Match report
Jonathan Horn’s report is ready for you to dive deeper into the all-time classic while I go and catch my breath. What a game! And what a way to introduce the wildcard final.
One of the many initial criticisms of Wildcard Round was that it would reward mediocrity. But few would describe the four teams playing this weekend as mediocre. Few would look at Friday night’s crowd, in excess of 80,000, and bewail a mediocre occasion. Few would look at the calibre of players, including probably the best two players in the sport, Marcus Bontempelli and Nick Daicos, and reach for the M word.
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Ed Richards was outstanding for the Bulldogs as he gathered 25 disposals, seven clearances and a goal. He was speaking to Fox Sports moments after the missed shot …
I feel a bit sick to be honest. That was crazy. I mean, not the way you want to win it, but a win’s a win.
I didn’t actually watch [Membrey’s shot]. Thankfully it didn’t go in, they really stuck it up us in that last quarter and we were able to hold on. So yeah, unbelievable.
It is agony for the Magpies but they still find the time to chair Steele Sidebottom from the field. The 35-year-old’s career ends after 375 matches while the Pies season is over after an all-time classic final.
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Western Bulldogs have hung on against Collingwood to win the first ever wildcard final is an instant classic, with four lead changes in the last 10 minutes of the game. A tough contest turned into a shootout in the dying stages but in the end Arty Jones is the hero for the Dogs when his fourth goal was the last of the game, but only when Tim Membrey marked directly in front but was unable to take his moment.
FT: Western Bulldogs 14.12.96 – Collingwood 14.9.93
The Pies go coast-to-coast and Tim Membrey pulls down a huge pack mark. But the key forward slices his shot after the siren and the ball drifts through for a behind. Wow!
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Q4: 1 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 14.12.96 – Collingwood 14.8.92
The Dogs win the ball on the win and Davidson sprints clear. A long pass to Naughton sails over his head and through for a behind to give the Pies one last chance.
Q4: 1 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 14.11.95 – Collingwood 14.8.92
Bailey Dale fluffs a clearing kick and the Pies can roll the dice again. Nick Daicos finds Cameron on the arc but the ruck’s kick inside 50 is punched away by the Dogs.
Q4: 2 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 14.11.95 – Collingwood 14.8.92
The Pies are on the attack but a lack of composure and a poor kick from Howe puts the ball out for a lasso free to the Dogs.
Q4: 3 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 14.11.95 – Collingwood 14.8.92
A long bomb toward a pack in the Dogs forward 50 bounces off the pack and into Naughton’s hands. A quick handpass to Arty Jones and a snap puts the Dogs back in front.
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Q4: 3 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 13.11.89 – Collingwood 14.8.92
Davidson comes off the wing to win the clearance and bomb the ball forward. Lipinski jumps on the ball near the boundary line at the Pies’ half-back as Sanders traps him in. The umpire calls for a ball up and the Dogs are right to be incensed.
Q4: 4 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 13.11.89 – Collingwood 14.8.92
Frampton earns a free kick against Naughton for holding in a marking contest. There wasn’t much in that but the Pies go end-to-end. Tim Membrey marks and drills his first of the night and the lead swings again.
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Q4: 5 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 13.11.89 – Collingwood 13.8.86
Bontempelli takes his turn to win the ball from the middle and Aaron Naughton is back on the field after a lengthy break on the bench and ready to make his mark. A big grab sets up a straightforward shot and the Dogs are back in the lead.
Q4: 5 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 12.11.83 – Collingwood 13.8.86
The Pies win the ball from the centre ball up and Jack Crisp gets on the end of the chain to hammer the ball through from the centre square and give his side the lead. That’s the Magpies first score from a centre ball up tonight.
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Q4: 5 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 12.11.83 – Collingwood 12.8.80
The Pies are lifting and a smother in the middle sets up a long kick to Jordan De Goey one-on-one near goal. A strong mark is all too familiar and he kicks truly from 30m out directly in front.
Q4: 7 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 12.11.83 – Collingwood 11.8.74
The Dogs win another centre clearance and Arty Jones is back in the thick of it as he crumbs the ball off the pack in the goalsquare. But just as he is about to dob a goal from a few metres out, a desperate tackle saves the day for the Pies.
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Q4: 8 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 12.10.82 – Collingwood 11.8.74
Arty Jones pulls off the play of the night as the Pies look to switch across half-back. Jeremy Howe is all alone by about 20m in the defensive 50 but Jones keeps up the chase. A Howe fumble, a Jones kick off the ground and the Dogs are back on the attack. Weightman marks and goals.
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Q4: 9 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 11.10.76 – Collingwood 11.8.74
The Pies are most dangerous when bouncing out of their back half and threaten to go all the way again but an uncontested mark inside 50 goes to ground. The Dogs rebound for Lobb and Jones to lock the ball near goal against three Magpies defenders.
Q4: 10 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 11.10.76 – Collingwood 11.8.74
Sam Davidson marks and has a shot on goal to settle the Dogs. But a sliced kick only manages a behind.
Q4: 11 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 11.9.75 – Collingwood 11.8.74
A pack of Dogs fight among themselves with the ball bouncing around their forward 50. But the Pies clean up and transition at speed to find Anderson charging ahead again. The dribble kick bounces through to narrow the margin again.
Q4: 12 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 11.9.75 – Collingwood 10.8.68
Luke Kennedy marks on the forward arc and looks for Rory Lobb on the lead into the pocket but the spilled chance goes out for a throw-in. The Pies clear but only as far as Buku Khamis who bombs the ball high into the forward 50 where Ed Richards picks up the scraps and sends a helicopter shot through the goals.
Q4: 13 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 10.9.69 – Collingwood 10.8.68
The Magpies go end-to-end with determination to keep knocking the ball forward before their runners are able break clear and into space. Angus Anderson charges in front of the pack to get on the end of a long snap as Ryley Sanders fails to make contact and impact the contest. Anderson goals and we have a one-point game.
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Q4: 15 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 10.9.69 – Collingwood 9.8.62
Marcus Bontempelli picks out Cooper Hynes on the forward arc with a deft kick. But the Dogs’ young midfielder scuffs the shot off the side of his boot to fail even to score.
Q4: 17 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 10.9.69 – Collingwood 9.8.62
Matt Kennedy swings a boot wildly and clips Nick Daicos across the forehead as the Pies midfielder throws his head back to make sure the umpire sees the contact. A hopeful kick inside 50 is marked by Darcy Cameron and the ruck slots the shot from 40m out directly in front.
Q4: 19 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 10.9.69 – Collingwood 8.8.56
The tension has risen for the final term as neither side can find a way out of the middle before the Dogs scramble the ball forward and Rory Lobb pulls down a big pack mark. But a scuffed kick barely registers a behind and misses an opportunity to set the tone.
The final quarter of the first wildcard final is about to get under way …
The Dogs continue to control centre clearances with 11-7 though perhaps most importantly have scored 26 points from the source, while winning clearances 38-28. But the Pies have found a way back into the game during red time in all three quarters as Dan McStay (4 goals) and Nick Daicos (24 disposals, 2 goals) lead the way.
3QT: Western Bulldogs 10.8.68 – Collingwood 8.8.56
The Dogs nudge a touch further in front just as they did in each of the first two quarters. But late scores to the Pies have again kept them in the game.
Q3: 1 min remaining: Western Bulldogs 10.8.68 – Collingwood 8.8.56
The Pies have fought back late in each quarter tonight and look like doing the same again as the centre clearance ends up in a mark for Tim Membrey. The key forward has been relatively quiet tonight and misses a set shot he would have hoped to kick.
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Q3: 3 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 10.8.68 – Collingwood 8.6.54
A high kick deep into the Pies forward 50 allows the Dogs defenders to bring the ball to ground. But Daicos comes streaming past to collect the handball and dob his second of the night.
Q3: 4 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 10.8.68 – Collingwood 7.6.48
Dan McStay lays a crunching tackle to send the ball loose in the Pies forward 50 but Roan Steele’s snap has too much on it as the ball bounces across the line just inside the behind post.
Q3: 5 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 10.8.68 – Collingwood 7.5.47
Marcus Bontempelli pounces on the tap from a throw-in deep in the Dogs forward pocket just as we’ve seen countless times before. He can’t quite get around enough on a quick snap on his left boot and adds a behind.
Q3: 6 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 10.7.67 – Collingwood 7.5.47
Ryley Sanders steps through a pack from the centre ball up and picks out Arthur Jones on the lead. The crafty forward kicks truly for his third, while the Dogs have scored 26 points from centre clearance for the night.
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Q3: 7 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 9.7.61 – Collingwood 7.5.47
Billy Frampton grabs Aaron Naughton around the neck to give away a clear free kick in the goal square. The Dogs key forward is hardly going to miss from there.
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Q3: 8 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 8.7.55 – Collingwood 7.5.47
Collingwood burst forward on the overlap and Will Hayes bombs the ball from inside the centre square to target Tim Membrey over the back. But a desperate leap and fist from James O’Donnell knocks the ball through for a behind.
Q3: 9 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 8.7.55 – Collingwood 7.4.46
Nick Daicos races away from a pack with a couple of Magpies in support as they charge up the wing. But a bounce under pressure and a loose handball lead to a throw-in. The midfield gun is trying to break the game open but not as much as usual is working for him tonight.
Q3: 11 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 8.7.55 – Collingwood 7.4.46
The Dogs get the ball up to their forward 50 a couple of times but a couple of fluffed kicks let the Pies off the hook. West chases down Nick Daicos for incorrect disposal free kick on the wing. A couple of contests later and Sam Davidson marks a chip kick 20m out, plays on and goals.
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Q3: 13 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 7.7.49 – Collingwood 7.4.46
The Pies win the ball out of the middle and a few Dogs mistakes ensure the danger remains.
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Q3: 15 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 7.7.49 – Collingwood 7.4.46
Nick Daicos and McStay combine again as the midfielder streams forward off a rebound and a miskick gives the player in front of the pack the chance to pull down a mark. The Pies’ in-form key forward dobs his fourth.
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Q3: 16 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 7.7.49 – Collingwood 6.4.40
The Magpies knock the ball forward at all costs with Nick Daicos involved several times in the chain before he chips a pass to Dan McStay wide of the behind post. The snap from a tough angle drifts across the face for a minor score.
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Q3: 18 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 7.7.49 – Collingwood 6.3.39
Charlie West wraps up a tackle to earn a free kick and a bomb down the line is pulled down by Darcy Cameron. Beau McCreery gathers a loose ball bouncing around the forward 50 but a slight nudge as he snaps forces the shot to the skinny side.
Q3: 19 mins remaining: Western Bulldogs 7.7.49 – Collingwood 6.2.38
The Dogs pick up where they left off with another centre clearance. A deep entry causes chaos at the top of the goal square but Sanders’ hurried snap is rushed through for a behind.
The players are back on the field and ready to get the second half under way to find out which side plays Adelaide or Geelong in an elimination final.
The key stats show where the Bulldogs got on top with 9-3 centre clearances and 28-19 across all clearances, as well as 33-21 for inside 50s and 9-5 for marks inside the forward arc. But the Magpies always find a way to stay in the contest just as they have tonight at the MCG.
Marcus Bontempelli and Matt Kennedy (both 17 disposals, three clearances, one goal) are helping the Dogs to control the midfield, while Joel Freijah (14, 5) and Ed Richards (13, 4) have also been important. Aaron Naughton and Arthur Jones both have two goals, while Daniel McStay has three for the Pies. Sam Swadling (18) and Pat Lipinski (17) are finding plenty of ball in transition but the Magpies need to find more support for Nick Daicos (16, 2, 1).
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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”.
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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.
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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
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Disposals: 26.3-34.9
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Disposal efficiency: 73.4-69.2%
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Contested possessions: 11.1-10.7
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Clearances: 5.6-5.7
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Centre clearances: 2.8-2.9
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Tackles: 4.3-2.4
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Score involvements: 7.2-9
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Inside 50s: 5.8-6.7
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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!
