The AFL match review panel could give Collingwood an unpleasant postscript to their NAB Cup grand final nightmare.

Ruckman Chris Bryan felled best-afield Geelong midfielder Joel Selwood early in the second term with a late bump and the incident is certain to come under review.

The only saving grace for Bryan is Selwood suffered no ill effects - indeed, soon after the bump the young Cats onballer set about torching the Magpies with an outstanding second term.

In round one of the pre-season, Magpies captain Nick Maxwell received a four-match ban for rough conduct.

The case set off a fierce debate about the future of the bump and Collingwood successfully appealed the tribunal verdict in a landmark verdict.

The Magpies were awful after quarter-time on Friday night at Etihad Stadium, continually turning the ball over on the way to a 76-point mauling.

But assistant coach Brad Scott, who was in charge of the team for the match, said the club was still encouraged by a solid pre-season.

"I don't think it's a reflection of where we're at, we've been absolutely thrilled with the pre-season the boys have put together, we're still extremely happy with it," he said.

"We think we're very well-placed physically going into round one, we deliberately pushed guys pretty hard in this pre-season, so we haven't backed off."

Scott added it had been a tough time around the club in the last few days.

It is well-known that defender Harry O'Brien missed the grand final because his stepfather had died.

"We had a bit of a concern, it's been an incredibly emotional three weeks for the football club - the Collingwood family has had to rally around a lot of our key people who've had tragedies in their lives," Scott said.

"The boys have been put through a pretty emotional time ... we've made a conscious decision to push them through, instead of taper.

"Perhaps that was a reflection tonight, but it's not a reflection on our pre-season.

"Hopefully we've given the supporters great hope, because the three weeks have been fantastic and we're still delighted with where the players are at."

Ruckman Josh Fraser, defender Heath Shaw and perhaps O'Brien could return to the side for round one.

Collingwood might also apply for key forward Anthony Rocca to play next week in the VFL.

He is yet to play this year as he recovers from leg injuries.

Scott also pointed out that his former club, Brisbane, suffered a big loss to Port Adelaide in the 2001 pre-season grand final.

That year, they won the first of three-straight regular season premierships.

"I think back to the previous club I came from, we were absolutely demolished in a pre-season grand final," he said.

"We then went on to have three good years after that.

"So I think it's encouraging."

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