Round 12 – Western Bulldogs v Collingwood: Dogs fight off swooping Pies comeback in Saturday thriller

 

 

Round 12
Western Bulldogs v Collingwood
Saturday 30 May
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

 

A Michael Selwood clutch mark in the dying stages has given the Bulldogs consecutive wins for the first time since round four as they fought off a stubborn Collingwood outfit at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night, winning 14.13 (97) to 13.15 (93).

 

It was the brilliance of Dogs superstar Ed Richards in the final term having 12 disposals and a goal, ultimately pushing his side over the line when the game was on a knife-edge.

 

He was joined by skipper Marcus Bontempelli who finished with 22 disposals and a goal in what was a damaging three quarters of quality skill and willingness to defend, to which Craig McCrae was forced to send his taggers to the Dogs superstar.

 

Nick Daicos enjoyed a plethora of the ball in his sides loss, amassing 37 disposals and a goal, however wasn’t at his damaging best, whilst Jordan De Goey was the Pies best, showing his ability to spread powerfully from contest as he looked back to his brutal best following time in the midfield over the past weeks.

 

It was the Bulldogs who shot out of the gates quickly again, looking at their scintillating best when ball movement was quick and pressurizing at the contest with a defensive attitude as the Dogs lead blew out to 25 points.

 

With Aaron Naughton being well held by the Collingwood backline, it was the emergence of Will Lewis who slotted three majors, showing plenty of physicality, presence and took on the role of being the antagonist in the Dogs forward half.

 

The Dogs looked to exploit the Pies weakened backline with Rory Lobb pushing forward when relieved of the ruck duties from Tim English. It was an intriguing ruck battle as the chocolates were shared with Darcy Cameron fighting gallantly as the Pies solo ruck finished with 22 disposals and 24 hit outs.

 

As Collingwood do, they continue to adapt, and with missing key personnel, they shifted their focus to a more attacking brand of footy in the second half. Halving stoppage and creating drive from behind the footy was the catalyst to get back into the game, as the Pies runners found a spark.

 

They clawed their way back to single figure margins on multiple occasions before the Dogs would find an answer, however a quick burst of goals in the last term brought on a grandstand finish.

 

The Dogs, however, showed their calmness to be composed in the final moments of the game, as the Pies who were once kings of the close finish let another one slip, as their season falls well and truly into the middle of the road.

 

Luke Beveridge and his men will move forward to the MCG to face Hawthorn on Friday night in what shapes to be a big clash for the Dogs top six hopes, whilst the Pies will enjoy a longer break before the annual Kings Birthday clash against Melbourne.

 

A Dogs Observation

 

As things looked ominous again on Saturday night when the Pies threatened, you wouldn’t be blamed to think that we would let that one slip, however credit to the coaches and players who managed to have an answer any time Collingwood were closing in.

 

On the negative, transition goals hurt us again, where our backline was seemingly exposed too often in the second half, and with Collingwood not being a great scoring team, they managed 28 scoring shots from 47 forward 50 entries which is a concerning number.

 

We had 62 inside 50s ourselves and seemingly should have been more clinical to win this game comfortably, there is definitely still work to be done on the defensive front at the kennel, however it was no doubt an important victory for the club who are looking for a return to September action.

 

The shining light for me was Michael Selwoods massive contested grab at the end of the game, to think he was a mid-season recruit last year is baffling considering the impact he has had on this side in 2026, he looks confident in the air and assured with his disposal, a much needed intercept presence in our backline.

 

Malarkey Votes

 

3 VOTES – Ed Richards, 12 disposals in the last quarter gets him the three, he found run and carry when no one else could, and his damaging left foot was full of quality as he took over the game.

 

2 VOTES – Jordan De Goey, 30 disposals, a goal and 19 score involvements, De Goey was huge for his side, he looks to be fitter and covering the ground well with his brutal force in the contest a highlight of his game.

 

1 VOTE – Marcus Bontempelli, the Bont by numbers didn’t have the same output as recent weeks however it is his quality that separates him. His 22 disposals felt like 40 at the game, he reads the game like no other and his defensive efforts as an attacking midfielder was something I noticed, he sets a great standard for his teammates.

 

 

WESTERN BULLDOGS             4.4    7.7    11.10   14.13 (97)
COLLINGWOOD                            3.3    4.8    8.10   13.15 (93)

 

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Lewis 3, McNeil 2, English 2, Richards 2, Jones, West, Treloar, Bontempelli, Naughton
Collingwood: Membrey 3, Schultz 2, Anderson 2, De Goey, N.Daicos, McStay, Steele, McCreery, Lipinski

 

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Jones, English, Sanders, Lobb, Richards
Collingwood: N.Daicos, Pendlebury, De Goey, Lipinski, Schultz

 

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Collingwood: McStay (cut eyelid)

 

Crowd: 43,430 at Marvel Stadium

 

More Round 12 match reports HERE.

 

Read more from Kristian Cavallo HERE

 

 

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