Western Bulldogs 3.5 5.7 10.10 11.11 (77)
Collingwood 2.0 6.4 11.5 15.8 (98)

Collingwood has finished strongly to take away a 21-point victory over the Western Bulldogs.

Collingwood fans celebrate the victory - http://www.flickr.com/photos/leprecon/

It wasn’t one to be particularly proud of, however, as the Bulldogs regularly attacked the contest with more intensity in what was in the end a fairly scrappy contest.

The Bulldogs dominated proceedings in the first quarter and only goal-kicking accuracy prevented them from holding a four-goal lead at quarter time, as eight shots to two gave them only an 11 point lead.

They led by as much as 17 points after a Ryan Griffen, who was fantastic, inside 50 turned into a clumsy but effective Daniel Giansiracusa goal, but Collingwood then begun to resurge.

They kicked the last three of the second quarter and suddenly the Dogs’ intensity had wavered and their accuracy was coming back to bite them, with Collingwood leading at half time.

Scott Pendlebury started to take the game by the scruff of the neck, using his ability to find space and use it effectively, with Dayne Beams dishing it out to him and winning clearances.

Although Collingwood were starting to kick goals, it wasn’t from the tall forward line Nathan Buckley had set – Travis Cloke was dominated and continually frustrated by Brian Lake, while Chris Dawes couldn’t take a mark and Ben Reid pushing forward didn’t work.

But despite that, they lifted their work rate, and their midfield, strongly noted for its ability to hit the scoreboard, did so to make up for Cloke and Dawes only combining for three goals out of Collingwood’s 15.

They just couldn’t shake the Dogs, however, especially Easton Wood’s defensive efforts which had him close to best on ground until twinging his hamstring in the third quarter, forcing a substitute.

Collingwood were also forced to use their substitution due to injury as Ben Johnson came off with a shoulder complaint. He was replaced by Kirk Ugle.

Although Collingwood were sloppy all night, their skill level lifted in the last quarter through Pendlebury and Heath Shaw, who played a fantastic game, pushing forward to kick two goals as well as using his creativity off half-back, and Collingwood’s poise and skill ensured that they were to take home the four points.

Votes:

3 – Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
2 – Ryan Griffen (WB)
1 – Dayne Beams (Coll)

Goals:

Western Bulldogs: Giansiracusa 3, Griffen 2, Higgins 2, Wood, Boyd, Hargrave, Lake
Collingwood: Goldsack 2, Cloke 2, Shaw 2, Sinclair 2, Reid, Dawes, Fasolo, Sidebottom, O’Brien, Swan, Wellingham

Best:
Western Bulldogs: Griffen, Lake, Wood, Cross, Minson
Collingwood: Pendlebury, Beams, Shaw, Sidebottom, Swan

Injuries:
Western Bulldogs: Easton Wood (hamstring)
Collingwood: Darren Jolly (groin, replaced in selected side by Cameron Wood), Ben Johnson (shoulder)

Substitutes:
Western Bulldogs: Mitch Wallis replaced Easton Wood (hamstring) in the third quarter
West Coast: Kirk Ugle replaced Ben Johnson (shoulder) in the third quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, Stewart, Schmitt

Official crowd: 38,155 at Etihad Stadium