North Melbourne, with a second chance at Grand Final glory, made no mistake this time with a thumping 55-point win over Hawthorn – giving the Roos their first ever VFL flag. Supercoach Ron Barassi masterminded the win, with former Bomber Barry Davis captain. The club had completed a remarkable turnaround from its last-place finish just three years earlier.

North Melb 4.2 9.2 12.6 19.8 (122)
Hawthorn 2.2 5.6 7.7 9.13 (67) 

Goals – North Melbourne: Briedis 5, Wade 4, Burns 4, Schimmelbusch 2, Blight, Kekovich, Crosswell, Feltham. 
Hawthorn: Martello 2, Moncrieff 2, Rowlings, K. Matthews, Trott, Meagher, Scott. 

Best – North Melbourne: Crosswell, Rantall, Greig, Burns, Dench, Nolan. 
Hawthorn: Knights, Martello, Jaworskyj, Bremner, Moore, Rowlings.

Umpire: K. Smith.
Attendance: 110,551 @ the MCG

NORTH MELBOURNE TEAM

B: R. Henshaw, D. Dench, F. Gumbleton
HB: B. Crosswell, M. Blight, J. Rantall
C: K. Greig, J. Burns, P. Chisnall
HF: W. Schimmelbusch, A. Briedis, S. Kekovich
F: G. Farrant, D. Wade, P. Feltham
R: M. Nolan, B. Davis (c), B. Cable
Reserves: B. Goodingham, G. Cowton
Coach: R. Barassi

Not one but two classic Grand Finals. The first was drawn, with North edging its way to the front after overcoming a 27-point deficit at the last change. Then ‘Twiggy’ Dunne marked and levelled the scores with a minute to play. North was never going to lose the replay, but Phil Manassa provided the highlight with a running goal from the half-back flank that will never be forgotten.

Tied Match

Collingwood 1.5 4.8 9.12 10.16 (76)
North Melb 4.4 4.10 4.15 9.22 (76) 

Goals – North Melbourne: Baker 6, Dench 2, Sutton. 
Collingwood: Moore 4, Kink, 2, Dunne, Anderson, Shaw, Barham. 

Best – North Melbourne: Schimmelbusch, Baker, Alves, Dench, Keenan, Montgomery. 
Collingwood: Thompson, Magro, Ireland, Wearmouth, Picken, Moore.

Umpires: I. Robinson, J. Sutcliffe.
Attendance: 108,224 @ the MCG

NORTH MELBOURNE TEAM

B: R. Henshaw, D. Dench (c), F. Gumbleton
HB: G. Cowton, D. Sutton, K. Montgomery
C: S. Alves, X. Tanner, W. Schimmelbusch
HF: S. Icke, M. Blight, A. Briedis
F: B. Crosswell, P. Baker, J. Cassin
R: P. Keenan, J. Byrne, B. Cable
Reserves: S. McCann, W. Nettlefold
Coach: R. Barassi

Replay

Collingwood 3.4 8.7 12.7 19.10 (124)
North Melb 5.5 9.12 15.19 21.25 (151) 

Goals – North Melbourne: Briedis 5, Baker 3, Blight 2, Byrne 2, Cable 2, Crosswell 2 ,Schimmelbusch 2, Cassin, Icke, Tanner 
Collingwood: Moore 5, Manassa 3, Barham 2, Dunne 2, Gordon 2, Anderson, Kink, Ireland, Richardson, Wearmouth

Attendance: 98,366 @ the MCG

The AFL’s Centenary Year was crowned by North Melbourne which made amends for the dis-appoint-ment of three successive failed finals campaigns. The Roos won their third flag (and the only Gold Premier-ship Cup in history) despite a slow start against a side which was playing in its first Grand Final since 1945. The Sydney Swans might have been South Melbourne back then, but they added a new dimension and although overwhelmed in the finish, performed admirably. Led by the bullocking Glenn Archer and superstars Corey McKernan and Wayne Carey, the Roos were hellbent in their premiership quest.

North Melb 3.2 8.7 12.14 19.17 (131)
Sydney 6.2 8.5 9.7 13.10 (88) 

Goals – North Melbourne: Freeborn 3, Crocker 3, A. Stevens 2, Roberts 2, C. Sholl 2, Allison 2, Rock, Fairley, Carey, Bell, Simpson. 
Sydney: Lockett 6, Luff 2, O’Loughlin 2, Cresswell, Mooney, Kickett. 

Best – North Melbourne: Archer, McKernan, Carey, A. Stevens, Schwass, Rock. 
Sydney: Roos, Cresswell, Stafford, Lewis, Luff, Heuskes.
 

Umpires: G. Dore, B. Sheehan, M. Nash.
Attendance: 93,102 @ the MCG
Norm Smith Medal: Glenn Archer (NM)

NORTH MELBOURNE TEAM 

B: R. Scott, M. Martyn, G. Archer
HB: W. Schwass, I. Fairley, J. Blakey
C: D. King, A. Simpson, D. Laidley
HF: G. Freeborn, W. Carey (c), B. Allison
F: C. Sholl, C. McKernan, D Crocker
R: M. Capuano, A. Rock, A. Stevens
Interchange: S. Anderson, M. Roberts, P. Bell
Coach: D. Pagan

After wasting a wonderful opportunity in 1998, the Kangaroos were hellbent on not missing out again and finished too strongly for Carlton. The Blues were terrific in the second and third weeks of the finals after finishing the home and away season poorly and being destroyed by the Brisbane Lions in the qualifying final. Despite showing some early promise in the Grand Final, Carlton was no match for the powerful Roos after half-time. Peter Bell and Shannon Grant kicked four goals each and Grant won the Norm Smith Medal.

North Melbourne 3.3 9.4 15.6 19.10 (124)
Carlton 1.3 5.8 7.11 12.17 (89) 

Goals – North Melbourne: Grant 4, Bell 4, McKernan 3, Abraham 2, Motlop 2, Carey 2, Sholl, Welsh. 
Carlton: Whitnall 2, Lappin 2, Camporeale 2, Ratten, Brown, Rice, Allan, Beaumont, Hamill.

Best - North Melbourne Grant, Bell, Martyn, McKernan, Pickett, Archer. 
Carlton: Silvagni, Camporeale, Ratten, Rice, Sexton, McKay.
 

Umpires: B. Allen, S. McLaren, A. Coates.
Attendance: 94,228 @ the MCG
Norm Smith Medal: Shannon Grant (North Melbourne)

NORTH MELBOURNE TEAM 

B: B. Pickett, J. Blakey, M. Martyn
HB: W. Abraham, G. Archer, M. Pike
C: A. Simpson, P. Bell, S. Grant
HF: B. Allison, W. Carey (c), B. Harvey
F: C. Sholl, C. McKernan, C. Mooney
R: M. Capuano, D. King, A. Stevens
Interchange: S. Motlop, S. Clayton, J. Longmire, S. Welsh
Coach: D. Pagan