Watch the team sing the song after the win.

COLLINGWOOD moved to second on the ladder after holding off a charging Western Bulldogs side to win by 10 points at Etihad Stadium on Sunday evening.

The Magpies put two disappointing weeks behind them to record the 17.11 (113) to 16.7 (103) win, despite the Dogs cutting a 48-point margin to just nine in the final term.

Watch Mick Malthouse address the media at Etihad Stadium after the match.

The Pies move to one game behind ladder leaders Geelong and will enter the second half of the season equal with St Kilda and Fremantle on eight wins but with a better percentage.  

The Dogs are now two games adrift of the top four and have dropped to sixth position with their upcoming clash against the Brisbane Lions now critical.

There are other concerns for the Dogs, with Shaun Higgins injuring an ankle and missing the last term, and Ben Hudson on report for a dangerous tackle.

Serviced by Dane Swan (35 possessions), Scott Pendlebury (33) and Leon Davis (three goals, four assists), the Magpies only let the Dogs in front for six minutes in the first quarter before building an eight-goal lead. 
It was typically tight early, but the skills of both sides were deplorable. The Dogs were error-prone and turnovers were rife.

The Pies put the foot to the floor in the third quarter, kicking eight goals and pushing 48 points clear, which caused Rodney Eade to play his joker and move Brian Lake up forward.

Watch Leon Davis speak to CTV in the rooms after the match.

The move was a catalyst for an improved effort from the Dogs, who outscored the Pies six goals to one in the final term, with Barry Hall (four goals) stepping up.

Collingwood    3.3    8.5    16.7    17.11 (113)
Western Bulldogs    2.2    5.4    10.6    16.7  (103)

GOALS
Collingwood: Didak 3, Davis 3, Brown 2, Wellingham 2, Cloke, Jolly, Fraser, O’Brien, Beams, Pendlebury, Swan
Western Bulldogs: Hall 4, Minson 3, Cooney 2, Hill 2, Moles, Boyd, Lake, Stack, Grant

BEST
Collingwood: Davis, Swan, Pendlebury, Didak, Ball, Thomas, Reid
Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Cooney, Hall, Cross, Harbrow, Gilbee, Minson

INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Higgins (ankle) Lake (knee)

Reports: Ben Hudson (Western Bulldogs) reported for rough conduct on Luke Ball (Collingwood) in the second quarter.

Umpires: Chamberlain, Findlay, Ryan

Official crowd: 40,813 at Etihad Stadium

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.