Last week: One of the all-time great Wayne Carey performances as North defeated Melbourne

The start of the week was marked by Peter Bell’s Rising Star nomination, North’s second of 1996 after Adam Simpson in Round 5.

After arriving at the club in the pre-season draft, Bell had only missed two of the first 17 games; coincidentally the only matches he’d miss in his entire five-year tenure at Arden Street.

As focus turned to Round 18, another Friday night match at the MCG, the clash against Hawthorn was crucial in maintaining North’s spot inside the top two.

Earlier in the season the Roos had comfortably defeated the Hawks out at Waverley, and more of the same was the prediction in the weekly previews.

“It is doubtful whether the Hawks’ defence can restrict the Roos to a losing score despite the fact that they should be competitive in the midfield. North has shown strong form and should be able to handle whatever the opposition can come up with.” – Geoff Poulter, Herald Sun

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With Hawthorn battling to stay in the finals race – half a game behind eighth-placed Richmond at the start of Round 18 – it came out with every intention of causing an upset.

A back-and-forth first half ended with North trailing by four points, and when the Hawks kicked the first goal of the second half, the margin was out to double figures.

Then Wayne Carey took over.

Five second half goals changed the entire flow of the game as the Roos turned the deficit around in quick time. 11 of the last 16 goals went to North and it ran out 31-point winners, maintaining its spot on top of the ladder.

Unsurprisingly the praise for Carey dominated the post-match headlines.

“Another Friday night. Another Wayne Carey special. Another four points for North Melbourne.” – Ashley Browne, The Age

“The Roos were struggling to shake off Hawthorn until Carey came to the rescue. He booted five second half goals to finish with seven as the Roos pulled away for a 31-point win.” – Bruce Matthews, Herald Sun

With a challenging finish to the home and away season approaching, Denis Pagan played up the significance of four points against the Hawks.

“It was an important win for us because we’ve got some important games coming up and we want to get some sort of buffer on the teams below us. If you finish one, two, it enhances your chances. Most premierships are won from there.”

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Next week: North faces Brisbane at Princes Park in a first v fifth battle

Round 18 v Hawthorn

North Melbourne team changes

In: Allison
Out: Gorman

North Melbourne: 4.5.29, 8.6.54, 15.10.100, 19.16.130
Hawthorn: 5.2.32, 9.4.58, 12.6.78, 15.9.99

Goals

North Melbourne: Carey 7, Archer 3, McKernan 3, Allison 2, Bell 2, Scott 1, Capuano 1
Hawthorn: Dunstall 4, Chick 3, Condon 2, Hudson 2, Crawford 1, Graham 1, Salmon 1, Woods 1

Brownlow Medal

3 – Wayne Carey (North Melbourne), 2 – Glenn Archer (North Melbourne), 1 – Robert Scott (North Melbourne)