Treloar’s Dogs upstage Collingwood in AFL

Adam Treloar was unceremoniously jeered by Collingwood fans but exacted some sweet revenge on the club that dumped him as the Western Bulldogs opened their AFL season with a 16-point win at the MCG.

The star midfielder had 18 disposals, five clearances and a cool hand in the Dogs’ hot start on Friday night, helping his new side snap a four-game losing streak against the Magpies.

Bailey Smith and Jack Macrae were outstanding as the Bulldogs registered a 10.9 (69) to 7.11 (53) triumph in front of 46,051 fans.

Adam Treloar of the Bulldogs celebrates. Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe fought hard in a Collingwood backline that tried to limit the damage from a deluge of Bulldogs forward entries.

But the weight of numbers was too great as the Dogs’ strong midfield generated a 61-41 advantage in inside-50s.

Smith, Macrae and Lachie Hunter racked up more than 100 disposals between them.

Smith also kicked two goals, as did key forward Aaron Naughton and Laitham Vandermeer.

Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy had tormented the Bulldogs in recent seasons but had his influence around the ground blunted by new ruck pairing Stefan Martin and Tim English.

Josh Dunkley of the Bulldogs is tackled by Jamie Elliott of the Magpies. Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Martin, recruited from Brisbane to assist emerging star English, did plenty of the grunt work in the ruck and allowed his younger teammate to push forward to good effect.

Collingwood forced out Treloar during last November’s trade period and the emotional midfielder publicly addressed the saga again during the build-up to his first outing with the Bulldogs, ensuring a keen focus on the round-one grudge match.

Treloar started on a wing and copped boos from the Magpie Army in the opening minutes but showed composure in response with his first touch of the ball.

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Taking possession 80m from goal, he took two bounces and delivered a perfect pass to set up Naughton for the Dogs’ second major in a sizzling start.

They had three unanswered goals on the board inside six minutes and dominated both possession and territory during the opening term, generating a 20-7 advantage in inside-50s and a 12-point lead at quarter-time.

Both sides kicked goals from controversial 50m penalties during the second term and the Dogs created a scoreboard buffer by three-quarter time.

Magpies gun Jordan De Goey spent long periods through the midfield and finished with 0.3 in front of goal on a tough night.

Taylor Adams was solid for Collingwood, while Jamie Elliott and Brody Mihocek kicked two goals each.