1998 Premiership Season

Goals: Grant 4; Carey 3, Archer 2, Allison, Hewitt, McKernan

North Melbourne has gone done by 17 points in Perth on the weekend. The game was remarkable similar to the loss to Melbourne, both in terms of margin and general game trend. Fremantle beat North with pace, an area North has often been criticised. I am not sure what other North fans think but I think that its stupid to be playing 4 ruckman in McKernan, Hewitt, Capuano and Longmire. In a normal game I don't agree with it but against a running team such as Fremantle one of those positions would be much better filler with a running on-baller. North were beaten in the ruck even with all those options, McKernan has yet to play in the ruck since his return and Capuano and Hewitt although both serviceable lowered their colours to Matthew Burton. McKernan had a bad game after a good performance last week, apparently North has him in a pre-set program to ease him back into full match fitness.

North were well beaten in midfield , Andrew Wills in particular was dam near unstoppable, I don't know who was on him all night but who ever it was they didn't do a very good job of it. Fremantle got its goals though Clive Waterhouse who was a livewire up forward kicking four goals and he was well supported by the rest of the Dockers side.

North started the game well but kicked inaccurately letting the Dockers get away. Freo kicked six goals to two in the second to set up a commanding lead at half time. North though to their credit hung in there, just when it seemed the Dockers were cruising to an easy win Shannon Grant burst onto the seen kicking two goals in a minute and putting North back. North continued to charge in the final term Carey started to dominate at Centre-Half forward after being up back in his rightful place and Grant, Harvey and Allison all did their bit to keep North in the hurt. North managed to draw level but the Dockers to their credit didn't roll over and Clive Waterhouse came up with a 55 metre answering goal. As I said earlier the game was a lot like the Melbourne game, North never really looked like it then all of a sudden seemed to have it won when they pulled level but for the second time this year North have failed to go on with it after doing the car work to get back.

Winston Abraham was invisible in his first game against his old club which was a bit disappointing I had expected him to put on a bit of a show for his old fans. North's best players were Carey, Grant , Stevens, Scott and McCartney. Evan Hewitt got himself a black eye after tangling with the surfy Docker. Anthony Rock played a serviceable game and looks to be regaining form unfortunately he was reported for tripping and may miss a few games when he goes up before the tribunal. The incident probably cost North the game actually, The ball was out of bounds on the wing when Rock tripped the Docker who got a free and a 50 metre penalty before slotting though a goal. North wasn't that far off the pace, apart from the Rock incident North failed to capitalise on the opportunities and had the ball inside its 50 meter line more then the Dockers. Wills capped off his best on ground effort with a great (fluke though) goal in the dying seconds.

North have fallen to sixth on the ladder and next week take on Adelaide at the MCG.