Live Updates - Collingwood Magpies v Western Bulldogs - Round 13 at Telstra Dome

Posted by Tristan Heffernan

June 22, 2008

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AFL Round 13 - Collingwood Magpies v Western Bulldogs - 4:40pm AEST Live from the Telstra Dome

It’s Twilight Zone on Sunday - and not just because it’s a twilight game. The Maggies are playing away from the G! Obvious roster mishap, but let’s not let that overshadow what is going to be a cracking game of football.

The Bulldogs are in scintillating form and are strong favourites to continue on their merry way against an undermanned Pies outfit. Already missing a suspended Travis Cloke, Leon Davis and Josh Fraser, there is a big rumour around the traps that Alan Didak is in serious doubt, and Danny Stanley did not play in the VFL yesterday and may come in. Huge news for both Pies and fantasy die hards like myself who need a big one from Diddy.

Good news Pies fans - Didak and Rocca are both out there warming up.

Late change mooted - In Rocca, out Wakelin.

Rohan Smith to give some updates from the Dogs box, let’s hope there’s some cutting edge insights rather than just some powderpuff commentary giving absolutely nothing away.

Big Rocca has a pretty good record against the Dogs, looks to be an excellent inclusion to try and stretch them down back. Gotta wonder if he’s really in the best of nick to get the job done though.

Johnno wins the flip and Dogs kicking to the left of screen.

First Quarter

Ben Johnson has gone to Aker. Harris to Rocca. Shaw down back on Giansiracusa - has he dodged a tag?

19:40 - Goldsack appears to be on Johnno - welcome back golden balls with a tough assignment.

18:40 - Aker drops a sitter 40m out, Pies run it up the other end and Rhyce Shaw kicks a point. 1-0 Pies. Even worse than Aker’s dropped mark is the presence of Dwayne Russell in the box - hope I don’t have to mute things early. Dale Morris on Didak - looks a great match up for Diddy.

17:20 - First goal Dogs! Shambles down back by the Pie backs and the ball gets to Murphy who makes no mistake with the snap from 15m aided by the clever shepherd from Akermanis. Ripping form this year Murph and causing headaches already.

16:30 - Matty Boyd running with Swan - Boyd is one of the most underrated players in the comp in the minute and Dane has his job cut out to win that matchup.

15:10 - Maybe its Heath Shaw now on Johnno - just wrapped him up beautifully on the wing. Wonderful matchups all over the ground makes for a great contest.

14:20 - The pressure is here today from the Pies - they are on song. Shaw has set up Burns for a shot on goal and is already relishing the chance to play a stopping role rather than trying to break a tag. Burns sneaks it home somehow and Pies are in front 7-6.

13:40 - The scene is set - the Pies are the hunters and the Dogs are the hunted. Last time I saw the Pies with this mindset was a freezing cold -2 degrees at the G and they ran all over the Cats.

12:40 - Ward appears to have copped a whack to the mouth - coming from the ground. Will try and get an update on his condition.

11:00 - End to end football at the moment but the defences are standing up at both ends. As I speak Pies turn it over and the Dogs have a shot with Welsh. Rushed through and its 7-7.

8:40 - Swan finds Lockyer inside 50 for a shot on goal. Pies tackling has been impressive, but Tarks doesn’t make the most of his shot and tugs it left. 8-7 Pies.

6:55 - Didak and Hudson clash in the forward pocket … not even going to touch that one … by the way Ward is back out there and appears fine.

6:00 - Chris Bryan just bombs away and turns it over - he’s a strange player that bloke - can do everything, very mobile for a big man, but just doesn’t seem filled in above the shoulders.

4:20 - Big Pebbles to take a shot from 50 on a 45 degree angle. Pies are all over the Dogs, but only a point in front - make that 2 with a Rocca miss - 9-7. Not capitalising though, and it’s in main part to the Dogs defence who are standing up to be counted.

3:00 - Umpires have forgotten all about the 15m rule and are letting them chip away to their heart’s content. Now Marty Clarke has put one out on the full - will the Pies live to regret their opportunities?

1:30 - Incredible effort by the Pies to have restricted the Dogs to 7 points in a quarter at the dome. And what a mozz - as soon as I type that Griffin dribbles one through, and now the Dogs, despite being flogged all quarter, lead it by 4 - 13-9.

0:20 - All happening - Bruiser Maxwell gives the goal post the old Liverpool kiss and Aker misses from 5m with a quick snap! Siren blows and its 14-9 - a scoreline reminiscent of a St Kilda game but thankfully this one has been quick, skillful and exciting with only the finishing of the Pies letting them down.

Heath Shaw is loving a bit of freedom and has 10 first term touches - wonder if Rocket will throw someone onto him (maybe he is regretting the club got rid of Shane Birss a few years back? Pffft). Marty Clarke also has 10, and 9 for Ben Johnson. For the Dogs, Griff has 8 touches and a goal, Gilbee has 9 touches pushing forward a lot, and Spider Junior has 7 touches with some hard running from half back.

Pies should really be in front, which is ominous signs for them as they are going to be hard pressed to keep up this pressure for 4 quarters.

Chaos in the Dogs box early with the Champion Data stats feed going down according to Rohan Smith- maybe that’s how Heater slipped under the radar in that first term.

Second Quarter

19:00 - Williams off for the Dogs after a heavy clash to start the quarter - appears to have hurt a shoulder. No news how serious as yet, but Dogs fans will have their hearts in their mouth.

18:20 - Goal to Wood and the Pies regain the lead, it’s 15-14.

17:15 - Goal to Swan from a brilliant tap from Wood and Pies get 7 clear. Who said ruck work was dead? Cam Wood getting the job done on his return to the side. Williams has gone up the race. Ben Reid has also gone to the rooms - missed what happened to him will try and find out.

16:15 - Welsh to take a shot on goal from about 50 with a cheap high tackle in the pack given away by Bruiser Maxwell. This distance tends to test Welsh, and it has again - rushed through, despite Johnno’s typical attempts to manufacture the magnificent on the line. 21-15.

15:00 - Edge’s 2nd Rd Draft Pick Wellingham just went for a searching run but couldn’t finish - 22-15.

13:30 - Shaw to Swan to Lockyer for another shot on goal for the Pies. Pies are outrunning the Dogs here believe it or not. They need Tarks to finish things off with a goal. AND ITS A MUNG! Another costly miss from Lockyer and its 23-15.

12:30 - Didak landed heavily and was in a bit of trouble, and so are the Pies at the other end as Eagleton sneaks one home to get it back to 2 points. Great mark by Ward in the lead up - the high school lad will be Big Man on Campus in the yard if he continues his early form and stays in this Bulldog side.

11:30 - Rhyce Shaw looked to have drilled one but got the wrong fade at the last moment and it’s another Pie behind - 24-21. But finally a goal to Burns, who snaps one home after a huge hitout by the human brain melt Bryan. 30-21 Pies.

10:30 - Have another go Rhyce! No good again, and another miss! Sprayed it totally. Dogs under a total barrage. Aker, Giansiracusa, Cross, Johnno, all having no real impact. Shaw is giving Johnno a bath.

8:00 - To Liam in the comments - in fairness I’m not the one being one sided here - when the Pies are running all over the Dogs what choice do I have?

7:20 - This time Rhyce! Throw enough mud at the wall and some of it has gotta stick, and finally he gets one through the big sticks. 37-21 Pies and the Dogs need a big lift from their midfield. 24 possessions between the Shaw brothers, they’ve been let out of the cage today.

6:50 - Coooooon goes for a run, but Ray is thwarted by a great Heath Shaw mark deep in defence. Tom Williams back out on the paddock in a great sign for the Dogs.

5:30 - Tractor time in the square as Mitch Hahn looks set to stem the tide with a big grab and goal. Dogs get one back, and are incredibly only 10 behind - 37-27. Big pack around the ball but Hahn was the only one who wanted it bad enough.

3:35 - Cooooon with a snap but couldn’t bend it around enough and just a minor score. 37-28. Williams has the shoulder heavily strapped and gave it a little shake after his recent contest.

2:12 - TRACTOR AGAIN! The Big Dogs getting involved in that passage - Murphy, Aker, and another grab from Hahn in the square results in another goal. 37-34 and the Dogs are hanging around - look out if they start to turn it on.

1:40 - Shaw boys link up again to find Lockyer with a ton of space 30m out. Hasn’t got the kicking boots on tonight, and again just tugs this shot for another point. Pretty sure the Pies are going to live to regret these - 38-34.

0:08 - Everyone seems to have missed the fact that Cheesey O’Bree was kicking into the 50 then as they all ran way past the fall of the ball and Bryan has snuck in to snag the mark and kick a goal on the siren! Outwitted by Bryan - how’s that for a headline for Dogs fans as the Pies take a 10 point lead into the long break, 44-34.

Half time - and boy I’ll feed you as many stats as I can because I’ve just gone to Afl.com and near had an episode with that horrible background they’ve got up at the moment. Fair dinkum looks like someone has regurgitated their rainbow icecream and decided to run with it. Who is in charge of that site anyway?

While my computer tries to blow up as GameDay loads lets look at the leading DT getters at half time. For the Pies - Heater is back in town with 74, Tarks 66, Rhyce has 62 and Ben Johnson 61. Diddy is moping around with 24 and Dane Swan has 45 despite a Matty Boyd tag.

For the Dogs - Boyd and Griff leading the way with 54, 52 for Fahren Ray, Murph has 48 and Coooon 45. Aker with a very limited 16 and Johnno a disappointing first half with 29. Cross has 36 in super news for me because my Eliminator opponent has him captain - great work from the Hot Bun.

I’ve put the pen through the AFL site for good as GameDay is having a fair dinkum shocker and turned to the Herald Sun for the stats. Heater leading the way with 18 touches from 3 dogs with 15 - Cross, Coooon and Gilbee. Another group on 14 and seeing the Sun site is so smooth I’ll leave you to make your way over there before I have to start charging them product placement fees.

Getting set now for the second half - can the Bulldogs get things together or will the Pies pressure be too much? Hate to say it but the Dogs are playing like they’ve been reading the papers too much - it’s time to get back to basics, run hard and get back to the form we know they’re capable of. As for the Pies - how much is in the tank? Looking forward to a cracking second half.

Third Quarter

We’re underway - Cooney clearance, to Murph, who then goes indirectly to the flank and they turn it over. Pies take it down and Tarks takes a contested mark in the pocket, but turns it over. Very reluctant to shoot on goal now Lockyer after his nightmare-ish first half in front of the sticks.

17:25 - Johnno takes a great grab from the back and kicks the first goal of the half - 44-40. Lazy 4 bounces in the leadup from Ray, and Johnno used his body beautifully then - no hands in the back in sight.

17:00 - The Coon Man has been instrumental in the middle already in this term.

15:30 - Despite the best efforts of the cameraman, we sneak a look at Rocca marking in the pocket and will have a shot from 25 on a tight angle. Misses to the near side. 45-40.

15:05 - Pies make the Dogs pay on the midfield turnover! Meddy gets free and slams one home from 20 out and the Pies open a little break again. 51-40.

14:35 - Rocca almost hits the roof - but he has kicked a BOOMING snap for another Pie goal! 57-40!

11:30 - Lockyer is causing all sorts of problems for the Dogs, and has found Meddy who receives a 50m penalty thanks to an over zealous push from Hargrave. Goal from point blank range to Medhurst and Pies have busted it open in this term - 63-40.

11:00 - Every time the Dogs have been under the pump, what have they called for? A TRACTOR! Hahn Ice takes another grab in the goal square using his huge frame to kick his 3rd, and the Dogs are back within 17 again. 63-46.

10:15 - Huge grab by WOOD!!! 30m out straight in front, as the camera man catches the Smiling Assassin Johnno without a grin on his face after missing out on a free at the other end. Wood booms it through - 69-46.

9:30 - Injury update - Rocca just pinged a hammy after finding Wood in that passage of play. Ben Reid is gone with a broken foot. Marty Clarke off at the moment also - more news to come there. Sets it up for a big Doggie finish.

8:10 - Akaaaaaa! Wonderful movement by the Dogs down the wing capped by a vintage Aker goal on the run. Dogs with a sniff. Clarke coming back on for the Pies. 69-52.

6:50 - HERE COME THE DOGS! Superb snap from Welsh on the left cuts it to less than 2 goals. Pies will definitely be ruing those missed chances earlier - we all know how hard the Dogs can be to stop when they get rolling. Cooney and Cross getting on top in the middle. 69-58.

5:10 - Now Wellingham coming off - seems to have copped a knock. The pace has picked up again - as Gilbeeeee sends one deep from 55 that never looked like missing! Brain melt from the Pies - Gilbee got the handball from Cross after a free kick - surely clubs woke up to this about 3 years ago! Not the Pies today and they pay dearly - 69-64.

3:33 - Welsh with another grab - Dogs are winning the contested pill and running hard - here comes their charge. Welsh sticks it through the guts and they HIT THE FRONT! 70-69. Acid right on the Pies here to get back off the canvas or the Dogs could run right away with it. Wellingham is back out there which is good news, but output from players like Heath Shaw and Dane Swan has gone missing in this term.

2:15 - Mark to Pendles and another 50 against the Dogs for hanging on takes him to within 15m and he makes no mistake. Pies back in front 75-70.

2:00 - Marty Clarke playing with a leg injury as talk in the box focuses on a 5 second stint for Micky Malthouse in a back pocket - that’s the dire situation for the Collingwood bench.

1:20 - Great bit of finesse by the big Tractor as he bounces back up with a second effort and centres the nut up to big Minson for a shot directly in front. No mistake and the Dogs get their snout in front again just before the third hooter blows - 76-75.

0:03 - Oh Mitch! Brilliant roving from the wide load but he can’t snap it straight enough and just a minor score. 77-75.

3 quarters down, and the Dogs have managed to turn a 4 goal deficit into a slight lead at the last break. Their run has lifted, and would be clear favourites heading into the last stanza. The Pies have lost 2 big forward in Rocca and Reid, and with at least 2 others having niggling injuries which will surely affect their ability to run out the game strongly.

And if there’s one team you want to be running the game out strongly against - it is the Sons of the West.

Cooney, Cross and Gilbee lead all ball magnets with 22, from Heath Shaw on 20 after a quiet third term. Boyd has 20 also, and is doing a wonderful job on Swan, really keeping him under check in that quarter. Hahn is leading all goal kickers with 3.

Final Quarter

19:30 - First goal Dogs! Pies finally stopped Hahn marking in the square, but Johnno was quick onto the crumb and a little handball to Murphy for a snap and an 8 point lead.

18:20 - Pies need Dale Thomas to stand up this last quarter - having a bit of a mare with only 9 touches. Same goes for Didak, who has had 4 touches already and seems to have been thrown into the middle.

16:55 - Dogs defence has been excellent - Pies having all sorts of trouble penetrating and are forced to chip it around a lot down back for most of the term so far.

16:30 - Disaster for the Pies! Thomas gets the chance to stamp himself on the game, but made a meal of running into an open 50 and ran straight into Boyd who ties him up for holding the ball. To make matters worse, a big mark on the goal line at the other end by Gia who then sets up Rob Murphy for his second of the term. 89-75 and Dale Thomas will have the knives in him this week if he can’t turn things around starting now.

13:00 - Lot of hard stuff at both ends - not going to state the obvious that the next goal is crucial because they all are, but with Pies limitations up forward in this second half they won’t want to fall behind by any more. They surge forward now but Dogs are quick to mop up and rush a behind. 89-76.

11:50 - Dogs blow a huge chance! Johnno takes 4 bounces, but a ‘Not 15′ call ruins his square up to Aker and the Pies breathe a sigh of relief. Not for long however - ball comes back in not long later and the Smiling Assassin is on the end of it with a big chance to nail down one corner of the coffin - and he’s got it! 95-76.

6:50 - Where there’s life, there’s hope - Another mark in the forward 50 to Tarks and he plays on and goals to cut it to 13. 95-82. Excellent assist from Medhurst with a square up from the boundary after he won an important ball on the flank. Incredible to think that one day Meddy would be playing this sort of football.

6:10 - Pies are still beating with a mark now to Wood and a shot on goal. The big man has kicked 2, can he make it 3 here? Drifts too far, 2 straight kicks the difference - 95-83.

5:20 - The Human Brain Melt lives up this his name and gives away 50 - but all is not lost - Swan pulls off a brilliant tackle on Lake after he was called to play on, picks up the Sherrin, runs on and drills a GOAL!!!! 95-89 - always a chance!

3:40 - AKAAAAAA takes a big grab in the pocket! Quiet night for Aker - can he make amends here? Nup - missed it from a tight angle, important point though for the Doggies. 96-89.

2:35 - What a chase from Maxwell and Shaw! Welsh running into an open goal but they got enough of him to affect the kick and another behind. 97-89. Heath Shaw then turns it over on the kick in, but Addison can’t make him pay and it’s rushed through for another point. 98-89.

1:00 - Dogs look to have done enough. Excellent defensive pressure over the last few minutes - Pies can’t get the ball past half way. Cooooon finds Johnno inside 50 who goes back to add a bit of gravy. Not keen on the Gravox though is the Smiling one and just a behind. It won’t matter though - 99-89.

SIREN!!!!!!

Heartbreak for the Pies as the Dogs pinch this one from them. Hate to say I called it (well maybe not hate…) but the number of goals they missed early on when they dominated proceedings (as well as these updates) has come back to bite them. To be fair - they were struck down by injury also which definitely didn’t help their cause.

Hats off though to the Dogs - pay them their dues, they didn’t play to the level we know they can, but their big players stepped up to the mark and made sure they got over the line. Cooney, Cross, Gilbee, Boyd - when the game was on the line they lifted, as well as Welsh, Johnson and Hahn stepping up to kick the vital goals when they needed to.

Top DT scorers - 136 from the Heater who was racking them up at will with the cheapest of the cheap in the final term, 105 for the Hot Cross Bun, and 101 for Tarks. Was pretty sure we’d have a big scoring night with these 2 teams at the Dome so interesting that only 3 have topped the ton.

For the magnets - 31 touches for H Shaw, 29 for Cross and Gilbee, 28 from Pendles, 27 for the Coon man and 26 for Matty Boyd.

Mitch Hahn and Robert Murphy lead all scorers with 3 each, from Welsh, Brad Johnson, Burns, Swan, Medhurst and Wood with 2 each.

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