Collingwood has moved back to sixth on the ladder with a 34-point win over the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Key forward Travis Cloke booted five goals as the Magpiesran out 15.9 (99) to 9.11 (65) winners, their sixth victory in a row over theBulldogs.
Following two straight wins, the performance was a step backfor Brendan McCartney's developing team, who went goalless in the opening termand had only two to half-time as Collingwood opened a 53-point buffer.
By contrast, the Magpies looked dangerous every time theywent into attack, with Cloke dominant in the air and their battery of smallforwards swooping when the ball hit the ground.
With 34 goals for the season, Cloke now sits equal second inthe Coleman Medal, one behind leader Lindsay Thomas.
Midfielders Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury ran rampant for Collingwood, controlling the stoppages – usually the Bulldogs' strength – andcollecting a combined 73 disposals.
The pair's enormous display offset the loss of in-and-underonballer Luke Ball with a calf injury before the match.
Rebounding defender Heath Shaw had a field day acrosshalf-back, feasting on the Bulldogs' errant kicking with nine intercept marks.
Substitute Daniel Giansiracusa and first-year player JakeStringer both finished with two goals for the Dogs.
Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney said Giansiracusa hasstarted as a sub the past three weeks as he was struggling to run out a fullfour quarters.
Veterans Robert Murphy and Adam Cooney worked hard, whileRyan Griffen persisted in the face of a heavy tag from Brent Macaffer.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was pleased with thedefensive aspects of the game in the first half but was unhappy the team onceagain failed to put together a four-quarter performance.
"We've only really put four quarters together maybethree or four times," Buckley said.
However he took a philosophical approach post-game, happy tobe 8-4 going into the bye and understanding that any team with eight playerswho have played fewer than 25 games will be inconsistent.
Collingwood also had the game won at half-time, restrictingthe Bulldogs to two goals and having a 53-point lead.
"We defended really well, didn't give them any outlets,forced them sideways and slow and that was off the back of our structure and[guarding] dangerous space," Buckley said.
McCartney said the Bulldogs were outplayed at times and notenough players "just played the game".
He was disappointed with their approach early. "We werea bit safe ... I'm not sure if they defended brilliantly, they defended quitewell but we didn't test them enough either," McCartney said.
He said the inexperience of some players caused them attimes to second-guess themselves.
However he was happy with the efforts of the second half andthe team's ability to adjust given the scoreline at half-time.
Collingwood heads into the bye with a win-loss record of 8-4while the Bulldogs are 3-8 and sit 14th, narrowly ahead of the Brisbane Lionson percentage.
COLLINGWOOD 4.2 11.4 13.6 15.9 (99)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 0.2 2.5 4.9 9.11 (65)
GOALS
Collingwood: Cloke 5, Elliott 2, Pendlebury, Blair. J.Thomas, Seedsman, Dwyer, Kennedy, Jolly, Martin
Western Bulldogs: Giansiracusa 2, Stringer 2, Griffen, Liberatore, Boyd, Stevens, Murphy.
BEST
Collingwood: Cloke, O'Brien, Pendlebury, Swan, Elliott, Shaw
Western Bulldogs: Griffen, Murphy, Macrae, Stringer
INJURIES
Collingwood: Luke Ball (calf) replaced in selected side by Adam Oxley
Western Bulldogs: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Ben Reid replaced by Adam Oxley in the third quarter
Western Bulldogs: Liam Picken replaced by Daniel Giansiracusa in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Bannister, Armstrong, Jeffery
Official crowd: 32,253 at Etihad Stadium
