Magpies Survive a Last Minute Claw From The Doggies

Collingwood advance through to the Semi Finals in a frantic last minute scare from the Bulldogs

Isabelle Pricthard attempting to shrug two Collingwood players. Image: Matt Haug

After what has already been an exciting weekend in footy, today's match certainly did not disappoint fans in what was arguably the game of the round.

Collingwood 5.10 (40) hosted the Western Bulldogs 5.5 (35) today in a sold-out match at Victoria Park and certainly display from both teams was exceptional to witness.

Despite the Magpies at the start of the fourth term by 17 points, as well as leading for the entirety of the match. The Bulldogs kicked two quick goals and almost stole the match from the Magpies.

The atmosphere was incredible with both sides playing enormous football, including the last few minutes where the game could have gone either way.

Ruby Schleicher was huge in her 50-game milestone collecting 16 touches for the Magpies. Mikala Cann led the Magpies as she collected a team-high of 20 touches whilst Stacey Livingstone too gathered 16 touches and took seven marks.

Eliza James was unbelievable, she becomes the first AFLW player to kick four goals in a final at only 19 she slayed comfortably slotting snags from the boundary. Abbi Moloney was Collingwood's only other goalscorer kicking one.

Katie Lynch too collected a team-high 20 touches for the Western Bulldogs including five tackles and six marks. Like throughout the season Isabelle Pritchard and Kirsty Lamb had 17 a piece and played exceptionally well.

Gabby Newton was the Bulldogs' only multiple goalscorers kicking 2, Sarah Hartwig, Richelle Cranston and Lamb kicking one.

Collingwood coach Stephen Symonds spoke to the media post-game about how tight that final quarter was and how the Magpies almost lost it.

"Three-quarters of the game we really dominated and obviously the dogs come back at the last quarter and put us under a bit of pressure", he said.

"We had plenty opportunities we didn't take them, left the door slightly open and they almost came through it".

Western Bulldogs coach Nathan Burke too spoke to the media about rather the brutality of the loss, the effort his team gave was extraordinary.

"We threw everything at it and no doubt that we would cause this side always does. I've never been involved with a side with as many guts as these have got", he said.

"Not once this year have they turned up their toes and have gone this is too hard when we're not gonna win here it's bloody hot out there but they kept pushing and pushing and that’s what they do.

"We now need to add all of the other stuff that makes a good football team on top of that".

The Western Bulldogs have the second youngest list in the competition and their efforts in a finals match were fantastic.

"We played three seventeen-year-olds today, in this heat and in this battle. Three seventeen-year-olds doing year 12 exams, but for them to come out and do what they did was phenomenal", Burke said.

The Magpies advance their finals campaign to take on reigning premiers the Crows next Saturday in Adelaide which could be an interesting match.

The Bulldogs' season is over however their efforts today in a close match to the Magpies is nothing to be ashamed about.

Their final quarter was brave when the players would have been drained in the warm weather, but the Bulldogs fought hard and almost found a way.