Last time: A Round 22 victory gives North a top-two finish and a chance at a week off in September
Under the finals system of the time, second-placed North was fixtured against seventh-placed Geelong.
The equation was simple for the Roos; a win would see them straight through to the preliminary final, also knocking out the Cats along the way.
But the last meeting between the sides, just a fortnight prior, saw Geelong the victors. It meant instead of the higher side being favoured in previews – as would usually be the case – it was replaced by a sense of unpredictability.
“North is flag favourite, its record against Geelong is not good, with the most recent of nine losses in the past 13 games just two weeks ago. Hocking was magnificent in the Round 21 game and North is unlikely to have worked out how to stop him in the meantime.
“Geelong has regained Barnes and Riccardi since. Carey is North’s hope, but McGrath has had his measure since that magnificent game against Geelong in the 1994 preliminary final. Even then, Geelong won.” – The Age, Len Johnson
“There is a strong sense of unpredictability about today’s game. The Cats…blinders have been followed by blunders. North, meanwhile, has had a similar up and down end to the season. What happens today is anyone’s guess.” – The Age, Jake Niall
North made just one change, Glenn Freeborn in for a young player by the name of Brent Harvey.
Right from the outset, it was clear this match wouldn’t unfold like the one a fortnight prior.
Six opening quarter goals gave the Roos a 27-point lead, one they wouldn’t relinquish en route to a crushing 60-point victory.
Up forward Brett Allison was unstoppable, kicking seven goals and collecting 24 disposals.
Through the midfield, Corey McKernan was one of the best on ground, with 23 disposals – 10 of them in the first quarter.
Down back, Mick Martyn was his usual self, holding Gary Ablett to just one goal and winning the head-to-head matchup.
North was convincingly the better side from siren to siren, earning a direct passage to the preliminary final.
It emerged post-match that the Roos had taken a different approach to its final training session.
“Players watched a 15-minute video of past North Melbourne premiership deeds during a team meeting after last Friday night’s final training session. Individual passages of play by the likes of John Burns, Sam Kekovich and Ross Henshaw from the club’s triumphs in the mid-70’s inspired current day players to follow the lead.” – Herald Sun, Bruce Matthews
It was also clear Denis Pagan and the side had learned an invaluable amount from the Round 21 loss to the Cats.
“If ever a defeat stimulated a victory it was North Melbourne’s Round 21 loss to Geelong. Yesterday proved how valuable Glenn Archer is to the North Melbourne team and that Pagan was either playing for keeps or had learnt plenty from that Geelong defeat.
“The big move compared to the last clash was the use of McKernan in his standard role as a centre-bounce ruckman pushing into North’s forward area. In the first quarter McKernan had 10 disposals, took seven marks and gave North the early ascendancy from which Geelong never recovered.” – Herald Sun, Leigh Matthews
And the victory had catapulted the Roos into premiership favouritism.
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Next time: After a week off, North prepares to play a preliminary final at the MCG
Elimination Final v Geelong
North team changes
In: Glenn Freeborn
Out: Brent Harvey
North Melbourne: 6.5.41, 8.10.58, 14.14.98, 19.17.131
Geelong: 2.2.14, 5.6.36, 6.9.45, 9.17.71
Goals
North Melbourne: Allison 7, Carey 3, Scott 2, Anderson 1, McKernan 1, Roberts 1, Rock 1, Schwass 1, Sholl 1, Simpson 1
Geelong: Barnes 2, Hocking 2, Ablett 1, Burns 1, Colbert 1, Hall 1, Tanner 1
