Bulldogs coach 'falls off chair' after Magpies training

Despite the Dogs finishing higher (eighth) on the ladder than Collingwood (ninth), the match will take place at the Pies' home ground because of the significantly higher crowd capacity.

But the Bulldogs, and other Docklands tenant clubs, were left gobsmacked when the Magpies were granted permission to complete a full training session at Marvel Stadium on Wednesday.

The AFL-owned stadium usually denies clubs access to train on the ground to keep it in good condition for games.

The Bulldogs host most of their matches at Marvel every season, while Collingwood are obliged by the AFL to have two home games there a season.

"If you didn't laugh, you'd cry," Beveridge said with a smile on Thursday.

"I just think it's hilarious. It's a crack-up, really. One of the tenant clubs can't get on it.

"I think we've been offered a captain's run in runners at some point, so we're not driving down to do that.

"When we heard about it, I almost fell off my chair because it was hilarious."

Beveridge admitted the Bulldogs hadn't requested a training session at Marvel this week, but had done so in the past.

"Every year we're looking for opportunities to train," he said.

"You understand it, there's a lot of traffic on that ground, but in principle, if the tenant clubs can't train on it ... it's hilarious.

"We weren't told 'no' this week, so I can't say we were knocked back.

"Obviously now that the season proper is finished, there's going to be less traffic on it.

"We didn't make it, but obviously the Pies did. They made a pretty good case and they got on it."

The Bulldogs are aiming to win their first final since they made it through to the 2021 decider.

They have regained ruckman Tim English from a knee injury, after Rory Lobb and Ryan Gardner toiled manfully against Melbourne goliath Max Gawn last Saturday.

Key forward Aaron Naughton has also been named to play, overcoming an ankle injury suffered in the 21-point win over the Demons.

Collingwood have regained Isaac Quaynor (glute) and Patrick Lipinski (calf) from injuries, with veteran Scott Pendlebury (hamstring) out and fellow leader Brayden Maynard (knee) also unavailable.

English and Naughton both trained on Wednesday, then fronted up for the captain's run on Thursday.

It comes at a time when speculation is mounting over English's future, despite him being contracted at the Bulldogs until the end of 2029.

Complicating things for English is his wife Rudi Ellis has signed with NSW Swifts in the Super Netball competition for 2027, after leaving Melbourne Vixens.

GWS would loom as a natural home for English if he does move, with the Giants not offering ruckman Kieren Briggs a new contract.

"I think it's baseless, the speculation," Beveridge said of English.

"We haven't seen or heard anything internally that gives it any credence.

"He's not intimating that he's unhappy, he's been a tremendous servant for a long period of time, so we're pretty secure in the knowledge that Tim's going to be here for a fair bit longer."