“Your best running player is missing and another key defender is grounded. The opposition – its spirit already buoyed by a night series flag – has booted the last five goals to lead by 15 points and the game appears to be slipping away. If this sounds like a set up for a courageous North Melbourne win, it is.” – Jake Niall, The Age

North Melbourne already had a tough task in its season-opener – and that was before it lost Wayne Schwass after a minute, and Ian Fairley shortly after.

St Kilda had taken all before it in the pre-season, dominating the headlines after belting Carlton in the Ansett Cup final.

The Herald Sun preview reflected the general thoughts around the Saints:

“North is a clear-cut favourite in the bookmakers’ market despite the feeling the odds should be much closer. St Kilda has often worried North in recent seasons and the Roos will again rely heavily on (Wayne) Carey.”

It led to an explosive start; in addition to the Schwass injury – a badly broken arm which would keep him out of action until Round 10 – David King also flattened Stewart Loewe with a bump that would have received multiple weeks in today’s AFL.

Loewe was able to resume, but the absence of Schwass and Fairley meant North had just one fit player on the bench for essentially the duration of the game. There were still just three on the bench for another couple of seasons, with the 22nd player introduced in 1998.

While the Kangaroos had the advantage in the first half, their progress was marred by inaccuracy. The second term in particular was a costly one; the visitors kicked a measly 1.8 – its 10-point half time lead could, and should, have been a lot more.

When the St Kilda run-on arrived, it appeared almost impossible to stop. But it was be an unlikely player who stepped up to turn the tide.

Peter Bell, selected in the 1996 pre-season draft, had only two AFL games to his name at the time – both in Fremantle’s inaugural season. It was his two goals in the third term which helped turn the game back around in favour of North.

The Korean-born midfielder finished with four goals and 22 disposals, and as he told The Age’s Greg Denham after the match, it was a long way from what he was planning to do in 1996.

“It’s exciting to be part of a Melbourne club with so much tradition and so many good players around. You can’t help but become a better player yourself.

“Before today I had officially played twice, but actually I would have been lucky to have played a half in total. To tell you the truth, I was all geared up to play with South Fremantle this year.”

(click to enlarge)

There was one more coaching manoeuvre for Denis Pagan to swing and help turn the game. To this point of his career, Craig Sholl was regarded as a player for the back half of the ground.

His first 128 games yielded a grand total of 21 goals – but he kicked two important majors, one each in the third and fourth quarters, to provide North with an additional option up forward.

Whether the move was pre-planned or just a result of circumstance, Sholl ended up spending more and more time forward as the season and indeed his career rolled on. And it all started with the 1996 season-opener.

The final word came from Pagan, clearly pleased with his side’s efforts.

“The win really typified the spirit of North Melbourne. We gutsed it out with so many of our better players down.”

North Melbourne: 5.4.34, 6.12.48, 10.15.75, 15.19.109
St Kilda: 3.4.22, 5.8.38, 11.10.76, 12.13.85

Goals
North Melbourne: Bell 4, Carey 2, Roberts 2, Rock 2, Sholl 2, Allison 1, Archer 1, Stevens 1
St Kilda: Loewe 4, Traianidis 2, Anderson 1, Bardsley 1, Brown 1, Daniels 1, Vidovic 1, Winmar 1

Brownlow Medal
3 – Corey McKernan (21 disposals, 10 marks)
2 – Craig Sholl (15 disposals, 5 marks, 2 goals)
1 – Peter Bell (22 disposals, 4 goals)

Next week: North Melbourne travels to the MCG to face a Footscray side reeling from an 87-point loss to the Brisbane Bears in Round 1.

All vision courtesy of Ange Cristoforo