Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Collingwood coach Craig McRae may ‘release the shackles’ and push his side to play faster after their five-goal final term against the Bulldogs on Saturday night.
While the Bulldogs won by four points, McRae is asking how he can get his side playing regularly like they did in the final term as they look for a formula that can take them to the finals.
“We kicked 5.5 in the last quarter. There are a lot of questions in the room about why don’t we play like that all the time,” McRae said.
When asked if they needed to play faster or with more of a carefree attitude, McRae said he wasn’t against it.
The Western Bulldogs held on for dear life to beat the one-time comeback kings Collingwood – and they have two of their least experienced players to thank.
Michael Sellwood, a mid-season pick from last year, and Will Lewis, the last player onto their list, were the heroes for the Dogs, who held off the fast-finishing Pies to win a thriller by four points – 14.13 (97) to 13.15 (93).
Sellwood created his own Leo Barry moment, running back with the flight to take a huge pack mark and extinguish a frantic forward thrust by the Pies in the dying seconds.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge reserved some rich praise for 11-game defender Michael Sellwood following his match-saving mark in the final seconds of the match.
Beveridge felt the mark was similar to Sydney hero Leo Barry’s mark against West Coast in the famous 2005 grand final.
“It was quite incredible. He was channelling Leo Barry there, probably lesser stakes, but we still had a lot on the line,” Beveridge told Kayo Sports.
“We had organised seven [defenders] but saw Rory Lobb was coming but was probably not going to get there.
Dogs defender Michael Sellwood was deathly honest about the circumstances around his match-saving mark in the final seconds of tonight’s match.
The 2025 AFL rookie draftee has won over the Dogs’ coaches this season and become a fixture in defence.
Sellwood said he knew if he flew for the mark in the final seconds, he would have to take it.
“I just saw the ball and realised that I had to go here and if I went, I had to mark it as [former Dog Patrick] Lipinski was probably at the drop of the ball,” Sellwood told Kayo Sports.
“[I’m] glad it stuck. The rest is history.”
Dogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli has described the feeling of beating Collingwood as being equal to two wins.
The Dogs superstar said his side continued to find ways to get wins this season despite their injury woes.
“They kept at us. [A] three goals [lead] is never enough against Collingwood, neither is four. I’m super proud of that,” Bontempelli told Kayo Sports.
“To win under duress, it almost feels like two wins.
Michael Selwood in defence and Tim English on the wing pulled in late marks to make sure of the win for the Dogs.
These could be a vital four points.
Membrey has kicked his third goal and the Pies are back to only four points down.
There is 95 seconds to play and the Pies need one more goal to win.
Can the Dogs hold on?
Will Lewis has lifted for the Dogs once again, booting a goal and pushing the lead back to 10 points.
The Dogs still aren’t safe, but this goal looks a big on.
There are just 90 seconds to play.
When the Pies play this brand of footy, they look super dangerous.
When they slow things down, the Dogs breathe a sigh of relief.
Angus Anderson has booted a second goal, he’s been great tonight.
Dogs 90, Pies 86 with five mins to go.
