Against West Coast on Saturday, they never looked like losing, but never looked like winning by the type of margin the clear top team should beat the bottom team by. A lopsided team at selection left the Magpies looking clunky and slow forward of the ball. They were right to debut Charlie West but should have rested Tim Membrey.
They won contested ball and clearances narrowly, which was important because they had been winning despite losing these key statistics in recent matches.
Brayden Maynard, Lachie Schultz, Bobby Hill and Jordan De Goey, who are all out injured – or in Hill’s case, for personal reasons this week – will make this team obviously better.
The loss of Billy Frampton, less obviously, weakens them. Frampton is no one’s idea of Matthew Scarlett, but he has been very good this year since coming back into the side after Reef McInnes’ injury. His absence now for a month or more with a calf injury is potentially more disruptive, by virtue of the position he plays, than any of the other four far more talented players listed above that are missing.