After some early promise, the Western Bulldogs were overrun by a rampant Collingwood outfit who kicked the final eight goals of the game to run out 35-point winners.
After booting eight goals in the first half to lead by 18 points at the main break, the Dogs went goalless in the second half, kicking just four behinds.
The Bulldogs now sit in 14th position on the ladder with a 4-6 record.
The numbers
Toby McLean was busy, collecting 33 disposals – including 13 contested, seven clearances, nine marks and ten tackles.
Jack Macrae battled with Magpies skipper Scott Pendlebury, he finished with 30 disposals, seven marks and four tackles while Matthew Suckling collected 23 disposals, seven marks and kicked one goal.
Tory Dickson in his first game back from a hamstring injury kicked two goals, as did Jordan Roughead who also kicked a pair.
You can quote me on that
“(It was) two completely different sides playing against each other after quarter time than what we saw in that first period. Theirs is probably easy to explain, they lifted their intensity in that period, they challenged us on a number of fronts and we came up short. Put that down to Collingwood’s ferocity around the ball, our lack of scope to maintain it in our front half, and the ball came out of our forward half way too easy,” Senior Coach, Luke Beveridge.
“(Finals) are still within our reach. What are we now, four and six? So, it’s a challenge, but it’s our challenge. We’ll look forward to unpacking the game like have just briefly and looking at the areas that we need to improve on to give that a shot,” Captain, Easton Wood.
VFL + VFLW
In the VFL and VFLW doubleheader at VU Whitten Oval, Footscray were unable to withstand a late charge from Collingwood, falling 32-points short.
Despite the home side taking an 11-point lead into the final break, the Pies had the breeze and momentum in the last quarter, kicking eight goals to Footscray’s one.
Ruckman Tom Campbell amassed a huge 72 hit-outs and eight tackles for the ‘Scray.
In the VFLW, despite kicking the last three goals of the game, the Bulldogs’ VFLW side fell to Collingwood on Saturday afternoon.
Naomi Ferres was a standout for the Bulldogs with her clean hands and vision as the Bulldogs went down by eight points.
The day was marked by the Club holding an official event to recognise National Sorry Day.
Up Next
The Western Bulldogs will face Melbourne on Saturday afternoon at Etihad Stadium.
Also on Saturday, Footscray will clash with Essendon at VU Whitten Oval at 6.00pm and the Bulldogs’ VFLW side will take on the NT Thunder at TIO Stadium in Darwin at 2.00pm.
