Despite missing defenders Nick Maxwell and Heath Shaw through suspension, the Magpies’ backline limited the Lions to just one goal for the second half.
The likes of Simon Prestigiacomo and Harry O’Brien Brown shut power forwards Daniel Bradshaw and Jonathan Brown out of the game.
Paul Medhurst (four goals) provided the perfect foil for Anthony Rocca, who was rusty in his first game since round 13 last year. Leon Davis also chipped in with three timely goals when his team needed them most.
Midfielder Scott Pendlebury (35 disposals) and defender Shannon Cox (27) provided the impetus for Collingwood’s run, which gathered pace as the game went on.
Tarkyn Lockyer (29 disposals) was inspirational in the final quarter while Shane O’Bree (21) was magnificent in his 200th game and debutant Jaxson Barham had a game to remember, finishing with 28 quality touches.
The Lions got the jump, booting six goals to two in the first quarter including two each to Jonathan Brown and Troy Selwood.
Collingwood matched the Lions for inside 50s but the Lions took their chances with crumbing goals to Mitch Clark, Selwood and Tim Notting giving them the edge.
In contrast, the Pies paid for a series of costly turnovers and found it hard to find marking targets, with Dale Thomas well held by Josh Drummond and Rocca struggling to get his hands on the ball against Daniel Merrett.
First term goals to Davis and John Anthony provided Collingwood’s only early joy.
Rocca (nine disposals) had one trademark bomb from outside 50 in the first quarter which drifted wide, but failed to take a mark for the quarter.
His only grab for the first half was a magnificent hanger over the back of Joel Patfull, but the Lions clinically rebounded his kick out of defence.
Pendlebury drove the Collingwood centre clearances, picking up 17 disposals in the first half.
He was ably supported by O’Bree, while Barham looked right at home in elite company.
His superb diving tackle on Luke Power early in the second term earned his side a free kick and renewed impetus as the Lions threatened to run away with the game.
The Lions led by 22 points late in the second quarter, but goals to Dane Swan and Travis Cloke saw the Magpies draw to within 10 at half time.
The Lions big names, including Daniel Bradshaw, Jonathan Brown and Travis Johnstone, went quiet after half time as the Magpies started winning the clearances.
With Pendlebury and Lockyer driving the ball forward and Alan Didak starting to get some touches (seven disposals in the third quarter), Medhurst sparked the revival after the long break.
His two goals in two minutes gave Collingwood the lead for the first time in the game.
Suddenly, the Magpies were harder at the ball and running with purpose while the Lions looked leg weary.
Medhurst was taken from the ground after a heavy collision soon after his cameo and the Lions made the most of his absence, with a great mark and goal to Michael Rischitelli restoring their lead.
They took a narrow four point advantage into the final change but Medhurst produced a freakish snap from forty metres to put the Pies in front early in the last quarter.
With Lions ruckman Jamie Charman off with an ankle injury, Josh Fraser (23 disposals) started running into space.
Lockyer set up Davis to give the Magpies a six-point lead and bagged one of his own, running into space and slotting the goal from 40 metres to give Collingwood a 13-point buffer.
When Davis bagged his third goal with 19 minutes gone, the Magpies’ lead was out to 19 and the game was all but over.
Collingwood (2-2) takes on Essendon in the traditional Anzac Day clash next weekend while the Lions face a daunting challenge against Geelong at Skilled Stadium.
Brisbane Lions 6.2 9.4 10.8 10.13 (73)
Collingwood 2.4 7.6 9.10 13.12 (90)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Brown 2, Dalziell 2, Selwood 2, Adcock, Clark, Notting, Rischitelli
Collingwood: Medhurst 4, Davis 3, Lockyer 2, Anthony, Cloke, Swan, Thomas
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Adcock, Dalziell, Power, Rich, Rischitelli, Clark
Collingwood: Medhurst, Pendlebury, Barham, Davis, O’Brien, Cox
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Charman (ankle)
Collingwood: TBC
Reports: nil
Umpires: Brett Rosebury, Scott McLaren, Stefan Grun
Crowd: 34,912 at the Gabba.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL.
