A last minute goal from first-year player Jaidyn Stephenson saw Collingwood squeeze a seven-point victory over the winless Brisbane Lions.
Former Magpie Dayne Beams kicked a 50-yard goal against his former club with just over two minutes on the clock to put the scores level, but Chris Mayne kicked a behind before Stephenson ran into an empty goal to ice the contest 19.7 (121) to 18.6 (114).
The visitors overcame an injury to skipper Scott Pendlebury, who left the game in the third quarter after a knock to the ankle with the game still in the balance.
The 21,850 people at the Gabba were treated to a pulsating contest as the visitors repeatedly kicked ahead but the Lions kept pulling themselves back into the game.
The eventual entertainment could not have been predicted at the end of the first quarter which Brisbane Lions lost as they have every opening term this season.
The messy quarter saw neither side impress with classy goals from Jordan de Goey – one of his five – Pendlebury and Jeremy Howe rare bright spots as the Magpies took an eight-point lead.
Next came a 13-goal deluge in the second term shoot-out, even if poor defending was as attributable as daring attack.
The Lions kicked four goals in a row to take the lead for the first time midway through the second stanza when Lewis Taylor snapped home but three at the other end from Josh Thomas and one from Darcy Moore restored a comfortable advantage, before Dayne Zorko, Charlie Cameron and another from Taylor reduced lead to three at the long break.
Taylor’s second came after he comically took an air-swing at a soccer kick inside the square before gathering the ball and kicking home.
Taylor scored two more in the third but Collingwood had the last word with Stephenson marking smartly to give them an eight-point advantage going into the last.
Previously out of form Zorko was granted the luxury of not being tagged, and took full advantage grabbing 34 possessions and kicking four, the last with an impudent 35-yard check-side kick.
Another goal from Daniel McStay and Beams’ major looked like setting the Lions up to break their duck before the Magpies’ late rally.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Worried? Lol. Like I said, Bucks won't be able to resist bringing his ol' favourites back. Wells and Fasolo, hey? Pressure kings! Ha!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I don't know what bet you are blurting on about Truetiger and don't really care either. I reckon you are getting worried about facing a full strength Pies side on the G in September though. Wells and Fasolo probably back this week as we build to top 4-6.
Bretto
Guest
Being called juvenile by you is comedy bordering on farce. And when did the world change the meaning of "guru"?
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Who's being juvenile now, Scribe? Happy to offer you the same bet on Collinwood that HTH took up on Essendon. Watch the Pies fall over again as Bucks brings his ol' favourites back! Greenwood? Lol. The Kangaroos are still laughing about that deal!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Bretto, as i told you last November, we will play finals. I predicted we would finish top 4-6 and stand by that. If we make top 4 we may well make the GF. If we make top 6 we will win at least one final. You however ridiculed the club, said it was ridiculous appointing Bucks again, said Derek Hine and Eddie should go. You know Bretto, the same Derek Hine who found Phillips as a rookie at what 58? The same Hine who gout us De Goey, Crisp and Greenwood for Beams? The same bloke who got us Dunn and Howe. You were disloyal, juvenile and short sighted and you know it.
Bretto
Guest
No. It's 7 rounds in and we are 4-3. I remember a few years back we started 8-3 and the second half went 3-8 and missed the finals. We are travelling better than last year, but that's a pretty low bar to get over. Are you still maintaining we'll finish top 4? Are you suggesting Mayne was a good recruit? We win a final and I'll absolutely admit we have turned the corner and Bucks has built a team with a game plan (ie I'll clearly admit I was wrong). What will it take for you to admit you were wrong? Pies missing finals this year?
DingoGray
Roar Guru
So frustrating as a Lions supporter. I felt at times we dominated this game, but just poor decisions or lack of execution of skills hurt us large. Pretty impressed by "Big Eagles" debut. He well and truly cracked in and had a right old dig. Certainly showed up more experienced defenders in Hodge & Gardiner. Not convinced Allison & McInerney are up to AFL level. Berry going to be a very good player. Probably not his best game tonight, but he's very important part.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
So Bretto you are admitting you were wrong about the Pies last year in all your comments about the so called terrible recruiting and the appointment of Bucks for a further two years?
Kris
Guest
Brisbane were -6 at the 12min mark of the last quarter against St Kilda -6 at the 25 min mark of the last quarter against Melbourne lost by 5 points to Port pantsed by Richmond lost by 5 to the Gold Coast well beaten by GWS led Collingwood at the 28 min mark. That's 5 pretty good performances. Take out the Richmond debacle and they have a percentage of 82%. One of the better 0-7 teams we'll see.
Bretto
Guest
Brisbane have been a tad unlucky this year, and probably aren't a 0-7 team. Really good game to watch, although another 2 years off life expectancy with the tight finish. I suspect Collingwood will have plenty of games this year that will be described by the commentators as "really tell us where they are at". Another "tell us where we are at" game coming up against Geelong. We usually go OK against them - can't wait for Sunday. Surely Mayne has to go. Fas or Wells back in? And Stephenson is just getting better...
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Brisbane are on the same 0-7 as the Blues but have so much more upside. They give their supporters hope for the immediate future which is what the Blues aren’t doing. They are a side to watch next year. As for the Pies, this was the sign of a maturing team. Our defence was shocking with so many 15-20 metre goals from havoc kicks into their forward line and yet we just did enough to scrounge the win. Kudos to the Lions but this one may have been our most important win.