The Cats did well to hold on that quarter against the energised Magpies, who lifted their intensity but could only narrow the margin by one to 10 points.
All eyes will be on Darcy Moore, who came off second-best in a head clash with Oisin Mullin as the pair contested a ground ball.
Both went in low and hard. Mullin won the ball and made contact with his shoulder to Moore’s head. The Magpies captain seemed momentarily stunned but got up to his feet. The Pies’ medical staff will no doubt be assessing him during the break.
This game is anyone’s. The Cats look more dangerous when they go inside 50, while the Pies have had more entries but can’t find space in their forward line.
The guns from both sides are having good games. Jordan De Goey and Nick Daicos lead with 19 and 17 disposals respectively, while Bailey Smith and Max Holmes lead the way for the Cats with 15. Jeremy Cameron is yet to score, while Patrick Dangerfield lifted with seven touches in the second term. The highlight of the first half was Scott Pendlebury’s tackle and goal, which drew a huge response from the black and white section of the crowd.