The build-up for tonight felt more like a WWE feud than an AFL match as the Adam Treloar narrative consumed the discourse in the week leading up to it and the months prior.
The action didn’t quite live up to the billing however, with the Western Bulldogs winning a low scoring affair, holding Collingwood at arm’s length all night.
It was a far slower game than what we saw the night before, with neither team particularly keen to open things up and the Magpies never looking likely to kick a winning score.
Here’s everything you need to know!
The Star: Adam Treloar’s night in the spotlight
Adam Treloar was far from the best player on the ground, but he was undoubtedly the star of the show.
We all know the story and the fallout by now and none of it mattered once the ball was bounced.
Treloar received an odd welcome, with a section of Pies fans booing the midfielder, even though it was their club that forced him out against his will.
However, when the game was sealed and the Dogs were playing keeping’s off in the dying minutes, the veteran received a standing ovation from his new faithful. They got the last laugh.
In a mostly high-possession game Treloar was quiet, finishing with 18 disposals and five clearances.
Treloar's first touch against his old side is as good as it gets #AFLPiesDogs pic.twitter.com/ydPGq1pF1I
— RollnSport (@RollnSport) March 19, 2021
The Talking Point: What did we learn about these teams?
These two teams finished seventh and eighth respectively in 2020. How have things changed since then?
The expectation was that the Dogs would be a stronger team this year given the additions of Treloar and Stefan Martin and the general improvement expected from their youngsters.
Collingwood meanwhile shed talent in the trade period with the aim of replenishing at the draft.
From these narratives alone, you’d expect the Dogs to be the stronger team this year and that is indeed what we saw play out.
The Magpies only had five goals to their name to three quarter time and never really looked like kicking a winning score, something that haunted them last year.
We obviously await a larger sample size before making any lasting judgements.
The Difference: Brodie Grundy not allowed to dominate
Brodie Grundy has nine Brownlow votes from Collingwood’s last three encounters with the Western Bulldogs.
He has dominated Tim English to that extent in those encounters, giving the Magpies full control through the midfield.
This time however, the Bulldogs brought reinforcements in Brisbane veteran Stefan Martin.
Grundy still had a big night on the stat sheet, winning more hit-outs than Martin and English combined, but he had to fight for them and as AFL Nation’s Jordan Lewis put it, Martin “kept Grundy accountable all night”.
Coming off a down year in 2020, it will be interesting to see how the Collingwood star bounces back this season.
Grundy only managed the 11 disposals and three marks.
What’s next?
Collingwood will remain in the spotlight next week, taking on Carlton on Thursday night. The Western Bulldogs meanwhile host West Coast on Sunday afternoon at Marvel Stadium.
FULL SCORE
Collingwood: 1.2, 4.6, 5.7, 7.11. (53)
Western Bulldogs: 3.2, 6.5, 9.7, 10.9. (69)
GOALS
Collingwood: Mihocek 2, Cox 2, Elliott 2, Crisp
Western Bulldogs: Smith 2, Vandermeer 2, Naughton 2, English, Martin, Bruce, McNeil
BEST
Collingwood: Moore, Crisp, Pendlebury, Maynard, Adams
Western Bulldogs: Smith, Macrae, Daniel, Dunkley, Bontempelli
INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Tonight's crowd is 46,051 #AFLPiesDogs
— Melbourne Cricket Ground (@MCG) March 19, 2021
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