1998 Premiership Season

Goals: Carey 6, Abraham 5, Grant 3 , McKernan 3, Scott, Bell, Roberts, King, Stevens.
Best: Carey, Martyn, Archer, Abraham, McKernan

North Melbourne finally performed at its peak this week to thrash league leader St Kilda by 67 points. After an up and down year were as last year the team hadn't been able to consistently perform at a high level things finally came together yesterday lead once again by the greatest player in the game by a mile Wayne Carey. Carey kicked 6 goals, took 14 marks and had over 20 kicks seeing off four St Kilda opponents at times with only one hand. More encouraging though was the fact Corey McKernan was back to something like his best form. The longer the game went the better the big man played, in the end he was killing Everitt in the Ruck was jumping over Carey to take marks and was sprinting into open goals. If North are to go all the way again this year we need more of the same from Corey in the weeks to come.

North outclassed the Saints in every single area, St Kilda's midfield was shut down, McKernan won the ruck and the backline lead by Mick and Archer destroyed their opponents. For once Heatly wasn't allowed space, it has been so frustrating having a hack like him kicking bags of 8 on us in the last couple of contests. Loewe who was the star of the Saints win over Footscray hardly got a touch all day and was in the end given bronze cheers by his own supporters when he got a rear mark in the last term. With the Saints midfield rendered useless and the forward line inoperable Wayne Carey and Winston Abraham make it look easy for the Roos kicked 6 and 5 goals respectively. Four of Abraham's five goals came in the first quarter. North were hard at the ball and the man at every opportunity Harvey, Jones and Windmar in particular were continually buffeted though out the game in a successful effort to tire them out.

North used its forward line strategy to perfection. The forward line was left vacant for long periods with North players up field booting the ball long into open space were Carey, Grant or Abraham would run back with the flight of the ball gather and with no one in front of them stroll in for an easy goal. The first term was a fairly even affair Abraham the star for North kicking 4 goals.

Carey opened the account for North in the second term after a great piece of play following up his own work. Carey's brilliance help set up another chance for North soon after it fell to Blakey but he missed the shot. Blakey ended up kicking 4 behinds for the day. North defence continued to rebound any St Kilda attack, the Saints put two players onto Carey leaving McCartney a loss man in defence. The Saints worked their next goal well a series of handballs resulting in a goal to Nicky Windmar who had been well beaten to this point by Blakey. Anthony Stevens highlighted North's defensive effort with a great smoother on Harvey, he then gathered the ball and kicked the goal.

McKernan was just starting to work his way into the game at this stage the first sign came when he turned around St Kildas dominance out of the centre they enjoyed in the first term and started to once again rove his own ruck work. The kick went straight to Carey who marked and gave it off to Shannon Grant to kick a goal, it was a classic bit of play and there was no doubt from the desperation they were showing that North was going to go on and win the game even at this early stage. North had 7 marks inside 50 compared to only 2 for the Saints, thanks largely to Martyn and Archer. Mckernan had been given the job of beating Everitt and he followed the bleached ruckman where ever he went. Abraham was the perfect compliment for Carey up forward he looked far to sharp for the Saints and when ever he's around there's always a chance something special is going to happen. Carey who was by now on his second opponent again majestically outmarked his one handed and kicked the goal. Sometimes I wonder what drug people are on when they suggest James Hird, or even Nathan Buckley for heavens sake are better then Carey, idiots all of them. Anyway unfortunately for the Saints and for the Vics Max Hugeston didn't get up from the marking contest having to be carried off with a knee injury. Its not serious though and he should be OK in a couple of weeks. David King was winning his battle against Aussie Jones launching many an attack with his customary runs from Half back. Carey got another mark but made a rare error for the day kicking into the man on the mark, it came back eventually though and Grant kicked a goal. North gave the Saints a slight chance just before the break a bad kickout from Grant landing straight in the arms of Mitchell who converted an easy goal. At half time North lead by 23 and had the wind in the third term.

The second half started in familiar fashion, Carey running back into the space again beating his third opponent for the day and kicking another goal. Burke and Brown both missed easy chances for St Kilda and North made them pay up the other end Grant kicking his third goal. The Saints got it back but Carey answered again for the Roos, Simpson was having a good game which was good to see he's been down on form recently and it was good to see him get a bit of the ball. McKernan who was by now killing Everitt in the ruck showed he was back in form taking a great mark nearly running over Carey in the process. He left Everitt for dead and kicked his first goal for the afternoon. In desperation Stan sent Loewe back onto Carey but he was hopelessly outclassed as well and couldn't prevent the champ slotting though his 5th goal of the game. North had stretched the lead out to 47 points and three quarter time.

North percentage is poor and it was important that we didn't fade away as we did last week. This wasn't to be a problem however North kept on going till the last 5 minutes. Carey got his sixth goal early in the quarter and then set up another for Peter Bell. Carey had another shot hit the post before the Saints got their first goal. Abraham answered right back with his fifth goal, his first since quarter time and North were well on the way ten goals clear. North continued to push forward McKernan taking another strong mark and kicking his second goal. Carey missed another opportunity misjudging the wind and the Saints managed to get back two quick goals. North finished off strongly though first David King and then a confident Corey McKernan dashing into kick goals. Carey and Martyn were cheered off the ground as they were benched with seconds to go, the siren went and North had crushed the Saints by 67 points.

It was a very important win, unfortunately all the other sides around us on the ladder won so we weren't able to improve much on our position. It was just good to see a good win at last the memories of a shocking month put behind us. If North can maintain that level of intensity for the remainder of the season, or at least enough to gain a top four place then a dangerous assault can be mounted on a premiership, after all we have much better players than the Footscray's and St Kilda's of this competition.