1998 Premiership Season

Best Stevens, Sholl, Archer

North Melbourne has defeated the West Coast Eagles by 2 points in a classic encounter at the MCG on Friday night. It was certainly a physical clash, North had Carey, Abraham, Grant and Scott all hobbling at different times of the night. John Blakey lead the team out in his 250th game. Wayne Carey started at full forward to avoid Glen Jackovich who picked up Craig Sholl and Centre-Half forward. As usual North started slowly but were soon back on the pace, Archer took a great mark in the goal square but it was judged to have taken it over the line on the second grab.

Carey put North into the lead with a good running goal. Anthony Stevens had a big first term gathering ten possessions, Sholl was also moving well early creating opportunities in the forward line, he kicked his first just before quarter time and North lead by 2 goals.

The Eagles kicked the first of the second term, John Worsfold got up to his usual dirty tricks with Carey giving the fans a bit of a scare, but he was only winded and was back in action soon after. Shannon Grant was also playing another good game, his kicking in particular is beautiful and he put through North's first goal of the second quarter to re-establish the two goal break. North were travelling very well, with Grant and Stevens on top in midfield and Sholl up forward its looked as though North would run away with the game. West Coast had to scrap together a goal against the run of play to put them back in the game but they soon lifted a cog and a goal to Ben Cousins had the Eagles back within 8 points.

Craig Sholl steadied the ship for North with his third goal and Abraham received a relayed free kick to put through his first and again give North a good break. In the back of my mind however was the fact that they might tire late in the game so it was important that they had a big lead at three quarter time. This wasn't to be however as North went to sleep , they stopped chasing didn't pick up their man and the run out of midfield was non-existent. Brett Heady was becoming dangerous up forward. At half time WCE had reduced the Kangaroos lead back to 12 points.

Scott Welsh thrilled the crowd early in the third term with one of the marks of the year, I know its only round one but it will be up there with the best come round 22. Chris Groom kicked North a goal but it was answered by two from the West Coast Eagles. Glen Freeborn got reported for elbowing Worsfold, but the Eagles got the next goal and were within 5 points. Bull outmarked McCartney in the square to put the Eagles into the lead for the first time since the opening moments of the match. The Eagles were pilling in the pressure now and everything was running there way, North looked tired and I couldn't see them coming back. Injury problems started to mount as well Byron Pickett was off with a leg injury and Shannon Grant followed him to the bench soon after with after coping a heavy blow to the hip. At three quarter time the Eagles has turned the game right around and had a 2 goal lead

West Coast kicked the first of the final term but Stevens managed a goal to keep them in contact. It was a pass to Carey that went wrong but at that stage North would take anything they could get. Carey wasn't having the best of nights, he seemed to pick up a leg injury as well as being hit hard by Worsfold. North picked up the slack, Stevens came back into the game and Abraham and King start providing the run that had been lacking in the third term. The Eagles got another goal but Craig Sholl again kept North in touch with his 5th.

Peter Bell roved a contest to kick a goal and put North back within 3 points, the atmosphere was fabulous, they may have only been 27,000 there but in the last 5 minutes of the game you wouldn't have know it. North through them selves at everything showing no signs of being tired , King pulled off an important smother and eventually North got the winning goal through Adam Simpson. The ball had gone out of bounds 50 meters from North's goal, and Simpson sharked the throw in and put it on his boot, whether he was aiming for goal or not I don't know but the ball bounced through thanks to Martin Pikes shepherd and North was in front. The Eagles had one last change to score but it was cut off by a Freeborn mark. It was a great game and great result.