Swan was part of a dominant Magpies midfield that ran rings around the lumbering Tigers at the MCG on Friday night. 

The Magpies champion had a season-high 27 touches, while Dayne Beams chimed in with 30 of his own. Scott Pendlebury chalked up 27 possessions, while Steele Sidebottom and Luke Ball each had 22.

The five also kicked 10 goals between them, showing an ability to run forward hard into space, something Buckley said was missing from his midfield group in the first three rounds.

"We scored from them (midfielders)," Buckley said after the match.

"We haven't been running through the front half of the field as much, through the first three rounds."

Swan's start to the year was uncharacteristically quiet, leading some to question whether he was battling what appeared to be a groin complaint. 

The Magpies coach has emphatically denied those claims, and insisted Swan would lift his output during the week. 

"Swanny's effort, compared to his first three weeks was better," Buckley said.

"We spoke during the week about some KPIs when the ball's not in his hands, and he met them tonight. That was the most impressive thing about his performance."

While Collingwood's midfield flourished, key forward Travis Cloke struggled to impose himself in his 200-game milestone.

The spearhead was goalless, took just three marks, and was blanketed by Tigers backman David Astbury.

But Buckley believes Cloke has been hard done by in the way umpires are interpreting marking contests he is involved in.

"I do believe there are a couple of sets of rules out there at the moment," Buckley said.

"He's getting umpired to one set and everyone else to another.

"But he has to fight through that – I thought he stuck to his task."

Asked whether Cloke deserved more free kicks, Buckley replied: "There were a few. (But) I'm sure if you asked ‘Dimma’ (Damien Hardwick), there would be a few he would say should go the other way."

With Cloke well held, fellow Magpies forward Jesse White picked up the slack.

White kicked three goals and took seven marks in his best performance in the black and white to date.

"We identified through the (pre-season) that with Ben (Reid) and Travis (Cloke), that Jesse was a very good third-tall foil for our forward line," Buckley said.

"He's very mobile, he crumbs well, he leads up well, he can take a mark on the lead, clearly can take a contested mark. 

 

"Having that structure suited him better ... it worked for us this evening."

The Magpies allowed seven Tiger goals in the final term, leading Buckley to keep his players behind closed doors for 15 minutes following the post-game celebrations.

"It's important to have those conversations when the iron is hot, so to speak," Buckley said.

"We discussed where we want to go, what we want to be as a football team, what we're trying to build and the fact that takes four-quarter efforts week after week after week."

"We dropped off in that last quarter and we can't accept that."

Buckley also said Nathan Brown, who avoided shoulder surgery at the start of the month, was a chance to return for the club's game against North Melbourne next Saturday.