September 25, 1999 was all about redemption for North Melbourne.
364 days earlier, the Kangaroos surrendered a 24-point half-time lead to lose the 1998 decider by 35 points to Adelaide, with a scoreline of 8.22 still enough to keep North fans up at night.
Remembering '99 - Carey and Pagan
“It was all about redemption,” 1999 captain Wayne Carey told North Media earlier this year, in a Powershop feature video series.
“That fire in the belly was there for me and for the rest of the group, and we put ourselves in a good position to challenge for the premiership again.
“I remember Denis (Pagan) and myself having to get up at the ‘98 function. We made the promise that we would win the flag in ’99. It’s a promise that you know you probably can’t keep, but we did, and I’m very proud of that.”
The Kangaroos line up before the game.
On Grand Final day in 1999, the Kangaroos were into their third Grand Final in four years.
This time the opponent would be Carlton, after the Blues had defeated premiership favorites Essendon in one of the all-time great preliminary finals the week prior.
Remembering '99 - King and Archer
The build-up was anything but smooth, with defender Jason McCartney suspended for striking the Brisbane Lions’ Clark Keating in the preliminary final, and inspirational on-baller Anthony Stevens given little chance to play after suffering ligament damage and a hairline fracture in his ankle.
Remarkably, Stevens was able to take part, and the Roos entered the clash with just the one change, as Cameron Mooney replaced the suspended McCartney.
In front of 94,228 people it was the Blues that got the fast start, with Brett Ratten kicking the opening goal.
The Roos fought back to kick the next three goals, and entered the first change with a 12-point lead.
Corey McKernan kicked two inspirational goals in the second term, including one of the all-time great Grand Final efforts, a bomb from the best part of 65 metres, as the Roos went into half-time leading by 20 points.
Corey McKernan kicks an unbelievable goal.
After holding a comfortable lead and losing just a year previous, there was no such issue for the Kangaroos in 1999, as they blew the Blues away in the ‘premiership quarter’, to hold a 43-point lead going into the last.
Carlton edged the final term, but the contest was effectively over at three-quarter time, as North held on to win its fourth VFL/AFL premiership, the second under the guidance of coach Pagan and captain Carey.
Shannon Grant was presented the Norm Smith Medal for an outstanding game in which he collected 19 disposals and kicked 4 goals.
Kangaroos 3.3 9.4 15.6 19.10 124
Carlton 1.3 5.8 7.11 12.17.89
Goals
Kangaroos: 4 Grant, 4 Bell, 3 McKernan, 2 Abraham, 2 Carey, 2 Motlop, Sholl, Welsh
Carlton: 2 Camporeale, 2 Lappin, 2 Whitnall, Allan, Beaumont, Brown, Hamill, Ratten, Rice
Shannon Grant shows off his medals.
