Nick Daicos and Tom Atkins compete for the Sherrin.Credit: AFL Photos
This has been a thoroughly absorbing contest.
The Magpies have dominated overall clearances, centre clearances and inside 50s, yet lead by only seven points.
They have also largely strangled their opponents between the two arcs, as they have been doing for most of the season, but the Cats found a way late in the second term to hit back.
Chris Scott was too slow to send Max Holmes from half-back into the guts, but the move, at least, eventually came.
Patrick Dangerfield was also sent from inside 50 to the midfield in a bid to ease the Magpies’ dominance there.
The Cats need a goalless Jeremy Cameron to get moving.
Meanwhile, the Magpies, after a slow start, have largely been super slick.
Their set-up behind the ball has been superb, with players working for their teammates.
Darcy Moore is the general, sometimes ensuring there are two spare men, but this is a system-based approach.
