1. Hocking the hero
With the Bombers pressing in the tense final stages of the game, it was Heath Hocking to deliver the killer blow that sealed Essendon's seventh victory of the season. After Orazio Fantasia took the game on through the middle of the ground, the ball was swung down to an unopposed Hocking who marked the ball inside 50. He took the bit between the teeth and drilled the ball from 40m to nail the match-clinching goal. He then backed it up and won the all-important clearance to allow the Bombers to milk the clock in the final stages of the match. It capped a terrific game for the negating midfielder (23 touches), who ended the season on a high after a frustrating year due to injury
VOTE: Your 3-2-1 in the Magpie Army Player of the Year Award.
2. Bombs away?
Was the final game of the year against the Pies also Jake Carlisle's final game at Essendon? The out-of-contract utility has garnered plenty of interest from opposition clubs, with North Melbourne, Carlton and the Western Bulldogs reportedly leading the pack for his signature. After spending much of the year as a forward, Carlisle seems to have enjoyed his shift to the backline in recent weeks. The 23-year-old looked assured across half-back, where he can see the play developing in front of him. Carlisle will be a big loss if he decides to test the market in this year's trade period.
3. Adams finishes the season full of running
Much has been made of the changing face of Collingwood's midfield group in 2015, with Levi Greenwood and Jack Crisp among those to step up and assist Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom. But it has been the continual development, highlighted by an end-of-season purple patch, of Taylor Adams that has been most impressive. After notching 36 disposals in a best afield performance against Geelong last week, Adams backed it up against Essendon with 33 touches and seven clearances. In his second season at the Magpies, Adams has become one of the elite inside midfielders in the competition.
4. Fasolo's radar off-target
Alex Fasolo did not have any issues finding the football – in fact he was dangerous up forward for much of the game. But his ability to finish in front of goal, which was once a key asset, appears to have deserted him. Criticised for missing a couple of clutch goals in the loss to Hawthorn earlier in the season, Fasolo was again inaccurate against the Bombers. The small forward kicked 2.1 but sprayed a number of shots wide of the mark as he operated at 40 per cent goal accuracy. It will be something he and the Magpies will be hoping to clean up in the off-season.
5. Stanton fires as he seeks new contract
Bombers veteran Brent Stanton is in discussion with the club about a new contract and his form against Collingwood was certainly a huge boost in that pursuit. Stanton worked overtime to provide an option forward of the ball, booting three goals in the second quarter alone. Renowned for his aerobic capacity since making his debut in 2004, the 29-year-old collected 30 disposals at 73.3 per cent efficiency. A favourite of former coach James Hird, Stanton proved he is far from a spent force with a superb game against the Magpies.
