The midfielder was due to come out of contract at the end of this season but is understood to be close to penning the new deal.

 

Blair, a member of the club's 2010 premiership team in his first season, has played 18 games this year and booted 10 goals.

 

He is due to play the 100th game of his career on Saturday night when the Magpies meet the Brisbane Lions at the MCG.

 

Blair's commitment follows a string of re-signings for the club this season, including Ben Reid, Steele Sidebottom, Nathan Brown, Dane Swan, Heritier Lumumba and Brodie Grundy.

 

It is a boost for the club as it fights for a finals position after its 10-goal loss to West Coast. It was the Magpies' sixth loss in their past eight games.

 

Coach Nathan Buckley said after the defeat all players needed to take responsibility for the defeat.

 

"We didn't bring enough intent at the contest, we didn't bring enough work rate, we weren't prepared to roll the sleeves up," Buckley said.

"And when I say, 'we', [I mean] every player. [I did] a quick straw poll of our playing group then against our trademark – attitude and effort – who's going to give themselves a tick? No hands. Zero hands. First time all year.

"To a man, all of them felt that they let the team down and you get a result like that."