He silenced the critics who had prematurely written off the 33-year-old this season after a sluggish start to 2017, according to key forward Jonathon Patton.

Johnson had been an easy target for detractors before the Magpies game after a return of just six goals in the opening seven rounds, but he was the man who dragged GWS over the line in a see-sawing battle with Collingwood where the lead changed 15 times.

A huge pack formed 20 metres out from goal with barely 40 seconds left on the clock, and the ball spilled over the back straight into the path of Johnson who took possession and drilled home one of the most memorable goals of his career.

"After the week, he was getting criticised a bit and I think that's a bit of a throwback into the face of those people when he kicks the winning goal," Patton said.

"He's a game winner like we just saw and I was over the moon when I was in that late contest and the ball came to ground and Stevie just swooped on it and [ran] into an open goal.

"Stevie's probably had a lot of critics over his years, and time and time again he just keeps showing how much of a star he really is. Even at the age of 33, 34 he can still pop up and do things like that.

"He doesn't need to be getting 20 disposals and kicking three or four goals every week. The experience that he brings out there for us and just his presence to have out there, there's no goals and touches that's the same as that.

"He came [to the club] with 250 games' experience, three premierships. The knowledge that he gave straight away, you can't put a price on that, that's why we love him so much, he's just been such a good leader for us out there on the field.

"It's like having a coach out there sometimes, he's a pretty magical player."

Patton also played a huge role in the win over Collingwood, kicking a goal from hard up against the boundary line to put his side in front.

Brayden Maynard then put the Magpies back in front before Johnson had the final say.

The win came at a cost for GWS, with star midfielder Stephen Coniglio re-injuring the ankle that delayed his start to the season by six weeks. Aidan Corr and Sam Reid were both heavily concussed, and will be monitored closely this week before Saturday's clash with Richmond.

Patton said it was one of the best wins in the club's history.

"It'd definitely be up there, especially the fact we had two down most of the game," he said.

"Collingwood played really well and we knew that if we didn't bring our A-game that it was going to be a tough game. The fact that we were down by so much in the first quarter and we came back with a few injuries and some guys playing positions they don't normally play, it's great to show how mature we are and how far we've come."