A successful AFL comeback by Ben Cousins could not prevent Collingwood streaming to a 46-point win over Richmond in the NAB Cup match at Telstra Dome on Thursday night.

The Magpies outscored Richmond by 37 points in a dominant final term to win 1.13.10 (97) to 2.3.15 (51) in front of a big crowd of 37,121 to move into a pre-season semi-final.

Cousins, playing his first match since being sacked by his former club West Coast at the end of 2007, overcame a quiet start to pick up 21 touches, spending most of the match in the midfield after starting at half-forward.

While his fitness and form appeared a long way from his vintage best, the former Eagles skipper showed some good signs, particularly late in the first term and for much of the second quarter.

He had 14 touches by halftime, before fading slightly in the second half.

But for most of the match, the night belonged to the Magpies.

They set the scene early, opening the game with quick goals to John McCarthy and Josh Fraser, both under little pressure.

New Richmond captain Chris Newman kept his side in the match when he opened his side's scoring with a long-range nine-point goal but Collingwood still led by six at the first change.

In a match in which both sides were hampered by poor disposal, with the Tigers particularly poor in front of goal, the two clubs managed just one goal each in the second quarter.

Magpies new draftee Dayne Beams, who had an impressive first game with the club, scored for Collingwood, while Matt White notched Richmond's second nine-pointer of the match to narrow the gap to one point at halftime.

But, after a tight start to the second half, Collingwood opened up a break with the last three goals of the third quarter in a seven-minute burst.

Tarkyn Lockyer and Dane Swan both scored with nice snaps, while former North Melbourne veteran Leigh Brown goaled from a free kick in between.

Leading by 11 points at the last change, the last term quickly became a blow-out, with the Magpies scoring three early goals before Alan Didak sealed the contest with a nine-pointer.

Midfielders Shane O'Bree and Scott Pendlebury were both good for the winners, while Didak also impressed.

The promising debut of Beams and a strong showing by Shannon Cox running out of defence would also have pleased the Magpies.

For Richmond, Nathan Foley performed well in the midfield, while Andrew Raines, whose 2008 season was ruined by injury, was very impressive running off halfback.

Young key forward Jack Riewoldt showed some good signs, but let himself down with some poor kicking for goal, finishing with 0.3.

The Tigers lost former skipper Kane Johnson to injury, carried off by trainers during the third quarter.

The match featured the first instance of the AFL's trial rule of awarding a free kick for a deliberate rushed behind being used, after Richmond's Jordan McMahon handballed across the line in the dying minutes.

But Collingwood's John Anthony failed to capitalise, spraying his shot out on the full.

Richmond coach Terry Wallace said he was happy with Cousins' performance, particularly early, and it was no surprise that he tired late in the game.

"It's very difficult to come in first-up with new gameplans, new structures and fairly high expectations, but I thought he handled himself pretty well early in the match," Wallace said.

He said Cousins copped a knock to the head in the final quarter, prompting the Tigers to take him off the ground.

Johnson was believed to have jarred his knee, a repeat of an injury he sustained at training about a month ago.

Wallace said Cousins was likely to be rested from next weekend's practice match, before returning the following weekend.

Collingwood assistant coach Paul Hudson, who took the reins from regular head coach Mick Malthouse for the match, said the Magpies were very happy with their second half, after a slow start.

"Definitely the second half (we were pleased with) the intensity and the pressure," Hudson said.

"We thought the boys' tackling was tremendous, the pressure they imposed on Richmond in the second half was the difference."

He said the club was keen to go on and try to win the pre-season competition to give them a confidence boost heading into the regular season.

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