Sunday’s elimination final couldn’t have started any better for Bulldogs’ big man Tom Boyd.

The 22-year-old kicked the first two majors of the game, including one from well outside 50, one of four for the afternoon as the Dogs held off Essendon with a five point win at Fortburn Stadium.

Boyd added 13 disposals at 100% efficiency and was among the his sides’ best as the Footscray set up a date with Port Melbourne next Sunday in another do or die contest.  

Clay Smith was back to his bullocking best, collecting 19 disposals and kicking two goals and Matthew Boyd had a team-high 24, while Bailey Williams performed a critical shut down role on Danny Younan in the second half.

But it was Boyd’s performance in critical moments that kept the Bombers at bay; his fourth and final goal from the boundary to put the Dogs 18 points up in the final term was a crucial buffer in the conditions.

“Obviously they had the wind coming into the last quarter,” Boyd told Channel Seven post-match.

"We felt we had a decent lead coming into three-quarter time, but you never know if it's going to be enough."

It was, and the Dogs will return to the old North Port Oval this weekend to take on The Borough in the first semi final after they fell narrowly to Box Hill on Sunday.

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