Crocker takes a great mark for North. Picture by Wayne Ludbey of the "Herald Sun" Newspaper.
High marking was a feature of the game, played in perfect conditions for football.
North Melbourne 6.5 8.10 12.13 21.15 (141) Richmond 3.2 7.9 12.11 16.13 (109)
Goals
North Melbourne Sholl 5, Carey 3, Rock 3, A Stevens 3, Allison 3, Anderson 2, Archer, Roberts
Richmond Richardson 6, Naish 3, Bowden 3, Gaspar, Rogers, Daffy, Powell
Over 61,000 North Melbourne, Richmond and Hawthorn fans made the trek to the MCG for the final game of the AFL Home and Away season. Richmond had to win to make the eight, while a North victory would give the team second position, and a double chance in the finals. Hawthorn fans turned up barracking for North - as they were relying on a Richmond loss to make the eight.
North welcomed back Glenn Archer, and selected Brent Harvey for his first senior game of AFL football. Earlier in the day the Reserves defeated Richmond to take top position on the AFL Reserves Ladder. (The Reserves meet second placed Sydney, at the SCG next week. This is because there is a final 6 in the Reserves.)
| Crocker takes a great mark for North. Picture by Wayne Ludbey of the "Herald Sun" Newspaper. High marking was a feature of the game, played in perfect conditions for football. |
First Quarter
North lined up with Carey and Sholl in the forward line, and Archer on Richardson. North started on fire, with Anderson kicking a goal on the run, and Roberts snapping from 30 metres to put North 2 goals in front after less than 3 minutes of play. Richardson kicked his first, but that only opened the North onslaught. Carey handed a goal to Allison, after he had taken a ride on the behind post to take a mark. Sholl and Rock goaled, and North had a 21 point lead. Inaccurate kicking, and two Richmond goals prevented the lead from extending. North should have been 5 goals in front - the Richmond midfield was useless, and they had hardly ventured past half-forward. Eleven scoring shots to five illustrates North's total dominance.
Goals:
N - Anderson (2 minutes)
N - Rock (3)
R - Richardson (5)
N - Allison (10)
N - Sholl (11)
N- Rock (16)
R - Powell (17)
R - Gaspar (21)
N - Sholl (28)
Second Quarter
After Sholl goaled after 3 minutes North moved to a 27 point lead. But it was Richmond that gained the ascendency in the midfield, and, by running in numbers, kicked the next 4 goals to move to within a goal of North Melbourne. Richmond was totally dominating the game - and cutting up the midfield at the same time. Charles was beating McKernan and Naish and Knights were providing drive for Richmond. Anderson kicked a badly needed goal for North. Just on half time Stevens had a chance to goal after the siren, but missed. Richmond kicked 4.7 for the quarter - hitting the post at least twice. North was just hanging on to the lead. Carey was goalless (although he did give a goal away to Allison in the first quarter).
Goals:
N - Sholl (3)
R - Richardson (5)
R - Naish (12)
R - Richardson (14)
R - Naish (20)
N - Anderson (24)
Third Quarter
Richmond continued dominating the midfield, and hit the lead by kicking 3 goals in the first 4 minutes of the quarter. North was trailing by 11 points when Sholl goaled. Richmond was on a roll, and had the crowd support. It was looking grim for North - they were not clearing the ball at centre-bounces, and Richmond had loose players everywhere. North managed to slow the Tiger charge, and goals became harder to score. Richmond again took an eleven point lead after Bowden goaled, but North kicked the last two goals of the quarter to wrestle the lead back. These were vital goals - Rock's coming at the 26 minute mark, and importantly for North, Carey marked and kicked his first goal at the 28 minute mark. Carey's goal put the team back in front, just on three-quarter time. Although Richmond was clearly the better team in the quarter, they only outscored North by 5 points.
Goals:
R - Rogers (1)
R - Richardson (2)
R - Richardson (4)
N - Sholl (5)
R - Daffy (10)
N - Allison (12)
R - Bowden (20)
N - Rock (26)
N - Carey (28)
Fourth Quarter
Richmond had everything to play for in the final quarter. They needed a win to make the finals, and the Tiger supporters were deafening. North had been beaten in the second and third quarters and needed a lift from Carey and McKernan. Both had been good in patches, but an extra effort was required. Archer was moved from Richardson, and went forward. Sholl's marking and accurate kicking was providing the prime focus for North.
The first goal was going to be absolutely vital. The game needed a player to stand up and take control. That player was Wayne Carey. Less than 1 minute into the quarter he marked in front of goal and unselfishly handballed to the unmanned Archer who goaled. Six minutes later it was Carey again. Another mark, another goal. North effectively had a three goal lead, and McKernan was starting to dominate the centre-bounces, and the North midfield was able to get first use of the football. Anthony Stevens and Peter Bell both lifted a notch and had several possessions.
McKernan appeared to change his ruck style at the centre-bounces. Instead of trying to punch the ball forward as hard as possible he began to palm the ball backwards to the waiting North small men. This tactic was extremely effective, as the ball was placed to advantage the North rovers. Stevens goaled, and North looked home.
Richardson kicked his sixth goal, and moved Richmond to within 3 goals. The Tigers were within striking distance, but three North Melbourne goals in three minutes sealed the victory. They were kicked by Stevens, Carey and Sholl - among the best players in the quarter.
It was an extremely pleasing victory. North was clearly the better team in the first and last quarter, and Richmond better in the second and third. North slipped to let Richmond take the lead, but fought back just as they did against Geelong last week. In the past the team seemed to have trouble in overcoming the opposition when trailing. A nine goal last quarter was an excellent result to take into the finals.
Goals:
N - Archer (1)
N - Carey (7)
N - Stevens (9)
R - Richardson (11)
N - Stevens (13)
N - Carey (14)
N - Sholl (15)
R - Naish (17)
N - Allison (20)
N - Rock (21)
R - Bowden (25)
N - Stevens (27)
R - Bowden (29)
Next Week: North Melbourne had a rematch with Geelong. Geelong defeated North last week, and was without Barnes and Riccardi that night. Geelong has been North's nemesis over the years - but this game gives North the chance to repay the Cats over the 1994 Semi-Final (in which Geelong eliminated North by goaling after the siren). There will be no sweeter revenge than eliminating the Cats next week.