There were two nervous parties on Sunday night – Western Bulldogs, who were playing Fremantle, and Melbourne who were looking on from afar as their finals fate hung in the balance – but at the end of the penultimate game of the home and away season, it was the Dogs who were left jubilant as they booked their spot in the finals.
A tight and tense tactical battle in the first quarter gave way to the Dogs taking control of field position in the second term, kicking five goals to three to eventually prevail by 30 points at Cazalys Stadium.
Bailey Smith was unusually quiet for Luke Beveridge's side, recording only 14 touches, but such is the depth of their midifield, it didn't matter as Lachie Hunter (34 touches) and Tom Liberatore (25 touches) lead the charge.
The result consigns Melbourne to 9th place on the ladder and means they'll miss out on finals action for a second consecutive season.
Here's everything you need to know!
The finals implications: The Bulldogs are in but who will they play?
The equation was simple heading into this one for the Dogs – win and you’re playing finals.
After what was undoubtedly a nervy start, they were able to settle and take control after quarter time to confirm their spot in this year’s finals series.
The question now become who they’ll face off against in an elimination final and even with one match remaining of the home and away season, it’s still up in the air.
They’ll face sixth-placed St Kilda if Port Adelaide beat Collingwood on Monday night but if the Pies can pull off the upset, they’ll leapfrog the Dogs into at least seventh place and possibly higher.
If Collingwood do find a way to win, the Dogs will drop to 8th and face a trip out west to face the fifth-placed West Coast Eagles.
That match up would bring back memories of their elimination final win against the Eagles in 2016, which turned out to be the start of their premiership-winning run.
"The Doggies are going to the finals!"
— AFL Nation (@AFLNation) September 20, 2020
Caleb Daniel snaps one on the run and they're out to a 27 point lead!#AFLFreoDogs
The injury: Aaron Naughton heads to hospital
Western Bulldogs forward Aaron Naughton was sent to hospital for precautionary scans after copping a head knock in the second quarter of Sunday’s clash.
The innocuous incident saw Naughton hit by Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy, which ended with the the 20-year-old coming from the field in the latter stages of the second term.
“It’s not ideal but we’ll have to adjust and throw a different aspect to the opposition and maintain that composure and work ethic,” coach Luke Beveridge told Fox Footy at half time.
The Dogs were forced to throw defender Alex Keath forward on the ball to compensate.
FULL SCORE
Fremantle: 2.2, 5.4, 6.5, 6.7 (43)
Western Bulldogs: 2.3, 7.4, 8.8, 11.8 (74)
GOALS
Fremantle: Fyfe 2, Crowden, Darcy, Hogan, Schultz
Western Bulldogs: English 2, Hunter, Wallis, Bruce, Johannisen, Bontempelli, Daniel, Lipinski, Naughton, Smith
BEST
Fremantle: Fyfe, Serong, Ryan, Acres, Cerra
Western Bulldogs: English, Hunter, Liberatore, Bontempelli
Reports: Nil
Injuries
Fremantle: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Aaron Naughton (concussion)
Crowd: 3,114 at Cazalys Stadium