The Bulldogs, just one game clear of Gold Coast, so nearly had a nervous weekend wait before finally securing the 5.4 (34) to 4.7 (31) victory in wet, slippery conditions on Friday night.
Tenth-placed Carlton seemed poised to pull off an upset win before the Dogs snatched it with a late goal from captain Ellie Blackburn.
Blackburn's snapshot bounced through for the crucial goal with only 102 seconds left on the game clock. And it was the first time the Bulldogs had been ahead on the scoreboard in the fluctuating contest.
"It means a lot to be back in the finals. We've fought really hard as a group and we've always been that close, been right on the edge of the finals and not quite got over the line," Blackburn said.
"To finally get there I think is a sign of maturity for our group and I'm really proud of them, we've fought really hard to get there. So, bring it on."
While the Dogs can now prepare for their first finals appearance since winning the 2018 premiership, it came at a cost with experienced Eleanor Brown confined to the interchange bench late in the third quarter after a heavy head knock.Â
If she's deemed to have been concussed, she will be forced to miss the first week of finals under AFLW medical protocols.
It was a brave performance by Carlton and they nearly snatched back the lead with a shot after the final siren. Young Blue Keeley Skepper tried to convert a free kick, but the heavy, wet ball fell short and into the arms of relieved Bulldogs defenders.
Carlton ruck Breanna Moody won bragging rights in the sibling rivalry against twin Celine with a strong display of 12 possessions and 20 hitouts.
But Celine had the last laugh as her side stayed alive for a finals campaign.
It was a contest of wild momentum swings built on intense pressure with the Bulldogs' finals incentive and the Blues striving to finish the season with a respectable home performance.
Carlton controlled the opening quarter with their tackling, and two goals from lively small forward Poppy Schaap propelled them to a 14-point break at the first change.
To no-one's surprise, the Bulldogs lifted their workrate around the contests after the tardy start to claw back into the match.
Goals to Blackburn and experienced Richelle Cranston were the reward for the Dogs' dominant second quarter and it left the scores deadlocked at halftime to set up an interesting second half.
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