Two years after losing to West Coast in its first final for the team of the 1990’s, North prepared for a rematch at the MCG.
The Eagles were the reigning premiers, but had finished fifth and lost their qualifying final to Essendon.
Meanwhile the Kangaroos had finished sixth, but won their qualifying final against Richmond. Due to the finals system at the time, it earned them a home semi-final.
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Riding high after its defeat of the Tigers, the home side jumped out of the blocks with three times as many scoring shots as the Eagles in the first term.
However inaccuracy arguably cost North the chance to put the game away by quarter time. 12 shots yielded only 5.7, while West Coast’s accurate 4.1 kept the margin to just two straight kicks at the first break.
Upon the resumption of play it quickly became apparent North’s forward setup would continue to trouble the visitors. With Glenn Archer playing in the front half alongside the likes of John Longmire, Wayne Carey, Corey McKernan and Brett Allison, the avenues to goal were plentiful.
Veterans Ross Smith and Matt Armstrong were providing plenty of drive through the middle and half-back, and the lead stretched past four goals at the long break.
Although North had progressed to the preliminary final the year prior, it still had never won two consecutive finals under Denis Pagan.
It made the third quarter crucial, with the battle-hardened West Coast side sure to come out and throw everything at the Kangaroos.
North was the team who stood up though kicking five goals to just two, and extended its lead to 43 points with a quarter to play.
From there the result was merely a formality with both teams playing out time as the Roos won through to a preliminary final bout against Carlton.
North Melbourne: 5.7.37, 9.10.64, 14.14.98, 18.21.129
West Coast: 4.1.25, 6.3.39, 8.7.55, 10.11.71
Goals
North Melbourne: Archer 4, Longmire 3, McKernan 3, Allison 2, Freeborn 2, Armstrong 1, Blakey 1, King 1, Scott 1
West Coast: Gehrig 3, Evans 2, Matera 2, Brennan 1, Heady 1, McKenna 1
