Collingwood has survived a fast start from the Brisbane Lions to finish with a 14.20 (104) to 11.7 (73) win at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

The Lions performed well and played typically like a team with nothing to lose, with Dayne Beams leading the midfield charge with 33 touches, Alex Witherden picking up 30 and Eric Hipwood booting three goals.

They even led for the majority of the first half after getting the early jump and dominating the first quarter with 22 to six inside 50s, thanks to the experienced leadership of Luke Hodge.

Coach Chris Fagan was proud of the in-roads his team has made across the season with their ladder position not necessarily a reflection of their ability.

"We're better than a four-win team, I think everyone knows that," Fagan said.

"We're a much more competitive team [than last year]. I know we've improved a lot and the players know they've improved a lot, we haven't necessarily got the wins to show for it, but we're confident we're heading in the right direction."

But, the first-quarter loss of Darcy Gardiner to a dislocated shoulder forced a reshuffle of the Lions' defence and Nick Robertson struggled to contain De Goey, who took a team-high four marks inside 50. 

They will also be pleased with the form of Levi Greenwood, who claimed another scalp from a fiery tagging job against in-form Lions captain Dayne Zorko.

Zorko had just two touches in the first quarter despite the Lions' early dominance where they locked the ball inside their forward 50 and forced the Pies into a number of horrendous back-half turnovers.

He didn't improve much after that, finishing with just 14 for the game, although he was treated for a sore ankle a few times after the main break. 

The Magpies as a collective were marginally better with their ball use in the second term, and it allowed De Goey a cleaner look at forward entries and saw Brody Mihocek boot two of his three goals.

After claiming the lead for the first time minutes before half-time, the Pies were only headed once again as they motored to 28-point lead at the final change. 

COLLINGWOOD  1.3   5.7  11.14  14.20 (104)
BRISBANE          3.4   5.4    8.4    11.7 (73)  

GOALS
Collingwood: De Goey 4, Mihocek 3, Stephenson 2, Mayne 2, Varcoe, Sier, Thomas
Brisbane Lions: Hipwood 3, McStay 2, Robinson 2, Taylor 2, Cutler, Beams 

BEST 
Collingwood: De Goey, Adams, Grundy, Sidebottom, Sier, Pendlebury
Brisbane Lions: Beams, Hodge, Berry, Witherden, Hipwood, Martin 

INJURIES 
Collingwood: TBC
Brisbane Lions: Gardiner (dislocated right shoulder) 

Reports:  Nil

Umpires: Rosebury, Williamson, Glouftsis

Official crowd: 33,390 at Etihad Stadium