Collingwood coach Craig McRae reminded Tim Membrey of the important role he played to give the Magpies a chance to win it after his heartbreaking miss after the siren.
Membrey gave the Magpies the lead with less than four minutes to go after taking a strong mark and kicking truly from 45 just as the Dogs threatened to run over the top of Collingwood.
"I said in front of everyone and privately 'we're not in that position without the big mark and big goal he kicked a couple of minutes earlier," McRae said.
"It was a really seesaw game. And even beyond that - the year he's had to support our young forward line and be a pillar in that forward line is more than just tonight.
"I just said to him 'don't carry it.' It's hard not to, I can't imagine what that would be like but he doesn't need to carry the weight of that, that's not all his."
Membrey is noted as a sharpshooter who is a reliable set shot goal kicker, but his miss was one of two uncharacteristic kicks which he did not flush.
The 190cm forward is uncontracted beyond this year with his future uncertain after a season where he kicked 33 goals in 20 games.
