Eight out of the 12 matches North Melbourne has played in on May 12 have been decided by 15-points or less. North Melbourne's overall record is just over .500 at 7-5, which is to be expected given the frequency of close games on the date.

Round 7 1996
West Coast 4.1 (25), 9.8 (62), 15.10 (100), 19.11 (125)
North Melbourne 0.6 (6), 2.7 (19), 5.12 (42), 7.16 (58)

Goals: Carey (3)
Brownlow Medal: 3 - Mainwaring (WC), 2 - Ball (WC), 1 - Lyle (WC)

Facing its first real test in Melbourne for the season, North proceeded to get blown out of the water by a West Coast side recovering from its slow start to 1996. Despite the experience on each line for the Kangaroos, this game also featured youngsters Peter Bell and Adam Simpson - both playing their ninth game in this loss.

Did You Know? The Wayne Carey-Glen Jakovich duel was widely regarded as one of the best contests throughout the AFL when both were in their prime. With a mutual respect, the buildup for North Melbourne and West Coast games often centred around which player would emerge victorious.

Round 7 1990
North Melbourne 1.3 (9), 5.8 (38), 10.11 (71), 12.13 (85)
Footscray 7.5 (47), 9.8 (62), 12.10 (82), 12.15 (87)

Goals: Longmire (3), McDonald (3)
Brownlow Medal: 3 - Rock (NM), 2 - Liberatore (FO), 1 - German (NM)

North struggled when facing Footscray at the MCG in the late 1980's and the early 1990's, so it was no surprise when it fell behind significantly in the first quarter. But led by Anthony Rock and Peter German, North came roaring back and almost won the game late before ultimately falling short by just two-points.

Did You Know? Anthony Rock received his first best on ground in the Brownlow Medal with his performance in this game. In his 222 game career with both North Melbourne and Hawthorn, he only polled 19 Brownlow votes in total.

Round 7 1989
Sydney 1.6 (12), 4.8 (32), 5.14 (44), 7.16 (58)
North Melbourne 1.7 (13), 3.9 (27), 7.10 (52), 9.13 (67)

Goals: Clarkson (2)
Brownlow Medal: 3 - Williams (SYD), 2 - Larkin (NM), 1 - Carroll (SYD)

In his final season coaching North Melbourne, John Kennedy began to blood youth more often as the average age of 23-years, 220 days for this game suggests. It was the fearlessness of that youth which held North in good stead late in close games. Despite inaccuracy one again rearing its head early, North steadied late with crucial goals to close out a nine-point victory.

Did You Know? While he made his name at Essendon and Sydney, Derek Kickett actually started his career at North Melbourne in 1989. Playing 12 games, he averaged a goal a game before moving to Essendon in the off-season.

Round 7 1984
North Melbourne 6.3 (39), 10.8 (68), 11.12 (78), 14.17 (101)
St Kilda 6.3 (39), 9.6 (60), 14.11 (95), 22.16 (148)

Goals: Schimmelbusch (5), McCann (2), Petraglia (2)
Brownlow Medal: 3 - Foschini (STK), 2 - Lockett (STK), 1 - Glendinning (NM)

It's not often that a side kicks 10 goals in a half and still comes out on the losing end by almost eight goals, but it was the case on this day. North had no answer to Tony Lockett as he kicked seven of his 77 goals for the season. As usual, Glendinning, Hodgeman and Schimmelbusch led the way for North but their efforts were in vain.

Did You Know? Despite being a midfielder, Wayne Schimmelbusch also kicked goals regularly throughout his glittering career. Not only did he hold the North Melbourne games record for a significant time, but as at the beginning of 2012 he also sat 8th on the all-time goalkicking leaderboard.

Round 6 1979
North Melbourne 6.3 (39), 8.6 (54), 12.8 (80), 14.15 (99)
Richmond 2.4 (16), 9.10 (64), 11.13 (79), 13.16 (94)

Goals: Blight (3), Schimmelbusch (3), Boyse (2), Nettlefold (2)

Despite conceding a staggering 45 free kicks in the match, North Melbourne was neck and neck with Richmond most of the day at Waverley Park. After Richmond wiped away an early lead, North just hung on in the closing stages for a five-point win.

Did You Know? Kevin Bryant and Russell Ebert played their fifth and sixth games respectively in the win against Richmond. At this point in their careers, they still had not played in a losing side for North Melbourne.

Round 6 1973
North Melbourne 3.5 (23), 8.7 (55), 15.13 (103), 18.16 (124)
South Melbourne 5.3 (33), 7.8 (50), 8.9 (57), 11.14 (80)

Goals: Kekovich (5), D Farrant (4), Dawson (2)

At times throughout 1973, North Melbourne showed glimpses of the force it would become in coming years. Slamming on seven goals to just one in the third quarter against South Melbourne on this day was evidence. Despite only kicking 27 goals for the season in 18 games, five of them came today for Sam Kekovich.

Round 4 1962
North Melbourne 4.2 (26), 5.7 (37), 6.11 (47), 7.14 (56)
Fitzroy 6.4 (40), 9.5 (59), 13.10 (88), 18.13 (121)

Goals: Dugdale (2), Ward (2)

Both North and Fitzroy would occupy the bottom three at the end of 1962. But on this day it was Fitzroy that looked a far superior side as it systematically dismantled North Melbourne quarter by quarter. A remarkable seven players with 11 games or less meant that North had an extremely inexperienced team.

Round 5 1956
Fitzroy 1.2 (8), 3.9 (27), 6.10 (46), 8.15 (63)
North Melbourne 3.2 (20), 5.2 (32), 7.5 (47), 7.6 (48)

Goals: Eastmure (2), OHalloran (2), Spencer (2)

1956 was a disappointing season for North Melbourne and it yielded another close defeat in Round 5. Despite leading at each of the first three changes, Fitzroy kept North goalless in the final quarter to record a 15 point victory.

Round 4 1951
North Melbourne 2.0 (12), 8.2 (50), 10.4 (64), 12.6 (78)
South Melbourne 2.3 (15), 5.9 (39), 6.16 (52), 9.19 (73)

Goals: Smith (4), Spencer (4), Malone (2)

In a rare occurrence for May 12, it was North Melbourne's accuracy that helped it win a game rather than its inaccuracy hindering it. North's 10 fewer scoring shots mattered for little due to South Melbourne's 19 behinds. Spencer and Smith's four goals each were critical components in the victory.

Round 4 1945
Footscray 7.4 (46), 7.7 (49), 10.12 (72), 11.13 (79)
North Melbourne 1.1 (7), 7.5 (47), 8.5 (53), 14.8 (92)

Goals: Findlay (4), Doherty (3), Foote (2), Slater (2)

Continuing on the trend of close games and newsworthy last quarters, North Melbourne rallied back a second time from a deficit with a six goal last quarter. Previously it had wiped away a 29-point first quarter hole which was a huge fightback for the time. An even spread of goalkicking helped North's two comebacks.

Round 2 1934
North Melbourne 1.1 (7), 4.4 (28), 8.5 (53), 10.10 (70)
Geelong 3.6 (24), 3.12 (30), 5.15 (45), 10.17 (77)

Goals: Allen (3), Fitzmaurice (3), Wrout (2)

Much like its 1951 match against South Melbourne, at three quarter time it appeared that North Melbourne's accuracy would lead it to victory against an inaccurate opponent. But five goals to two in the last quarter by Geelong condemned that theory as North fell to a seven-point loss.

Round 4 1928
South Melbourne 4.5 (29), 6.5 (41), 10.7 (67), 10.9 (69)
North Melbourne 1.1 (7), 5.3 (33), 7.5 (47), 10.10 (70)

Goals: Lovett (3), Kavanagh (2), Russ (2)

Coming out of nowhere in the final quarter in a hostile environment, North Melbourne kept South Melbourne goalless en route to a famous one-point victory. With five players having played five games or less at the time of the match, the victory was as improbable as it was stunning.