AFL 2025 round two LIVE: Bulldogs take on Collingwood in milestone game for the red, white and blue We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later. 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Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size 7.14pmSons of the west bring in the big dogs for milestone against Pies 6.51pmWhy are the Western Bulldogs called Footscray tonight? 6.37pmYour thoughts: Who wins tonight? Hide key posts Latest posts Latest posts The weather for tonight’s blockbuster... Bob Murphy kicks of Footscray celebrations By Angus Delaney At the MCG, former Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy has kicked off the official centenary celebrations, calling the milestone “a chance to throw our arms around some remarkable people who made us who we are today”. Intercut with pre-recorded video, Murphy talked through important chapters in the Bulldogs’ history in the league – on and off the field – and welcomed crucial characters from the past to the MCG. A Bulldogs fan wears a Bob Murphy badge at the clubs’ 100th year celebration. Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images The fourth and final chapter detailed the Dogs’ grand final win against Sydney in 2016. Murphy finished by thanking the clubs’ supporters. “We know this club is what it is because of its people: its fans, its faithful,” said Murphy. “Sons and daughters of the ’Scray, we are a family. “Put your arms around friends and family, put your arms around a stranger as long as they are wearing the red, white and blue.” Sons of the west bring in the big dogs for milestone against Pies By Jake Niall and Peter Ryan The Western Bulldogs have brought in four of the club’s six living Brownlow medallists, including recently distant 2008 medallist Adam Cooney, to participate in the club’s historic 100th year celebrations against Collingwood. Bulldogs officials confirmed that four Brownlow medallists – Cooney, Gary Dempsey, Kelvin Templeton, and Tony Liberatore – were slated to be part of the celebrations and attend the game, as well as ex-coaches Terry Wheeler, Terry Wallace, Rodney Eade and Mick Malthouse, the latter who will commentate on ABC radio. Adam Cooney won the 2008 Brownlow Medal.Credit: Sebastian Costanzo Past playing greats are at the game in force, but while there are four living members of the 1954 premiership team, none are attending the game, according to club officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. Cooney, who is a media commentator on SEN and Seven, has been remote from the Bulldogs since he departed the club and was traded to Essendon late in his career (he and former skipper Ryan Griffen were traded ahead of 2015 to the Bombers and Giants respectively), but has told the Dogs and SEN that he would be part of the function, in which the Bulldogs are reverting to their historic name of Footscray, which was changed after the 1996 season to enhance the club’s appeal to the western suburbs. Neither Scott Wynd, the 1992 Brownlow winner, nor Brad Hardie, the 1985 Brownlow winner, are expected to attend, according to the club. Hardie is in his home state of Western Australia, while ex-champion Chris Grant – who would have won the 1997 Brownlow but for a suspension – is overseas and unable to be at the club, for which he also played 300 games. Decorated ex-players such as 300-gamers Brad Johnson, Doug Hawkins, Rohan Smith and Scott West are in attendance and involved with the ceremonies along with Tom Boyd, Daniel Giansiracusa, ’60s and ’70s star Laurie Sandilands, Matthew Croft, Brian Royal, 2016 premiership captain Easton Wood and the man whom he replaced due to injury in that storied season, Age columnist Bob Murphy. Ted Whitten jnr, the son of the player regarded as the club’s greatest up until the modern era, will also attend. Key past president and benefactor Peter Gordon, who played a key role in saving the club in 1989, was also due to attend. Bulldogs president Peter Gordon (right) thanks the fans after the club’s 2016 premiership.Credit: Getty Images Coach Luke Beveridge, as a former Dogs player, is considered likely to reference the club’s history in his address to the players. Collingwood recalled Mason Cox for his first game of the season to combat the Bulldogs’ imposing ruck duo Tim English and Sam Darcy in tonight’s blockbuster as star midfielder Jordan De Goey returns after an injury interrupted pre-season. Key forward Brody Mihocek has been rested, due to general soreness, after opening the season with five goals in the first two matches, while Lachie Sullivan was dropped. The Bulldogs replaced key defender James O’Donnell after he fractured his jaw against North Melbourne, and the concussed Luke Cleary, with defender Buku Khamis and wingman Oskar Baker. The match looms as a real test for the Magpies after they rebounded from a poor performance in opening round to thrash Port Adelaide last week at the MCG. Important Collingwood forward Brody Mihocek.Credit: Getty Images They will start favourites against an undermanned Bulldogs, who remain without injured midfielders Marcus Bontempelli and Adam Treloar, forward Cody Weightman and intercept defender Liam Jones. Key forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan remains sidelined indefinitely with personal issues While Collingwood’s focus remains on the match, club CEO Craig Kelly reassured fans on SEN earlier in the week that the club would do “everything in their power” to ensure free agent Brayden Maynard remains a Magpie beyond this season. The future of the premiership defender, who is a favourite among Magpie fans, created discussion this week after he said he understood that football was a business. Kelly said Maynard was entitled to explore other options when coming out of contract as a free agent. “If someone desperately wants him and wants to pay him a heap more for a longer period of time, everyone should be going, ‘Good luck mate, if that opportunity is there, even though we’d love you to be here, [and] we want you to be here’,” Kelly told SEN. Advertisement McRae praises star duo’s logevity By Angus Delaney Tonight Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom play their 308th game as teammates – the most in AFL history. Collingwood coach Craig McRae said the team celebrated the milestone during the week and admitted he “got a bit emotional thinking about how lucky I am to coach these guys”. “Listening to Pendles talk about Steele, every memory he has in footy is with Steele,” McRae said on Fox Footy. Playing their 308th game together, Sidebottom and Pendlebury overtake Andrew McLeod and Tyson Edwards (307 for Adelaide) with Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins (305 for Geelong) in third place. Side by side they stick together: Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom. Credit: AFL Photos The son of the west who put medicine on hold for an unexpected AFL career By Michael Gleeson Western Bulldogs footballer Sam Davidson at home with his family of high achievers.Credit: Wayne Taylor Medical student and PhD candidate Sam Davidson, whose AFL career came late and unexpectedly, comes from an extraordinary family of Bulldogs and high achievers. Read about his story here, ahead of tonight’s blockbuster The Bulldogs saved themselves in 1989. They also saved North, Richmond and the Saints By Jon Pierik Western Bulldogs super fan Irene Chatfield.Credit: Jason South The Western Bulldogs will be full of joy tonight as they celebrate their centenary, but it wasn’t all that long ago that their financial woes meant the AFL wanted their doors closed. Read the full story here Advertisement Why are the Western Bulldogs called Footscray tonight? By Angus Delaney Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge.Credit: Getty Images The Western Bulldogs will play by their old Footscray name tonight to celebrate the club’s 100-year milestone. Past greats of the club are in attendance and a commemorative logo is also forming part of the centenary event, which coach Luke Beveridge described as “a time to reflect and be grateful”. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Beveridge highlighted the Bulldogs’ fight to stay in the league in 1989 and unique identity, as a particularly special parts of its gritty history. “Every club who plays in this competition would love to have as many premiership cups in their cupboard as Essendon, Carlton and the Pies,” Beveridge said. “We’ve only got the two – they’re quite special, obviously – but the hardiness and the blue-collar aspect of the football club, I know people are proud of that.” The subs are in There are no late changes for tonight’s game, the AFL has announced. Oskar Baker is the Bulldogs’ substitute. For the Pies, Ned Long is the sub. Your thoughts: Who wins tonight? Advertisement Good evening By Angus Delaney Hello and thanks or joining our coverage of tonight’s clash between Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs. I’m Angus Delaney and I’ll be with you on the blog this evening. The Pies are flying high off the back of their 91-point demolition of Port Adelaide last week The Bulldogs also won last round, with a 13-point win over North Melbourne. The first bounce is due at 7.40pm. Most Viewed in Sport Advertisement Back to top The Sydney Morning Herald The Sydney Morning Herald Brisbane Times The Australian Financial Review Classifieds Celebrations Place your ad Commercial Real Estate The Sydney Morning Herald Contact & support Advertise with us Newsletters Accessibility guide Photo sales Purchase front pages Content licensing Work with us Terms of use Privacy policy Press Council Charter of Editorial Independence AI Editorial Guidelines Products & Services Subscription packages Subscriber FAQs Delivery status Today’s Paper Good Food Guide Daily Puzzles Copyright © 2025