The Western Bulldogs will play Collingwood in a wildcard final after producing a stunning 21-point win over Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday.
The Dogs led from start to finish, but withstood a spirited fightback to eventually seal the victory on the back of a brilliant goal from captain Marcus Bontempelli.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Bulldogs maul Demons as injuries derail finals push
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The win locks the Bulldogs into ninth place and a wildcard final next week against the Pies, likely Friday night at the MCG.
But more crucially, the loss could see the Demons drop to seventh and a wildcard final against Carlton, who are locked into 10th place despite their upset win over Fremantle earlier on Saturday.
Melbourne are still in fifth place, but will drop to seventh should Geelong and Adelaide win their matches against Richmond and GWS respectively, later on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs’ win did come at a cost though, with key forward Aaron Naughton limping off with an ankle injury in the third term.
Naughton had kicked two goals and taken nine marks in a brilliant performance before landing awkwardly in a marking contest.
Entering the match with a 10-1 record at the MCG this year, the Demons were strangely flat and disorganised, despite a win meaning they would finish in the top six and earn a week off before finals.
Trailing by 28 points at the 10-minute mark of the final quarter, Melbourne — inspired by Max Gawn — quickly peeled the deficit back to just eight to have the MCG roaring.
But experienced midfielder Matt Kennedy’s classy snap with four minutes left put a pin in the Demons’ bubble before Bontempelli made a certainty of the result with his second goal of the game with just two minutes left, capping off a superb 27-possession match.
Despite Melbourne smashing the Bulldogs out of the centre, due to ruck goliath Gawn going up against Rory Lobb and journeyman Ryan Gardner, the Demons struggled for connection inside 50 and defended poorly.
Gawn was clearly best-on-ground with 28 possessions, 10 clearances and 59 hit-outs.
Joining Bontempelli in spearheading the Bulldogs’ charge was Ed Richards with a game-high 30 possessions and one memorable goal.
In the first quarter, Richards snapped through a ball from 40m out, despite his boot coming off in the preceding contest.
Richards decided to celebrate by holding up the boot to his ear.
Harrison Petty led Melbourne’s goal-kicking with three, two of them coming during the Demons’ final-quarter surge.
— with AAP
