The Brisbane Lions were in the contest all night but just couldn't manage to mark Simon Black's 200th game with a win, going down to Collingwood by 33 points at the Gabba on Saturday night.

Black was in vintage form, gathering 37 touches, finding plenty of time whenever in possession and kicking a goal. But, in front of a crowd of 32,225, the Lions found the travelling Mapgies a shade too strong, with Mick Malthouse's side running out 18.12 (120) to 13.9 (87) winners.

The Lions were within seven points at the final change and pressed hard in the opening minutes of the the last term. Collingwood, however, were clinical with their finishing and, after Jonathan Brown's set shot hit the post, Alan Didak and Ben Johnson goalled at the other end to put the Mapgies 20 points in front.

As they had all night, the Lions fought on and majors from Brown, following a brilliant mark going back with the flight of the ball, and the impressive Mitch Clark, kept them in the hunt.

But the home side was playing catch-up football and the Mapgies had just too a great a start. In their efforts to peg back the deficit, the Lions threw men forward and counter-attacking goals from Travis Cloke, Shane O'Bree and Didak provided the eventual margin.

The pattern of the final term repeated the trend established in the three that came before it, with the Lions having come at the Pies all night, only to find their visitors hard men to get past.

In the second and third quarters it was Clark, who provided the spark that helped the Lions stay in contention. The young forward, who played only six games last year because of osteitis pubis, showed why he is so highly rated at the Gabba with two goals at the start of the third term that brought the Lions briefly back to within a point of the Pies.

Similarly, Clark's strong aerial work and and two second quarter majors helped the Lions go into half-time only seven points in arrears after Collingwood had at one stage stretched its margin to almost three goals with consecutive goals from Scott Pendlebury and Leon Davis.

The most free-flowing football of the night was played in an entertaining first quarter, which ended with a scuffle between the majority of players on the field. The Lions kicked the first two goals of the game, only to see some bad luck in front of goal help Collingwood to take a narrow lead into the first break.

Fittingly in Indigenous Round, Ash McGrath slotted the game's opening goal, turning his man neatly hard-up on the boundary and then splitting the big sticks with a perfectly executed banana kick.

Brown then set up Luke Power for another major but consecutive posters - one from Brown and another from Black - let the Magpies sieze the initiative and kick five of the next six goals.

Mick Malthouse's side went the best part of two straight kicks in front when Scott Burns goalled in the 24th minute, before Brown kicked one goal and brilliantly handed off another to McGrath to cut the deficit to four points at quarter-time.

Aside from milestone man Black, the Lions were well served by Tim Notting, who showed his usual drive and dash and Cheynee Stiller, who always looks a threat when he has the ball in his hand. Ruckman Jamie Charman worked hard to get his midfield mates first use of the football, while the performance of Clark, who finished with a career-high five goals in his first senior game of the season, would have thrilled the Lions' coaching staff.

Brown was closely marked by Simon Prestigiacomo but still had an impact and his superb fourth quarter mark came after he ran all of 40m to get to a contest, then fearlessy dived headlong towards a waiting pack.

The Lions' received a blow pre-match, when co-captain Chris Johnson withdrew with a foot injury. His place in the side was taken by defender Jason Roe.

BRISBANE LIONS 4.4 7.6 11.7 13.9 (87)
COLLINGWOOD 5.2 8.7 12.10 18.12 (120)

Goals: Brisbane: M Clark 5 A McGrath 2 L Power 2 J Brown 2 J Patfull S Black.

Collingwood: L Davis 3 S Burns 2 S Pendlebury 2 J Fraser 2 A Didak 2 T Cloke 2 P Medhurst D Swan B Johnson S O'Bree T Lockyer.

Best: Brisbane: S Black M Clark J Brown J Charman L Power.

Collingwood: B Johnson S Pendlebury S Burns S Prestigiacomo T Lockyer.

Injuries: Brisbane: A McGrath (knee) J Adcock (concussion) C Johnson (foot) replaced in selected side by J Roe.

Collingwood: C Bryan (toe) replaced in selected side by G Richards. Reports: Nil. Umpires: H Kennedy M Nicholls D Woodcock.

Official crowd: 32,225 at the Gabba.