The Western Bulldogs have held off a spirited Collingwood to hang on for a four-point victory in a thriller on Saturday night.
The Dogs led for nearly the entire night, but the Pies surged home late to nearly steal a famous win, only for unlikely hero Michael Sellwood to produce a stunning mark in the final minute.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Michael Sellwood’s match-saving mark
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Will Lewis looked like being the hero when his goal put the Dogs up by 10 points with a couple minutes remaining, but there was still time for one final twist.
Tim Membrey cut the deficit to four with a quick snap to set up a thrilling finale.
The Pies had one final chance, but were thwarted by Sellwood, who went back with the flight and took a brilliant game-saving mark.
From that point, the Dogs controlled the ball to seal the win and improve their win-loss record to 7-5.
Arriving at the club via last year’s mid-season rookie draft, Sellwood was playing just the 12th game of his career.
“I just saw the ball and I was like ‘I really gotta go here and if I go, I gotta mark it’,” he told Fox Footy after the match.
“Luckily it stuck because (Pat) Lipinski probably would have got the ball. Glad it stuck and the rest is history.”
Captain Marcus Bontempelli wasn’t surprised the inexperienced teammate produced the clutch moment.
“It’s not a surprise. He’s become one of the more reliable players in our team with regards to his contest, his physicality,” he said.
“You can tell he has the desperation, getting drafted later (in life), not giving up on his opportunity and you can tell every week he is just relishing it.
“Stuff like that … in his first contest at his first training session he almost killed Liam Jones going back with the flight, and right then and there you knew what he was about.
“It was exactly like that play, head in the hole, no concern for his wellbeing or his body.”
The commentators were in awe of the incredible mark.
“What courage that takes to leave your man. If you don’t mark it, your man is likely sitting at ground level and will have a chence to win the game,” North Melbourne great David King said.
Matt Kennedy (29 touches), Ed Richards (24) and Ryley Sanders (28) shone for the Dogs, while Marcus Bontempelli (22 disposals, nine clearances) starred for three quarters before he was blunted by Angus Anderson late.
First-year key forward Lewis kicked three crucial goals, including the Dogs’ last of the match, while Richards, English and Lachlan McNeill kicked two each.
The result lifted the Bulldogs (7-5) to seventh and left Collingwood (5-6-1) in danger of slipping out of the top 10 by the end of the round.
The Magpies’ loss came despite the efforts of explosive midfielder Jordan De Goey, who was best afield with 30 disposals, 19 score involvements and one goal.
Nick Daicos (37 touches) and veteran Scott Pendlebury (33) — one week after breaking the all-time AFL/VFL games record — were also strong contributors for the Pies.
Tim Membrey kicked three goals, with Lachie Schultz and Anderson adding two each.
The Bulldogs had early ascendancy and kicked four of the first five goals, with Arthur Jones dangerous at ground level in attack.
They led by seven points at quarter-time and extended the margin to 17 by the main break.
It could, perhaps should, have been greater as the Dogs dominated the clearance (25-14) and inside-50 (32-18) counts to that point.
They were also denied a free kick seconds before the siren when Bontempelli was taken out by Brayden Maynard when running on to a loose ball in front of goal.
Collingwood slashed the margin to one straight kick midway through the third term, but the Dogs responded with three majors in six minutes to keep them at bay, leading by 24 points not long before three-quarter time.
The Pies lifted again, kicking the next three goals, and had a chance to tie the scores early in the final term when Schultz pushed a set shot wide.
A rollicking last quarter went down to the wire.
Lewis pounced to give the Dogs a 10-point lead, before Membrey gave Collingwood a sniff with his third goal with 85 seconds left on the clock.
But Sellwood was on hand to save the day for the Dogs with his courageous mark.
— with AAP
