Collingwood have received their fourth straight VFL loss at the hands of the reigning premiers, going down to Footscray by 20 points at Mission Whitten Oval on Saturday afternoon.
It was the Magpie Army’s first look at midseason draftees Harrison Coe, Liam Puncher and Mitch Podhajski, while Eddie Betts Foundation graduate Hamish Collins also made his VFL debut for the Pies.
Continuing his strong VFL form, 2025 draftee Sam Swadling was the one to kick things off kicking the first goal of the afternoon after a classy crumb from the back of the pack.
Footscray went on to kick the next three before ruckman Iliro Smit returned serve, before Podhajski kicked his first as a Pie after the quarter time siren to bring Collingwood within five points.
The second quarter was tightly contested before Jack Buller found his first of the afternoon, followed by a major from Jai Saxena to bring Collingwood back within a kick.
Continuing the back-and-forth affair in the second half, Buller found his second before Footscray went to kick the next two. VFL recruit Xavier Laverty and Saxena brought the Pies back yet again to single digits at the final break.
The final quarter was all Footscray, with Connor Smith kicking two goals in quick succession to allow the Bulldogs to run away with it.
Collingwood forwards left it all out there, with Buller bringing in his third as Podhajski kicked his 150th VFL goal – and his second as a Pie – in his 104th game, but it wasn’t enough as the premiers stamped their authority as 20-point winners at Mission Whitten Oval.
MATCH CENTRE: FOOTSCRAY V COLLINGWOOD
The numbers:
Lachie Sullivan was electric in the middle, finishing with 29 disposals, 11 tackles and eight inside-50s.
Josh Browne (27 disposals, six clearances) was also influential, while Tyan Prindable (16 disposals, seven tackles) continues to build.
Defender Jakob Ryan left it all out there, finishing with a team-high 32 disposals (81% efficiency) and 11 intercept possessions.
Jack Buller (three goals), Mitch Podhajski (two goals), and Jai Saxena (two goals) all had their moments up forward.
Collingwood will now turn their attention to their Round 11 clash with Casey in a King’s Birthday long weekend double-header with the VFLW squad next Saturday.
GOALS
Footscray: Jack Billings (3), Connor smith (2), Luca Muratore (2), Stirling Phipps-Parsons, Caleb May, Nathan Howard, Harvey Gallagher, Louis Emmett, Will Darcy, Oskar Baker
Collingwood: Jack Buller (3), Jai Saxena (2), Mitch Podhajski (2), Sam Swadling, Iliro Smit, Xavier Laverty
BEST
Collingwood: Lachie Sullivan, Josh Browne, Jakob Ryan, Will Phillips, Tyan Prindable, Jack Buller
