Jordan De Goey's rise to prominence has been emphasised by the bullocking Magpie's four-goal game against Brisbane on Saturday night.

De Goey, playing mainly in the forward line after missing the last two weeks with a leg injury, was the Pies' most dangerous forward in their 31-point win over the Lions after overcoming a scratchy start.

He finished the game on the bench when the result was beyond doubt, with the Pies choosing to limit his game time.

The 14.20 (104) to 11.7 (73) win at Etihad Stadium keeps the Pies' top four ambitions alive, and although they'll remain in the bottom half of the eight at the end of this round, they'll be locked on 52 points at least with the fourth-placed Hawthorn with two games left.

The Lions weren't disgraced and played typically like a team with nothing to lose, with Dayne Beams leading the midfield charge with 33 touches, Alex Witherden picking up 30 and Eric Hipwood booting three goals.

They even led for the majority of the first half after getting the early jump and dominating the first quarter with 22 to six inside 50s, thanks to the experienced leadership of Luke Hodge.

But, the first-quarter loss of Darcy Gardiner to a dislocated shoulder fourced a reshuffle of the Lions' defence and Nick Robertson struggled to contain De Goey, who took a team-high four marks inside 50.

De Goey's successful return will be welcome news for the battered Pies.



Brody Mihocek, Jordan De Goey, Will Hoskin-Elliott and Travis Varcoe celebrate a goal during Collingwood's win.

Earlier on Saturday, they lost swingman Ben Reid to a calf injury in his VFL return following surgery on both knees early last month.

However, they appear to have emerged from the win over the Lions unscathed and are set to welcome back defender Jeremy Howe for next week's clash with Port Adelaide.

They will also be pleased with the form of Levi Greenwood, who claimed another scalp from a fiery tagging job against in-form Lions captain Dayne Zorko.

Zorko had just two touches in the first quarter despite the Lions' early dominance where they locked the ball inside their forward 50 and forced the Pies into a number of horrendous back-half turnovers.

He didn't improve much after that, finishing with just 14 for the game, although he was treated for a sore ankle a few times after the main break.

The Magpies as a collective were marginally better with their ball use in the second term, and it allowed De Goey a cleaner look at forward entries and saw Brody Mihocek boot two of his three goals.

After claiming the lead for the first time minutes before half time, the Pies were only headed once again as they motored to 28-point lead at the final change.

Things got messy for the young Lions after that with Taylor Adams finishing with 33 disposals and Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury 28 each, with the Pies recording a much-needed win following losses to Richmond and Sydney in the last fortnight.

COLLINGWOOD  1.3   5.7  11.14  14.20 (104)
BRISBANE          3.4   5.4    8.4    11.7 (73)

Goals – Collingwood: De Goey 4, Mihocek 3, Stephenson 2, Mayne 2, Varcoe, Sier, Thomas
Brisbane Lions: Hipwood 3, McStay 2, Robinson 2, Taylor 2, Cutler, Beams

Best – Collingwood: De Goey, Adams, Grundy, Sidebottom, Sier, Pendlebury
Brisbane Lions: Beams, Hodge, Berry, Witherden, Hipwood, Martin

Injuries – Collingwood: Nil
Brisbane Lions: Gardiner (dislocated right shoulder)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Rosebury, Williamson, Glouftsis

Crowd: 33,390 at Etihad Stadium