West Coast forward Liam Ryan had endured some unconvincing moments throughout the afternoon,notably late in the third term when his team led by a point and he had the chance to take an uncontested chest mark 30 metres out that would have given the Eagles their biggest lead of the match.

But with 146 seconds remaining in the match he ran back with the flight of the ball and launched himself over three other players to take a spectacular mark.

He,too,played on immediately and delivered a perfectly weighted kick to Dom Sheed on the forward pocket boundary.

Even still,for Sheed to mark uncontested it required a selfless act from Willie Rioli,who chose not to run to the drop of the ball with his opponent Brayden Maynard. Rather he shoved Maynard out of the contest - it was perilously close to being penalised for blocking - and created space for Sheed.

Now the left-footer needed to convert. The Eagles'previous for attacking forays had ended with nervy points,and this was the most difficult shot of the lot.

With 112 seconds remaining Sheed coolly slotted his drop punt from the acute angle. It proved the sealer. The ball would not get into Collingwood's half for the rest of the match.

There were many crucial moments in what would be a memorable grand final. But that 47-second passage of play would contain the defining moments.