AFL round 2 Western Bulldogs v Collingwood: Steele Sidebottom stands tall in epic Friday night finish

Steele Sidebottom put a horror moment behind him to inspire Collingwood to a thrilling win over Western Bulldogs on a night where the Magpies had to overcome the spirit of Footscray.

The close game specialists have done it again.

It wasn’t the classy, dominant performance of the previous week against Port Adelaide.

In fact, it was a dogfight against a younger and far less experienced Footscray side.

But for Collingwood coach Craig McRae, you’ll take any win at this early stage of the season and Friday night’s six-point triumph over the Bulldogs had character-building written all over it.

There were mistakes – plenty of them – including from many of the Magpies’ most experienced campaigners.

Darcy Moore’s errant kick back inside defensive 50 was just one of them.

But against hungry opponents who refused to back down, Collingwood found a way in a nailbiter — as it has so often done over the past three years.

Opportunities went begging for the Magpies in a tense final term as Jamie Elliott and Jordan De Goey both missed set shots and what was thought to be a Dan McStay soccer goal was reviewed as a behind after Bailey Williams got a fingernail to the footy off the boot.

Steele Sidebottom wheels off to celebrate his matchwinner. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/Getty Images

Then came an effort in the middle of the ground which milestone man Steele Sidebottom won’t enjoy watching replays of as he flinched while going back with the flight of the ball.

The contest resulted in a Joel Freijah goal on the run from 50m — levelling the scores as the Bulldogs got their tails up once again.

Houston's first goal as a Pie was ALWAYS going to be from distance 🚀#AFLDogsPiespic.twitter.com/FZwcogI25F

— AFL (@AFL) March 21, 2025

But like champions do, Sidebottom made amends minutes later, crumbing a goal in the pocket which would prove the sealer in his record 308th game alongside teammate Scott Pendlebury.

“It was nice to get the sealer because it might have cost us one in the middle of the ground,” Sidebottom said after the game.

“It wasn’t our way all night. I think goods teams find a way and we were able to do that.”

The Magpies only got their game going in spits and spurts and their conversion once inside 50 left a bit to be desired.

Sealed with a kiss for the two record breakers.

But some credit had to go to the Bulldogs, who brought red-hot pressure in an emotion-charged match.

On a night where the club celebrated its 100th anniversary, a man who coloured his hair blue to mark the occasion – Rory Lobb – was a rock in a defence still missing Liam Jones.

Two sons-of-guns by the names of Sam Darcy and Tom Liberatore also did their surnames proud.

Sam Darcy is on fire with his third goal 🔥#AFLDogsPiespic.twitter.com/ocm0SkCsJx

— AFL (@AFL) March 21, 2025

Darcy was sublime, particularly in a dominant first half.

As athletic a 200-plus-centimetre big man that the game has ever seen, he was sidestepping opponents around the ground and launching bullet kicks to teammates further afield when he wasn’t taking pack marks at the highest point.

In the day and age of chopping the arms free kicks, there’s almost no stopping this 21-year-old when he launches at the ball in the air.

Darcy could easily have had five goals to his name by the six-minute-mark of the third quarter, but twice put the footy into the woodwork early in the term as opportunities for the Bulldogs went begging.

He took another big contested grab in front of Darcy Moore and slotted a fourth major midway through the final quarter, finishing with 4.2 from 15 disposals and eight marks (six contested).

Acting as stand-in captain in Marcus Bontempelli’s absence, Liberatore was also immense, carrying the side on his shoulders on his way to 34 disposals and a goal.

Footscray didn’t lose any admirers but will have to keep up the fight with many of the injured brigade still some time away from making their returns.