Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says the Magpies had to arrest a second-quarter mentality of "filling our boots" in order to beat Carlton on Sunday night.

The Pies prevailed by 15 points but let the momentum slip in the second term after leading by 31 points early on.

Buckley said he didn't think the players had been deliberately selfish in front of goal but rued their "fancy" decision-making in the spell that let the Blues within three goals.

"We've got a very team-orientated group and it's not a suggestion they would do it maliciously," Buckley said.

Vote for your top three players from Collingwood's 15-point win in the Magpie Army Player of the Year Award.

"But I think we were keen to pull the trigger when one more disposal and we would find a player 10 or 15 metres closer to goal with half as much pressure on him and give us twice as much of a chance to kick it.

"I think we're still building that best shot mentality into our footy and it can happen across half-back by using the right option there.

"Our offence can improve and we'll continue to work on it but I don't think it was malicious."

Midfielder Steele Sidebottom returned after serving a three-match suspension for a crunching hit on St Kilda's Maverick Weller in round 11.

Buckley said the fact he was able to come straight in and collect 33 disposals was a testament to his professionalism.

"He's a very strong young leader, he's very developed in that regard this year," he said.

"He was clearly disappointed with the split-second decision and the repercussions from it four weeks ago.

"He's put a power of work in and he showed tonight that professionalism to be ready to go was evident and he performed as a result."

Brent Macaffer claimed another high-profile scalp by keeping Carlton captain Marc Murphy to just 15 disposals – six in the first half.

Buckley considered sending him to Bryce Gibbs or Chris Judd after assessing Murphy as not being at 100 per cent but was glad they stuck with their initial plan.

"When you've got foot on throat you want to maintain that and I think 'Caff' has shown an ability to do that and finish a job off, which he did," he said.

Tom Langdon was a late withdrawal after being concussed last week against Hawthorn, while Jamie Elliot was subbed out in the third quarter after becoming tight in his hamstring.

Buckley said it was a precautionary move to take Elliot off and the doctors believed he hadn't sustained a tear.

"It wasn't loosening up...generally where there's smoke there's fire but we'll have a look and scan it tomorrow," he said.

"Whilst (Langdon) passed the test on Thursday, it just felt like he was not all together clean or clear, he was still a little dusty and that won't hurt him."

He also said Taylor Adams wasn't injured in an incident that left Mitch Robinson on report for striking in the first quarter.