Collingwood premiership player Brent Macaffer has limped off with a knee injury in his side’s seven-point win over the Western Bulldogs in the second match of Saturday night’s AFL pre-season triple-header in Blacktown.

Macaffer was helped from the ground in the first half, assisted to the rooms and subbed off soon after in Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley’s AFL coaching debut.

The Magpies, minus a handful of stars, did enough to record a 0.4.2 (26) to 0.3.1 (19) win in their first competitive hit-out since losing the 2011 grand final

Collingwood looked the better side for much of a game that had many of the hallmarks of a pre-season encounter – often scrappy play and only the occasional burst of brilliance.

However the Bulldogs were never far off their pace and Daniel Giansiracusa’s goal late in the second half reduced the margin to just one point.

Collingwood rookie Marley Williams replied with the second of his two goals to ice the game in front of a crowd of 7086.

Last year’s Brownlow medalist Dane Swan started slowly but looked closer to his trademark hard-running game in the second half, when he kicked a crucial goal.

Dogs ball magnet Matthew Boyd kicked the opening goal of the game from a tight angle, and finished with a game-high 20 disposals to complement his tally of 17 possessions in the first game of the night.

The Dogs held on for a five-point win over Greater Western Sydney in the earlier match, with a second-half super goal from ex-Bulldog Callan Ward ensuring a dramatic finish.

Phil Davis had a late chance to tie the game in a goalsquare scramble, but his handball failed to find Curtly Hampton and the ball tumbled over for a behind.

Israel Folau was subbed off in the seventh minute of the second half, his tally for the game a modest three handballs and two freekicks against.

Experienced Bulldogs defender Ryan Hargrave, restricted to just five games in 2011 due to a foot injury, played in both matches and looked back to his best.