Magpies take flight after slow start to roll over Dogs

There is a moment in every match when the team trailing faces a critical juncture. That's to fight and lift, or let the contest meander and slip. For Collingwood, that point arrived at half-time in Friday night's clash against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium. Trailing by three goals, the Pies had to change. That would come through intent, philosophy and tactics.

The Magpies would also benefit from Zaine Cordy's unexpected absence, the key defender missing the second half with delayed concussion, leaving the Dogs exposed. This would contribute to the Pies' resurgence, and ultimately a 35-point win that leaves them with six wins and as a firm finals contender. It would also snap a five-year losing streak to the Dogs.

The Magpies would boot eight goals after half-time, while the Dogs would be goalless in a half for the first time since 1991. Their lack of run was noticeable, while the Pies were finally able to demonstrate the fast-break style of play that had been central to their campaign. What was also noticeable was their intent. Having managed only 21 tackles to half-time, 15 less than their opponents, the Pies would have six tackles in the opening five minutes. They were back.

As the pressure rose, so, too, did Brodie Grundy, who began to take charge in the ruck and through contested possession around the ground. Midfielder Adam Treloar provided the dash, skipper Scott Pendlebury worked his way into the contest, while hard-running defender Tom Phillips, in what was a break-out game, and Matthew Scharenberg were resolute. The Pies had their own injury issues, Travis Varcoe was forced off with a hamstring strain, but their overall physical maturity started to take a toll.

"Everyone played their role – we have started to find the feeling, which is what we want to do," Phillips said.

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They would also finish the night with Mason Cox reported for a high bump on Jason Johannisen late in the final term.

Where the Magpies had been overly defensive in the first half, their attacking flair returned. Ben Reid, free of Cordy, demonstrated this when he opted to pass to Jordan De Goey in the corridor, who would win a free kick. The Pies were able to play on, leading to a successful snap by the threatening Will Hoskin-Elliott. That would extend their lead to eight points, and the Dogs seemed lost from that point.

The Dogs had stifled their opponents run in the first half. Jack Macrae, having averaged 40 touches in his past three weeks, and Toby McLean had dominated possession but would fade. Ed Richards, from the famous Collingwood family, was also busy, while Tom Boyd had been central to a strong first term.

They would also have been pleased to have kept De Goey goalless before the main break. He was used as a deep forward in the first half but began the third term as a high half-forward. He would get busy but finish goalless in a week when his contract status dominated headlines.

The signs were not good for Dogs heading into the final term. They had won only one last quarter this year – and that would remain the case. Treloar would all but shut the door on the contest when he marked and snapped successfully in the opening minutes. That the Dogs would drop off so quickly would have frustrated coach Luke Beveridge, with his team left with only four wins and facing another major challenge next Saturday against Melbourne.

It took more than nine minutes for the first score of the game and the contest to get going. The Pies had enjoyed 70 per cent of the play in their attacking 50 to that point but would have only the one goal, when Phillips capitalised on a lazy pass back into the corridor by Bailey Williams.

The Dogs had begun with numbers behind the ball. That made it hard for them to score when they did have possession but that changed when they evened the numbers inside their attacking 50. The move of Boyd from full-forward into the ruck was also pivotal, for he helped to win the clearances and generate the required run.

Suckling got his team going with a 55-metre bomb and when Tory Dickson capitalised on a free kick, the Dogs had the momentum. Jordan Roughead, sent to forward, built on this when he marked 40m out. The Dogs also lifted their tackling, and Tory Dickson and Boyd would benefit from undisciplined acts by Tom Langdon and Pendlebury, leading to 50-metre penalties and goals from point-blank range.

The question was whether – and how – the Pies would respond. It was as simple as winning the clearances. With his hands first to the ball, Treloar was able to find space and convert from 30m on the run, and when a slick Pendlebury handball found Josh Thomas, who snapped successfully, the Pies were back in the contest.

Sidebottom was typically busy and made his displeasure clear to McLean, the Bulldog having won a free kick for ducking. McLean would just continue amassing touches.

What had been an uncertain start became an intriguing contest. Now it was time for the Dogs to respond. They did that twice. A clever long kick from Suckling found Roughead, who converted. The Pies again got busy, Langdon repaying his teammates with a goal from 50 of his own, after another clever handball from Pendlebury, while Jaidyn Stephenson reinforced why he is one of the elite kicks of the competition by converting from 40m.

The Dogs, though, would hit back twice, the second goal coming from Josh Schache's first with his new team, prompting his teammates to respond in typical football style – slaps on the back and a roughing up of his hair. Unfortunately for the Dogs, they would feel roughed up by the end of the night.

COLLINGWOOD 1.1 5.3 9.8 13.12 (90)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 5.2 8.3 8.5 8.7 (55)

GOALS
Collingwood: Treloar 2, Thomas 2, Hoskin-Elliott 2, Daicos, Stephenson, Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Adams, Langdon, Phillips.
Western Bulldogs: Roughead 2, Dickson 2, Gowers, Schache, Suckling, Boyd.

BEST
Collingwood: Scharenberg, Treloar, Pendlebury, Phillips, Grundy.
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Hunter, McLean.

INJURIES
Collingwood: Varcoe (hamstring).
Western Bulldogs: Cordy (concussion).

REPORTS
Collingwood: Cox for alleged rough conduct against Johannisen (Western Bulldogs).

UMPIRES
Meredith, Findlay, Gianfagna.

CROWD
37,985 at Etihad Stadium.

VOTES:
Brodie Grundy (Collingwood) 8
Tom Phillips (Collingwood) 8
Adam Treloar (Collingwood) 8
Matthew Scharenberg (Collingwood) 8
Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood) 7

Jon Pierik is a sports writer with The Age, focusing primarily on AFL football, cricket and basketball. He has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.

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