Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has given a frank assessment of his AFL side, saying Thursday night's loss to Geelong at the MCG showed the Magpies are no match for the powerhouse Cats.

In a shocking night for the Magpies, they squandered a 20-point lead at quarter-time to lose by 27 points, had defender Heath Shaw reported for making contact with an umpire and lost utility Ben Johnson to a broken leg.

The Cats steamed away with the game with eight goals to none in the second quarter, as the Magpies wasted their opportunities kicking for goal.

Paul Chapman booted four goals and Steve Johnson three in the Cats' 18.14 (122) to 13.17 (95) win, their third in succession to start the season.

Malthouse said poor conversion hurt, but did not hold back comparing his side's ability with that of the Cats, the dominant side over the past two years.

"Geelong playing at their absolute best and us at our absolute best, they'll beat us because they're better than us and they'll beat 14 other clubs," he said.

"Whether they'll beat (reigning premier) Hawthorn is another thing I suppose ... let's not confuse great sides with (those) wanting to be great sides.

"There's a distinct difference - they're better than us.

"We haven't got (Gary) Ablett, we haven't got (Jimmy) Bartel, we haven't got (Joel) Corey, we've got other players, like young (Dayne) Beams, who are on the rise.

"That means you've got to make them pay when you've got opportunities and we didn't."

Shaw was booked after he reached out and made contact to umpire Michael Vozzo's arm while protesting against a free kick in the second quarter.

Vozzo immediately took Shaw's number and awarded a 50-metre penalty to Geelong, which gifted Chapman a goal.

Although the contact was minor, the AFL takes a dim view of players deliberately touching umpires, notably highlighted by the nine-game suspension imposed on then-Carlton player Greg Williams in 1997, after he pushed an umpire from the side.

Malthouse said he sought an explanation from Shaw, but refused to outline what happened.

Johnson broke the fibula in his right leg and is expected to be sidelined for up to two months.

Geelong tagger Cameron Ling injured his ankle in the win and is in doubt to play Adelaide in round four.

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