Starting the 1997 finals series from seventh, few expected North Melbourne to get close to replicating its premiership of the previous year.

However an upset win over second placed Geelong in the qualifying final raised expectations, and when the Kangaroos were fixtured in a home semi-final against West Coast their chances grew further.

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Although the Eagles had finished fifth, they’d lost to Adelaide in week one. The format of the McIntyre finals system meant they were forced to hit the road again.

However, in the early stages at the MCG, it appeared West Coast was well on its way to a preliminary final.

Perhaps still stung by North’s comfortable win the last time the two sides met in the finals, the Eagles were clearly the better side.

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Youngster Phillip Matera was unstoppable down forward, while big man Brendan Fewster was also causing troubles. North went into the long break trailing by 20 points, and the task grew even tougher shortly after the resumption.

Goals to Matera and Ben Cousins stretched North’s deficit out to 32 points, and the game appeared moments away from being declared over as a contest.

Craig Sholl then stepped up. Playing across half-forward, he set up Brett Allison for the next goal, before pumping the ball inside 50 for what would turn out to be a McKernan snap.

He then kicked one himself, set another up for McKernan and all of a sudden the margin was only eight points.

It was where the difference would stay when the siren rang for three quarter time.

West Coast was then the stronger side at the start of the last quarter, perhaps giving its last shot. It had the first two scoring shots of the term, but the crucial misses by Matera kept the margin below two goals.

When Sholl kicked the first goal of the last, the deficit was under a goal. Shortly after it was Stuart Anderson who put North in front with all the momentum.

Finals specialist Glenn Freeborn chipped in with an important goal and despite a late push by the Eagles, Wayne Carey sealed the game with his second of the afternoon.

It sent North through to the preliminary final, its fourth in a row under Denis Pagan.

North Melbourne: 2.2.14, 5.4.34, 10.6.66, 15.8.98
West Coast: 5.1.31, 8.6.54, 11.8.74, 12.13.85

Goals
North Melbourne: McKernan 4, Sholl 3, Allison 2, Carey 2, Anderson 1, Bell 1, Crocker 1, Freeborn 1
West Coast: Phil Matera 3, Banfield 2, Cousins 2, Fewster 2, Evans 1, Kemp 1, Lewis 1