NMFC.com.au presents stats and facts relating to the teams in the lead-up to the marquee matchup.
• North is responsible for Carlton’s biggest loss in its history.
The margin was 124 points in the final round of 2003 and the margin could have been even bigger if it wasn’t for Carlton kicking five of its nine goals in the final term.
More than half of the Kangaroos’ players hit the scoreboard with 12 different goal-kickers. Corey Jones and Sav Rocca led the team with four goals each, but it was Daniel Motlop who received the three Brownlow votes.
His numbers; 26 disposals, 3 goals, 5 tackles, 9 inside 50’s and 15 contested possessions.
• Jock Spencer holds the three best individual goal-kicking performances against Carlton.
With one haul of nine and two of eight, Spencer kicked an incredible 66 goals in just 14 career games against the Blues. Unsurprisingly, Spencer is well clear of Malcolm Blight who is second with 37 goals.
• Only one of the last 10 meetings between the two clubs has been away from Etihad Stadium.
Overall North has played Carlton 13 times at the ground, possessing a favourable 10-3 record.
• Aside from Hawthorn, North has played more finals against Carlton than any other team.
In eight games, the win-loss ledger is even at four. It’s the Kangaroos’ most recent finals win over the Blues that is remembered most fondly - the 1999 Grand Final.
[RELATED: 1999 Grand Final highlights]
• In 2012’s victory over Carlton, North had one of its most accurate performances in front of goal of all time.
Kicking 24 goals, 5 behinds, it was the Kangaroos’ third most accurate effort in their history (minimum 15 scoring shots). Remarkably, it was second place until just last week when the Roos kicked 17.3 against Brisbane.
[RELATED: Last Time They Met]
• North’s second biggest comeback from a half-time deficit (31 points) came against Carlton.
To add to the drama of the occasion, the eventual 19-point win was in the 1985 Elimination Final.
The memorable picture of an exhausted Wayne Schimmelbusch in the rooms post-game has lived on and hangs in the players’ rooms at Aegis Park.
• One of North’s lowest winning scores (6.8.44) came at Coburg Oval against the Blues.
In a short-lived move away from Arden Street, North played just one season at the oval before moving back to its spiritual home.
No side was able to crack the 100-point barrier in any of the nine games played at the venue with North suffering four losses by ten points or less.
Written with assistance by Ange Cristoforo
