For the second time in three years, the Footscray Bulldogs will play-off in the Peter Jackson VFL Grand Final after a 119-point demolition of Collingwood on Saturday afternoon.
In front of the packed terraces of North Port Oval, Footscray turned on a devastating performance to storm into the season decider on the back of a 10-goal final term.
Ben Long was the star in front of goal kicking six majors for the match, five of which in the second half.
Mitch Honeychurch collected 28 disposals for the match, and along with Lukas Webb were the driving forces through the middle.
Captain Jordan Russell displayed the form that earned him VFL Team of the Year selection, providing plenty of run and drive off half-back, and was supported well by Brad Lynch.
The Bulldogs led at every change, and looked to have the game out of Collingwood’s reach by the 26 minute mark of the second quarter, after kicking six unanswered goals to start the term, and stretch the lead to 58-points.
However, Collingwood showed some fight to kick the last three goals of the opening half, and then kick the opening goal of the second half to narrow the gap to 37-points.
With momentum with the Magpies, and the intensity rising around the football, it was Mitch Honeychurch who steadied with the first of his two goals for the day, stemming the Magpie tide, and setting his side on a six to two goal run and a comfortable 10-goal lead at the final change.
What followed, no one expected, as Collingwood capitulated to concede 10 goals in the final term, as the Bulldogs doubled their advantage in the final term.
Seven Bulldogs finished with multiple goals, while 16 of the 23 players that took the field finished with a major next to their name.
The Bulldogs will now await the result of Sunday’s first preliminary final, between minor premiers Casey Scorpions and reigning premiers Williamstown, to discover their opponent
The 2016 Peter Jackson VFL Grand Final will be contested next Sunday 25 September at Etihad Stadium, with the first bounce at 3:00pm.
FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS 5.6 11.10 17.13 27. 19 (181)
COLLINGWOOD 2.4 5.6 8.6 9.8 (62)
GOALS: Ben Long 6, Bailey Dale 2, Jed Adcock 2, Declan Hamilton 2 Lukas Webb 2 , Will Hayes 2, Mitch Honeychurch 2, Will Minson, Nick Jamieson, , Mitch Hannan, Andrew Tashevski-Beckwith, , Josh Wallis, Lukas Webb, Alex Greenwood, Mitch Hannan, Tom Campbell
BEST: Lukas Webb, Koby Stevens, Ben Long, Mitch Honeychurch, Tom Campbell, Nick Jamieson.
