THE UNDER-fire Western Bulldogs have hit back at their critics with a stunning eight-point upset of Collingwood at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The Dogs led narrowly at every change and held off the fast-finishing Pies in a courageous 16.10 (106) to 15.8 (98) triumph.
The win followed a disappointing loss to the Brisbane Lions at the same venue last weekend and inflicted a savage blow to the Magpies' top-four hopes in front of 28,339 fans.
Four goals from much-maligned key forward Liam Jones inspired the victory, his side's first over the Pies in eight meetings.
Travis Cloke slotted six goals for the Pies – two in the heart-stopping final term - and livewire small forward Jamie Elliott added four, but it wasn't enough to prevent Collingwood slipping to 8-4.
It was only the Bulldogs' second win in the past eight games – the other coming against Melbourne – and relieves some of the pressure on Brendan McCartney's men from their increasingly impatient fans.
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"We hung on today, we beat a really good opposition. We dealt with the game OK, we had an eight-day break, they had a six, and that might have told in the end," McCartney said post-match.
"It was a good result for our players and our club."
After a see-sawing opening half, the Dogs took a one-point lead into the long break and were never headed.
The Dogs opened a game-high 20-point lead in the final term after Jarrad Grant kicked truly and Liam Jones missed a set shot at the nine-minute mark.
But then Collingwood surged. Cloke booted two goals and Scott Pendlebury chimed in with one, but a brilliant set shot from near the boundary by Jason Tutt after 25 minutes sealed a famous win.
The Dogs’ old heads and young guns combined brilliantly.
Dogs skipper Ryan Griffen was outstanding with two goals and 27 possessions and had the better of tagger Brent Maccaffer.
Midfield star Tom Liberatore (34 disposals), Luke Dahlhaus (29), Jack Macrae (28), Daniel Giansiracusa (22) and ruckman Will Minson (13 and 44 hit-outs) also led the charge.
Pendlebury was typically sublime all match but couldn't will his side to victory despite gathering 30 touches, while he had good support from Taylor Adams (30) and Sam Dwyer (28).
Momentum swung violently throughout the entertaining clash.
Collingwood threatened to break the game after booting the opening three majors but the Bulldogs answered with four goals to lead by six points at the first change.
The lead changed hands four times during the see-sawing second term, but the Dogs showed the resolve that has been missing at times this season.
"You've got to give them credit, around the ball in particular," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said.
"They nutted us in contested ball (167-159) and clearances (51-34), which is where it starts…And we've allowed 57 inside 50s, which has been a bit of a trend over the last four or five weeks.
"And we had a young backline and they weren't able to stand up as they have for so much of the year to date."
The win lifted the Dogs one spot on the ladder to 13th at 4-8, but was soured by a hamstring injury to Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney in the first quarter.
McCartney said Cooney was likely to be sidelined for several weeks.
Meanwhile, Collingwood defender Marley Williams is facing a nervous wait after he was reported for striking Nathan Hrovat on the stroke of quarter-time as a melee erupted on the half-back flank.
Brodie Grundy and Will Minson battle during Sunday's Magpies-Bulldogs contest. Picture: AFL Media
COLLINGWOOD 3.2 9.4 12.6 15.8 (98)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 4.2 9.5 13.6 16.10 (106)
GOALS
Collingwood: Cloke 6, Elliott 4, Thomas, Adams, Ball, Swan, Pendlebury
Western Bulldogs: Jones 4, Stevens 3, Griffen 2, Tutt 2, Wallis, Crameri, Bontempelli, Giansiracusa, Grant
BEST
Collingwood: Elliott, Pendlebury, Cloke, Adams, Dwyer, Lumumba,
Western Bulldogs: Griffen, Jones, Liberatore, Giansiracusa, Dahlhaus, Murphy
INJURIES
Collingwood: Frost (left ankle), Beams (corked calf) replaced in the selected side by Broomhead
Western Bulldogs: Cooney (hamstring), Griffen (left ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Broomhead replaced Grundy in the third quarter.
Western Bulldogs: Giansiracusa replaced Cooney in the first quarter.
Reports: Marley Williams (Collingwood) reported for striking in the first quarter.
Umpires: Chamberlain, McInerney, Mitchell
Official crowd: 28,339 at Etihad Stadium.
