Collingwood go down to the Western Bulldogs by 48 points on Friday night.
The Dogs trampled all over the Pies at Marvel Stadium, jumping out to a big early lead and maintaining the advantage throughout in the 48-point win.
The 14.15 (99) to 7.9 (51) result was never really in doubt thanks to their six-goal first quarter as Craig McRae’s Magpies slumped to their fifth loss in seven games after a bright start to the season.
This was simply a midfield mauling. The Dogs, bolstered by the return of captain Marcus Bontempelli, made a meal of the Magpies’ on-ball unit across the game with Jordon Sweet dominant in the ruck and the midfielders benefitting.
In fact, Bontempelli still spent plenty of time in the forward line as best mates Adam Treloar (three goals and 36 disposals) and Josh Dunkley (three goals and 24 disposals) ran amok and Bailey Smith continued his superb season with 40 disposals.
Collingwood lost captain Scott Pendlebury to illness pre-game and then had more woes in its defence with Jack Madgen suffering a shoulder injury in the second term, with the Pies suffering their heaviest defeat of the year.
The Dogs were emphatic from the start. They kicked the first six goals of the game and opened up a 39-point lead over the Pies before Collingwood had registered its first goal.
A midfield mauling made for a quick start for the Bulldogs’ front half, with Buku Khamis and Dunkley both kicking two goals in the first quarter and Bontempelli’s influence as a marking target critical
The Pies did well to peg it back to 26 points early in the second but the Dogs consolidated things before half-time as Aaron Naughton (three goals) hit the scoreboard in his battle with Darcy Moore.
Smith continued to dominate in the midfield in a brilliant display with 24 disposals at half-time, with the Dogs smashing Collingwood at the clearances 26 to 10 as they went into the main break ahead by 34 points.
The Pies picked up some momentum early in the third term, with Isaac Quaynor banging home a goal after a 50-metre penalty, but the Dogs steadied and extended their lead to 46 points by the final change.
Their midfield assault battered the Pies around the ball, with Collingwood’s struggles for simple forward play continuing through the second half.
The Pies kicked the opening three goals of the final term to get within a sniff, before Dunkley’s third goal – which came after De Goey gave away a 50-metre penalty for dissent – sealed the Dogs’ win.
COLLINGWOOD 1.3 2.6 4.7 7.9 (51)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 6.5 7.10 11.11 14.15 (99)
GOALS
Collingwood: Crisp 2, De Goey, Hoskin-Elliott, Lipinski, Mihocek, Quaynor
Western Bulldogs: Dunkley 3, Khamis 3, Naughton 3, Treloar 3, Bontempelli, Scott
BEST
Collingwood: Crisp, Lipinski, Adams, Noble, N.Daicos
Western Bulldogs: Treloar, Smith, Dunkley, Macrae, Naughton, Liberatore
INJURIES
Collingwood: Madgen (shoulder)
Western Bulldogs: Gardner (leg), Naughton (leg)
LATE CHANGES
Collingwood: Scott Pendlebury (illness) replaced in selected side by Callum Brown
Western Bulldogs: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Finlay Macrae (replaced Jack Madgen in the third quarter)
Western Bulldogs: Roarke Smith
