Cody Weightman celebrates a objective throughout spherical 28, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos
IT LOOKED straight. And then it light. And light. And drifted proper.
A contest as traditional as this got here all the way down to that one kick from Tim Membrey. After a sequence of would-be knockout blows, this kick – one which fell on the unsuitable facet of the suitable put up – could be the one which took the Western Bulldogs by means of to September and Collingwood to an evening of distress.
BULLDOGS v MAGPIES Full match coverage and stats
In the AFL’s first ever wildcard ultimate, Membrey’s wayward shot after the siren proved all that might separate eighth from ninth. In a barnstorming affair, a courageous Dogs group battled to place themselves within the place to finally grind out a outstanding 14.12 (96) to 14.9 (93) victory.
Arty Jones, by means of his excitable four-goal haul, had appeared to cap a ultimate quarter chocked filled with unimaginable moments and momentum swings when he stopped, propped and snapped the lead-clenching main inside the sport’s ultimate three minutes. But, in fact, it would not be really easy.
Collingwood got here once more. A hacked kick inside-50 with only a tick over 30 seconds remaining fell into Membrey’s lap and, as he started his set-shot routine, the siren blared out and greater than 80,000 delirious followers stood aghast. The kick went proper, and the Western Bulldogs went into an elimination ultimate.
Aaron Naughton joined Jones with 4 objectives, Cody Weightman added a vital couple himself, whereas Marcus Bontempelli (32 disposals, eight clearances, one objective) was among the many sport’s finest. They’ll go once more subsequent week, with both Adelaide or Geelong on the horizon.
Nick Daicos (30 disposals, two objectives) had spearheaded Collingwood’s cost. Dan McStay kicked 4 himself and threatened to be the hero in Magpie colors as properly, nevertheless it would not be for Craig McRae’s facet. Membrey’s miss proving probably the most devastating method for a 2026 marketing campaign filled with ‘what ifs?’ to come back to an finish.
It had all the time loomed as a match that might threaten to go all the way down to the wire. From the very outset, Collingwood had the sport’s massive early moments nevertheless it was the Western Bulldogs that frequently discovered the response.
An extended bomb from Nick Daicos had lower by means of the caginess and rigidity that had shackled the sport’s early moments, producing the primary massive ‘wow’ second of this 12 months’s finals marketing campaign, whereas Charlie West quickly had the Magpie Army in raptures when he produced a nutmeg of Buku Khamis off the deck to soccer in one other.
But the Bulldogs have been quietly going about their very own enterprise. A robust Bailey Dale intercept and a Jones chase-down sort out led to successive objectives late within the first quarter, the primary time any facet had struck twice in succession, and enabled Luke Beveridge’s facet to sneak a nostril forward on the opening change.
Inspired by Bontempelli, the Dogs then tried to seize a foot maintain within the contest. The captain first profited from a Nick Daicos turnover from a kick-in, turning the ankles of his famous person counterpart after which ending on the run. At the opposite finish, his large first compelled a behind and subtle a threatening scenario in one other second that was simply as necessary.
But after it led to a few straight Bulldogs objectives, it was then Collingwood’s flip to reply. Ned Long was the subsequent to revenue from a flukish soccer-style effort off the turf, earlier than McStay – a relentless presence deep in assault – kicked his third of the half to make sure the Magpie deficit was restricted to simply 10 factors on the important break.
Collingwood possibly ought to have been additional behind than that. The Pies had produced 9 fewer clearances and 12 fewer entries at half time, but it was the objectives and the hulking determine of McStay holding them in it. Another couple of marks to start out the second half, which led to a fourth objective, narrowed the margin even additional.
It means the nervousness of finals ratcheted up, with either side feeling it. Fumbles, errors and numerous turnovers underneath barely any bodily stress immediately turned a recurring theme, as either side sought discover a breakaway second. It was one which would not eventuate simply but.
The Dogs tried – each Naughton and Jones added to their tallies in fast succession, making it three apiece for each – however the Magpies stored discovering the solutions. This time, as the third quarter ebbed in direction of its ultimate phases, it was Nick Daicos displaying that well-known arch of his again to evade a tackler and slot house on the run.
The hole was closing. When a fortuitous Nick Daicos free led to Darcy Cameron profiting, it turned a kick. And when Angus Anderson streamed ahead moments later, it turned some extent. For the primary time all evening, the ‘Coll-ing-wood’ chant was ringing across the MCG and the texture of September felt on the horizon.
By this level, it had began to really feel like a prize combat. Ed Richards sharked a objective, Anderson countered on the different finish. Jones’ good chase and instinctive prod put one on a plate for Cody Weightman, earlier than Collingwood went bang-bang first by means of Jordan De Goey after which by means of Jack Crisp.
Naughton had a fourth from the subsequent centre clearance, Membrey then had an instantaneous reply straight after. As the clock raced in direction of zeroes, and a packed MCG held its collective breath amid the continuous motion, each the lead and the second zipped forwards and backwards blindingly.
Even when the electrical Jones snapped by means of the objective that might show to be the final word winner, you knew the match was destined for one ultimate second. That fell upon Membrey, his kick after the siren fading on the final minute and proving the ultimate motion of Collingwood’s season. The Dogs, on the opposite finish, would reside to see one other dramatic day.
Bevo brings again the sub
Remember these? Luke Beveridge definitely does. The Western Bulldogs used Ryan Gardner as a quasi-sub on Friday evening. The defender did not play a single minute of the primary half, and even went by means of the customary sprints and run throughs on the intervals to make sure he stayed heat. Having been serviceable in a makeshift ruck function throughout an upset victory over Melbourne final week, Gardner was lastly unleashed 13 minutes into the second half and got here on rather than the returning Tim English and straight again into the center. Unsurprisingly, his 16 per cent time on floor was the bottom anybody managed and he completed with simply three disposals and one mark to his identify.
Ed goes to Ed
Given the riches within the Western Bulldogs midfield, there have been queries as to the place Collingwood coach Craig McRae would place his tagger Ed Allan. In the tip, he went to his namesake in Ed Richards. It was a shrewd transfer, given Richards’ kind throughout the season – he was arguably the stiffest of anybody to miss All-Australian choice on Tuesday evening – and notably all through a dominant final month. But whereas Richards was nonetheless prolific, ending with 25 disposals, seven clearances and a objective, a sequence of different Dogs gamers have been additionally capable of get off the chain. Marcus Bontempelli, who had 32 disposals, eight clearances and a objective himself, being chief amongst them.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 4.1 7.6 10.8 14.12 (96)
COLLINGWOOD 4.0 6.2 8.8 14.9 (93)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 4, Jones 4, Weightman 2, Kennedy, Bontempelli, Davidson, Richards
Collingwood: McStay 4, N.Daicos 2, Anderson 2, West, Long, Cameron, De Goey, Crisp, Membrey
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Jones, Naughton, Kennedy, Dale, Freijah
Collingwood: N.Daicos, McStay, McCreery, Swadling, Lipinski, J.Daicos
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Matthew Kennedy (concussion)
Collingwood: Nil
Crowd: 81,036 on the MCG