1998 Premiership Season

Goals: Sholl 3, Grant 2, Hewitt 2, Abraham 2, Allison, Simpson, Carey, McKernan, Welsh, Bell

North Melbourne escaped from jail today in a game remarkably similar to the game exactly one year ago against Hawthorn, both games begin decided by a controversial holding the ball decision and thankfully both went in our favour. Last year it was Anthony Mellington who laid the winning tackle this year it was Evan Hewitt�s tackle on Rehn in the forward pocket in the final minutes that gave North the win. North�s match committee finally realised that the side had too many ruckmen and dropped Longmire. I personally would have dropped Capuano but at least it was a step in the right direction. We also had some dancing girls to entertain us before the game. Again there was no reserves but at least North got off on the right foot winning the Voice of the G Playstation competition.

Adelaide got the first goal of the game though Jarmen who was playing up forward. Adelaide had most of the early play, Rehn was dominant in the ruck and they had soon put though another goal. North were stung into action soon after Welsh put though North�s first and Shannon Grant put followed soon after to put North back in the drivers seat. Archer was having a bad quarter, he gave away too silly free kicks but it mattered little as North took total control of the match. Carey took the first of what was to be many a strong mark over McKeran and Hewitt, Unfortunately McKernan hurt his knee again as a result. His knees really are bad, there has been strong rumours that its so loss it could do with a reco. Abraham and Allison combined as the latter kicked North�s next but in the back ground McKernan was limping off the ground.

Shannon Grant was probably North�s best in the first term, he kicked a great goal after following his own kick up. Grant was at the fall of the ball constantly in the first half, his kicking to Carey in particular is fabulous and he is becoming a real asset to the team. Evan Hewitt kicked two long goals in the first term, he played well in the first term and looks to be able to provide a target up forward. Abraham finished off the job on the siren kicking his first goal. McKernan came back on late in the term easing fears that he has seriously hurt his knee again. Carey was in fine form in the first term and along with Grant was probably best on the ground. At quarter time North was up by 31 points and looked set to finish the Crows after the break.

Things started to go drastically wrong for North though in the second term, Jarmen got the first goal of the term after North failed twice to find a target from the kickout. This problem got worse and worse as the game went on, North could not find a target to kick to when they kicked out and Adelaide were always able to get it back forward again. In complete contrast when the Crows kicked out they easily run the ball all the way down the ground to kick a goal. North�s manning up was atrocious in the 2nd and 3rd terms. North�s skills were poor in the second term, everyone was fumbling around with the ball and struggled to gain clean possession. Carey and Grant kept North in it though combining well for a goal. Adelaide got a run on and had soon closed within 8 before Abraham kicked a steadying goal. Rehn was dominating the ruck, we didn�t get many centre clearances at all and he was causing us more problems by dropping back to Centre Half back cutting off Carey on a number of occasions. Rehn seemed to get injured shortly after, he signalled to the bench that he wanted his knee strapped. The Crows kicked the last goal of the term and has another chance that fell short on the siren, North lead had been reduced to 8 points at the long break.

Carey had the first chance of the second half, but missed and Adelaide got the first goal. Simpson got a quick reply to steady North again but the Crows kept on coming. Hewitt who had played a good game up until this point caused a vital turnover that resulted in a Crows goal and was subsequently dragged. McKernan set up an answer for North with his trade mark roving his own tap out. Sholl converted the chance and North lead by 10. Adelaide turned it on again though first answering and then moving into the lead for the first time since the 5 min mark of the first term after Rintoul goaled. North was so louse in its marking it was a wonder they didn�t fall apart completely. Surely Pagan could have seen how much we were struggling with the Zone and implemented a man on man strategy. Carey was the only player keeping us in the game, he was at his sparkling best today and he marked strongly to help set up a goal to regain the lead. I still don�t know who kicked it actually, Carey miss kicked and it went into the square, it spilled of McKernan�s hands and someone slammed it though for a goal.

Jarman put the Crows back in front after getting a soft free kick and Adelaide followed it with two more quick goals to get the lead out to 15 points. Archer was shifted onto Jarmen soon after though and he did a great job shutting the Adelaide star down. McKernan had two chances to move North closer late in the term first he should have given off to Harvey who was free 10 meters out and the second time after he marked brilliantly he missed what he normally would have drilled. At three quarter time Adelaide were in command, they were playing a lot better then we were and lead by an even 3 goals.

North had kicked 7 goals in the first quarter but only 5 in the next two something had to change if North were to get back into it. To their credit it did change, the attack on the ball was 300% better in the final term, Steven�s who has been struggling this season came to life, so to did Blakey and Bell. North�s tackling was ferocious. I cant remember how many exactly there was but we got about 6 free kicks for holding the ball after tackling well. Pickett who had a bad day all round and caused a turnover up but followed laying one of the best tackles I have seen to stop a certain Crows goal. Carey took change and lead from the front, McKernan got us firing with a great snap from the pocket and the crowd who had been silent since quarter time roared to life. North sprayed the goals, Carey, Welsh, Simpson, Hewitt and Abraham all missed chances. Carey again combined with Shannon Grant as he rammed though the goal to the protests of the Adelaide players who claimed it was touched and North was right back in the contest. Then at the 23 minute mark Hewitt put the tackle on Rehn in the forward pocket and was award a free kick, he squared up to Bell who calmly popped though the goal and gave North the game. The last quarter only went for 26 minutes because North kicked 3 goals to Adelaide�s none. It was a great win if not a little lucky, I just don�t understand why our attack on the footy wasn�t as good in the 2nd and 3rd as it was in the last.