1. Key defender Tom Barrass is quietly putting together an outstanding season. While he doesn’t draw a lot of attention externally, Barrass has been a pillar in the back half and completed another assignment with distinction when he blanketed dangerous young Bulldogs forward Aaron Naughton. Barrass had 13 possessions and seven marks while restricting his opponent to four touches and three marks – some of those acquired while playing on ball.

2. Looking at the raw numbers, it is difficult to fathom how the Eagles were so close for so long. They trailed the inside 50 metre count, 27 to 45 and had the ball in their own attacking half for just 37 percent of the game compared to the Bulldogs’ 63. When the Eagles forwards were presented with opportunities they were dangerous, however, evidenced not only by the fact that they led with minutes to play, but also by taking 10 marks from that limited supply.

3. Young midfielder Brayden Ainsworth revealed another string to his bow when he was sent forward, but in a defensive capacity. Caleb Daniel had the ball on a string in the first half and was a major factor in the Bulldogs having control, with 19 possessions, the majority of which were effectively distributed. When the coaching staff shuffled the deck at half-time, Ainsworth was assigned the task of curbing Daniel’s influence and restricted him to just six more touches.

4. Speaking of versatility, another couple of Eagles young guns also showed their capacity to adapt to a changing role. With midfielder Mark Hutchings going down just before half-time with a hamstring strain, Liam Duggan was moved from defence into the midfield rotation and Jake Waterman came up the ground to play on a wing. Both had started well in their more familiar roles, but were among the most influential players for the Eagles.

5. The growth of Liam Ryan as an A-Grade AFL player continues. Renowned for his aerial feats, ‘Flyin’ Ryan showed again that he is no one-trick pony with some outstanding work in his team’s transition. Several times from the back half he was prepared to run and carry the ball, his electrifying speed and ball use simply mesmerising. And then, in the last quarter, his confidence to take on the Bulldogs on the wing saw him penetrate the forward 50 and then produce an amazing squaring kick to find Tom Cole about 30 metres from goal. Cole kicked his second career goal – and his second in two weeks – to put the Eagles four points in front at the 18-minute mark of the last term.