Last Week: Another big win, this time against Hawthorn, propelled North Melbourne to 3-0
Three impressive wins had North on top of the ladder and one of only two undefeated teams in the competition.
But the challenge in Round 4 was their toughest of the season so far. An impressive, youthful Brisbane Bears outfit had won two of its first three.
Building blocks of what would become the all-conquering Lions outfit of 2001-2003 were in place; Jason Akermanis, Justin Leppitsch, Chris Scott, Nigel Lappin and Michael Voss, had all played less than 60 games, while the likes of Shaun Hart, Marcus Ashcroft and Alastair Lynch had already cemented their places in the side’s best 22.
During the lead-up, there was more positive attention on Corey McKernan. A feature piece in The Age detailed his rise to stardom and how he initially had to be coerced into coming to Arden Street.
(click to enlarge)
The loss of Darren Crocker to injury was counterbalanced by the return of Matthew Capuano and Dean Laidley for North. Mark Stevens was the second omission for a trip that The Age called ‘one of the toughest games of the round to pick’.
“North is travelling well, with McKernan well-nigh unstoppable. Capuano comes in to reinforce the North rucks against (Matthew) Clarke. Brisbane will test the Roos’ depth in the midfield. Of interest, last year John Northey (the Brisbane coach) coached Richmond to a 49-point thrashing of North.”
The 30-point loss was the first of the season for the Roos and it was due in large part to an unexpected source.
Brisbane’s normal full-forward, Lynch, had to leave the field early due to a hamstring injury. To fill the hole close to home, Northey turned to backman Leppitsch.
The response was swift and devastating. Leppitsch kicked six goals in what would become a career-long trend of hitting the scoreboard against the Roos.
North’s goalless final term doomed it to defeat, but there was a glass half-full summary from Steve Perkin of the Herald Sun.
“North fans should despair just yet either. The Roos were in the game until midway through the final term despite not having a single player worthy of a vote.
“Coach Denis Pagan was furious with what he described as ‘a most disappointing night for the North Melbourne Football Club,’ and there’s no doubt he’ll use it to ignite the flames of passion as they prepare for Adelaide on Saturday."
In a note of how rapidly McKernan had become a barometer to his club, his first down night of the season had a big influence on the result.
Pagan left no-one in doubt of what he thought about his side’s performance.
“Our forwards played from behind, we didn’t apply enough pressure in the midfield, too many tackles were broken and I don’t think we had too many four quarter players on the night.
“So many bad habits can be covered up when you win by huge margins. Too many players get in front of the ball, too many players peel off a contest wanting to get the handball, not enough numbers at the workface…we were guilty of them all.
Next week: North looks to bounce back against the only undefeated team in the competition, facing Adelaide at the MCG.
North Melbourne: 5.1.31, 9.4.58, 14.7.91, 14.11.95
Brisbane: 3.3.21, 8.6.54, 14.12.96, 18.17.125
NMFC changes
In: Capuano, Laidley
Out: Crocker (injured), M Stevens (omitted)
Goals
North Melbourne: Allison 3, Carey 3, Roberts 2, Armstrong 1, Bell 1, Capuano 1, McKernan 1, Rock 1, Simpson 1
Brisbane: Leppitsch 6, Akermanis 3, Lynch 2, White 2, Fletcher 1, Hart 1, Lambert 1, C Scott 1, D Scott 1
Brownlow Medal
3 – Michael Voss (Brisbane), 2 – Richard Champion (Brisbane), 1 – Justin Leppitsch (Brisbane)
