For someone who has spent 11 years in the AFL system playing more than 200 games for three different clubs, Leigh Brown still has plenty of detractors.

But most importantly, Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse isn't among them.

And not for the first time since crossing from North Melbourne, the 28-year-old Brown repaid his coach's faith with a fine all-round game including three goals as the Magpies smashed St Kilda by 48 points at the MCG on Saturday.

With proven goalkickers Josh Fraser, Paul Medhurst and the injury-cursed Sean Rusling all putting their hands up for senior recalls by playing their part in a big win by the Magpies' VFL side earlier in the day, Brown could not have picked a better time to stand up as a forward in a big game.

That he can also pinch-hit in the ruck or in defence is another bonus.

"Leigh has been very good for us," said Malthouse.

"He knows how to play the role we want him to play and I just think he's probably realised over an extended period of his career that he needs to stand up on a consistent basis, more so than perhaps he has done in the past.

"He's had a few highs and lows in his career, which sometimes when you're a player like Leigh when someone else comes into the side it leaves him as a secondary.

"He knows that to play he can't afford to do that.

"I'm very pleased for Leigh, because he's a decent bloke and one of the first things we try to do is find out whether he is a decent bloke which we assured of and backed by (former North Melbourne CEO and current Collingwood chief of football) Geoff Walsh.

"We've got ourselves a very versatile player who's quite willing."

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