North Melbourne will go in favourite for this Saturday's Grand Final against the Adelaide Crows at the MCG. Most interest will focus around selection this week with both Chandler and Longmire possible inclusions. I would say Chandler is a certain starter, a number of North's midfielders are going though bad trots including Anthony Rock and Premiership Hero Glen Freeform. Longmire will also be pushing for selection and could play an important insurance roll against the tall Adelaide forward but it is much more difficult to see who would make way for him. North has a full list to chose from virtually making selection difficult but it is a good position to be in. The decisions on Rock and Longmire might not only affect there chances of playing in a premiership but may also end their career's at Arden Street if not selected.
The return to form of Corey McKernan will give Adelaide major problems although Pittman has been used successfully in defence this season and Sean Rehn is in good form will be a force again. McKernan although being out of form for the majority of the year has always seemed to find something for the big clashes against Ruckman the media put up as being the best in the league such as Peter Everitt and last weekend Jeff White.
Peter Caven is the likely first option of Wayne Carey, Carey cut up the Crows on the last meeting and Caven will have to play much better this time to stop the champ.
North Melbourne's backline is in great form, David King had a quite game against Melbourne but the others Archer and Martyn in particular are well on top of there game and will make it difficult for the Crows to kick a winning score. The forward line too looks good there is Carey of course but the players around him such as Grant, Abraham and Allison are all capable of kicking a number of goals. Carey was dominate against the Crows last time around and will be equally hard to stop this week, the return to marking form of Corey McKernan adds another option while Roberts and Sholl also provide quality targets for the players up the ground.
Its a grand final so it will be a great event, lets hope its not much of a game though and North thrash Adelaide and send them back across the boarder in disgrace. North have had a great preparation they are in winning form , have had a weeks rest and should be much fresher then the Crows. Then again St Kilda probably thought that as well last year. In reality though I expect it too be a tight game but we are not about to Choke like the Saints and by 5:30 Saturday afternoon North will have another piece of silverware to show for what has been a great season.
1998 AFL GRAND FINAL
North Melbourne comes into the Grand Final in great shape, a full list to choose from and are the hot favourites to pick up the clubs 4 flag. The North side of 98 is a much better unit then the Premiership side of 96 and is certainly better then the inconsistent team of 97. This season anything less then the Clubs forth Premiership will be a failure. North has made the Preliminary final every year since 94 but has made only one Grand Final appearance in that time and must capitalise on the strength of the current playing list by playing in this years Grand Final. Not only is the senior list strong there are a number of players pushing for senior selection including John Longmire and Brett Chandler. Longmire is particular has been in great form in the reserves and deserves to be recalled for a chance at a Premiership. After all he must have more desire to win then any other player.
North Melbourne has been too good for Adelaide in all recent encounters between the two clubs and the trend should continue this weekend. North has now won a massive 11 games in a row including a great win over the Crows at Football Park. The earlier MCG Clash ended with a narrow North win after Even Hewitt wrapped Rehn up in a great tackle leading to a free kick and goal in the dyeing minutes of the game. North will have to watch out for Robren who is in good form and had a day out against the Dogs. His kicking from outside 50 was unbelievably good. I didn't expect the Crows to get over the Dogs but they didn't just win they crushed Footscray with ease winning by over 10 goals. Andrew McCloud will have to be contained, he kicked 6 on the weekend and looked to be in his Norm Smith form.
