COLLINGWOOD coach Craig McRae has proclaimed he will tell his grandkids he coached Nick Daicos after the superstar's extraordinary second quarter helped inspire Collingwood to pinch a one-point win over Brisbane.

The Magpies' premiership defence remains alive after they pulled off a trademark heist with the final three goals of the match to inflict more pain on the Lions, who they pipped by four points in last year's epic Grand Final.

Collingwood never looked like winning as the Lions took control from the start led all game, leading by as much as 31 points late in the first quarter.

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But Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos produced one of the all-time great quarters to boot two goals and gather 13 possessions in the second term to lift the Magpies back in the contest.

"Wow, I think I'll tell my grandkids I coached Nick Daicos," McRae said.

"That's going to be one of the great stories when I'm older. What a player.

"It's just nice to see someone impose himself on the game. 

"We're all on the bench, not laughing, but just going, 'Wow!'. We're all in awe.

"We've got front-row seats to the Nick Show, and he's a remarkable player."

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The Magpies can still finish in the top eight should they beat Melbourne on Friday night, and other results fall their way on Sunday and next weekend.