It’s a battle of the wounded as the injury-hit Collingwood and Western Bulldogs battle for the four points from Marvel Stadium.
The Magpies (6-2-3, 107.1%) can’t go a week without copping an injury, with Scott Pendlebury (bicep), Brody Mihocek (hamstring) and Mason Cox (knee) the latest casualties from Craig McRae’s side, which is unbeaten since Round 2.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs (5-6, 121.3%), who’ve been in good form in recent weeks, have copped a few big bullets themselves with Aaron Naughton (knee) and Ed Richards (concussion) missing, while prolific ball-winner Tom Liberatore (concussion) remains absent.
Watch every game of every round this Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
Craig McRae swung five Pies changes at selection on Thursday night, recalling Oleg Markov, Jack Bytel, Ash Johnson, Jeremy Howe and Finlay Macrae.
Round 11 debutant Ed Allan (Omitted), Pendlebury (bicep), Brody Mihocek (hamstring), Joe Richards (foot) and Mason Cox (knee) made way — losing a combination of veteran experience and attacking assets.
Luke Beveridge, in addition to losing Naughton and Richards, also excluded Anthony Scott (concussion) from the side that narrowly fell to the Swans last Thursday, recalling Rory Lobb, James O’Donnell and Lachlan McNeil.
The Pies are 3-1 against the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium since 2019. They’re 6-6 at Marvel Stadium since the start of 2020.
In the same period, the Dogs are 25-16 under the roof.
This match gets underway at 7.40pm AEST from Marvel Stadium.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504) from 6.30pm AEST.
MATCH UPDATES
The subs for tonight are Wil Parker (Collingwood) and Lachie McNeil (Western Bulldogs).
The Pies got off to a flyer as star midfielder Josh Daicos kicked a superb goal on the run inside the first minute.
Tempers flared shortly after when Bulldogs forward Sam Darcy collided heavily with Pies defender Brayden Maynard in the marking contest.
Maynard stood under the high ball, as Darcy elected to bump rather than spoil.
“He just probably had to use his reach there Darcy and just try and punch the ball away, he made the split second decision to go the hip and shoulder,” Matthew Richardson said on Channel 7.
“He hadn’t actually completed the mark,” Brian Taylor replied.
“That’s the part there that he’ll probably get himself in trouble for, when he ducked his shoulder, he probably couldv’e thrown in his arm for a spoil,” Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge said.
Maynard converted the set shot after receiving a 50 metre penalty and was then pulled off the ground for a head injury assessment.
Jack Crisp, in his 226th consecutive game drifted forward to boot Collingwood’s third for the game.
Bulldog Jack Macrae finally got the Dogs on the scoreboard but Lachie Schultz got the immediate reply for the Pies.
E-Dee James Harmes was subbed out for the Bulldogs in the first term with a hamstring injury.
Macrae bobbed up not long after, kicking his second goal of the quarter with a tidy snap.
In the second controversial incident of the term, Taylor Duryea was reported for striking after a behind play incident with Pies star Nick Daicos.
Duryea swung his elbow behind his head, making contact with Daicos’ head.
“There wasn’t a lot of intent in it,” Taylor said.
“It felt like a bit of a shrug, but the umpire was right there,” Richardson said.
“I reckon that would be at the minor end of any penalty,” Taylor responded.
Either way, Daicos converted his set shot with pinpoint accuracy to make the Dogs pay.
With the Pies starting to get on top, Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli stood up, kicking a superb goal from the 50 metre arc to reduce the margin back to 16 points.
“I think he’s the greatest Dog that’s ever played,” Taylor said of Bontempelli.
The Pies led 5.7 (37) to 3.2 (20) at the first change.
Despite starting slower than the Pies in the first term, the Bulldogs came out breathing fire in the second term, booting the first four goals of the quarter.
Oleg Markov finally got one back for the Pies and scores were tied once more.
The Daicos brothers were doing serious damage, each kicking a goal in the second term as the Pies re-established their lead, but Darcy’s second of the night meant the Dogs trailed 8.8 (56) to 8.4 (52) at half-time.
Follow Collingwood v Western Bulldogs in our live blog below!
Source Agencies
