HT: Western Bulldogs 7.6.48 – Collingwood 6.2.38
The Dogs threatened to pull away as they opened up as much as a 20-point lead 19 minutes into the second term. But the Magpies predictably lifted their intensity and booted the last two goals before the main break. The Bulldogs’ one-point lead at the first change is now out to 10 points as little still separates the two sides.
Q2: 1 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 7.5.47 – Collingwood 6.2.38
A loose kick toward the wing from Connor Budarick leads to a turnover and the Magpies pick out Nick Daicos on the boundary about 45m from goal. He swings around on to his right boot but the shot falls short and Dan McStay can’t hold the contested mark. The key forward makes amends a minute later with a strong grab in the goalsquare and his third goal of the night. The Pies are right back in it.
Q2: 3 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 7.5.47 – Collingwood 5.2.32
Nick Daicos streams forward with ball in hand from the wing to within 40m of an open goalmouth but his chip kick is off line and trickles out for a throw-in. The Magpies midfielder has been messy with much of his disposals tonight.
Q2: 4 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 7.5.47 – Collingwood 5.2.32
The Dogs move the ball forward cautiously and find West for a shot on goal that sails wide for a behind.
Q2: 6 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 7.4.46 – Collingwood 5.2.32
Another centre clearance for the Dogs and their one-wood is hitting them sweetly. Jones streams off the goalline to mark inside the boundary but can only kick a behind. A quick transition earns a throw-in deep in the Pies forward pocket and Ned Long kicks a goal against the run of play.
Updated
Q2: 7 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 7.3.45 – Collingwood 4.2.26
Rhylee West clears the ball from the centre ball up with a step around Nick Daicos. Naughton comes charging out of the goal square and, when Dan Houston lets the ball sail over his head, the Dogs key forward flies high for the mark. Naughton goals from directly in front for his second.
Q2: 8 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 6.3.39 – Collingwood 4.2.26
Arthur Jones leaps high to pull down a hopeful kick within range of goal. In the meantime, Bontempelli and Jeremy Howe have a few words likely after the Dogs skipper went to ground following a nudge from Nick Daicos at a throw-in. Jones goals and the Dogs are humming.
Updated
Q2: 9 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 5.3.33 – Collingwood 4.1.25
Just as the Dogs were showing signs of getting on top, the Magpies have lifted their pressure. Lachie Schultz pounces on Bailey Dale with a tackle as the ball pings back and forth between the arcs.
Q2: 11 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 5.3.33 – Collingwood 4.1.25
The Pies are hanging on at the moment with the Dogs threatening to pull away. Desperate defence from Khamis prevents Lipinski breaking clear of a pack but the quick kick after the ball up ends up in the same Magpies midfielder’s hands. The distance is beyond him and Lipinski can only add a behind.
Q2: 14 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 5.3.33 – Collingwood 4.0.24
The Pies defence clears the danger but Freijah has little trouble nudging Dan Houston under a high ball to mark on the 50m arc. A chip kick ends up with Jones to dribble a behind. Nick Daicos’s kick in picks out the Bulldogs’ Lachie Bramble in the centre square who finds Bontempelli just outside the arc. The Dogs skipper steps around Daicos on the mark and extends his side’s lead.
Updated
Q2: 15 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 4.2.26 – Collingwood 4.0.24
The Magpies finally find a way out of their defensive half as they switch the ball from side to side and get it into the hands of Nick Daicos to sprint forward but the Dogs are set up well in defence.
Q2: 17 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 4.2.26 – Collingwood 4.0.24
The Dogs lock the ball in their forward half again as they were able to do better than the Pies in the first term. But a high shot drifts wide and out of bounds on the full and a couple of more kicks inside 50 are cleared by the defence.
Q2: 19 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 4.2.26 – Collingwood 4.0.24
The Dogs have had more success clearing the ball out of the centre and get it forward again. Rhylee West gets a quick kick away but narrowly misses for a behind.
A few of the stats that matter … Collingwood are dominating possession with 113-84 disposals as they look to move the ball through handball (60-36). But the Dogs have been able to get the forward more with 14-12 inside 50s.
Magpies midfielders Sam Swadling (12 disposals), Nick Daicos (11) and Patrick Lipinski (10) have found most of the ball and Dan McStay has two goals, while Ed Richards (9) leads the way for the Dogs.
QT: Western Bulldogs 4.1.25 – Collingwood 4.0.24
The Dogs edge the opening term against the Pies as neither side looked like breaking away at the MCG.
Updated
Q1: 1 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 4.1.25 – Collingwood 4.0.24
The two sides have hardly been separated this quarter and now compete hard with a few stoppages on the wing.
Q1: 2 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 4.1.25 – Collingwood 4.0.24
Ed Richards gives away a 50m penalty on the wing as he oversteps the mark. An overlap from Nick Daicos and quick hands allows the Pies midfielder to set sail for goal. The shot drifts wide but Dan McStay gets his hands to it just before it crosses the line – at least according to the replays, though it was a close call over when and where he controlled it. The key forward makes the most of the opportunity to snap his second.
Updated
Q1: 3 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 4.1.25 – Collingwood 3.0.18
Kick to kick for a minute or so as Billy Frampton racks up some stats but picks out Dogs with a couple of loose disposals.
Q1: 4 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 4.1.25 – Collingwood 3.0.18
The Dogs are back inside 50 and looking threatening every time they go forward. A quick transition from the Pies almost ends up with De Goey in sight of goal until Khamis leaps high with the flight of the ball to get a desperate hand in.
Q1: 5 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 4.1.25 – Collingwood 3.0.18
Weightman almost gets on to a hurried kick coming out for the centre ball up but can’t quite hold the mark. A ball up and another quick kick forward ends up in Billy Frampton’s hands but the Pies defender inexplicably sets off for a run across the top of the goal square. A few steps later, Arthur Jones pounces and goes low to wrap up a tackle to set up a simple shot and goal.
Updated
Q1: 6 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 3.1.19 – Collingwood 3.0.18
Bailey Dale picks out Cody Weightman drifting into the goal square all alone. That was an exquisite 60m kick and the young forward slots the goal.
Q1: 7 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 2.1.13 – Collingwood 3.0.18
Charlie West pulls one out of the bag. A boundary throw-in deep in the Pies forward pocket sees the Angus Anderson knock the ball into the goal square. West fits off Buku Khamis and shapes his body for a tap in through the dumbfounded Dogs defender’s legs.
Q1: 9 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 2.1.13 – Collingwood 2.0.12
The Pies win the next centre clearance but a dropped mark inside 50 allows the Dogs defence to clean up. Rhylee West wraps up De Goey and earns a free kick at half back. The Dogs have chased down De Goey a few times already.
Q1: 10 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 2.1.13 – Collingwood 2.0.12
The Bulldogs win the ball out of the middle and Richards’ hurried kick ends up in Aaron Naughton’s hands. The key forward kicks truly for an immediate response.
Updated
Q1: 11 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 1.1.7 – Collingwood 2.0.12
The Bulldogs have settled well and are content moving the ball through short kicks as they search for a way through the Magpies’ tight defence. They make it as far as their half-forward line before a turnover allows the Pies to counterattack. The Dogs defence win a pair of one-on-ones but when the ball ends up in Nick Daicos’s hands just outside the 50m arc the star’s eyes light up and he slots the goal.
Q1: 13 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 1.1.7 – Collingwood 1.0.6
Matthew Kennedy kicks the Dogs’ first goal after being allowed to drift forward unopposed. The Bulldogs have a rotating cast, including Kennedy, looking to run with Nick Daicos and the Pies seem to have been confused in one of the changeovers.
Updated
Q1: 14 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 0.1.1 – Collingwood 1.0.6
The Bulldogs lock the ball forward and force the Magpies into a desperate kick out of the defensive 50. Ed Richards gathers and sprints into space but is unable to find a target with a deft kick.
Q1: 16 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 0.1.1 – Collingwood 1.0.6
Bulldogs youngster Josh Dolan attacks the ball just before it trickles over the boundary and draws a free kick for a loose and high tackle from Nick Daicos. A left foot snap from 40m out and on the wrong side of the boundary is too narrow but gets the Dogs on the board.
Q1: 17 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 0.0.0 – Collingwood 1.0.6
The Magpies strike first as McStay kicks truly. There is a bit of heat in the contest, if only to ease any concerns over whether this wildcard final is a genuine “final”.
Updated
Q1: 18 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 0.0.0 – Collingwood 0.0.0
The Bulldogs turn the ball over trying to exit their defensive 50. Billy Frampton finds Nick Daicos alone on the wing, Sam Swadling drifts by for a handball and the ball ends up in Dan McStay’s mitts for a first shot at goal.
Q1: 19 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 0.0.0 – Collingwood 0.0.0
The Magpies win the first centre clearance and find Sidebottom out wide. A loose kick allows Joel Freijah to knock Nick Daicos over the boundary and the Magpies star is not pleased with the extra attention.
Updated
First ball up
Rival rucks Tim English and Darcy Cameron lock horns in the centre circle as the AFL wildcard final gets under way at the MCG. Rory Lobb is forward for the Dogs, Steele Sidebottom is inside 50 for the Pies.
The Welcome to Country and national anthem is complete. Bontempelli and Daicos are in the centre circle for the toss which the Pies’ stand-in skipper calls correctly.
Here are the two lineups as named:
Western Bulldogs
FB: 37 Michael Sellwood 24 Buku Khamis 34 Bailey Williams
HB: 29 Lachlan Bramble 18 James O’Donnell 31 Bailey Dale
C: 9 Ryley Sanders 27 Joel Freijah 6 Cooper Hynes
HF: 3 Cody Weightman 33 Aaron Naughton 32 Arthur Jones
FF: 26 Josh Dolan 4 Marcus Bontempelli 7 Rory Lobb
FOLL: 44 Tim English 8 Matthew Kennedy 20 Ed Richards
INT: 19 Connor Budarick 42 Sam Davidson 43 Ryan Gardner 35 Luke Kennedy 14 Rhylee West
Collingwood
FB: 17 Billy Frampton 38 Jeremy Howe 3 Isaac Quaynor
HB: 9 Dan Houston 7 Josh Daicos 32 Sam Swadling
C: 22 Steele Sidebottom 35 Nick Daicos 25 Jack Crisp
HF: 31 Beau McCreery 1 Patrick Lipinski 39 Will Hayes
FF: 28 Tim Membrey 8 Lachie Schultz 29 Charlie West
FOLL: 14 Darcy Cameron 44 Ned Long 2 Jordan De Goey
INT: 11 Daniel McStay 16 Ed Allan 36 Harvey Harrison 41 Angus Anderson 45 Roan Steele
Marcus Bontempelli earned a seventh All Australian jacket but was the only Bulldogs player to make the side this year (though Ed Richards should have been close), while Nick Daicos made the team for a fourth consecutive season as he continues to stack up the awards.
Arguably the two best players in the game at the moment compare favourably in their averages for the major stats this year.
Bontempelli – Daicos
Disposals: 26.3-34.9
Disposal efficiency: 73.4-69.2%
Contested possessions: 11.1-10.7
Clearances: 5.6-5.7
Centre clearances: 2.8-2.9
Tackles: 4.3-2.4
Score involvements: 7.2-9
Inside 50s: 5.8-6.7
Goals: 30-24
Jonathan Horn is at the MCG to report on the wildcard final between Western Bulldogs and Collingwood, but was already questioning the AFL sanction coming Geelong’s way over the concussion waiver in the our From the Pocket newsletter on Wednesday.
When it comes to the concussion story, both Geelong and the AFL have employed some classic crisis management strategies – deny, dilute, diffuse, distract, delay. Both parties initially denied the existence of the agreement, and pushed back on the journalist who broke the story. They then sought to confuse the issue as much as possible, dropping the word “complex” into every second sentence, hoping that the general public would be so bewildered at what this was actually about that they’d quickly lose interest. They diffused the situation by framing it as an administrative oversight rather than a question of ethics and leadership. Sydney took care of the distraction part of the strategy. And engaging James Peters KC to examine Geelong’s evidence continues to delay the findings.
It has been anything but a rosy few weeks for the AFL. In news away from the action on the field, Jack Snape reported yesterday the league hit Geelong with a hefty fine over the secret concussion waiver agreed with Jake Kolodjashnij.
A schism has emerged at the top of the AFL over whether clubs can avoid future liability for head injuries, despite the league fining Geelong $140,000 for failing to lodge the concussion waiver signed by defender Jake Kolodjashnij.
The Cats sanction was made of two parts, including $100,000 for failing to inform the AFL of a change to Kolodjashnij’s contract, previously described as a “waiver” by AFL Commission chair and former Cats president Craig Drummond.
The first season with a wildcard round means 10 clubs are still in with a shot of tasting the ultimate success. I took a deep dive into all of the finalists – including the Dogs and Pies – to examine their strengths and weaknesses as well as their premiership hopes.
The Bulldogs have tightened up their defence with the undersized James O’Donnell leading the way and have in Bailey Dale a dashing half-back who is as good as anyone at turning defence into attack. The Dogs have shown they can reliably win a close encounter after winning seven of eight games decided by single figures this year, while the other ended in a draw with the Blues.
The Magpies rely on their intense pressure, system and structure, and contested work to wear down the opposition, though they only took flight in the second half of the year when opening up their attack. With a shift in style toward faster ball movement, Collingwood went from being one of the more dour sides in the competition to averaging 97 points across their last nine games.
Read more including why Western Bulldogs and Collingwood can’t win the premiership …
Final teams are in with no late changes.
Western Bulldogs have made one change to the side that impressed in their victory over Melbourne with Tim English a valuable addition after injuring a knee three weeks ago. The ruck replaces Lachy Carmichael who made his debut in the round 23 draw with Carlton and is now among the emergencies tonight. Perhaps more importantly for the Dogs, Aaron Naughton has been passed fit to play against the Pies, after an injury scare against the Demons last week.
Collingwood have added defender Isaac Quaynor and midfielder Pat Lipinksi to their lineup, with injured veteran Scott Pendlebury and defender Liam Puncher making way. The versatile Harry Perryman was unable to prove his fitness, and Brayden Maynard has joined captain Darcy Moore on the sidelines, leaving questions over how the Pies’ defence will stack up against the Dogs.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the AFL’s first ever wildcard final. The expansion of the finals series has brought Western Bulldogs and Collingwood together for a winner-takes-all contest with some of the very best and most in-form players in the game hoping to continue their seasons for at least one more week. The winner of this wildcard final will face either Adelaide or Geelong in an elimination final next week. The loser will be left to ponder where their season went wrong.
The Bulldogs have had a typically rollercoaster season under coach Luke Beveridge and only stumbled into the wildcard round without the promise of doing much damage when losing back-to-back games against the Dockers and Kangaroos. But a draw with the red-hot Blues and an impressive victory against the Demons in the last round have left the Dogs carrying better form into this knockout final.
The Magpies left themselves with plenty of ground to make up when slumping to a 5-1-7 record and dropping to 13th before reeling off six consecutive wins to get their campaign back on track. Two defeats and a draw in the last four rounds have raised concerns over how deep the Pies can go in this finals series especially with several key players now sidelined with injury.
A tougher run with injury means the Pies have been forced to give more opportunities to younger players and they will have six of them – Sam Swadling, Ed Allan, Charlie West, Angus Anderson, Will Hayes and Harvey Harrison – play their first finals game for the club. The Dogs have even more players – Sam Davidson, Josh Dolan, Cooper Hynes, Arthur Jones, Luke Kennedy, Buku Khamis, Ryley Sanders, Michael Sellwood – making their finals debut, while journeyman Matthew Kennedy and first-year recruit Connor Budarick will play their first finals with the club.
The Dogs put together a better record against the other finalists this season at 6-1-8 on their way to finishing eighth, while the Pies finished on 3-2-9 against the top 10 and landed in ninth. There was little to split the two sides when they met in round 12 as the Bulldogs won a thriller by four points as their first-year defender Michael Sellwood pulled down a match-saving mark in the dying stages.
First ball up will be at 7.40pm in Melbourne / AEST. I’ll drop in the team news shortly. Meanwhile, shoot me an email with your thoughts and predictions. Let’s get into it!
