The Western Bulldogs have booked a wildcard spot against Collingwood after beating Melbourne by 21 points in a pulsating clash at the MCG.

The Dogs arrived at the MCG relatively unburdened with a wildcard spot secured, but with the motivation of hosting an MCG final if they could prevail.

That they did, winning 16.12 (108) to 12.15 (87) and condemning the Dees to a potential slide down the table to a wildcard position if results don’t go their way.

 But the Dogs will be sweating on scans for star forward Aaron Naughton, who finished the game on the bench with an ankle injury.

Securing a second straight game at the 'G was masterminded by the Dogs' reliable duo of Ed Richards (30 disposals, eight clearances, one goal) and Marcus Bontempelli (27 disposals, two goals), while Matt Kennedy (26 disposals, two goals) was also pivotally important at crucial intervals. 

The Dogs kicked the first three goals, and five of the first seven, to grab a hold of the contest. 

But a Demons outfit with more on the line was always bound to respond. Indeed, having slipped 20 points behind right after quarter-time, Melbourne finally found a sense of urgency in the second term.

But while the intensity lifted, the scoreboard hardly shifted. Instead, the Dogs were resolute at one end to ensure the Dees' efforts didn't reflect in the margin being whittled down. They then released the shackles soon after, kicking clear to get a deserved reward for their resilience. A five-minute, three-goal burst early in the third term doing the damage and lifting their lead beyond 30 points.

By that point, it had begun to appear as though the Bulldogs would have all the answers. Two late Melbourne goals to close the gap before the final break? No bother, here's Cooper Hynes to sneak forward and kick two in quick succession to start the last term.

A classy Kade Chandler snap to jangle some nerves again? No trouble, here's Bontempelli putting the Superman cape on and another from Arty Jones to quell any of those concerns.

Even when the Demons kicked three goals in three minutes to give themselves the unlikeliest of late chances to solidify their place in the top six, up stepped Kennedy and Bontempelli again to finally seal the deal and make both sides' path to September clearer. 

One shoe as good as two for Ed

Ed Richards can do no wrong at the moment, shoe or no shoe. In the midst of the Bulldogs' first-quarter burst, the star midfielder flushed an unbelievable snap from 40m out that sailed through post-high. The best part? He did it having lost his shoe in a contest moments earlier.

If the goal was good, the celebration might have been even better. Richards collected his lost shoe and held it to his ear, mimicking a phone call. He finished with 30 disposals, eight clearances and that classy goal in a fine display. 

MELBOURNE                3.2   5.6   7.12   12.15 (87)
WESTERN BULLDOGS  5.4   7.5   10.9   16.12 (108)

GOALS
Melbourne: Petty 3, McDonald 2, Fritsch 2, Langdon, Pickett, Windsor, Chandler, Langford
Western Bulldogs: Jones 3, Bontempelli 2, Naughton 2, Hynes 2, Kennedy 2, Weightman, Freijah, Richards, West, Gardner

BEST
Melbourne: Gawn, Petty, Pickett, Bowey, Steele
Western Bulldogs: Richards, Bontempelli, Kennedy, Freijah, West

INJURIES
Melbourne: Jefferson (knee)
Western Bulldogs: Naughton (ankle)

Crowd: 44,258 at the MCG