Carlton last week. Not helped by some poor delivery forward, Crameri managed only seven touches, one mark and no goals as Brown wore him like a cheap suit.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs