Western Bulldogs key position player Ryan Gardiner did not play any game time in the first half in an eyebrow-raising move in the inaugural Wildcard Round clash.
It took until midway through the third quarter for him to come onto the ground, going into a centre stoppage and winning the hitout. He then took an intercept mark and 50-metre penalty soon thereafter.
Gardner was surprisingly retained for Wildcard Round, with widespread expectation he would be omitted with Tim English returning from a knee injury.
But with English on return and believed to be below 100 per cent and Aaron Naughton also being under an injury cloud coming into the game, Gardiner was seemingly retained in case injury struck.
Naughton has moved with great freedom, flying for balls inside 50 and winning some big contests against Collingwood's Billy Frampton, a major factor in Western Bulldogs' halftime lead.
English, while beaten in the first half in the hitout department by Darcy Cameron, the Dogs have kicked three goals from centre clearances.
Coach Luke Beveridge is known for his left of centre tactics and it has worked so far, with the Dogs leading by 10 points at halftime.
The move gives the Dogs the option of bringing on fresh legs in the second half, but they may end up missing not having an out-and-out running player as players fatigue in the second half.
