Collingwood midfielder Dale Thomas can't see a silver lining to his team's thrilling three-point AFL loss to Geelong.

Suffering their first loss in nine months, the defending champions were pipped by the Cats, who are now the only unbeaten team after eight rounds.

Thomas wasn't interested in suggestions it was a loss the premiers "had to have" and could help them in the long-term.

"I think every game you want to win and on the weekend we were in the position to do that and we didn't," Thomas said on Monday.

"We would have been a lot happier to have won."

The Magpies almost snatched the victory when onballer Scott Pendlebury goaled after a free kick was paid to teammate Cameron Wood in the dying minutes.

But the field umpire declined to pay advantage and disallowed the goal.

The incident took an added significance when Wood failed to make the distance with his resultant set shot.

Thomas believed the ruling was unclear.

"I'm not too sure where the confusion lies," he said.

"I think at the start of the year it was made pretty clear that the decision was in the player's hand so if you then took the advantage the end result is what would stand.

"I think there's a little but of grey area at the minute."

Thomas said his team were prepared for Geelong's improved defence but didn't handle it as well as they should.

"We knew that that side of their game, their high pressure had been up right since the start of the season and we knew it would be a big feature of their play on Friday night.

"To their credit they were able to nullify our forward attacks and come away with a win."

The Magpies hope to have injured skipper Nick Maxwell back in the line-up for their clash with Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Ruckman Darren Jolly, and midfielders Ben Johnson and Dayne Beams are also strong possibilities to play.

Beams impressed for Collingwood's VFL side on the weekend.

Defender Alan Toovey is expected to remain in hospital for the next few days as he recovers from a bruised lung.

Thomas defended the form of fellow midfielder Alan Didak, who has only managed seven goals for the season.

"I think what Alan's been doing in a defensive role has probably been a bit different from in the past.

"The role he's been playing within the team has probably been overlooked by the outside football world so we know that he's going along nicely internally.

"I suppose from your perspective he hasn't been kicking a freakish goal which is probably building a little bit of pressure."

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