Dogs into September after wild night at the 'G

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, August 29, 2026

The Western Bulldogs defeated Collingwood in a nail-biting AFL wildcard match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with a last-minute miss by Collingwood sealing the victory. This win extends the Bulldogs’ winning streak against top teams and positions them as strong contenders heading deeper into the finals series.

The Western Bulldogs secured a thrilling victory over Collingwood in a highly anticipated AFL wildcard matchup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday night, energizing the finals series with a display of determination and skill in front of 81,036 spectators.

The contest, marked by intense physicality and high stakes, set the tone early as the Bulldogs were quick to apply pressure on Collingwood’s acting captain, Nick Daicos. Within the first 90 seconds, Bulldogs’ Joel Freilich delivered a hard tackle on Daicos, signaling the Bulldogs’ intent to disrupt the young star’s influence throughout the game.

Daicos showcased his class with a running goal from 50 meters in the opening quarter. However, early in the second quarter, an overthrown kick from Daicos led to a Bulldogs’ turnover that sparked a scoring run. Lachie Bramble collected the ball, passed to Matthew Kennedy, who then found captain Marcus Bontempelli. Bontempelli responded with a strong sidestep and a goal from 45 meters, igniting the Bulldogs’ momentum.

The Bulldogs continued to impose themselves, with Rhylee West unsettling Daicos to set up Aaron Naughton’s second goal. Despite moments of frustration from Daicos, including a failed run to goal and a subsequent defensive chop from Connor Budarick, the young Magpie continued to influence the game.

The match swung back and forth with contributions from unlikely figures on both sides. Angus Anderson’s two goals in the final term narrowed Collingwood’s deficit to a single point. Cody Weightman, returning after significant time away from the game, delivered a key 40-meter goal for the Bulldogs. Defensive efforts from Billy Frampton and Ned Long helped maintain pressure, while Jordan De Goey and Jack Crisp provided crucial goals to keep Collingwood in contention.

As the final minutes unfolded, Bontempelli orchestrated another scoring opportunity for Naughton, who continued to prove vital for the Bulldogs. Tim Bembrey quickly responded for Collingwood, maintaining the tight margin. With less than three minutes remaining, Artie Jones snapped a rare goal that pushed the Bulldogs ahead once more.

The climax came with Collingwood’s Bembrey awarded a chance to win after the siren, but his 40-meter shot missed its mark, sealing the win for the Bulldogs.

This victory completes the Bulldogs’ impressive streak over the past three weeks, having defeated Carlton, Melbourne, and now Collingwood, setting the stage for their finals campaign as they appear to peak at the right moment. The game highlighted the intensity and competitiveness of the new wildcard format, ensuring that the finals atmosphere is vibrant and highly anticipated moving forward.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.