Collingwood maintained pressure on the AFL top four with a dramatic 25-point win over Sydney at the MCG.

Magpies key forward Anthony Rocca and Sydney utility Amon Buchanan face suspension, while several players were injured in the Magpies' 15.11 (101) to 11.10 (76) win.

Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley made a successful comeback after missing the entire season so far with hamstring injuries.

The crowd of 63,842 meant Collingwood also set a single-season record for the highest attendance by a club.

Swans star Adam Goodes was best afield with 33 possessions, while Collingwood's Sean Rusling and Sydney's Barry Hall kicked four goals apiece.

Sydney forward Michael O'Loughlin looked the most serious of the injuries - blood flowed from his mouth after he took a strong mark in the third term and landed heavily on his back.

Collingwood players Rusling (ankle), Dale Thomas (shoulder) and Nick Maxwell (leg) and Sydney defender Luke Brennan (hamstring) were also hurt.

Collingwood set up the win in an incident-packed third term, when they kicked three goals to one for a lead of 28 points at the last change.

Midway through the quarter, Goodes went for a mark and Rocca tried to spoil from behind, collecting him in the face.

Collingwood can ill-afford to lose Rocca a week out from the finals and will nervously await Monday's match review panel.

They lost defender Ben Johnson this week for six weeks, ending his season.

Buchanan is also in big trouble after he cannoned into 'Pies defender Martin Clarke early in the last term.

Clarke had just kicked the ball when an airborne Buchanan hit him from the front.

Two trainers had to help Clarke from the field, but he was able to return to the action.

Another eyebrow-raiser was the free-kick count - 29-13 in Collingwood's favour.

Sydney now cannot make the top four, but sixth-placed Collingwood remain in the hunt for fourth spot ahead of next Friday's home game against Adelaide.

It was the first time Collingwood had won two in a row since rounds nine and ten.

One of the highlights of the win was Buckley's successful return.

He set up Collingwood's first goal and was among their best players with 15 possessions.

As predicted, Swans defender Leo Barry was a late withdrawal and Jared Crouch came in for his 200th senior game.

O'Loughlin went to hospital after the game, with Sydney's medical staff worried he might have damaged his lungs as he hit the ground.

"He was coughing up blood - he landed awkwardly on his back," said Sydney coach Paul Roos.

"It's just a precaution, but they're a bit worried about a punctured lung.

"Obviously, when you're coughing up blood, they need to get it sorted out."

Sydney, the 2005 premiers, have made the last two grand finals and had won or drawn six of their last seven games before the game.

But they now might have to beat Hawthorn at home next Sunday to make the finals.

Apart from Goodes, who ran superbly, Roos said his team lacked spark and energy.

"They were just too good ... they had a lot of energy, they ran hard and used the ball a lot better than we did," Roos said.

"Next week is obviously a massive game for us."

Roos was also non-plussed when asked about the free-kick count.

"I answer this question every week - we expect it going into the games and we just put up with it," he said.

"That's just the way footy is."

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse, by contrast, was rapt with the performance.

"A premiership side, a side that is very disciplined and plays good football - and we've beaten them twice this year," Malthouse said.

"I reckon it's our best game of the last month."

While pleased with Buckley's game, Malthouse was measured in his assessment and said the skipper was "very tired" post match.

"He'd be the first to say he was pretty rusty, but it was good to have him out there," he said.

"He was right on the line, I didn't see anything there that I didn't expect from a bloke who hasn't played for 20 weeks.

"It was a wonderful performance to come back into the side and contribute ... it was quite good."

The Magpies now cannot miss the finals, but Malthouse will wait until Sunday's results before planning for round 22.

Collingwood could rest Buckley and several other players if there is no way they can break into the top four.

"We've got a few things to weigh up this week, we'll see what the rest of the round serves up and we'll make some decisions between now and next Thursday," he said.

"If we can't move up nor down there'll be several players looked at to see whether we need to rest them, give them a chance to have a break.

"Nathan is certainly going to be one of those players that we look at - if he looks like he's coming up okay, he'll play, because he needs to play.

"But if he looks a bit tired or tight, he won't play."

Malthouse added Thomas and Rusling should be available for next week.

The Magpies coach also would not be drawn into Rocca's report.

"I don't get caught up in that - once the report is made, it's up to ... the tribunal," he said.

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