AFL 2025 round two LIVE: Bulldogs take on Collingwood in milestone game for the red, white and blue
Steele Sidebottom kicked the match-winnner on the night he and Scott Pendlebury broke the record for the most games played together as teammates.Credit: AFL Photos
Collingwood spoiled Footscray’s 100th anniversary celebrations and won their second match in a row since their disastrous opening-round defeat in a thrilling contest at the MCG on Friday night.
Steele Sidebottom was the Magpies’ hero, snapping a goal out of congestion inside the last three-and-a-half minutes to outlast the gallant Bulldogs by six points.
Sidebottom also kicked the last goal of the third quarter to give Collingwood an eight-point edge at the final break after they trailed by six and five points, respectively, at quarter- and half-time.
That match-winner followed the returning Jordan De Goey fluffing a set shot for the Pies’ 16th behind, after rising Bulldog Joel Freijah tied the scores with a superb running goal from beyond 50 metres.
The score review system also correctly overturned a Daniel McStay goal after a desperate Bailey Williams got his fingertips to the Sherrin in the nick of time.
The Bulldogs piled on the first 22 points of the match, and it took the Pies almost 20 minutes to even score – but the contest soon turned into an arm wrestle in front of a captivated crowd of 78,027.
Even without resident superstar Marcus Bontempelli, plus the likes of Adam Treloar, Liam Jones, Cody Weightman and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Luke Beveridge’s brave Bulldogs were still a chance in the dying seconds.
Nick Daicos won 39 disposals and nine clearances in his latest brilliant performance, while veterans Sidebottom (22, six clearances) and Scott Pendlebury (26) turned back the clock.
Sam Darcy booted four goals – and probably should have had six – in an eye-catching aerial display, but the Dogs’ best player was stand-in skipper Tom Liberatore, who amassed 34 touches, 18 contested possessions and nine clearances with dad Tony in the stands.
