Western Bulldogs defeat Collingwood in tense AFL wildcard final as Tim Membrey misses match-winning shot

So that's what wildcard footy looks like then. Not bad, hey?

Turns out knockout footy is just great no matter what you call it. And the good news is it's only just beginning. We're back tomorrow as Melbourne and Carlton do it again, and we hope you'll join us for that one.

Tonight belongs to the Western Bulldogs, who march on into an elimination final. Thanks for your company, see you next time.

Collingwood forward Tim Membrey missed a set shot after the final siren as the Western Bulldogs hung on for a tense three-point victory in the AFL's first wildcard final.

Membrey marked about 40 metres out from goal but his attempt at a match-winning goal faded agonisingly to the right, with the Bulldogs prevailing 14.12 (96) to 14.9 (93) at the MCG on Friday night.

Luke Beveridge's men advance to an elimination final next week, while the Magpies' finals campaign is over.

A huge crowd of 81,036 was on hand for the historic knockout clash as the eighth and ninth-ranked teams traded blows in a fiery battle.

Raging Brownlow Medal favourite Nick Daicos (30 disposals, two goals) did everything he could to drag Collingwood over the line.

But Marcus Bontempelli (32 disposals, one goal), Matthew Kennedy (27 touches) and Ed Richards (25) gave the Bulldogs midfield ascendancy as Aaron Naughton and Arthur Jones fired in attack.

The pair of forwards kicked four goals each, with Jones snapping what proved to be the decisive major deep into time-on of the final term.

Bailey Dale (24 disposals) was influential at half-back for the Bulldogs.

Dan McStay kicked four goals for Collingwood, with Sam Swadling (32 disposals) and Josh Daicos (26) busy.

The Magpies' defeat brought down the curtain on premiership hero Steele Sidebottom's career, with doubt over injured games record holder Scott Pendlebury's playing future.

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The Magpies and Bulldogs combined for a guard of honour after the game to congratulate Steele Sidebottom, who just completed his 375th and final game for Collingwood.

Sidebottom announced he would retire at the end of the season earlier in the year, but would have been hoping to have kept his career alive for a couple more weeks at least. No doubt he was riding the wave more than most in that last quarter as the lead changed hands over and over again.

As classy a player as we've seen in the last 20 years, Sidebottom retires a Collingwood favourite and a true modern great.

That last quarter was insane. It was a close game throughout, not always of the highest quality (eighth vs ninth, after all), but that last quarter was something else. Goal for goal, end to end, not decided until a kick after the final siren. The only surprise is that Tim Membrey missed that critical shot, because the Pies had kicked six straight in the last quarter before that.

But all in all, it feels like the Western Bulldogs deserved that win. For 80 per cent of the game they looked the better team, it was only Collingwood's incredible resilience and ability to conjure a goal when they needed it most that kept them alive.

Aaron Naughton and Arty Jones were the match-winners in the forward line, but Rhylee West, Ed Richards and Marcus Bontempelli had brilliant games too.

The Pies threw everything at that game and so very nearly pinched it. Every Magpie got around a crestfallen Tim Membrey after his failed attempt, heartbroken but still united. For them, 2026 has come to an abrupt end.

But the Dogs' story continues, with either Adelaide or Geelong awaiting in an elimination final next week.

Arty Jones was just clearly taken high by Howe for no whistle just a few moments ago, but he is not one to give up and sulk. He made himself dangerous inside 50 again, got a quick handball from Naughton and snapped an absolute ripper off a step.

Under three minutes to play, three point margin. Dogs in front. But for how long?

It's madness now. The Dogs took it out of the middle again from the last goal, but Naughton threw Frampton out of the way and coughed up the free kick. From there the Pies went swiftly along the boundary line and found Membrey inside 50, who took a strong mark and kicked a fine goal from a tight angle.

Under four minutes to play, Pies by three. What next?!?

Spectacular stuff from Arty Jones! His chase and pressure and tackle on Jeremy Howe forced a turnover that never looked likely. Then his clever kick off the ground won possession back for the Bulldogs, and one kick later Weightman was lining them up.

That pressure act from Jones might have just won the Bulldogs the game. That was tremendous stuff from a young man who has had a blinder in his first final. Eight minutes to play.

The Bulldogs have not been clinical enough inside 50 in this last quarter, at times getting in each other's way when chances have arrived. In return Collingwood go flying off half-back to create the chance.

Anderson had nothing at all in front of him, so went low and hard from inside the centre square. It dribbled its way through for his second of this last quarter. One point game again.