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The Western Bulldogs held out to take a three-goal win over the Collingwood Magpies that will almost certainly put them into September action.
>>MATCH REPORT: Gritty Bulldogs see off late ‘Pies charge
Despite a 5-goal performance from Darcy Moore – in just his 3rd AFL game – Collingwood could not catch the Bulldogs after they set up a 26-point margin at the final change.
Western Bulldogs 15.14.104 def. Collingwood Magpies 13.8.86
The Western Bulldogs and the Collingwood Magpies are battling for a vital win when they meet today at Etihad Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 1:10pm AEST.
Both teams are in precarious positions after recent losses. The Bulldogs went down to the Cats in a game they really should’ve won last week. In doing so they fell to a record of 9-6, only one game clear in finals.
Collingwood’s situation is far more dire. They were always going to struggle playing some of the best teams in the comp in the last month, and for all they could be proud of with close losses to top four teams, haven’t managed to get a single win from their last four.
That’s seen them fall from a top four fancy to outside the top eight, with the likes of North Melbourne, Geelong and Port Adelaide all pushing to leapfrog them into finals contention.
If they don’t break through for a win this week, then odds are their September hopes will be just about over despite an impressive start to the year.
The Magpies situation is worsened by the fact they’ll be missing Travis Cloke after he sustained a calf injury last week against West Coast – and they’re still missing Jamie Elliott.
This means their forward line will be in the hands of the much-maligned Jesse White, ruckman Brodie Grundy, and draftee Darcy Moore, who is yet to kick a goal at AFL level.
Still, the Bulldogs forward line is not exactly much better, as we saw against Geelong last week. They just couldn’t seem to get goals on the board and they may struggle to do so again this week given the quality of Collingwood’s back six.
The Magpies may just get by on the strength of their midfield – the Bulldogs mids are mostly young guns and will be beginning to tire as the year wears on, while the likes of Pendlebury, Sidebottom and Swan can keep providing silver-platter service.
Prediction
I’m tipping the Pies to get across the line and keep their dwindling finals hopes alive.
Collingwood by 12 points.
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 1:10pm AEST.