QUINTEN Lynch looks set to become a valuable player for the Magpies after an eye-catching performance at a low-key intra-club match at Victoria Park on Friday morning.

The former Eagle pushed up the ground from his forward post, creating space for Travis Cloke and also provided ruck relief at times.

Lynch had Andrew Krakouer and Brent Macaffer on his team and the duo, who both returned late last season from knee reconstructions, were solid performers in their first game for 2013.

Krakouer's class was evident while Macaffer showed his crumbing skill early.

While competition for spots is likely to be hot at Collingwood, winning a position as a small forward will be particularly tough.

Collingwood football manager Geoff Walsh said it was a good early hit-out for the team and the new faces in the group had settled in well.

That former Hawk Clinton Young - who had off-season foot surgery - played was somewhat of a surprise to those watching but Walsh said he had come up quickly from his stint in rehab.

"His recovery and last two and half weeks have been encouraging," Walsh said.

Former Blue Jordan Russell showed poise in defence, while Walsh was impressed with veteran rookie Ben Hudson in the ruck.

Hudson is expected to be a good teacher for Jarrod Witts, but he has not lost his ability to play.

"Hudson did well [and] Witts came into his own I thought in the last half particularly," Walsh said. "All in all it was a good hit-out."

Luke Ball ran the boundary line while Darren Jolly and Alan Toovey did not play.

The recovering Dale Thomas and Tyson Goldsack – who both had operations in the off-season – watched from the sidelines.

Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury and Nick Maxwell put in their usual solid performances.

Collingwood takes on Essendon and the Western Bulldogs in its round one NAB Cup fixtures next week.