1998 Ansett Cup - Round 1 - North Melbourne v Carlton
Sat 21 February, 1998, North Hobart Oval
v's
[Head to Head Statistics] [Match Prediction] [Teams] [Scoreboard] [Match Summary] [Return to Main Menu]
The game will be played in Tasmania - where I have been assured that North Melbourne has considerable support. (While on the topic of Tasmania - Matthew Armstrong has retired, and will coach North Launceston.) North has been cursed in preseason matches for the last two seasons - losing Capuano for all of 1997 and Longmire for all of 1996. More details will be posted here when the 1998 season starts.
North Melbourne
New:
Houlihan, Abraham, Anderson, McCartney, Grant, Robertson
North Melbourne 2.2 9.9 15.12 17.17 (119)
Carlton 3.2 7.4 10.5 11.8 (74)
Goals
Nth Melb: Carey 3, Chandler, Sholl, Crocker, Abraham 2, Houlihan, Grant, Stevens, Roberts, Pike, King
Carlton: Pearce, Ratten 2, Camporeale, Allan, Massie, Chatfield, Rice, Balkwill, Anstey
A polished performance saw North Melbourne easily defeat an undermanned Carlton side in the opening game of the Ansett Cup Series. North was missing only Allison, McKernan and Capuano, whereas the Blues had Silvagni, Bradley, Dean, Sexton, Christou, Brown and Hickmott all out. After a slow start, where Carlton scored 3.2 before North had scored, the result was never in doubt. Even John Elliot confessed it would take a "miracle" for Carlton to win.
North would be more than happy with the performance of the new players. The two Aboriginal players, Abraham and Pickett, played across half-back - running out as Schwass did in past seasons. Abraham, in particular, showed he has excellent vision and could be more than a useful addition to the side. McCartney started well at centre-half-back, throwing himself at all the marking contests. A beefed-up Houlihan looked very different from his days at Collingwood, and could have kicked a bag of goals had he been more accurate.
North's defence of King, Archer and Martyn showed why they will be the foundation of the team. To be a genuine premiership chance AFL teams require an experienced and settled backline. North boasts one of the best in the business. With Pike and McCartney as the most recent additions, North should be better served against taller opponents.
During the game Carlton suffered from a one-dimensional attack. In stark contrast North had too many options. Carey, Houlihan, Sholl, Crocker and Groom were all rotated through the forward line. Due to the small size of the ground, it was very cramped up forward at times.
The sour note of the game was when Crocker took a courageous mark, backing in to the pack. The injury-plagued Crocker injured his knee, and immediately left the field. His future is unknown. At worst it would signal the end of the career of one of the unluckiest footballers of all time.