Collingwood overcame a slow start to keep their top spot with a 12-point victory over the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Friday night to reaffirm their status as a leading premiership threat.
Nick Daicos and Patrick Lipinski of Collingwood celebrate a goal.Credit: Getty
The Magpies will stay neck-and-neck with Port Adelaide if the Power win their game against Gold Coast this weekend, otherwise they’ll be a game clear as ladder-leaders as the season heads into its pointy end.
For the Bulldogs, they keep their spot in the top-eight but will need a more comprehensive fight in coming weeks if they want to push for a top-four finish. They next play Sydney at the SCG and then Essendon at Marvel.
It was a quick start from the Bulldogs, who opened the game with a hat trick of goals (back-to-back from Cody Weightman then Aaron Naughton), as their forward line dismantled the Magpies’ usual brick wall.
More than once in the opening half, Jamara Ugle-Hagan outworked and outmarked Nathan Murphy, while Weightman and Naughton were able to get out the back, find space and kick goals.
Collingwood were a side solely missing menacing defender Brayden Maynard, who was out due to shoulder soreness. Pies forward Brody Mihocek was also missing from action due to pulling up stiff and sore after their last weekend’s win against Gold Coast. Isaac Quaynor had a fantastic game down back.
It took Collingwood a quarter and a half to kick into gear but when they did, they put their foot further down on the gas. The Magpies’ opening goal came 19 minutes into the first quarter (Jamie Elliott) and the second 13 minutes into the second (Ash Johnson).
Early on the Magpies were down by 30 points but eventually found their fire and went into half-time after kicking the last three majors and trailing by just five points.
After the main break, the Magpies dominated. In the third term they kicked six goals to one. Then back-to-back goals to open the final term from Patrick Lipinski and Elliott, his fourth, gave the Magpies a 37-point lead, which the Bulldogs didn’t look close to challenging.
Scott Pendlebury broke the all-time VFL/AFL disposal record at Marvel Stadium.Credit: Getty
Brownlow contender Nick Daicos made the move into midfield and proved to be a threatening on ball partner with Jordan De Goey, who returned after his three-week suspension for a bump on West Coast youngster Elijah Hewett. He finished with 29 disposals, 11 clearances and six tackles.
Daicos, 20, also made himself known on the scoreboard with two impressive goals, one crafty snap during play and the other a set shot from 50 metres out.
Weightman (four goals) and Ugle-Hagan (two goals) continue to evolve in the Bulldogs forward line – well, in the first half at least – and take the sole target pressure off Naughton, who finished with four majors. Meanwhile, usual damaging midfielder Bailey Smith was put on the half-forward flank and had a quiet game with just four touches at half-time and 11 overall.
Former-Magpie Caleb Poulter kicked his first career goal against his old club. He also had a bizarre moment earlier in the game, where he accidentally ran the wrong way during a passage of play before redeeming himself.
Pendlebury breaks all-time disposal record
The Magpie army, and a good smattering of Bulldog supporters, were on their feet half-way through the third quarter for Scott Pendlebury who broke the all-time VFL/AFL disposal record.
The 35-year-old former-skipper and six-time All Australian surpassed Robert Harvey on 9656 disposals. He finished the game with 21 disposals, seven marks and four tackles.
An on-screen tribute to Scott Pendlebury.Credit: AFL Photos
Western Bulldogs: 3.1 6.5 7.7 11.11 (77)
Collingwood: 1.4 5.6 11.8 13.11 (89)
GOALS: Western Bulldogs: Naughton 4, Weightman 4, Ugle-Hagan 2, Poulter. Collingwood: Elliott 4, Johnson 3, N Daicos 2, J Daicos, De Goey, Frampton, Lipinski
BEST: Western Bulldogs: Daniel, Bontempelli, Weightman, Ugle-Hagan, Naughton. Collingwood: N Daicos, De Goey, J Daicos, Quaynor, Noble
VOTES
N Daicos (9)
J Daicos (8)
Daniel (7)
Bontempelli (7)
Quaynor (7)
