On paper, Western Bulldogs' backline and Collingwood's forward line loomed as the two sides' biggest barriers to making a deep finals run in 2026.
The pre-season narrative was that the Western Bulldogs lacked a lockdown defender to take the competition's best forwards, while Collingwood did not have any key forwards of their own and would struggle to put a competitive score on the board.
On the eve of finals, Western Bulldogs' backline has stepped up as Sam Darcy's injury has limited the Dogs' attacking third and for Collingwood, Dan McStay's career-best 43-goal season has been central to the club's mid-season lift inside 50.
“The backline has been holding up well,” defender Bailey Dale said on Wednesday.
“We've got a pretty young group down there at the moment, with a few guys leaving last year, and we were probably finding our feet last year as a backline group, but led by James and Buku, and Michael Sellwood has been a great inclusion down there. We're holding up well, so we need to continue to do that.
“James and Buku's intercepting and spoiling game has been a real highlight for us, being able to clear the area and not allow too many small forwards to get drop of ball; that's been one of the big things that's changed.
“And our midfield's willingness to get back and defend as well, which usually they're pretty good at, and they've been really good at the last few weeks."
The matchup between two of the most unsung line groups in the competition looms as one of the most decisive battles in the inaugural AFL Wildcard Round
Collingwood scored more than 100 points just once in 22 games in a 12-month period ending on the last weekend of June this year, but their ball movement, connection and finishing have all improved in the second half of the season, which has made them a more potent threat.
No team averages more tackles inside 50 than Collingwood's 13.7, with Dale wary of the threat they pose.
“They're quite a good rebound team, they really do rebound from their back end so we're going to have to watch that this week on the MCG, they like to run and gun from back there, and they've got some dangerous small forwards as well so being able to kill the contest and not let them get drop of ball is going to have to be one of the ways we go about it,” Dale said.
Lachie Schultz has settled in to play his best season since arriving at the Pies, while Tim Membrey, Will Hayes and Angus Anderson have all been reliable goal scorers this year and spark plug Beau McCreery has found form at the right time.
Dale did not disclose which of those he would have the matchup on, but has confidence in his body despite missing five games late in the season with a shoulder injury.
“The shoulder's pulled up well, body's pulled up well, it was probably holding me back a couple of weeks ago, my running load, not being able to run for a couple of weeks in a sling but keen to get out there on the weekend,” Dale said.
“I don't mind the quick turnaround because if you pull up fresh, you're out on the track and can just get training and get stuck in and go home, but an exciting weekend coming up.”
