BY THE skin of their teeth.

A Will Lewis goal, a Michael Sellwood mark, it was the next generation of Western Bulldogs players who stood up when it counted to hand the side the 14.13 (97) to 13.15 (93) win over Collingwood in front of a raucous Marvel Stadium crowd on Saturday evening.

BULLDOGS v MAGPIES Full match coverage and stats

Ed Richards was enormous in the final quarter. Where his teammates looked to be running on empty, he only went to a new level, to record 12 disposals and four inside 50s in the fourth as Collingwood threatened to snatch it.

The game remained on a knife's edge throughout, with neither side able to really break things open on the scoreboard when in charge, the largest margin of the match only 25 points.

Unsurprisingly, it was each side's star who got things going.

Marcus Bontempelli (22 disposals, nine clearances, one goal) worked as hard as ever, leading the Dogs' midfield to a 19-10 centre clearance count from which the side based its game.

For Collingwood, Nick Daicos (37 disposals, five clearances, one goal) did things that only Nick Daicos can do.

Despite the return of Tim English in the ruck for the Dogs, Rory Lobb continued his recent form sharing the role with English, pressing forward when not at stoppage. It was a strategy that allowed the Bulldogs to stretch a Collingwood defence that was without captain Darcy Moore.

Arty Jones (three goal assists, one goal) was outstanding in the front half for the home side, with pressure and relentless effort setting up repeat opportunities for teammates to score, and preseason signing Will Lewis (three goals) was physically imposing as the deepest forward.

Once Isaac Quaynor became more accountable to Jones, however, the Pies started to wrestle back some control.

The chaotic, fast game didn't work for the Pies early, so there was a shift to a more methodical style of ball movement in the second term. They worked hard to slice through the Bulldogs' defensive zone.

But late in the piece, speed from stoppage was Collingwood's best friend, exploiting the Bulldogs' poor final quarters and creating repeated opportunities in attack.

Given Collingwood's evolving forward line, there was a clear strategy to rotate strong midfielders into the deepest position in attack. Beau McCreery, Noah Long, and Jordan De Goey were the main options in the goal square, with an ever-changing opposition keeping the Bulldogs' defenders on their toes.

De Goey was impressive all night, finishing with 30 disposals, one goal, and five goal assists.

Once the Pies were able to set up the ground and generate some repeat forward entries in the second half, the strength of Dan McStay and Darcy Cameron increasingly won out.

But that was only once some control was won. Lachie Schultz (14 disposals, two goals) was the momentum-shifter, both with his pressure, and his speed to get goalside when his team snatched a fast break.

The Daicos special
Having conceded a run of three Bulldogs goals in the first quarter, and desperate to stem the tide, of course it was Nick Daicos to pull out something special. Setting up for a stoppage inside 50, he was able to read the slightest of lapses in concentration from direct opponent Ryley Sanders, and moving through the contest he gathered cleanly. On the move, lateral to goal, 40m out and on his left boot, he slotted the most impressive of stoppage goals to get the crowd back onside.

The sub plot
Since being added to the Western Bulldogs' list in the preseason supplementary signing period, Will Lewis has not only become known for his imposing presence in attack, but also his challenging physicality for opponents. Saturday evening was no different, as Lewis remonstrated with opponents Jeremy Howe and Billy Frampton to get under their skin and keep the Dogs' flame alight inside 50. Lewis came out on top with three goals, including a crucial late one to keep the Bulldogs in a winning position.

WESTERN BULLDOGS             4.4    7.7    11.10   14.13 (97)
COLLINGWOOD                            3.3    4.8    8.10   13.15 (93)

GOALS 
Western Bulldogs: Lewis 3, McNeil 2, English 2, Richards 2, Jones, West, Treloar, Bontempelli, Naughton
Collingwood: Membrey 3, Schultz 2, Anderson 2, De Goey, N.Daicos, McStay, Steele, McCreery, Lipinski

BEST 
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Jones, English, Sanders, Lobb, Richards
Collingwood: N.Daicos, Pendlebury, De Goey, Lipinski, Schultz

INJURIES 
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Collingwood: McStay (cut eyelid)

Crowd: 43,430 at Marvel Stadium