COLLINGWOOD'S investment in youth has continued to reap dividends, with emerging midfielder Tim Broomhead crowned the round 11 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.

Broomhead received the gong for helping the Magpies run away with a 42-point triumph against an injury-hit Greater Western Sydney at the MCG on Sunday.

The 21-year-old gathered 25 touches – 13 contested – with four inside 50s, three tackles and a goal in one of the most complete performances of his 16-game career.

"The last few weeks I've been a little quieter than I would like. Playing a four-quarter game and trying to consolidate my spot in the team was the main thing for me," Broomhead told AFL.com.au.

"Hopefully I can build on that in the second half of the season."

Injuries and illness have curtailed Broomhead's impact since he was part of a trio of South Australians recruited by Collingwood with consecutive picks in the 2012 draft. Brodie Grundy (pick 18) and Ben Kennedy (pick 19) made their debuts the next season, but Broomhead (pick 20) was frustrated by a nasty bout of glandular fever.

"That put a bit of a dent in my first season, then last year I got injured in the first NAB Cup game when I broke my wrist," he said.

"I've had a couple of little hiccups along the way but now it's good to play a few games in a row and get my confidence up and self-belief.

"I think if I play to the best of my ability there's a spot available for me. It just comes back to my work-rate and working equally hard both ways.

"Hopefully I can stay fit and keep improving. I feel like I've got a lot of improvement to do."

Broomhead, who is averaging 14 touches and three tackles a game this year, is the seventh Magpie to be nominated for the Rising Star award since 2010.

He has another year to run on his contract, enjoys living in Melbourne and is part of a bright future at the Pies, who have shown plenty of upside in an 8-3 start to the season.

But despite the win over GWS in the battle for fourth spot, doubts remain over Collingwood's finals credentials and Broomhead said his teammates were looking forward to testing themselves after this weekend's bye.

The Magpies - who also started last season 8-3 before crumbling under a weight of injuries and missing finals – should get an indication of their top-eight hopes when they face Fremantle, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and West Coast.

"We've had a good start to the season but obviously we'll take it week by week," Broomhead said.

"The next few games it will be good for us to play against the best teams to see where we're at.

"Hopefully we can finish the second half of the season better than we did last year."

Tim Broomhead's junior club: Port District in the Metro West Junior Football League