HERE are AFL.com.au's five biggest storylines of the football year after six days of looking back at the season that was. There were crippling lows and exhilarating highs, but when all is said and done only one moment is likely to still be widely remembered in 50 years' time.

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5. Lies, Pies and Balmey: Dusty's much-talked-about corkie

Brownlow medallist Dustin Martin doesn't need to speak often to be a constant source of fascination, particularly ahead of a blockbuster preliminary final. On this occasion, an early training exit – captured exclusively by AFL.com.au – and the words of teammate Daniel Rioli and Richmond football boss Neil Balme provided plenty of fodder. Rioli, on the way to his own scan for an injured finger, told AFL.com.au Martin's mystery ailment was a corkie from a week earlier. That information held true and was added to in later days by Fox Footy's David King, who reported there was "a significant knee issue" as well. Balme's narrative never wavered. His first comment was: "(There's) nothing wrong with him. He did exactly what was planned for him." Once King's news came out: "(King)'s got someone to whom he answers who says, 'You must get a story, I don't care whether you make it up, you've got to get a story'. He's pulled it from … somewhere I can't mention. Everyone has a job to do, but it's quite amusing, I must say. I'll guarantee you, unless something happens to Dusty between now and the weekend, he will play on Friday night." Balme wasn't fibbing about the last bit despite Martin barely training before the prelim. It ended up being a disastrous night for the favoured Tigers; jumped by Collingwood with a clearly hampered Martin struggling to make an impact. Afterwards, coach Damien Hardwick said his superstar had a corked thigh that had bled into his knee, but was never going to miss.

Dustin Martin after the Tigers' prelim loss. Picture: AFL Photos

4. State-of-the-game discussion results in rule changes

What a polarising saga this was. Some pleaded for the game to be left alone, while others believed something had to be done. The AFL's new football boss Steve Hocking, who chairs the new Competition Committee, said the days of "just one tweak" were gone and multiple changes were required. Scoring had plummeted to a 50-year low and congestion was turning the sport into an ugly spectacle at times. The story bubbled along all year, with Hawthorn the first club to privately trial the use of starting positions and zones. A series of clubs went on to do the same and an invitation was issued to all, but not before a kerfuffle about some having an unfair advantage. AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan even floated the possibility of in-game trials, which sparked more controversy and was quickly aborted, before they were instead conducted in the VFL. There was one that caused more angst than most: the prospect of the traditional goalsquare being extended to 18m. There were eventually nine new rules and interpretations introduced for 2019. The super-sized goalsquare never eventuated, although revised kick-in laws plan to have the same benefit. Starting positions are in, there's something for the ruckmen, the hands-in-the-back interpretation has changed and players can kick a 'set snap' after the siren. No doubt the debate will rage on.

RUCK AND ROLE Will new rules change tactics?

AFL football operations boss Steve Hocking at a VFL rules trial match. Picture: AFL Photos

3. The Crows' Collective horror show

The 2018 season could hardly have gone worse for Adelaide. The Crows were the AFL's best team for most of last year before falling short in the Grand Final, so expectations were high. Instead, a 'cult-like' training camp – run by mind training firm Collective Mind – designed to mentally challenge senior players dramatically backfired and appeared to as good as crush Adelaide's hopes of any success this past season. Coach Don Pyke was initially publicly defiant about the camp, but later labelled it a "fail" as the Crows announced they had parted ways with Collective Mind with a year to run on their contract. An awkward media conference with him and bristling football boss Brett Burton summed up the difficult position the club was placed in. They denied Curtly Hampton's sudden retirement was related to the camp. If only that had been all of Adelaide's problems. The Crows also suffered through a hamstring crisis. Like the pre-season camp, Adelaide introduced new methods in search of an extra edge, but sustained nine hamstring injuries in a seven-week period at one stage. More followed, too. Unsurprisingly, those methods were scaled back in response. It would be remiss for us not to also mention Pyke's extended staredown of his players amid their Alice Springs annihilation to Melbourne in round 10.

Brett Burton and Don Pyke face the media. Picture: AFL Photos

2. The hit that stopped the AFL nation – but it's not Gaffening, Roos fans

Where were you when Andrew Gaff whacked Andrew Brayshaw? The shocking sight of Gaff belting Brayshaw off the ball with his left fist, then the distressed teenage rookie walking from the field with a bloodied mouth hasn't left those who saw it. Memories of Tomas Bugg's 2017 punch that knocked out Callum Mills came flooding back. The act itself was as surprising as the offender, with the previously cleanskin Eagle suddenly becoming public enemy No.1 for a period of time. Brayshaw went to hospital with a fractured jaw and four displaced teeth, while Gaff copped an eight-match ban that sidelined him from West Coast's flag triumph. Gaff was remorseful, but nothing was going to spare him from a savage appraisal. Brayshaw's father, AFL Coaches' Association CEO Mark, even accepted an apology from Gaff's father, Craig, who later underwent heart surgery. It was arguably the football story of the year – and undoubtedly the lowlight – and coincided with his big decision on whether to stay at the Eagles or join North Melbourne as a free agent on a lucrative long-term deal. The discussion quickly turned to whether the incident would have any repercussions on his playing future. Either way, there was an element of surprise when Gaff – after waiting until a week past the Grand Final – re-committed to West Coast for (reportedly) six more years.

Andrew Gaff after punching Andrew Brayshaw. Picture: AFL Photos

1. Sheed answers Eagles' prayers, with some help

Jeremy McGovern, Nathan Vardy, Liam Ryan and Dom Sheed – Sheed, in particular – ensured they will forever be etched in West Coast history for their shared Grand Final-winning moment. For those somehow uninitiated, it started with McGovern leaving Jordan De Goey behind to snaffle an intercept mark off Adam Treloar's kick inside the Magpies' 50 before passing to Vardy on the wing. There were two-and-a-half minutes on the clock, with Collingwood clinging to a two-point lead after kicking the first five goals. Flyin' Ryan's turn was next as he soared between a pair of Pies to clutch a crucial contested mark. Ryan's kick found Sheed – who was dropped three times in 2018 – near the boundary in the Eagles' forward 50, but two questions followed: did Willie Rioli block Brayden Maynard, and did Sheed play on before pulling back? Neither call went Collingwood's way and Sheed's brilliant, gun-barrel-straight set shot from an acute angle put West Coast in front for good. There will be many retellings of that moment, but make sure you listen to Will Schofield's version. There were other heroes, including Norm Smith medallist Luke Shuey, Josh Kennedy and even Jack Darling, who threatened to be a villain when he spilled a simple mark unattended on the goal line in the dying stages. Darling put a poor first half behind him to take six marks in the third quarter, including four contested, to help haul the Eagles back. The Grand Final glory was achieved without Andrew Gaff, Nic Naitanui, Brad Sheppard and Eric Mackenzie – and after West Coast was tipped to potentially be a bottom-four side.

Dom Sheed's ice-cool shot to win the Grand Final. Picture: AFL Photos

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TOP 50 STORIES Check out 50-41

TOP 50 STORIES Check out 40-31

TOP 50 STORIES Check out 30-21

TOP 50 STORIES Check out 20-11

TOP 50 STORIES Check out 10-6