The Footscray Bulldogs will play in their second Preliminary Final in three years after defeating Essendon on Sunday afternoon at North Port Oval, setting up a date with Collingwood next weekend.

The Dogs piled on six last quarter goals, including three from Mitch Hannan, to turn an 18-point deficit at the final change to a 19-piont victory and a chance to play off for a spot in the Grand Final at Etihad Stadium in two weeks’ time.

Speaking to Channel 7 post-match, skipper Jordan Russell said he was pleased with how the side responded to last weekend’s 70-point loss to the Casey Scorpions.

It was a very special effort by the boys,” Russell said. 

“Coming off a bad loss last week, it was great to see us get across the line. 

“It was a bloody tight game and credit to Essendon but credit to us for fighting it out.”

The Bulldogs will return to North Port Oval on Saturday afternoon where they’ll take on Collingwood for the second time in four weeks after the ‘Scray denied the Pies the minor premiership with an emphatic 32-point win in the final round of the home and away season at VU Whitten Oval.

Russell said the focus is now on recovery as they ready to take on a Collingwood team coming off a weeks’ rest.

“Obviously they had a pretty good win, they’ll be fresh,” he said. 

[For us], coming off a pretty big game today, recovery is the most important thing. 

The contested footy is going to be key next week, so hopefully we can get across the line.