Collingwood have taken another step towards proving Opening Round was an aberration with a hard-fought 10.16 (76) to 10.9 (69) win over the Bulldogs at the MCG.

The Pies were held scoreless for much of the first quarter on Friday night but bounced back to set up a tense contest that was only settled with minutes remaining, at which point a lopsided free-kick count came under scrutiny.

A suspected ACL injury for defender Reef McInnes in the opening stages made things difficult for Collingwood and Sam Darcy became dominant for the Bulldogs with four goals.

But the Magpies, all but written off as a contender after losing by 52 points to GWS in their season opener, halted the Dogs’ delivery and eventually capitalised to kick a winning score.

Steele Sidebottom stepped up in the last quarter with 12 disposals and the match-sealing goal in front of 78,027 fans — including a strong Collingwood cohort despite it being a Bulldogs home game.

“It was nice to get the sealer because I might have cost us one in the middle of the ground,” Sidebottom told Channel 7, referencing a late miskick intercepted by the Dogs.

“What a slog really. A bit of grit there. It wasn’t our way all night. I think goods teams find a way and we were able to do that.”

Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury celebrated the win in their 308th game together as teammates — a new VFL/AFL record.

“I’ll sleep well knowing Sidey kicked the sealer,” Pendlebury joked.

Jordan De Goey had a “rusty” 15 disposals and three behinds in his first game of the season.

His last score put Collingwood ahead for good and came after appearing to get away with a push in the back on Buku Khamis.

The Pies finished with a free-kick advantage that did not go unnoticed by fans and commentators alike.

“In an era of opinion television and opinion radio, everything gets dissected, a 33-14 free kick line will be discussed long beyond tonight,” James Brayshaw said.

“I can’t remember a 19 free-kick discrepancy in a game of footy ... I’ve just been sitting here, imagine if that was the other way, if that was against Collingwood and they went on to lose the game. The Ponsford Stand might’ve been razed to the ground!”

Alister Nicholson said: “I think there were a couple there Bulldogs fans can rightly feel a bit aggrieved about.”

A deliberate out of bounds call against Bailey Dale, who ran the ball over the line after it bounced into his chest, in the fourth quarter proved controversial.

“There’s no reason why that would be deliberate,” Dale Thomas said.

Matthew Richardson said: “That free kick count, it’s going to come up on talkback radio.”

Collingwood’s Dan McStay turned the ball over immediately with his kick inside 50 coincidentally marked by Dale.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge somewhat begrudgingly addressed the free-kick count in his post-match press conference, biting his tongue to save himself from a possible fine.

“It’s not a safe space for any senior coach to be talking about adjudication in the game,” he said.

“I was frustrated with some of the blatant ones we gave away and in the end I just treat it as swings and roundabouts. I knew about the differential at the end of the game but we’ve got to move on.”

The Dogs had started the game with five of the first six free kicks.

“You can read between the lines, he’s not safe to make comment because he will be fined,” Thomas said.

“No doubt they’ll ask the question of the AFL because as a general observer like we were tonight there were no doubt times we thought the umpires got it incorrect — a non-whistle in favour of Collingwood and then whistles.”

Richardson noted “there’s no rule that free kicks have to be even but that was a big differential” but said he took issue with several calls and non-calls.

“I thought there were a few obvious ones,” he said.

“I thought Collingwood got the rub tonight but as Luke said it is swings and roundabouts. It might be the other way round next week.”

The Bulldogs (1-1) face Carlton next Friday while Collingwood (2-1) have the bye.