> Watch the team sign the song in the rooms after the winCOLLINGWOOD has announced itself as a genuine threat for this year’s AFL premiership after surviving a dramatic final-quarter fightback by the Western Bulldogs to win by a point at Docklands on Friday night.
The Magpies led by 34 points at the final change and, despite never relinquishing the lead, had to survive a massive scare before holding off the brave Bulldogs to win 17.9 (111) to 16.14 (110).
In a match that rivaled last week’s epic St Kilda-Geelong clash for intensity and drama, the Bulldogs booted 6.5 to 1.2 in the final term to nearly snatch the four premiership points after Collingwood had seemed set to cruise to its seventh straight win.
But instead, Mick Malthouse’s side had to fight tooth-and-nail to accomplish its first win over a top-four side this season.
In the end, it was a silky gather off the ground by first-year player Dayne Beams and snap inside 50 that sealed the victory.
Beams’ snap landed in the arms of Dale Thomas, who coolly slotted the sealer with 90 seconds remaining. His second goal of the match – and Collingwood’s only major of the final quarter – would be enough to seal the win.
The drama didn’t finish there, however, with Bulldog Ryan Griffin goaling with 20 seconds left on the clock.
> Watch Heath Shaw speak to CTV in the rooms after the one-point winThe Magpies had to navigate one final forward thrust by Rodney Eade’s men, but the defence – which had been so valiant all night – again stood firm.
Midfielders Dane Swan (34 disposals) and Alan Didak (33) were sensational, while skipper Nick Maxwell and Harry O’Brien were standouts in defence.
Bulldogs Robert Murphy (27 touches, 13 marks) and Shaun Higgins (16 touches, three goals) helped get their side back into the game at crucial stages, while defender Brian Lake completely blanketed Jack Anthony, who appeared to be niggled by injury.
The Pies virtually led from start to finish, seizing control with a seven-goal opening quarter.
> Watch Mick Malthouse address the media after the matchAfter leading by 29 points at half-time, Leon Davis booted three third-term goals – one of them a superb snap following a long Alan Didak run up the wing – to increase that margin to 34 points at the final change.
Earlier, Collingwood booted 11 goal – including seven in about 20 minutes to start the match – in a highly-entertaining first half.
The Magpies roared out of the blocks, and with their kicking boots in order cruised to a 33-point lead at one stage in the opening term before a couple of late Bulldogs goals cut the margin.
It wasn’t just the usual names doing the damage either, with Thomas and Scott Pendlebury booting the game’s first two majors before unlikely sources Alan Toovey and Ben Johnson bobbed up.
Josh Fraser capped a superb team goal 21 minutes into the opening quarter to bring the Magpies crowd to fever pitch, before Higgins helped stem the flow after a towering mark and goal up the other end.
The pressure and tackling lifted a cog in the second term, and for some time it looked as though Collingwood’s momentum would be gobbled up.
Two quick goals to Rodney Eade’s side had the deficit back to just 10 points before Tarkyn Lockyer found himself running into goal flanked only by teammates to again extend the gap.
When the veteran bravely backed back into two Bulldogs 10 minutes later, Paul Medhurst was able to swoop on the crumbs and snap a beauty from the pocket and suddenly Collingwood had regained its drive.
That was largely due to the grunt of Swan, who collected 13 touches in the quarter, while Didak’s polish allowed smooth transition further afield.
In defence, Maxwell and O’Brien refused to shirk an issue and were also catalysts in helping Malthouse’s side regain the ascendancy.
Swan was rewarded for his hard work late in the term when he ran onto Murphy’s errant spoil, and at the long break his team led by 29 points.
When the margin blew out to 41 points late in the third term one might have thought the Dogs would lie down and die, but there was plenty of bark left in the men from Whitten Oval.
Next week Collingwood meets reigning premier Hawthorn at the MCG, while the Western Bulldogs return for another bout of Friday night footy when they take on Essendon at Docklands.
DETAILS
Western Bulldogs 3.4 6.6 10.9 16.14 (110)
Collingwood 7.2 11.5 16.7 17.9 (111)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Hahn 3, Higgins 3, Akermanis 2, Gilbee 2, Picken 2, Boyd, Cooney, Griffin, Murphy.
Collingwood: Davis 4, Medhurst 2, Swan 2, Thomas 2, Beams, Fraser, Goldsack, Johnson, Lockyer, Pendlebury, Toovey.
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Murphy, Lake, Boyd, Higgins, Cooney, Hargrave.
Collingwood: Swan, Didak, Maxwell, Davis, Shaw, O’Brien.
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: TBC
Collingwood: TBC
Reports: TBC
Umpires: Rosebury, McLaren, S Ryan
Official crowd: 51,382 at Docklands
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs.
Collingwood Football Club on Facebook
