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Wildcard AFL Team Tips: Star Dogs in race against time ... as brutal Blues squeeze looms A late twist has left the door open for a key Demon to play Carlton in their sudden-death clash, while the Bulldogs and Collingwood are nervously monitoring the fitness of several stars. More in Wildcard Team Tips! Watch every match of the 2026 Toyota AFL Finals Series before the Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. WILDCARD FINALS TEAMS AND FIXTURE (all times AEST) WESTERN BULLDOGS v COLLINGWOOD Friday August 28, 7:40pm at the MCG Bulldogs’ Round 24 side B: M.Sellwood, B.Khamis, C.Budarick HB: L.Bramble, J.O’Donnell, B.Dale C: B.Williams, J.Freijah, C.Hynes HF: C.Weightman, A.Naughton, A.Jones F: J.Dolan, M.Bontempelli (c), S.Davidson FOLL: R.Lobb, M.Kennedy, E.Richards I/C: L.Carmichael, R.Gardner, L.Kennedy, R.Sanders, R.West EMG: O.Baker, J.Busslinger, L.McNeil In: C.Budarick, B.Dale, M.Bontempelli, R.Gardner Out: L.Jaques (Omitted), L.Emmett (Omitted), T.Liberatore (Managed), J.Croft (Omitted) Team Tips: The Bulldogs could be bolstered by the return Tim English to face Collingwood on Friday night, with the ruckman a chance to recover from a knee injury in time for the blockbuster clash. Coach Luke Beveridge had initially deemed him no chance to feature on wildcard weekend after suffering the injury against North Melbourne in Round 22. But he revealed on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Monday night that English would train on Wednesday in a bid to prove his fitness. Beveridge was also “optimistic” Aaron Naughton will be available after sitting out the last quarter of the Bulldogs’ win over Melbourne. The key forward was cleared of serious injury after an awkward landing and is expected to play, though Beveridge admitted his availability would “go to the line”. Louis Emmett and Jordan Croft were both dropped for the Demons game, but would be in the frame if Naughton needs to be replaced in attack. Should English play, Ryan Gardner would be almost certain to drop out after playing just 35 per cent game time as relief ruck for Rory Lobb against the Dees. Tom Liberatore will miss the start of the finals series after undergoing minor knee surgery, but the club is confident his season isn’t over should the Dogs make a deep September run. Magpies’ Round 24 side B: B.Frampton, J.Howe, L.Puncher HB: D.Houston, J.Daicos, J.Crisp C: R.Steele, J.De Goey, S.Sidebottom HF: A.Anderson, H.Harrison, B.McCreery F: D.McStay, C.West, T.Membrey FOLL: D.Cameron, E.Allan, N.Daicos (c) I/C: L.Schultz, S.Pendlebury, S.Swadling, W.Hayes, N.Long EMG: L.Sullivan, N.Howes, H.Coe In: J.Howe, S.Sidebottom Out: N.Howes (Omitted), I.Quaynor (Injured) Team Tips: The Pies’ decision to field a near full-strength team against Brisbane in Round 24 backfired, with Scott Pendlebury to miss the wildcard final against the Bulldogs with a hamstring strain. The Pies confirmed the injury, initially reported as a knee bursar issue, on Monday, with the AFL games record holder to miss 2-3 weeks. In a further blow, Brayden Maynard re-injured his knee at training last week and has also been ruled out of Friday night’s blockbuster. With Darcy Moore out for the season with a hamstring injury, it means Nick Daicos will again captain the Pies. In better news, the Pies are confident Isaac Quaynor and Patrick Lipinski will be fit to face the Bulldogs after missing the end of the home-and-away season with glute and calf concerns respectively. Coach Craig McRae said on Friday night the pair would be put through their paces at training during the week. If both return, youngster Will Hayes might be the unlucky one to make way after just nine disposals against the Lions. MELBOURNE v CARLTON Saturday August 29, 7:35pm at the MCG Demons’ Round 24 side B: J.Bowey, J.Lever, D.Turner HB: C.Salem, T.McDonald, C.Jiath C: H.Sharp, T.Sparrow, H.Langford HF: K.Pickett, M.Jefferson, E.Langdon F: K.Tholstrup, X.Lindsay, K.Chandler FOLL: M.Gawn (c), J.Steele, C.Windsor I/C: B.Laurie, T.Rivers, B.Fritsch, H.Petty, J.Fitzgerald EMG: X.Taylor, M.Heath, J.Melksham In: X.Lindsay Out: J.van Rooyen (Suspended) Team Tips: The Demons are sweating on the fitness of key pair Jake Lever and Matt Jefferson after being forced into a wildcard final with their loss to the Western Bulldogs. Jefferson hyperextended his knee in the third quarter and played no further part, with scans showing bone bruising but no ligament damage. He will face a fitness test ahead of Saturday’s clash with Carlton, as will Lever, who suffered a toe injury against the Bulldogs. Initial reports surfaced that the veteran’s season was over after undergoing surgery on a broken toe, before it was later revealed the club had put off surgery until season’s end. Coach Steven King said on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Monday night the defender will be given “right up to Thursday” to prove his fitness, but won’t train until then. With Jacob van Rooyen still suspended for two more matches, King flagged a potential return for backup ruckman Max Heath to support Max Gawn and provide some extra height should Jefferson miss. Veteran Jack Viney‘s 19-disposal, 10-clearance effort on return from an Achilles injury in Casey’s final VFL match a week ago has him in the frame to play his first game of the season, to combat the Blues’ powerful midfield. Having made his return against the Bulldogs, youngster Xavier Linday (4 disposals) was quiet, and could make way. If Jefferson misses, retiring forward Jake Melksham could be in the frame for one last hurrah, having kicked three goals in his most recent VFL outing. Blues’ Round 24 side B: H.Dean, W.Derksen, J.Weitering HB: L.Cowan, L.Young, O.Florent C: B.Acres, P.Cripps (c), B.Wilson HF: B.Ainsworth, B.Kemp, F.Evans F: T.Byrne, H.McKay, C.Lord FOLL: M.Pittonet, J.Smith, S.Walsh I/C: O.Hollands, G.Hewett, M.McGovern, A.Cerra, M.Cottrell EMG: L.Camporeale, J.Ison, H.Charleson In: L.Young, O.Hollands Out: W.Hayward (Injured), N.Haynes (Injured) Team Tips: Surging into wildcard weekend as arguably the form team in the competition, Josh Fraser faces a selection headache ahead of Saturday night’s blockbuster. Nick Haynes and Will Hayward are almost certain to return after missing a stunning win over Fremantle with ankle concerns. The Blues were also the only wildcard-bound team to also featured in the VFL’s wildcard round on the weekend, with Ben Camporeale (36 disposals, six clearances) putting his hand up in the unlikely event a call-up is needed. With no injury concerns out of the Dockers win, the question becomes who Fraser leaves out. Ollie Hollands (15 disposals and a goal) looked shaky by foot at times but produced a goal-saving run-down tackle on Patrick Voss that would have delighted the coach, while Lewis Young (17 disposals, seven marks) didn’t kick a goal but was strong aerially and chopped out Marc Pittonet in the ruck. Talor Byrne would be incredibly stiff to miss, but he picked a dangerous time to have a quiet outing with just six disposals against the Dockers. It might prove to be a case of last picked, first out for the Blues, though Young in particular might be retained to help Pittonet face Max Gawn.