Wildcard Fallout: Carlton's next generation has arrived

Another thriller at the MCG, Carlton completed a wonderful comeback, turning a 21-point first quarter deficit into a 19-point win over Melbourne and advancing to an Elimination Final.

Incredibly, it wasn't just your usual suspects popping up for the Blues in the clutch.

Young superstars Jagga Smith and Harry Dean have reached levels hardly ever seen by a pair of rookies, anchoring their side in both defence and offence and looking every bit ready for the moment.

Recruit Ben Ainsworth was a standout performer with 21 and three goals, while Matt Cottrell was a few straight kicks away from a career night.

Sam Walsh's reputation as a September specialist came to light once more with 39 disposals, eight score involvements, seven clearances and seven intercepts - another superstar built for the biggest stage.

And of course, Josh Fraser got it spot on once again, harnessing the uncontested game and countering the pace of the Dees attack, limiting the high-scoring side to just 55 points with just three goals in the final three terms.

But, as is with any elimination, one good thing means the end of another; Steven King's brilliant debut season comes to a close in heart-breaking fashion.

A year to remember for the Dees, many pundits expected no more than a bottom six finish. To wind up a game outside the top six and competing in September is a wild overachievement for the first year coach.

The Dees head home while the Blues - favourably - remain in Melbourne, set to face off against Geelong in a mouth-watering Elimination Final.

Last time these two sides faced off at the 'G, the Blues pipped an incredible four-point win in Fraser's third game as interim coach.

The fairy tale is more than just alive, and the Cats will have to produce something special to contain these charging Blues next Friday night.

As for the Dogs, they will now head to Adelaide to face the Crows this Saturday night.

Jaiden Sciberras

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.

Ethan Clark