Swan unstoppable as Flagpies humiliate Bulldogs

Collingwood coach Michael Malthouse is in for a tough job this week ... trying to keep a lid on expectations at the famous club.

The Flagpies are all the rage after demolishing the Western Bulldogs in a qualifying final under lights at the MCG.

Brownlow Medal fancy Dane Swan was brilliant with 40 possessions and three goals.

The son of VFA legend Billy Swan is an absolute gun.

Steele Sidebottom also chipped in with three goals as the Flagpies dominated from just about the first bounce to celebrate a thumping 62-point win.

It was one-way traffic all night.

Collingwood had winners all over the ground and finished with 10 individual goalkickers.

The half-back line of Harry O'Brien, Nick Maxwell, Ben Reid and Heath Shaw was sensational.

Alan Didak kicked a miraculous 'banana' goal on the left foot in the dying minutes as the Flagpies continued to demoralise the Bulldogs.

Collingwood fans cheered every time favourite son Dane Swan gathered a possession in the last quarter.

There were plenty of cheers.

Marngrook Footy Show host Grant Hansen conducted an exclusive interview with Heath Shaw in the dressingrooms after the match.

Heath's proud father Ray, who was a guest on last week's Marngrook Footy Show on Foxtel's NITV channel, was spotted chatting away with Grant.

Collingwood president and TV personality Eddie McGuire greeted Grant with a firm handshake.

Grant watched the game in the Ron Casey Media Centre at the MCG sitting alongside Inside Football editor Russell Holmesby, who was still on a high after St Kilda's dramatic win over Geelong the previous night.

The crowd was 66,545.

Final scores: Collingwood 17.22 (124) to Western Bulldogs 8.14 (62)