Pies make short work of Bulldogs
Travis Cloke's five goals helped Collingwood set up 34-point win over the Western Bulldogs on Sunday night.
Key forward Travis Cloke booted five goals as the Magpies ran out 15.9 (99) to 9.11 (65) winners, their sixth victory in a row over the Bulldogs.
Following two straight wins, the performance was a step back for Brendan McCartney's developing team, who went goalless in the opening term and had only two to half-time as Collingwood opened a 53-point buffer.
By contrast, the Magpies looked dangerous every time they went into attack, with Cloke dominant in the air and their battery of small forwards swooping when the ball hit the ground.
With 34 goals for the season, Cloke now sits equal second in the Coleman Medal, one behind leader Lindsay Thomas.
Midfielders Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury ran rampant for Collingwood, controlling the stoppages – usually the Bulldogs' strength – and collecting a combined 73 disposals.
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The pair's enormous display offset the loss of in-and-under onballer Luke Ball with a calf injury before the match.
Rebounding defender Heath Shaw had a field day across half-back, feasting on the Bulldogs' errant kicking with nine intercept marks.
Substitute Daniel Giansiracusa and first-year player Jake Stringer both finished with two goals for the Dogs.
Veterans Robert Murphy and Adam Cooney worked hard, while Ryan Griffen persisted in the face of a heavy tag from Brent Macaffer.
Collingwood heads into the bye with a win-loss record of 8-4 while the Bulldogs are 3-8 and sit 14th, narrowly ahead of the Brisbane Lions on percentage.
They'll return to Etihad Stadium next week to face Richmond, while the Magpies will enjoy a weekend off before travelling west to take on Port Adelaide in a fortnight.
Collingwood 4.2 11.4 13.6 15.9 (99)
Western Bulldogs 0.2 2.5 4.9 9.11 (65)
Goals - Collingwood: Cloke 5, Elliott 2, Pendlebury, Blair. J.Thomas, Seedsman, Dwyer, Kennedy, Jolly, Martin
Western Bulldogs: Giansiracusa 2, Stringer 2, Griffen, Liberatore, Boyd, Stevens, Murphy.
Best - Collingwood: Cloke, O'Brien, Pendlebury, Swan, Elliott, Shaw
Western Bulldogs: Griffen, Murphy, Macrae, Stringer
Injuries - Collingwood: Luke Ball (calf) replaced in selected side by Adam Oxley
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Substitutes - Collingwood: Ben Reid replaced by Adam Oxley in the third quarter
Western Bulldogs: Liam Picken replaced by Daniel Giansiracusa in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Bannister, Armstrong, Jeffery
Official crowd: 32,253 at Etihad Stadium