Great expectations

COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley says his side’s slick showing against Brisbane is closer to the mark as they continue to raise the expectations at the club this year.

The Magpies sent Brisbane crashing back to ground with a 62-point win at the Gabba on Thursday, built on record seven and eight-goal efforts in the first and third terms.

The 18.15 (123) to 8.13 (61) Easter Thursday domination hushed the first sellout AFL crowd at the ground since 2010 and ensured former Lion Dayne Beams’ return was a happy one.

Narrow losers in last year’s grand final, the Magpies snuck home against the Western Bulldogs last week, while their classy defeat of Richmond was sandwiched between disappointing losses to Geelong and West Coast, who Brisbane beat in the first round.

It was their best first quarter against the Lions and the third term was the highest-scoring of any AFL team at the Gabba.

“Ball use was a little slicker and I think we’ve been building on that,” Buckley said.

“Expectation is something we’re dealing with, not just external expectation but ourselves.

“We had a grinding win against the Bulldogs last week but there wasn’t much elation because it’s like we’re expecting more.

“It’s coming along, our offence took another step up again today.”

Buckley wants potency and pressure up front with flexibility in the midfield to suffocate or stride out depending on the situation. He saw plenty of that on Thursday when Adam Treloar stifled Brisbane ball magnet Lachie Neale and the side managed 12 shots at goal from 16 inside 50s in the first quarter.

Treloar went on to notch a game-high 36 disposals and single-handedly terrorise Brisbane’s defence.