RELENTLESS pressure was the dominant feature of the Western Bulldogs' 61-point win over Collingwood on Saturday night, with Luke Beveridge's men saving their best pre-season performance for last.
The Bulldogs put a tumultuous three weeks that involved losing Tom Liberatore to a season-ending knee injury as well as the investigation in Lachie Hunter's betting activity behind them to leap into round one with winning form.
They out-tackled the Magpies and forced them into turnovers, winning 0.16.7 (115) to 0.8.6 (54) after a dominant first half at Etihad Stadium.
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Despite being sorely beaten in centre clearances (6-17), the Dogs locked down across the field and strangled a broken-down Magpies' forward line.
Marcus Bontempelli, Mitch Wallis and Luke Dahlhaus provided plenty of pressure – Wallis racking up an impressive 11 tackles – while Jack Macrae had 31 touches.
"We put them under pressure and they gave the ball back a little bit, and I thought our defence set up extremely well," Beveridge said post-match.
"We capitalised on some of those opportunities so to a man I thought all the boys really contributed in that area.
"It was a pretty rounded performance. I was happy with most it.
"There was a period in the third quarter where we lost our way a little bit … but we managed to compose ourselves."
Along with exposing some concerning areas for Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley, an ankle injury to recruit Levi Greenwood further soured the night.
Injured Magpie 'likely to miss weeks'
Greenwood was one of the Pies' best in the second quarter after being sent to cover Bontempelli, who had 15 disposals by the first break.
But he didn't return after his right leg was trapped underneath him as he tackled Jarrad Grant in the third quarter and is likely to miss at least round one.
Forward Tyson Goldsack was also treated for a shoulder concern in the fourth term but played out the game and is fine.
Still, it was a disappointing performance from the Magpies, which Nathan Buckley said was contributed to by a six-day break.
"We would have liked to have performed better," Buckley said.
"That's not a reflection of the way we've trained and prepared.
"There's obviously a bit of work for us to do between now and April 4 to make sure that we present in better nick than we displayed this evening.
"We're not going to throw the baby out with the bathwater after the last two weeks. We displayed some pretty good form and played how we wanted to play against Hawthorn and we've been satisfied with our training form.
"We know exactly where we're at, we would have preferred to have performed better six days ago in Bendigo and tonight but we'll take lessons out of that."
Dogs, Pies to support players after betting dramas
The Bulldogs' dress rehearsal mentality extended to their cheersquad, who took the opportunity to practice their banner-making one last time before the real thing starts in two weeks.
In comparison, the Magpies made a low-key entry to the arena with no banner and little fanfare.
It was the Dogs in the wars early with young defender Jason Johannisen taken from the field in a neck brace following a high-impact collision with Grant's hip.
He returned to the bench later in the first term but was subbed out at quarter-time as a precaution after being one of the Dogs' best in the opening stages.
Defender Easton Wood was also subbed out with concussion at the main break after a second quarter incident that left him noticeably groggy.
But the loss of the two didn't affect the Dogs too much as they held off a spirited three-goal charge by the Pies late in the third quarter.
A goal in the first minute of the final term to Jake Stringer kicked off a string of Dogs majors that put the result beyond doubt.
Jack Redpath booted two late goals and took seven marks, which is sure to give Beveridge food for thought when picking his forward structure for round one with Tom Boyd contributing just one from his 13 possessions.
Bob Murphy returned to the side along with Jordan Roughead, Liam Picken, Macrae and Dahlhaus, and was one of the side's best along with Matthew Boyd, who played across half-back.
It was simply the Dogs' pressure that caught the Pies off guard. In the first half alone, they had seven more tackles and eight more contested ball wins.
Jamie Elliot was the Pies' shining light after a week off, along with Taylor Adams who collected 31 possessions.
It was a quiet first half from veteran midfielder Dane Swan, who had five touches in the first quarter and four in the second.
He worked his way into the game, along with Steele Sidebottom after a slow start, but remained below his best.
Jason Johannisen hits the deck after a brutal collision with Jarrad Grant. Picture: AFL Media
WHAT WE LEARNED
Western Bulldogs: The Dogs' midfield is still packing a punch minus Liberatore. Exactly three weeks since the 2014 best and fairest winner wrecked his knee against Richmond at Whitten Oval, his midfield contemporaries have continued to show a willingness to step up in his absence. Bontempelli continued his stellar pre-season with another strong performance while Macrae was significant and Dahlhaus a tackling machine.
Collingwood: There were a few worrying signs for the Magpies when the Dogs turned up the heat. Alex Fasolo had seven touches before being subbed off in the third quarter, and their forward line broke down and battled when the Dogs put the clamps on. Brodie Grundy, who was treated for a sore side last week against Carlton, was also monstered by Will Minson, who had 50 hit-outs to the young Pie's 22.
NEW FACES
Western Bulldogs: There weren't any here but draftee Caleb Daniel played his second game after a promising debut last week against Melbourne. The tiny midfielder, who has continued to wear the helmet he adopted in his junior footy, had 11 touches in just over a quarter.
Collingwood: Before going off in the third quarter, Levi Greenwood showed signs of just why the Pies signed him on a four-year contract. With Brent Macaffer out for a few more months while he comes back from a knee reconstruction, the Pies will be pleased to know they have someone they can task to nullify an opposition player who is threatening to blow a game apart - if he doesn't miss too much time with this new injury.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 0.6.2 0.10.4 0.12.5 0.18.7 (115)
COLLINGWOOD 0.3.1 0.4.4 0.7.4 0.8.6 (54)
SUPERGOALS
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Collingwood: Nil
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli 3, Wallis 2, Redpath 2, Dickson 2, Goodes 2, Jong 2, A. Cordy, Dahlhaus, Boyd, Stringer, Minson
Collingwood: Cloke 2, Greenwood, Adams, Varcoe, Swan, Pendlebury, Blair
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Wallis, Macrae, Bontempelli, Goodes, Jong, Dahlhaus, Minson
Collingwood: Adams, Sidebottom, Elliot, Oxley, Greenwood
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Johannisen (concussion), Wood (concussion)
Collingwood: Greenwood (ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Jason Johannisen (concussion) subbed out for Joel Hamling at quarter time, Easton Wood (concussion) subbed out for Caleb Daniel in the third quarter
Collingwood: Levi Greenwood (ankle) subbed out for Jack Crisp in the third quarter, Alex Fasolo subbed out for Corey Gault in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Bannister, Stephens, Jeffery, Talbot
Official crowd: 10,457 at Etihad Stadium
