North Melbourne 4.4 8.10 14.19 20.24 (144) Richmond 5.0 6.3 9.3 14.5 (89)
Goals
North Melbourne Crocker 5, A Stevens 3, Bell 3, Roberts 2, Carey 2, Scott 2, Sholl, Daniltchenko, McKernan
Richmond Naish 3, Merenda 3, Rogers 2, M Gale, B Gale, Daffy, Richardson, Charles, Bond
North Melbourne emerged victorious after a week of off-field turmoil. Amid fears of a possible merger the team was able to
focus at the job on hand, and simply outclassed Richmond in front of nearly 50,000 fans at the MCG.
North was heartened by the return of McKernan from suspension and Crocker from injury. Before the game Wayne Schwass
appeared on the field, and was interviewed in front of the crowd. Schwass, club vice-captain and best and fairest winner
for the past 2 seasons, revealed that he would be back for the match against Footscray (after the interstate weekend).
Ian Fairley was featured on one side of the banner - "200 + 1 games - The underated backman", since he played his 200th
game interstate. Fairley is only the 12th North player to reach 200 games. The other side of the banner was a tribute to the
club chairman - Ron Casey - who was hospitalised earlier in the week.
The match began with Carey at centre-half-forward and Crocker at full-forward. I had already predicted the value of Darren
Crocker's return, and made the bold statement before the game that he would kick 4 goals before half-time!
Archer took Richardson, in what was to be one of the key match ups. The match began at a frenetic pace, North kicking
inaccurately (as usual!) and Richmond making full use of their few thrusts up forward. Richardson kicked an early goal from
outside 50 metres, and looked to be dangerous. At the first break North was trailing, even though they had more scoring
shots, and more of the play.
The second term saw North continue to dominate the play, and although kicking 4.6 held Richmond to just 1 goal. North
should have been at least 6 to 7 goals ahead, such was their domination. Inaccurate kicking left Richmond with a chance.
North powered on after half-time, kicking 6.9. Richmond was completely outplayed in the third quarter, but somehow
scored 3 goals. North was completely giving Richmond a flogging, but the margin flattered Richmond. Richardson was
ineffective, being well held, and Crocker provided a spark up forward. McKernan was dominating the ruck (30 metre hit
outs from the centre bounce). Carey was being well held, and seemed to prefer to play a strength game against Kellaway,
rather than trying to lead.
The result was over at three quarter time, with Richmond supporters already preparing to leave. Their team was second to
the ball, and didn't seem to want to attack it. Several blunders by Richmond players was frustrating their band-wagon
jumping fans. Daniltchenko played perhaps his best game when he came on, and Stevens did a superb job blanketing
Broderick, while racking up possesions and 3 goals himself. The final margin was 144 to 89 - although a more indicative
statistic of North's superiority would be the 196 kicks to 161 and 121 handballs to 80. North had 76 more disposals - an
amazing statistic.
McKernan was probably best on ground (again!), although Crocker was superb before being rested. Archer and Stevens
contained their opponents well, Carey was quiet. North had several good contributers - Blakey 23 disposals, Scholl (29),
Scott (22). It was a good team effort, and no player really stood out over his teammates.
North meets Fitzroy under lights on Friday. Fitzroy, with its first win in 364 days, will be keen to defeat North. Their will
surely be media attention on the merger agenda between these two clubs.
Personally, it was a very satisfying victory. Richmond supporters, the biggest band-wagon jumping fans in the AFL, will
have to reassess their team after their pathetic display. Since Richmond flogged North last year and the Tiger supporters I
know haven't stopped reminded me of it. North has since won the next three encounters, including the victory in the finals
last year. I don't know any Richmond supporters that know more than the "yellow and black" part of their club song, so
here's a version I found on the internet (posted just after they were killed by Geelong in last year's preliminary final).
I hope this doesn't offend too many people.
Oh we're from Tiger Land We're perfect pussies We're from Tiger Land And total wusses We threw the match away Got spastic the next day And our Brownlow hopes got f***-all votes I don't know why they stayed Yes we're from Tiger Land We look like d***heads When the final siren sounds Like the Tiger of old We keep getting rolled Oh we're from Tiger (WE GOT SCHELLACKED) Oh we're from Tiger Land - source unknown