AFL Wildcard Round: Western Bulldogs survive epic Collingwood comeback to book elimination final date

Collingwood’s season has been left shattered as Western Bulldogs survived a shot after the siren to march into September with a three-point win in the AFL’s inaugural wildcard match.

The wildcard contest lived up to the billing at the MCG with both sides putting on a show to remember, the fate of both sides’ season coming down to a Tim Membrey set shot after the siren.

The Collingwood forward took a strong pack mark with less than 30 seconds left on the clock after the lead was traded four times in the final five minutes.

And while the shot was from a very slight angle, the 45-metre distance proved too much for Membrey’s heavy legs, spraying the shot to the right and dropping in despair.

Collingwood had been one of the worst last-quarter teams in the competition across the home-and-away season, but with an elimination final berth on the line, they found an extra gear.

They kicked five of the first seven goals of the last, leaving the Dogs clinging to a tenuous three-point advantage.

The two sides traded the lead as the 81,036 fans in the house made their voices felt before Rockingham product Aaron Naughton and then in-demand forward Arty Jones restored the Dogs’ lead.

Marcus Bontempelli and Nick Daicos were the headline acts, but it was first-year West Australian Sam Swadling who put his name up in lights for the Pies.

He ended the contest with an equal game-high 32 disposals and a clearance in a sign that the future after Pies heroes Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom, who is now retired after the defeat, is bright.