1998 Premiership Season

Goals: Carey 3, Grant 3; Freeborn 2, Roberts 2, Sholl 2; Pike, Harvey, McKernan.

Best: Stevens, Simpson, McCartney, Carey

North Melbourne never really got out of second gear in their defeat of struggling Brisbane on the weekend. North took the lead early and controlled the play for most of the game. The rare occasion when Brisbane looked half a chance North answered showing that they had plenty in reserve if it was required. North should have won by much more then they did 15.23 is a terrible effort really, especially in the second and third quarters when North kicked a total of 18 behinds.

Kennedy had the job on Carey while Corey Mckernan was operating at full forward leaving the early ruck work to Capuano. Brisbane started the game in the best possible fashion kicking the opening goal inside the first 30 seconds. Carey had a chance to answer but was the first Roo of many to kick poorly and only a behind resulted. North were able to keep it within their attacking 50 however and Mark Roberts put North in front. Wayne Carey kicked the first of his goals for the night a huge 60 metre kick with the aid of the strong breeze but North a goal clear. Brisbane had selected a very tall backline to try and unsettle North but it failed dismally, their only dangerous players were none forwards Lawrence and Dickfos. The game was starting to go to plan North pulling away at a rapid rate, Shannon Grant put though North�s third. Disaster struck soon after, Glen Archer taking a great mark in a pack but landed badly and injured his knee. Thankfully its not a bad injury but it had North fans nervous for a night.

Byron Pickett delivered his mandatory solid bump while Carey received a free kick inside 50 (a miracle) and kicked the goal. They may lack skill but Brisbane were hell bent on trying to match it with North physical Brett Allison the next Roo to go down seemingly with concussion but its turned out much worse he�s broken his hand and may miss 4-5 meaning his season could be over unless he is rushed straight back into the senior side for a final, possibly the Grand Final. Dickfoss was awarded a very doubtful mark in the forward pocket and squared it up to a player on a better angle who goaled. McKernan seemed to be limping again but Archer was running around the boundary line. Brisbane was started to play well into the wind, Ashcroft put though the next goal for Brisbane cleverly drilling it low as to reduce the affect of the wind enabling the ball to travel 50 metres. The Lions were good in the last few minutes of the term going forward a number of times only to kick inaccurately or be held up by McCartney on the last line of defence. At quarter time North lead by 9 points which considering they were supposedly kicking with a 3 goal breeze was not a very encouraging return.

The second term started in scrappy fashion both sides struggling to score, North working hard to bottle it up so as not to let Brisbane get on a run with the wind, Abraham had a great effort just hold up on the line. Simpson was having a good game and he won the ball on the wing to give Roberts a chance but the shot hit the post from 10 metres out. Martin Pike was also proving good run out of defence and Corey Mckernan finally put the first goal on the board in the second term after soccering the ball through. North�s midfield was working hard, Bell was playing well so too Stevens who set up Sholl for his first goal of the game. It was at about this time that Brisbane started to fall apart, if North could be said to have a bad day the Bears had a shocker, Keating missed the easiest of goals and their players caused a number of turnovers though bad field kicking. Carey was good in bursts but like the whole teams effort he seemed only to cruise though the game. Brisbane stuffed up again to give North the next goal Glen Freeborn was hit on the chest by a Lion kicking out another shocking error. Sholl was providing a leading target up forward for the Roos but North still couldn�t finish the work with goals. Shannon Grant kicked his second for the term after receiving a handball in the square, David King should have had one too but he took a bounce and was run down from behind. Brisbane got a late goal back from a free kick but North went into the main change with a 29 point lead and the game already in the bag.

North were a bit too eager early in the third, Abraham and Sholl ruining a golden opportunity by running into each other, another blow to North Martin Pike injured his knee after being put under pressure from an errant handball from Capuano. He had played well up to that point and was another cause for a sleepless night for North fans. Lawrence was Brisbane�s only real winner on the night apart from Chris Scott who seems to be returning to his rising star form. Lawrence took on the man on the mark to kick Brisbane�s next goal but Wayne Carey marked strongly and steadied for the Roos. Power summed up Brisbane�s night he ran into an open goal with no one anywhere near his and still managed to miss only Blights famous effort comes to mind as being a worse miss. North missed a number of shots again, they would get 10 behinds for the quarter they just couldn�t buy one, even Grant was missing easy 30 metre shots. Freeborn finally kicked straight but North couldn�t pull away from the Lions, Carey missed a shot on the siren.

D White got just about his only touch for the match to open the scoring in the final term. Carey took a great mark and gave it off to Sholl who kicked the quick reply. Carey did it again a few minutes later, this time finding Roberts and another goal. Brisbane got one back as Capuano got a knock on his knee but got right up to win the ruck contest palming the ball down to Grant who kicked his third. Brisbane kicked a few goals to keep the stores respectable North winning by 27. The best news to come out of it though is that the injuries arnt that serious, only Allison will miss more than one and even better St Kilda and Footsray both dropped their bundle putting North equal top a Round 22 clash with the Bulldogs for the minor premiership looms.