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1999 Grand Final: North Melbourne 19.10 (124) d Carlton 12.17 (89)
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Scores: Kangaroos 3.3 9.4 15.6 19.10 (124)
Carlton 1.3 5.8 7.11 12.17 (89)
Goals
Kangaroos Grant 4, Bell 4, McKernan 3, Abraham 2, Carey 2, Motlop 2, Sholl, Welsh
Carlton Whitnall 2, Lappin 2, Camoporeale 2, Ratten, Brown, Rice, Allan, Beaumont, Hamill
Umpires: Allen, McLaren, Coates
Attendance: 94, 228
Norm Smith Medallist: Shannon Grant
North Melbourne B: Pickett, Martyn, Archer HB: Pike, Longmire, King C: Grant, Stevens, Blakey HF: Welsh, Carey (c), Abraham F: Harvey, McKernan, Sholl R: Capuano, Simpson, Bell Inter: Allison, Clayton, Mooney, Motlop Coach: D. Pagan
Carlton B: Rice, Silvagni, Franchina HB: McKay, Sexton, Nelson C: Camporeale, Kotoufides, Massie HF: Hamill, Whitnall, Bradley (c) F: Lappin, Manton, Murphy R: Allan, Ratten, Brown Inter: Beaumont, Christou, Hickmott, Hogg Coach: D. Parkin
Controversy surrounded the start of Grand Final week. Jason McCartney pleaded guilty to a charge of striking, and was suspended for four matches. He was to miss the Grand Final for the Kangaroos. Similarly Aaron Hamill was suspended for two weeks for deliberately kneeing his opponent. However Carlton took the verdict to the appeals tribunal and successfully overturned the decision with the help of biomechanic evidence. The overwhelming consensus was that Hamill had indeed been very lucky to be playing in the Grand Final.
North couldn't really complain, as Mick Martyn escaped report for an incident in which a Brisbane player left with a fractured cheekbone. It appeared that the Martyn may have struck his opponent and caused the injury, but video evidence was inconclusive. Seconds earlier the Brisbane player was in a marking contest, and appeared to receive accidental contact in the head. It was unknown which incident caused the injury.
Selection matters aside, North was the overwhelming favourite. They had defeated Brisbane in a fierce contest. Brisbane had won 10 matches in a row, by an average of 10 goals. The Lions were undoubtedly the form side of the competition. The next day Essendon, the minor premiers, were expected to trounce Carlton. The Blues had finished only sixth, and were, in the words of their coach, a "B Grade Team". Carlton had lost their first final to Brisbane by 12 goals. They surprised Essendon with a sensational opening quarter, and then managed a final term comeback to win by a point. Experts declared that Carlton had already played their "Grand Final", and were lucky to even be competing in the Grand Final.
Trying to set a record of being the Premier with the most season defeats (11), Carlton kicked the first goal of the game. But it soon came apparent that the North backline was too strong, and that creative midfielders such as Grant, Simpson and Bell were too good. Anthony Stevens amazingly took the field, after being on crutches the week before. After the game he admitted having a hairline fracture of his heel, and ankle ligament damage - but bravely defied pain to play.
Corey McKernan took several critical marks just when Carlton looked like making a comeback, and by the time Carey went on to the ball in the third quarter the signs were ominous for Carlton. Silvagni had beaten Carey to this point, but Carey had several quality possessions on the ball, and it left McKernan an open forward line. Midway through the third quarter the game was as good as over.
A second premiership to the Pagan era, and third Grand Final in four years marked North as the best team of the late 1990s. Only West Coast had a better winning percentage for the decade, but North was the better finals performer. With six consecutive Preliminary Finals appearances, a conversion rate of two premierships was deemed about right. A loss would have marked the team as "chokers" and "underachievers" considering the talent at the club.
There is no doubt that this era has a chance of bettering the "Golden Era" of the 70s, when Ron Barassi's team made the Grand Final from 1974-1978.