1998 Premiership Season

Goals: McKernan 5; Grant 4; Harvey 3, Hewitt 2, Rock, Scott, Abraham, Carey, Allison, Welsh, Sholl.

North Melbourne had a 17point win over Brisbane yesterday at the MCG. North got off to a flying start, Sholl marking strongly and kicking a goal from 55 meters out. Carey started at Centre-Half back while McKernan played up forward, Allison playing in his 200th game started on the bench. McKernan brought the crowd to life with his first goal to put North two goals clear. North was winning the ball out of the middle well and at this early stage seemed as if they were going to run away with the game as expected. The backline was strong as usual, Byron Pickett putting Johnson down with a strong sheapard.

Brisbane's first goal came when an unlucky bounce saw Martyn out of position and the ball landed in Leppiches hands, he gave it off to Chris Johnson who kicked the goal. Terrible umpiring got Brisbane back in the game Carey had the ball taken off him in the backline and a 50meter penalty resulted in a Brisbane goal. Brisbane were given a great run of free kicks for about 5 minutes and it was enough to put them back in the game. Carey went forward however and took a pack bursting mark to put North back into the lead. Shannon Grant kicked a huge running goal a few minutes latter and when a cleaver bit of play by Harvey added another North were out to a 17 point lead. Daniel Bradshaw got one back for Brisbane but once again Harvey answered to re-establish the break. McKernan marked strongly on the siren and was landed on heavily, he goaled from the resulting 50 and North went in 23 points to the good.

Chris Johnson got Brisbane off and running in the second term, Anthony Rock got one back for North before Brisbane started to take control of the play. They had a number of and the pressure finally paid off with Brisbane adding two quick goals and having numerous other chances. Martin Pike was playing a bad game, he was getting a lot of the ball but it seemed to go wrong for him once he got it, he may also face video scrutiny for elbowing a Lion in the head. Brisbane continued to take it up to North and levelled the scores soon after though Daniel Bradshaw. Brett Allison took a great mark in the goal square, I have seen him to exactly the same thing once before, unfortunately this time the umpire judged the ball hit the ground on the way down and it wasn't paid.

Harvey kicked his third goal to give North back the lead and Brett Allison celebrated his 200th with a goal soon afterward to give North a bit of breathing space. Brisbane got one back just before half time and North lead by 7 points at the main change.

Shannon Grant started North off on the right foot in the second half with an early goal, McKernan took another strong mark but missed. It was strange that Northy kept Dickfoss on McKernan all day even though he gave away a lot to the big roo in terms of height. The game became evenly poised until Even Hewitt took what might be the first contested mark of his short career about 15 meters out from goal. He put it though and North had grabbed back the initiative. Winston Abraham ran into an open goal to put North further ahead. McKernan again had a shot on the siren and put though the goal.

North looked to be pretty comfortable but it was still possible for Brisbane to win the game, McKernan ended any hope the Lions had early in the final term snapping though his forth goal. Shannon Grant manufactured another goal with a round the body snap and when McKernan kicked though his fifth the game was over. McKernan's form was encouraging he kicked 5 and marked extremely well. Grant kicked his fourth and Welsh took a screamer as well as adding a goal for himself. North backed off a bit and the Lions kicked the last few.

Denis Pagan said Brisbane's persistence worried him all game.

"It was a frustrating day but take nothing away from Brisbane," he said. "We knew they would bounce back. Their midfielders got on top and held sway and for most of the day it was a hard slog.

"We weren't nearly as effective in the midfield as we are capable of and we were concerned in the coaches' box, I can assure you of that. You only need a two or three goal run-on to change the whole complexion of the game."

The midfield was beaten by the Lions, Rock and Stevens were both very quite but Carey dominated at Centre half back and Harvey and Grant assisted McKernan up forward. North was again out paced by the Lions, I don't understand how we can have four ruckman in the side, Longmire, Hewitt, Capuano and McKernan all played in the same team. I think its time Capuano or Hewitt were dropped and another midfielder was put into the team. Overall it was a struggle but North won and are now sit third on the ladder.