A surprise omission from the 2014 All Australian team, star Swans midfielder Luke Parker reminded selectors of his class on Friday night. The 21-year-old won the ball in tight, in space and in the air, providing one of the highlights of the match with a big pack mark in the second quarter. Another less obvious highlight was a sublime handball from the bottom of a pack that set up a goal for Kieren Jack. Polished and tough, the goalkicking midfielder is built for finals after back-to-back starring roles this September. It's hard to see All Australian selectors overlooking the gun Swan in the future if he produces another consistent year like his 2014 campaign.     

North Melbourne's fortunes no longer rest solely on Brent Harvey's shoulders – the team has proved that in the past month, winning three games without their star half-forward, including their first final. That being said, if the Kangaroos were going to compete against the minor premiers on opposition territory, they needed the veteran to perform after escaping another suspension. Harvey was comprehensively shutdown in the first half by Harry Cunningham, who kept him to six possessions. While keeping Harvey quiet, Cunningham also showed his smarts and worked into attacking positions to play a hand in a number of goals. Credit to the young Swan.

A clear best on ground on Friday night, 'Buddy' shapes as the key player in next Saturday's decider. His form is building in so many facets, making him a near impossible player to shut out of the game, as Scott Thompson found out. Thompson had kept Franklin goalless in their last two meetings, most recently when the Kangaroos beat the Swans in round four. However, he was comprehensively beaten on Friday night, conceding five goals. Franklin did it all at ANZ Stadium, taking contested marks, tackling relentlessly and leading up the ground and setting up teammates inside 50. When he was isolated with Thompson, he made it look easy. His recent form when pushing up the ground makes him a much more threatening proposition than the player the Swans faced in the Grand Final two years ago.    

The Kangaroos and Port Adelaide have added spice to the finals with their ability to climb from outside the top four and into a preliminary final. On Friday night, however, Brad Scott's men were reminded of the gulf between them and the ladder leaders. The Kangaroos didn't handle the manic pressure applied by the Swans and they were out of the game from the opening minutes of the third quarter, when Lance Franklin and Ben McGlynn kicked back-to-back goals. North Melbourne is building, but Friday night was a reminder they have a way to go. It was the club's third straight preliminary final loss.       

Ben McGlynn missed the 2012 Grand Final with a hamstring strain, watching on as his teammates won a premiership against his former club, Hawthorn. It has been said that there is no Sydney player more determined to reach the pinnacle this season. Rohan, who was sidelined with a broken leg in 2012, might be the only Swan that challenges him. Both were superb on Friday night, with McGlynn damaging across half-forward and Rohan utilising his dash at both ends. Both are finals x-factors, and both will worry their Grand Final opponents next Saturday. If the duo is successful, it's fair to say there won't be any more popular premiership players within the Swans' camp.  

Assistant coach Stuart Dew praised Adam Goodes pre-game as a player who could still turn a game in a quarter, despite his quieter than usual form in recent weeks. He wasn't required to provide a spark on Friday night, but he showed enough to suggest he could be that player next week. Goodes kicked three goals in his 350th match, but most pleasing for the Swans, he hit top pace in a number of darting runs that broke through the Kangaroos' defence. The Swans' tall forwards combined superbly on Friday night until Sam Reid suffered a right knee injury. Goodes is yet to decide if he will play on beyond this season, potentially setting the stage for a fairytale farewell on the biggest stage of all.