Collingwood have crashed the Western Bulldogs’ 100-year party, claiming a thrilling six-point victory at the MCG to land their second win on the bounce.

The Bulldogs, fuelled by emotion and star turns from famous Footscray names in Sam Darcy and Tom Liberatore, jumped to an early 22-point lead, before Collingwood got into the game.

Adopting their old name of “Footscray” for the evening, the Bulldogs hung in until Steele Sidebottom’s late snap sealed a 10.16 (76) to 10.10 (70) win.

The crowd of 78,027 was an all-time home attendance record for the Bulldogs, celebrating a century in the VFL/AFL.

The Pies trailed at the first break by six points and five points at the main break, but kicked three goals to the Bulldogs’ one in the third quarter to lead 59-61 at the last break.

Collingwood looked like they would push out to a more comfortable margin in the last quarter but the Bulldogs kicked three goals, including a crowd-raising major to Tom Liberatore to close the gap to just five points.

Dan McStay appeared to boot a potential match-winner with less than 10 minutes to go for the Pies before a goal review judged that the ball was touched as he kicked it from inside the goal square.

Bulldog Joel Freijah then kicked a goal from outside the 50-metre mark to draw scores level 69-69 with seven minutes remaining.

Jordan De Goey kicked a behind, his third of the night, to put the Pies ahead 70-69 with five minutes remaining.

Friday night’s win, in Pendlebury and Sidebottom’s record 308th game together, came at a cost to Craig McRae’s Magpies.

Defender Reef McInnes was substituted inside the opening 10 minutes with a suspected ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, which if confirmed by scans would be season ending.

“He was in a lot of pain, could not put any weight on it as he came from the ground,” Matthew Richardson said in commentary on Channel 7.

Mason Cox came off in the fourth quarter after Rory Lobb caught him flush in the face with a late spoil.

Collingwood midfielder Jack Crisp could come under match review officer scrutiny for a first-quarter sling tackle on Bulldog Rhylee West.

The decision not to put a hard tag on Nick Daicos proved fatal as he racked up 39 touches, while Pies skipper Pendlebury had 26 and the Pies went to 2-1 in 2025.

With Marcus Bontempelli, Adam Treloar, Cody Weightman, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Liam Jones sidelined, it was another gallant effort from Luke Beveridge’s Bulldogs.

Liberatore and Darcy always looked like the pair who could claw Footscray over the line.

Darcy, son of former skipper Luke and grandson of 133-game Bulldog David, kicked three goals in the first half, monstering Magpies skipper Darcy Moore, and four in total.

Stand-in skipper Liberatore, son of Brownlow medallist Tony, racked up 34 disposals and kicked a stirring late goal, with support from Ed Richards (27 touches) and Bailey Dale (31).

Collingwood burst out to a 14-point lead early in the final term but spurned multiple chances to put the game away.

Darcy’s fourth goal, then Liberatore’s first, kept the Bulldogs in it.

A brilliant, gutsy effort from Bailey Williams - spoiling McStay then diving to get fingertips on his shot from point-blank range - kept the Bulldogs alive, before Joel Freijah goaled to level the scores.

Sidebottom’s snap then proved just enough to deliver victory.

The Bulldogs (1-1) face Carlton next Friday while Collingwood (2-1) have the bye.