Written on some tape around his wrist was a big 7 - the number of his teammate Jarred Crabtree who sensationally pulled out of the team minutes before the decider.

This paved the way for Moran to be called into the side.

Crabtree had been battling a badly corked thigh, and after a late fitness test on an oval behind Mars Stadium, declared himself unavailable to play against Hepburn.

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"I unfortunately copped a pretty bad corkee at training and there's probably a significant tear in the muscle. But I just tried to remain hopeful throughout the week and tried to do everything possible to get up," Crabtree said.

"We left it until half time of the reserves (grand final) to make the call and me and Twiggy (coach Matt James) went out for a kick on the back oval, just by ourselves.

"We run through a couple of run-throughs, did a couple of kicks and tried to get to full speed. I was nowhere near it so I had to do what was best for the team and that was withdraw myself from the side.

"As hard as it was, but you just have to do those things in this sort of situation.

"The team first always, so we won and I couldn't be happier or prouder of the boys. It's awesome."

Crabtree is blind in one eye and only has partial vision in the other, which often forces him to sit on the sidelines when weather conditions are unfavourable.

There had been concerns around the forward's ability to take his place in the senior side given the poor forecast on Saturday, but in the end it was the soft tissue injury that cost him his spot.

Moran said the number 7 on his wrist was a reminder of why he was able to play.

"I was on that side of the fence all week thinking I wasn't playing so I feel for him. He is part of this team as much as anyone else that played today," Moran told The Courier.