Collingwood had 10 players in the team who had played fewer than 50 games on Sunday afternoon compared to the Bulldogs' 12. It's not a massive difference in numbers but the difference in impact is huge. Players such as Jamie Elliott, Sam Dwyer, Ben Kennedy and Paul Seedsman are giving the Magpies a combination of skilful youngsters and hungry tacklers. An indication of where Collingwood is at is the fact it had four players wearing jumper numbers below 40 and have played six rookies already in 2013.
2. Key forwards are worth every cent
Travis Cloke had six marks and four goals at half-time and was dominating Collingwood's forward line. The Magpies might be Cloke conscious but he either marks the ball or brings it to the ground for its band of runners to crumb. His presence also gives Collingwood the confidence to kick the ball deep inside 50. By contrast the Bulldogs were relying on a makeshift key forward in Lucas Markovic and youngster Liam Jones. When Jones did take a mark inside 50, he could not convert.
3. The Collingwood cultural question is a moot point
First Alan Didak was demoted. Then he didn't play in the VFL. Suddenly the Twittersphere lit up thinking any Buckley decision in relation to the club's stars were discipline rather than performance based. Such conspiracy theories carry a convenient logic but the performances of Dane Swan and Heath Shaw show no signs of dipping under Buckley. Swan had 17 disposals in the first half and Shaw controlled the back half. Shaw's mark at the 18-minute mark of the third quarter was as good a defensive mark as one could hope to see. And Didak's replacement Jamie Elliott kicked a goal and had seven tackles by half-time.
4. Is Harry O'Brien's move to the wing the move of the year?
O'Brien looked to be at the crossroads last season playing deep in defence. He was not winning one on ones and looked more vulnerable than he had at any time in his career. However after a big pre-season and the opportunity to be freed up as an attacking runner, O'Brien is relishing the opportunity. Against the Bulldogs he was explosive and took risks. He also cares enough about his ex-colleagues in the back six to push back as required.
5. Dog of a day for the Bulldogs once again
After a more competitive month, the Bulldogs never looked likely against Collingwood. They had Nick Lower tailing Scott Pendlebury and Dylan Addison attempting to quell Heath Shaw as a negating forward. The Dogs offered Jordan Roughead the task to take on Cloke and hoped to get some run out of Adam Cooney, Matthew Boyd, Robert Murphy and the classy Ryan Griffen. They won plenty of the ball early but was poor by foot. The Dogs then went into their shell looking to chip it around and find the easy kick. Collingwood just sweated on them. The silver lining is that the next generation of Jackson Macrae, Tom Liberatore, Jason Johannisen and Jake Stringer look very capable and Griffen remains a star. The Bulldogs won the second half but the game was over at half-time.
