The Western Bulldogs appear destined to play in the AFL finals after they overcame Collingwood on Sunday afternoon.

The Magpies kicked the first three goals of a tense last quarter to trail by just 11 points, but the Dogs held their nerve to post their 10th win of the season – 15.14 (104) to 13.8 (86).

The result strengthened the Bulldogs’ hold on sixth spot and consigned Collingwood to their fifth loss in a row, leaving them a game outside the top eight.

• North do it for Harvey, Power edge Bombers
• Celebrating the career of 400-gamer Brent Harvey
• Grant Thomas: the AFL is killing poorer clubs

Matthew Boyd was outstanding for the Dogs with 38 disposals and he was well-supported by Liam Picken (33) and Lachie Hunter (32), while Tory Dickson booted four goals for the victors.

Dane Swan and Steele Sidebottom impressed for the Magpies but young forward Darcy Moore was the shining light with five goals in just his third AFL game.

Young gun Moore was in excellent form for Collingwood. Photo: Getty

Scott Pendlebury kicked the opening goal of the game before most of the 40,581 fans had found their seats but the Bulldogs quickly found their rhythm in a first quarter played at breakneck pace.

Dickson was important with his first two goals of the match as the Dogs opened up a 13-point lead at the first break.

With leading goal kickers Travis Cloke and Jamie Elliott out injured, Collingwood needed to find new avenues to goal and Moore, switched from defence to attack, and Levi Greenwood stepped up with their first goals in black-and-white.

Hunter was influential for the Bulldogs with 20 first-half possessions but it was still anyone’s game at halftime, with Luke Beveridge’s side up by 11 points.

The frenetic pace of the first half gave way to a stalemate early in the third term but it was the Dogs who broke the deadlock.

Two goals in as many minutes helped the margin out to 26 points and, despite Moore’s second and third majors at the other end, the Dogs still led by over four goals at the final break.

Things started to unravel for the Dogs as the `Pies came out strongly in the final term, with Michael Talia’s ill-discipline gifting Jesse White a goal.

But Mitch Wallis calmed frayed nerves with a settling goal that effectively ended Collingwood’s charge.

– AAP