The sub rule has again been questioned as Brisbane scored a seven-point victory, holding off a late Collingwood challenge at the Gabba on Easter Thursday.
Pies ruckman Darcy Cameron was substituted at three quarter time, with John Noble coming on and Darcy Moore being shifted forward as coach Craig McRae spun the magnets with a quarter to play.
Dwayne Russell wondered in commentary whether the threshold on using the injury sub has shifted this season.
“This is going to happen a bit accidentally,” he said on AFL Nation about the sub rule.
“You’re allowed to sub for anything now, obviously you should be able to sub if you feel ill. A lot of these things aren’t long-term injuries and you can sub them out now.”
Lachie Neale was dominant in the second quarter, as he ran riot with 15 touches as part of a 19-disposal first half, on his way to a 33-touch game.
Further up the field for the Lions, Joe Daniher made his presence count with a equal game-high four goals (alongside Collingwood's Jordan De Goey) including a vital final-term major as the Pies challenged.
Darcy Gardiner could be sighted by the MRO after he was reported for a late bump on Josh Daicos in the first quarter, shoving him under the ball after he took a mark inside 50.
Collingwood were impressive early and looked a markedly better side to the one that lost to West Coast last week, taking a healthy 12-point lead into quarter time.
But the Lions struck back in the second quarter, piling on the pressure and kicking five straight goals to take a 13-point lead into the main break.
Teeanger Reef McInnes was Collingwood’s most likely avenue to goal alongside Nathan Kreuger throughout the evening, booting his first two goals of his career in a eye-catching performance.
The Gabba crowd of over 32,000 was buzzing as the traditional Easter Thursday blockbuster returned to Queensland for the first time since 2019.
It was a special night for both Jeremy Howe and Lachie Neale as well, who both played their 200th game on the same evening in front of a pulsating crowd in Brisbane.
Both sides have big games coming up in Round 6, as the Pies take on Essendon in the marquee home and away game of the season on ANZAC Day.
The Lions square off against Gold Coast in the Q-Clash on Sunday week.
FULL SCORE
Brisbane: 3.2, 9.4, 12.5, 15.8 (98)
Collingwood: 5.2, 7.3, 9.5, 14.7 (91)
GOALS
Brisbane: Daniher 4, Bailey 3, McStay, Neale, Adams, Ah Chee, Cameron, Fort, Lyons, Rayner
Collingwood: De Goey 4, Kreuger 2, McInnes 2, Moore 2, Cameron, J.Daicos, Hoskin-Elliott, Wilson
BEST
Brisbane: Daniher, Bailey, Zorko, Neale, Rich
Collingwood: De Goey, Kreuger, Crisp, N.Daicos, Pendlebury
INJURIES
Brisbane: n/a
Collingwood: Darcy Cameron, replaced by John Noble.
Crowd: 32,312 at the Gabba