Preview Round 21: Collingwood v Western Bulldogs

AFL

SUMMARY

Round 21 COLLINGWOOD v WESTERN BULLDOGS Time, Place, TV: Friday August 12, 7:50pm Etihad Stadium 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm Weather: Min 8 Max 15 Chance of rain 60%: <1mm Wind: N 28kph Betting: Collingwood $3.05 Western Bulldogs $1.38

After booking a finals spot with their victory over North Melbourne last week, the sixth-placed Bulldogs should be looking for a convincing win against the Magpies to keep their slim top-four hopes alive. With scoring efficiency an ongoing problem, an encounter with an understrength Magpies' outfit looms as perfect opportunity for Luke Beveridge's men to build some proficiency in attack. After going goalless against the Kangaroos, high-priced recruit Tom Boyd should get plenty of chances to hit the scoreboard. The Magpies on the other hand will be out to capture that consistency that has eluded them all season, after coach Nathan Buckley labeled last week's fade out after quarter-time against Richmond as the 'worst three quarters of the year.'  If they can replicate the effort they displayed against the Dogs in round 10, the Pies will make a game of it. 

LAST FIVE TIMES

1. R10, 2016, Western Bulldogs 11.8 (74) d Collingwood 7.11 (53) at the MCG
2. R17, 2015, Western Bulldogs 15.14 (104) d Collingwood 13.8 (86) at Etihad Stadium
3. R13, 2014, Western Bulldogs 16.10 (106) d Collingwood 15.8 (98) at Etihad Stadium
4. R12, 2013, Collingwood 15.9 (99) d Western Bulldogs 9.11 (65) at Etihad Stadium
5. R6, 2012, Collingwood 15.8 (98) d Western Bulldogs 11.11 (77) at Etihad Stadium
   

THE SIX POINTS

1. Collingwood led narrowly at every change in round 10 before the Bulldogs ran away to win, with the Magpies suffering a number of injuries. Luke Dahlhaus was the star with 37 disposals and one goal.
2. The Western Bulldogs continue to be difficult to score against, ranked third for least points conceded with 73. Offensively Collingwood has struggled to score, ranked 13th with 84 points per game.
3. The Western Bulldogs have now won the last three clashes between the sides after Collingwood had dominated, winning the previous six in a row.
4. The Bulldogs remain the highest disposal side in 2016 averaging 415.9 per game, 21 more per game than the next best side. Collingwood is eighth with 375.9 per game.
5. The teams have played 17 times at Etihad Stadium with 10 wins to seven in Collingwood's favour. This is the Magpies second game at Etihad in 2016 compared to the Bulldogs 13th.
6. Marcus Bontempelli's stellar game against North Melbourne last week saw him rise to seventh place overall on the Schick AFL Player Ratings. Magpie skipper Scott Pendlebury remained steady as the game's third-best player on 611.6.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …Tom Boyd.
After one his best senior games against Geelong in round 19, the young key forward had a very quiet outing against North Melbourne last week. If the Dogs are to go deep into September they'll need more than the four disposals and five hit outs he contributed against the Kangaroos.

PREDICTION: Western Bulldogs by 42 points.