Cats manager Chris Scott made an adjustment at the break, sending Mitch Duncan from half-back to half-forward to generate some script.
Having lost Jake Kolodjashnij to injury, the Cats have had to readjust, but have initially been unable to regain the momentum they enjoyed in the second term.
Magpies forward Jamie Elliott, in need of lifting, missed a set shot early in the period, and it became an arm-wrestling battle for the next 10 minutes.
The Magpies had a 7-3 lead inside 50, and were rewarded when Ash Johnson drilled a 50m bomb, extending their lead to eight points. Duncan’s move paid dividends when he scored and converted from 40m.
The Cats’ ability to take the ball from defense to attack began to take its toll when Gary Rohan scored and drilled home his second, regaining the lead for the Cats. It was the sixth leadership change of the party.
Then came the seventh when Jack Crisp danced around a defender and really broke through. The competition work of both teams was enormous. Ash Johnson had a moment. As he did against Carlton in Round 23, he scored just inside the right boundary from 45m and went ‘banana’ across, turning to the crowd and covering his ears in celebration.
As the intensity rose, Jeremy Cameron capitalized on a deliberate out-of-bounds run and slotted through a spot-kick from the boundary, mimicking Johnson’s celebration. However, Elliott rediscovered his groove with a 50m bomb, giving the Magpies a seven-point lead heading into the final quarter.