Footscray have fallen by five-points to Collingwood at Victoria Park on Sunday, in a thrilling finish that came down to the final kick of the day.

After trailing by 17-points at the final change, Footscray kicked three straight goals to level scores late in the final quarter, only for Collingwood to re-establish a six-point lead via a quick centre clearance and a Ben Crocker snap.

Inside the final minute, and with one last roll of the dice, the Bulldogs surged forward from their defensive half, with forward Anthony Bruhn marking 40m out with just seconds left on the clock.

Bruhn himself had already kicked two final quarter goals to aid the ‘Scray fightback.

Kicking as the final siren sounded to force a draw, Bruhn’s drop punt faded late to hit the post, handing the home side victory in a see-sawing encounter.

Along with Bruhn, Nick Jamieson (three goals) and Billy Gowers (two goals) were the other multiple goalkickers for the visitors, while Matthew Boyd was Footscray’s leading ball winner with 26 disposals.

Clay Smith showed his trademark grit to amass 22 touches along with 13 tackles, while 23rd man Tate Short was a dynamic option across half forward with 18 disposals and one goal.

While the closing stages proved thrilling, the opening three quarters reflected a see-sawing encounter.

Kicking the first three goals of the game, Footscray jumped to the early lead before the home side steadied to score two red-time goals to narrow the margin to six points.

The second quarter followed a similar pattern, with Lewis Young and Billy Gowers responding to an early second term goal to the Collingwood’s Josh Daicos, to extend the visitors advantage to 12-points.

Collingwood started to wrestle back control around the stoppages, creating repeat forward 50m entries and goals to Sam McLarty and Campbell Lane to see the home side hit the front for the first time in the match.

A late second quarter goal to Billy Gowers, his second for the term, helped Footscray to steady and carry a seven-point advantage in to the main break.

Out of the main break, the game was played on Collingwood’s terms as they kicked six goals to two to stretch the lead to 17-points at the final change -their largest margin for the game - before momentum swung Footscray’s way as they charged back at the Magpies in the last quarter.

The loss has Footscray move to seven wins and four losses for the season, and they’ll now set their sights on a match-up with Sandringham Zebras next Sunday afternoon at the Trevor Barker Oval.

 

Footscray        3.3 21              6.5.41              8.6  (54)          12.8 (80)

Collingwood    2.3 15              5.4.34              11.5 (71)         13.7 (85)

 

BEST: M.Boyd, C.Smith, T.Short, L.Young, K.Collins, W.Hayes

GOALS: N. Jamieson 3, A.Bruhn 2, B.Gowers 2, L.Young, T.Short, W.Hayes, J.Russell, B.Williams

DISPOSALS: M. Boyd 26, C.Smith 22, T.Short 18, B.Williams 18, W.Hayes 18