 Andrew Embley of the Eagles was awarded the Norm Smith Medal for being judged the best player afield.It was the fifth consecutive match between the two teams to be decided by less than a goal, and the first grand final to be decided by a point since St. Kilda edged out Collingwood in the 1966 VFL Grand Final (two other grand finals have been decided by a point, in 1899 and 1947).The match has been labelled as a 'classic'.