The Collingwood Magpies fought valiantly but ultimately fell to the Western Bulldogs with mounting injuries and inaccuracy in front of goal seeing the Dogs run away late with a 21-point win.
REPORT: BULLDOGS LATE CHARGE BEATS INJURED PIES
Final score
Collingwood Magpies 7.11.53
Western Bulldogs 11.8.74
WHAT’S NEXT? FOLLOW OUR LIVE BLOG OF WEST COAST VS GOLD COAST
We’ve got a Sunday afternoon blockbuster at the G, as the suddenly in-form Collingwood Magpies take on the sliding Western Bulldogs. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 3:20pm (AEST).
The Magpies got their biggest win of the season last weekend, as they used a massive first quarter to shock the Cats by 24-points.
The midfield was dominant, as Adam Treloar, Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom all did as they pleased for long periods.
They’ll need an equally sublime performance this weekend, as they come up against one of the best young midfields in football.
The Bulldogs are travelling nicely so far in 2016, but they did suffer a bad 25-point defeat to the Giants last weekend. That loss sees them looking up into the top four, and that potential second chance could be crucial to a team’s premiership hopes. The midfield needs to step up this weekend, as they allowed the Giants’ half-back line to control proceedings for long periods.
The Pies haven’t announced any outs for this match, but Jarrod Witts, Jonathon Marsh, and Ben Sinclair have all been named in an extended squad.
The Bulldogs may be getting back some handy players this weekend, as Matthew Boyd, Marcus Adams, Matthew Suckling, and Jack Redpath have all been named. Kieran Collins, Koby Stevens, and Lin Jong will all miss this match, with Will Minson and Josh Dunkley making up the remainder of the extended squad.
Prediction
Two weeks ago, this match would have been easy to call. Now however, the two sides come in with form behind them.
The Bulldogs should have enough to get the job done, particularly with the class coming back into the side.
Bulldogs by 15
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Click here for the full match report from this game What's next? Follow our live blog of West Coast vs Gold Coast MVP VOTING 3. Luke Dahlhaus: Led all players with 37 disposals, and was generally a pest all around the ground. Not too many in the AFL provide better pressure than Dahlhaus, and it's good to see him putting in some good performances. 2. Easton Wood: A pretty typical day for the Dogs' skipper, as he took a few high-flying marks, and used the ball well all day. Had 21 disposals at 90% today. 1. Jeremy Howe: A 'passed the eye-test' vote backed up by some good stats, Jeremy Howe controlled Collingwood's half-back line for long period's today. Picked up 28 disposals, and seemed to stop everything the Dogs tried.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
No worries Dan, thanks for the comments :)
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
FULL TIME An injury-hit Collingwood have succumbed to a last-quarter push from the Bulldogs, losing by 21-points. The Pies led at every break, but the Bulldogs did kick seven of the last eight goals to run away with the win. It was a tight first term, as both sides kicked three goals to give the Pies a 1-point lead at the first break. The Pies then dominated long periods of the second quarter, and probably should have put the game out of reach, but their inaccuracy kept the Dogs in it, as they led by 5-points at the main break. The third quarter was another tight tussle, as the Dogs kicked a couple of late goals to peg the Pies lead back to three-points. Scott Pendlebury was brilliant for the Pies today, but a couple of late errors will haunt him this week. He had an opportunity to hit a man inside 50 to bring it back to two points deep into the final term, and then kicked it straight to Suckling to kick the sealing goal. He finished with 32 disposals and a goal in another solid performance. Luke Dahlhaus was immense for the Dogs, as he picked up 37 touches and kicked a key goal at the end of the third quarter. Both sides defences stood up for long periods, with Easton Wood and Jeremy Howe in particular impressing. Thanks for joining The Roar for this clash.
dan in devon
Guest
Well that was an interesting contest but quality will out. The great sadness about Aussie rules today is that the "spectacle" is not exactly riveting. Teams seem to have the same gameplan and play with the same robotic intensity. Maybe the play by numbers will be fall out of fashion at some point - sooner rather than later I hope. Well done to the Bulldogs and thanks for the call. Still early here. And Wales and England still to come this afternoon!
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND MAGPIES 0' McLean is caught holding the footy, but Blair's kick misses to the left. Magpies 7.11 53 Bulldogs 11.8 74
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
I reckon the four injuries have a bit to do with it as well. Beveridge is the AFL's version of Wayne Bennett. Impossible to know what he's thinking.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
2' It's been an gallant display from Collingwood, but time will run out on them. Pendlebury takes a strong mark at half back, but Wood comes through on Grundy for the spoil of the year. He could have taken a hanger then, but chose to just punch it away. Magpies 7.10 52 Bulldogs 11.8 74
dan in devon
Guest
Superior skills have told in the end. How cool a coach is Luke Beverage.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND BULLDOGS 4' Bontempelli marks 80 from home, and he sends it deep inside 50. Stringer has won this ball, and he should kick his first, but he kicks it straight into Reid. It's eventually conceded. Magpies 7.10 52 Bulldogs 11.8 74
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL BULLDOGS 5' Size doesn't waver, and Redpath just outmuscles Smith for an easy mark in the goalsquare. He kicks the goal, and the Dogs lead by 21!! Magpies 7.10 52 Bulldogs 11.7 73
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND BULLDOGS 6' Roughead takes it straight out of the middle, but Howe is there to clean up once again. He's made an error here though, as Dahlhaus smothers is kick off the boot. The Dogs could be in here, but Frost closes down Dickson, and the ball is eventually rushed through. Magpies 7.10 52 Bulldogs 10.7 67
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL BULLDOGS 7' Varcoe closes in well on Roberts, and manages to stop him from getting the ball inside 50. The Dogs will go inside now, and Dunkley is held up well by Reid. A goal here would just about end the game, and Pendlebury has made his second shocking mistake in a couple of minutes, as he kicks it straight to Suckling just inside 50. We know what he can do with his left leg, and this one goes straight through!!! The Dogs look home!! Magpies 7.10 52 Bulldogs 10.6 66
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
8' Brilliant buildup from the Pies here, as Treloar goes wide to Howe, and then Pendlebury. He's got time to pick someone out, but it's a rare error from the captain, as he hits Liberatore on the chest. Magpies 7.10 52 Bulldogs 9.6 60
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
9' Bontempelli gets away with a throw, but Daniel has kicked it out of bounds on the full. Sidebottom now flies high for an attempted mark, but the Dogs win the footy, and Wallis hustles it forward. Reid is there for the mark, and the Pies can reload. Magpies 7.10 52 Bulldogs 9.6 60
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
10' Crisp can't find De Goey inside 50, and the Dogs can clear. Now Redpath tumbles one inside 50, but Reid will win the race back before settling it to Howe. Smith now receives and finds Grundy on the wing, who goes short to White. This is a good buildup from the Pies. Magpies 7.10 52 Bulldogs 9.6 60
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
11' Campbell is somehow taken high, but his kick goes straight to Jeremy Howe. He's been fantastic today. Morris now has a win against Crocker, and Daniel will combine with Macrae to clear. Magpies 7.10 52 Bulldogs 9.6 60
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL BULLDOGS 13' Treloar turns the footy over at half forward, and Dahlhaus gets a couple of touches in a row, but he's also turned it over. De Goey now gets too cute with his kick, and Suckling clears it away. Daniel uses Picken on the wing, and Stringer marks at half forward. Now Dickson combines with Wood, and the captain pops it through from 45!! That's a huge goal!! Magpies 7.10 52 Bulldogs 9.6 60
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL BULLDOGS 12' The Bulldogs just tumble this ball forward from the middle, and it somehow ends up with Dickson running into an open goal!! Bad defensive breakdown from the Pies. Magpies 7.10 52 Bulldogs 8.6 54
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL MAGPIES 13' Adam Treloar!!! He unleashes one from 55, and the Pies have the lead back!!! Magpies 7.10 52 Bulldogs 7.6 48
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND MAGPIES 14' Great build up from the Pies, as they somehow find space where there is none. Crisp ruins it though, as his snap goes off to the right. Moore is coming off the ground with a shoulder injury, so the Pies have no-one on the bench. Magpies 6.10 46 Bulldogs 7.6 48