An eight goal third-term bonanza from Collingwood saw it coast to a 62-point win over a disappointing Brisbane.
Led by four goals from Brodie Mihocek, the Magpies outplayed the Lions in nearly every facet of the game in the 18.15 (123) to 8.13 (61) victory at the Gabba on Easter Thursday.
For the first three weeks of the season Brisbane was the toast of the AFL, an exciting side on the rise.
Unfortunately, the Lions have crashed back to earth after a 47-point loss to Essendon in round four and Thursday night's performance against a much more experienced Collingwood line-up.
The Magpies burst out of the blocks on a dewy night, piling on seven goals to record the highest first quarter score (47 points) of any team this year.
Pie-turned-Lions skipper-turned-Pie-again Dayne Beams started on the bench and was greeted with a chorus of boos from the boisterous sold-out Gabba crowd of 34,017 when he eventually took his spot in the centre square.
Beams was busy without starring, an industrious 26 disposals, seven clearances and a goal was his return against his former side.
The Lions struggled to clear the ball from their defensive half in the first term, with the Pies’ strong rebounders Tom Langdon, Tom Phillips and Jack Crisp influential, while Adam Treloar commanded the middle.
Treloar (36 touches, eight marks, five inside-50s) set the tone for the match, providing strong overlap run, creating space for his teammates and forcing his forwards to lead to space with well-placed kicks.
Brisbane, spurred by young stars Jarrod Berry, Alex Witherden (both 24 disposals) and Hugh McCluggage (two goals), managed to stem the flow somewhat in the second term.
After just one tackle in the first quarter, Cam Rayner sprang to life, booting a 55-metre goal while being run down, the ball comfortably clearing the goal-line.
The goal was a result of one of the few times in the first half Brisbane managed to get its run-and-carry game going. The team comfortably took the ball down the ground with several Pies players trailing in its wake after Oscar McInerney intercepted a shot on goal with a high-flying mark.
The explosive, match-turning third quarter saw emerging superstar Jordan De Goey start in the centre square, lining up against the dangerous Dayne Zorko. Two team clearances and two goals in 40 seconds – from Callum Brown and Mihocek – directly followed.
Two Lions goals – including a pearler from Rayner on the boundary – broke up the Magpies' third-term run, but it wasn't for long, as the absence of Harris Andrews (forced to the bench with a hamstring injury) left a gaping hole in Brisbane's defence.
The Pies kicked five consecutive goals to finish the quarter, with cheers drowning out the jeers of Beams as he slotted a shot from 50 metres.
Darcy Moore, aided by poor Brisbane disposal inside 50, nullified Eric Hipwood in a match-up sure to be repeated in years to come, while Brodie Grundy dominated the hitouts against Stefan Martin, 36 to 18.
MEDICAL ROOM
Brisbane: A dirty night for Brisbane was made worse by a left hamstring injury to vice-captain Harris Andrews. The full-back left the ground in the third term and didn't return. To make matters worse, livewire Rhys Mathieson also injured his left hamstring in the last quarter.
Collingwood: James Aish was ruled out of the second half with concussion after coming off second-best when Lincoln McCarthy attempted a speckie. Aish copped a knee to the back of the head and then another when McCarthy landed. Mihocek also finished with a cork to the outside of his right knee.
NEXT UP
Brisbane has some time to lick its wounds, with a 10-day break before the annual Q-Clash with Gold Coast on Saturday at Metricon Stadium. Collingwood has a seven-day break before the traditional ANZAC Day match against Essendon on Thursday at the MCG.
BRISBANE 3.2 5.6 7.9 8.13 (61)
COLLINGWOOD 7.5 8.9 16.12 18.15 (123)
GOALS
Brisbane: McCluggage 2, Rayner 2, Hipwood, Christensen, Berry, Martin
Collingwood: Mihocek 4, de Goey 3, Cox 2, Stephenson 2, Elliott 2, Thomas 2, Brown 2, Beams
BEST
Brisbane: Rich, McCluggage, Berry, Zorko
Collingwood: Treloar, Mihocek, Grundy, Stephenson, Crisp, Beams, Phillips
INJURIES
Brisbane: Andrews (hamstring), Mathieson (leg)
Collingwood: Aish (concussion)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Williamson, Fleer
Official crowd: 34,017 at the Gabba
