While key forward Ben Reid made a successful return at Marvel Stadium in the 13.4 (82) to 10.13 (73) win, Buckley feels no closer to working out life without Jaidyn Stephenson.

Sunday's win followed a tumultuous week for the Magpies, who lost Stephenson to a 10-game gambling suspension.

Collingwood opted for Reid to replace Stephenson, meaning they took a taller forward line into Sunday's grinding win.

While pleased with Reid's game, Buckley was far from impressed with his team overall and said it was the worst they had played for a long time.

"It's pretty hard to judge what mix, tall or small in the forward line in particular, worked off the back of that because we just didn't have enough footy played the way that we want to play it," Buckley said.

"(Reid) has earned his opportunity to come in and we were happy to accommodate that and believe that we were still able to maintain our balance.

"But we didn't get a good enough look at the type of footy that we want to play to judge that balance."

The good news for Collingwood is that they won and they are now a game clear in second spot on the ladder, also a game behind top side Geelong.

The Cats' upset 11-point loss to Port Adelaide on Saturday night continued their remarkable run of outs.

Geelong have lost every game after their mid-season bye since 2012.

Former Geelong great Jimmy Bartel said the bigger concern is what they might mean for the finals.

Assuming no late-season disaster, Geelong have another bye weekend ahead of the finals.

The Cats would also have another week off if they win a qualifying final.

Since winning the 2011 premiership, Geelong are 3-9 in finals.

"That's more the concern - they've finished top four a couple of years ... I don't think they've managed that really, well," Bartel told Channel Seven's Game Day.

Brisbane's barnstorming 64-point win over St Kilda means on Saturday more pressure on Saints coach Alan Richardson.

Saints football boss Simon Lethlean made it clear on Sunday that they must start beating teams above them on the ladder and keep improving for Richardson to keep his job.

Melbourne upset Fremantle by 14 points as star Dockers recruit Jesse Hogan suffered another foot injury and Stephen Hill hurt a hamstring.

Lance Franklin's 300-game milestone will be delayed after he suffered a hamstring injury in their Friday night win over Hawthorn.

It was a great weekend for West Coast - they easily beat Essendon on Thursday night and then star ruckman Nic Naitanui made a successful return from his knee reconstruction on Saturday in the WAFL.

On Sunday, the Eagles announced Naitanui had signed a new three-year deal.

Australian Associated Press