1998 Premiership Season

Goals: Carey 4, Blakey 3 ........

North Melbourne had a fighting victory over the Sydney Swans today at the MCG. North again failed to produce a consistent display, they were great for three quarters and terrible in the second but it was enough to get them over the line in a memorable and sometimes spiteful clash.

Fans were again entertained by cheerleaders before the game, much more interesting then watching the grass grow in the absence of a reserves game and they seem to have become a regular at North home games. North Melbourne again won the playstation challenge, think they are undefeated so far this year at that. The game was played in very very low cloud which forced the lights to be turned on in the second term. You couldn't even see the city skyline from the Southern Stand at one stage. As the plays took up the positions I was happy to see McKernan in the ruck with Longmire and Carey taking up the too key forward positions. John Blakey was assigned the job on Wayne Schwass. North started the better of the two sides, Longmire doing well to keep the ball alive in the pocket leading to a David King goal. Pike had a wonderful chance seconds later but missed an easy shot after doing all the hard work to get himself into position.

A series of errors by North lead to the Swans first goal of the game though Paul Kelly. Blakey was onto in his dual with Schwass early and he out marked the former Roo to kick North's second goal. You could tell right from the start that North was going to use McKernan and Archer to drop back into the hole in front of Lockett and it worked a treat. Blakey again outmarked Schwass to set Bell up but he missed an easy goal. It was a costly miss the Swans took it straight down their end and converted. North kicked the last three goals of the term, they looked the goods were on top in the general play and if not for some easy misses by Peter Bell and Martin Pike should have been further in front. Wayne Carey capped off the quarter with a great mark and goal on the siren, North changed for the first time with a comfortable 20 point lead. Martyn was destroying Plugger at full back and what ever he couldn't handle Glen Archer could. It was a great set up and it worked perfectly. Paul Kelly and Wayne Schwass were both easily out pointed by their North Melbourne minders.

Paul Kelly kicked the first goal of the second term with just his third kick, unfortunately for the Kangaroos his output would soon increase. The Swans had lifted their play substantially, either that or North had taken the foot off the gas, Sydney peppered away before scoring their second for the term bringing the gap back to 8 points. Brett Allison again injured his knee after flying for a mark. The injury is expected to keep him out of the side for between 4-6 weeks. To make matters worse Allison didn't receive a free and the ball ended up with a Sydney player who kicked the goal. McKernan was playing terribly, in the ruck he was doing OK but he couldn't mark at all, he was mistimeing everything it was very unlike him. Sydney continued to pile on the pressure and kicked a few more goals. If it wasn't for the resolute defence of Martyn, Archer and King North would have been in huge trouble, as it was they were under siege. Paul Kelly was now gathering Kicks at will after struggling in the first term and Schwass has been moved to half back away from Blakey and was now starting to have an impact. Shannon Grant got North's only goal for the quarter running in a goal from 50 meters out. North had Lockett covered but it was Brent Green who was doing North damage, he kicked a fluky third goal out of the air to put the Swans in front. It was a relief when the siren blow for half time, north was playing like a boxer on the ropes but the bell saved us thank god. North had blown a 20 point lead at quarter time to trail by 12 at the main break.

Brett Allison didn't come out after half time confirming fears that he had seriously injured himself. Lockett finally got a goal one of his trade mark burst and spin goals, nothing Mick could have done about it really but it did come at a bad time. John Blakey was able to kick North a goal though after a clearance error from Sydney although this was answered again by the rampant Swans. King was playing a great game in the backline, he started to get us back in the game with long running dashes from the backline. Peter Bell finally converted an opportunity to give a North a much needed goal and that was followed by an inspirational goal by Carey who grabbed the ball out of a ruck contest span and snapped though the goal. The Swans were getting the ball forward enough but Archer, Martyn and King were forming a running great wall of China in defence. Time and time again they cut off and frustrated Lockett. North was back on track, King stormed out of defence to deliver the ball to Blakey who took a big grab and kicked his third goal putting us into the lead. North was on top in the general play again but couldn't capitalise on it unfortunately until the Swans got one against the run of play. Martin Pike answered for the Roos straight after though to keep us in front. A dubious umpiring decision to not allow Shannon Grant a mark aloud the Swans to pull back a goal right on the three quarter time siren to set it up for a big last term.

I was fairly confidant at this stage, I couldn't imagine them losing two in a row while leading at the last break. Wayne Schwass was now playing on Shannon Grant, it had been an interesting battle, it probably came out even on the day, it was disappointing to see some of North's fans booing Schwass. John Blakey who had been a key contributor in the game put though the vital first goal of the term. The Swans hit back within a minute though after Archer and Hewitt ran into each other trying to clear the ball. King again dashed forward to give North another chance but Rock failed to convert. Rock had a good game this week which was good to see after suffering an indifferent season so far to date. Wayne Carey outmarked Dunkley and kicked the goal to put North in a very good position. At the same time Tony Lockett who hadn't had a sniff all day was being dragged. Wayne Carey sealed the game for the Roos soon after, He was wacked in the head by Dunkley and received a free. Tempers started to flare as a scuffle developed. Dunkley was reported and Carey went back like the champions he is and drilled the goal straight though post high from 60 meters out. It brought the house down and finished off Sydney. Winston Abraham kicked the next goal out of the goal square to stretch the lead out to four goals. North switched off the game in the bag and the Swans kicked the last two goals of the game. It was a great victory by North, one that seemed certain at quarter time and then highly doubtful at the half. North's second half was great though, they were hard at the ball, they tackled well and didn't allow the Swans to run into space either in midfield or in the forward line. The best players for North were Archer, King and Martyn who all killed their opponent and provided North with great rebound out of the back line. Carey was also a very good player again up forward kicking 4 goals. North by 10 in front of a healthy crowd of 43,400 people.