INCREASED intensity, according to Andrew Krakouer, was part of the reason behind Collingwood's surprise win over the previously unbeaten Geelong last week, and so was the performance of the Pies' crop of youngsters.

Before the game against the Cats, Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley took the time to speak directly to the less experienced players in his 22. 

In the team were eight players with fewer than 50 games experience. Geelong had 10 in the same category. 

While pundits had marvelled over the Cats' youngsters, the glow surrounding Collingwood's kids had, for whatever reason, dulled. 

Buckley reinforced a point he often makes to the youngsters on the club's list. 

If they were to have a long career, they would come up multiple times against the same talented opponents. 

The game against Geelong, said Buckley, was an opportunity for the Magpies' young group to set the tone for the next 10 years. 

"It's the premise of every discussion we have with our young players," Buckley said. "Do your work early, start on the right foot and then keep your foot on the throat."

With several outs  - including the injured Dayne Beams and Dale Thomas and the suspended Heath Shaw - Buckley knew the result rested on the performance of the less experienced group of eight.  

When he replaced ruckman Jarrod Witts [playing his second game] with Ben Kennedy [third] at three-quarter time to inject some run into a team that looked to be flagging and trailed by 13 points, it came down to the remaining seven. 

In the last quarter, Sam Dwyer – at 26, hardly a youngster but with just eight games experience an AFL novice – had 13 disposals and kicked a goal. 

Paul Seedsman [17th game] had nine disposals creating run out defence while Kennedy picked up five important touches. 

Jamie Elliott kicked an important goal too. 

The seven picked up 33 of the team's 59 disposals compared to Geelong's less experienced nine [Billie Smedts had been subbed off due to injury] who managed 23 of the Cats 42 between them. 

Collingwood's youngsters elevated their performance rather than Geelong's group dropping off dramatically. 

One passage of play in the last quarter summed up to Buckley the important role the youngsters played in the win. 

"Sam Dwyer hung on to the ball, turned around and gave it to Paul Seedsman. Paul Seedsman takes a couple of bounces and kicks it over the top to Jamie Elliott, so you're talking about players who have played eight games, 12 games and 22 games [before that match] all impacting in the last quarter when the game was on the line against a side that were undefeated. That was a really positive sign for Collingwood, positive sign for our future and positive sign for our present," Buckley said.

Collingwood is looking for such positive signs because the emergence of such youngsters is becoming critical to a real premiership tilt. 

Buckley knows the absence of Thomas and Beams hurts but he also understands the duo's return is not the difference between Collingwood challenging the best teams and being a touch off the pace. 

As he said on Tuesday, their presence wasn't the difference last year when Collingwood lost the preliminary final. 

"We just didn't play good enough team football towards the end," Buckley said. 

Beams emerged in the absence of Ball. Seedsman may rise because Thomas is gone. Good teams have players capable of taking opportunities.  It's the challenge confronting Collingwood. 

"Whilst players aren't there you find out about others and that is a good thing for us," Buckley said. 

17 GWS, Gold Coast

13 Melb

12 Bulldogs

10 Geelong, St K, Adel, Port Adel

8 Coll, Haw, Carl, Bris

7 Ess, Frem

6 Rich, North Melb

3 Syd, WCE