Friday Fallout: Bulldogs put an end to Collingwood era in the first Wildcard Final

Western Bulldogs v Collingwood

What an absolute ripper of a game that was.

Andrew Dillon could not have dreamed of a better kick-off point to his newly minted Wildcard Finals, and yes, it 100 per cent felt like a final.

81,036 were in the house to watch the battle of Nick Daicos and Marcus Bontempelli and it did not disappoint.

Daicos (two goals, 30 disposals) was down on his usual impact but that that stat-line is inarguable, but Bontempelli took the chocolates of the two with one goal and 32 touches on top of eight clearances in a powerful display.

The Bont wasn’t on his own, though, with Joel Freijah (eight clearances, 27 disposals) and Ed Richards (seven clearances, 25 disposals) providing support in the 54-35 clearance domination by the Bulldogs.

Despite all of that, there was still a whiff of a Collingwood come-from-behind win in the air and when Jack Crisp kicked Collingwood’s first goal from centre bounce of the game to put them in front, Steele Sidebottom’s career seemed to have yet another final awaiting.

But the Bulldogs held their nerve and through Aaron Naughton and Arty Jones, took their chances to reclaim the lead. The latter of which could have played the best game of his career with four electric goals to go with his 16 disposals.

In the wake of this game, we have learnt that Scott Pendlebury has agreed to a deal with Gold Coast and has played his last game for Collingwood; this could be worse news to many Magpies fans than the result of the game and sours what was a transitional year.

If Melbourne beat Carlton, the Bulldogs will face Geelong at the MCG on Friday night.

If Carlton beat Melbourne, the Bulldogs will face Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Ethan Clark