Sandhurst, Golden Square and Strathfieldsaye are separated from first to third on the ladder by just percentage, with the trio all boasting 11-2 records.

The Magpies have lost their past four games – three of which have been to the “big three”.

“I just believe Strathfieldsaye and Sandhurst are a little too predictable with their game plan, whereas Golden Square is just a fully polished unit with their forwards, backs and a gun midfield... their balance just looks a bit stronger than the other two,” Robertson said on Wednesday.

“If I was to put my money on a team at the moment then I’d put it on Square, just purely because they have a little more variety and stack up really well on each line.

“If anything goes wrong against them then they have that ability to change things up to suit.

“In saying that, we played Strathfieldsaye in heavy conditions and Sandhurst on a small ground at home last week. Sandhurst is going to be better on a bigger ground where they can spread, but you can only go on what you put out there and see.”

Over the past month the Magpies have lost to the Dragons by 51 points, Bulldogs by 36 and Storm by 50 points.

In all three games, the Magpies reduced their losing margin from the first time this season they played those top sides.

The Magpies lost to the big three by a combined 221 points in the first half of the season; in the second half their losing margin totaled 137 points.

“We’ve matured as a footy side, but the boys are also playing a lot more to plan, whereas at the start of the season we were a little bit all over the shop where we’d play to our plan for a quarter or so and then drop away,” Robertson said.

“We’re getting a lot more competitive results and staying in the game a lot longer.”

The Magpies are 5-8 and three games, plus 48 per cent, outside the top five heading into this Saturday’s clash against Gisborne at Gardiner Reserve – a venue they haven’t won at since 2001.