ARTY Jones is being chased by rival clubs for this very reason. 

In his first final on Friday night, the out-of-contract small forward produced the best performance of his career to help send the Western Bulldogs into week two of the finals. 

The 23-year-old kicked a career-high four goals - one in each quarter - in front of 81,036 people at the MCG, finishing with nine score involvements and 17 disposals in the three-point win.

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Essendon and Brisbane are pursuing the West Australian, while the Western Bulldogs have a three-year contract on the table and are desperate to keep him.

Jones kicked the final goal of the game, before Tim Membrey's shot after the final siren started right and sailed wide in a moment of pure agony and ecstasy.  

"Personally, in my first final, I really wanted to make a big impact and show everyone that I can play footy," Jones said in the rooms after the win on Friday night.

"I mean, where else would you want to play? On the 'G against Collingwood. This does put a little mark on my career, but it was a team effort."

Jones won't make a call on his future just yet, but made it clear he loves the club. Now he has far more options than he did 12 months ago when he signed a one-year extension at the Western Bulldogs. 

"I'm just leaving it with my manager and just trying to focus on finals footy now and try and get through," Jones said.

"I mean this is kind of going to get a bit touchy, but last year I was asking for two [years]; I only got one [year]. I had to put a lot of work off in the off-season and I'm lucky it's paying off now. But it just makes it interesting, doesn't it?

"I'm red, white and blue right now. There is no disloyalty. My head's fully in this club and it's always my heart, so I just got to keep doing what I'm doing."

This time last year, Jones had just salvaged his season by kicking two goals as the sub against Fremantle in round 24. He then went on to play in a VFL premiership with Footscray in September, building momentum into a breakout campaign. 

"100 per cent [that was important]," he said. "I did a hammy mid last year, so I was out for a long time and I just wanted to see if I could still play at the level. Coming in against Freo at half-time being a sub, I really wanted to just leave a mark and try and see what I could do. Then VFL we made it all the way through finals and we won the grand final. So that put me in good stead for the off-season."

Jones wasn't the only Western Bulldogs forward to impact the scoreboard in the club's return to the finals.

Aaron Naughton entered wildcard week under an injury cloud after injuring his ankle against Melbourne last Saturday, but exited Friday night with a crucial four-goal performance.

With Sam Darcy sidelined since round six after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament on that dark night down the highway at GMHBA Stadium, Naughton beat Billy Frampton to take his goal tally in 2026 to 50.

The last time the Western Bulldogs won a final in Melbourne was the day Tom Boyd, Liam Picken, Jason Johanissen and co. became immortals when they ended a 62-year premiership drought at the end of a fairytale September run.

Marcus Bontempelli was only 20 then and was the only 2016 premiership player out there on the MCG on Friday night, but the now eight-time All-Australian stood up when Luke Beveridge needed him most late with two crucial centre clearances at pivotal moments. 

The 30-year-old finished with 32 disposals, 16 contested possessions, 10 score involvements, eight clearances, seven inside 50s and a brilliant goal after working his way around Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos.  

Ryan Gardner had played three games in the past three home and away seasons, but after coming in to help cover the loss of English in round 24, the journeyman backman was picked for the first final, but only played 16 per cent game time. 

In an usual move, but somewhat in line with how the Western Bulldogs have used the extra spot on the bench in 2026, Gardner didn't step foot on the ground until the second half, entering the game for the first time 12 minutes into the third quarter. 

With Tim English returning from a knee injury ahead of the schedule, Gardner provided coverage and executed his role when called upon. 

The Dogs will be forced to make one change next weekend with Matt Kennedy entering concussion protocols, but when it comes to Gardner if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.