North Melbourne will play the 19th preliminary final in its history against Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.

It was 24 years into their VFL existence before North first reached a preliminary final, beaten by Essendon 1949. But a year later the club tasted success.

In 1950, the Kangaroos faced Geelong in the preliminary final and staged what still ranks as one of the most unlikely comebacks in their history. Trailing by 39 points at quarter-time, in an era where scoring was not as free flowing as today, North came back to triumph by 17 points. Jock Spencer kicked five goals to lead the charge.

After another appearance in 1958, there was a lean 15 years to follow for North. However, the sustained era of success in the 1970’s brought six consecutive preliminary finals.

From 1974 to 1979, North was playing on the penultimate weekend of the season. It faced Hawthorn (1974, 1977), Richmond (1975), Carlton (1976), and Collingwood (1978, 1979), winning through to the Grand Final on five occasions.

Similar to what happened after the breakthrough era (1949-1950), following the 1970’s there was a middling period for North. It had just one preliminary final appearance (1983) in amongst early finals exits.

However 20 years on from 1974, another streak began. The team of the 1990’s was able to better the six consecutive appearances by one, playing in seven straight between 1994 and 2000.

While the win ratio wasn’t as high as the 70’s team – the 90’s team ‘only’ won three of the seven preliminary finals - it was a remarkable run of success. Two of the three wins came against Brisbane (1996, 1999), with the other one against Melbourne (1998).

Since that era ended in 2000 with a prelim loss to Melbourne, there has been just one appearance on the second last weekend of the season – a trip to AAMI Stadium to face Port Adelaide. This Friday will mark North’s second consecutive preliminary final outside of Victoria.

North Melbourne in preliminary finals

Played: 18
Won: 9
Lost: 9

Winning preliminary finals

1950: North Melbourne 14.16.100 defeated Geelong 12.11.83
1974: North Melbourne 8.8.56 defeated Hawthorn 7.9.51
1975: North Melbourne 10.16.76 defeated Richmond 8.11.59
1976: North Melbourne 10.7.67 defeated Carlton 9.12.66
1977: North Melbourne 16.16.112 defeated Hawthorn 5.15.45
1978: North Melbourne 14.12.96 defeated Collingwood 12.12.84
1996: North Melbourne 17.12.114 defeated Brisbane 11.10.76
1998: North Melbourne 17.12.114 defeated Melbourne 12.12.84
1999: North Melbourne 19.9.123 defeated Brisbane 11.12.78