West Coast takes out AFL grand final after gritty win over Collingwood

They faced adversity all season long and true to form the West Coast Eagles overcame it again to snatch an unlikely AFL premiership with a stunning late flourish to banish Collingwood to a five-point grand final defeat.

In all, the Eagles led the grand final for just six minutes and it took an incredibly calm finish from Dom Sheed, who poked the ball home from the pocket after marking with less than two minutes to play, to give them the lead that mattered.

A desperate, frantic finale followed but the West Coast held on to get home 11.13 (79) - 11.8 (74) for a last-gasp premiership win.

It was a victory that looked unlikely early after Collingwood shot out of the blocks with a five-goal first quarter that rocked the West Australians.

RE-LIVE- WEST COAST EDGES MAGPIES TO TAKE 2018 AFL GRAND FINAL

The Magpies' hot start was described as a near perfect quarter of footy, with sentimental favourite Travis Varcoe starring early and 19-year-old Jaidyn Stephenson wreaking havoc up front with two sensational early goals.

But the Eagles managed to hold on late in the term, with Willie Rioli and Josh Kennedy scoring majors to cut the defecit to 17 points.

Footy fans were hoping for a close encounter and the Eagles started to come to the party with determined and bruising defence in the second term helping them even up the contest.

West Coast kept Collingwood off the scoreboard for the first 15 minutes of the term.

Defence was the major sticking point for the Eagles and Liam Ryan delivered a heavy bump to Brayden Maynard as momentum began to swing.

West Coast then added goals through Mark Hutchings and Luke Shuey to close within two goals at halftime, before turning the burners on in the third.

After a slow start to the game, Jack Darling burst to life in the premiership quarter, taking a near impossible mark and then converting from in front of goal to bring the difference back to six points.

Magpies runner Alex Woodward got caught up with Stephenson as Taylor Adams tried to pass the ball to him in the back half in a moment that proved decisive.

Woodward’s block allowed Eagles midfielder Elliott Yeo to intercept the ball and score a running goal to put West Coast up by two points, their first lead since their opening behind of the match.

Bruising defence came to the fore again late in the third with timely tackles proving crucial for both teams, as the Eagles and Magpies went in the final break on level terms.

Collingwood rediscovered their early dominance to take the initiative early in the last with goals De Goey and Brody Mihocek  but Nathan Vardy hit back for the Eagles to keep it close.

Luke Shuey was named the Norm Smith Medallist after a remarkable game with 34 disposals, 21 kicks, 8 tackles and one goal.