It’s been hailed as one of the greatest individual seasons on record; Corey McKernan’s stellar year in 1996.

North’s dual premiership player has opened up to The Herald Sun about how he dominated in the ruck and forward, alongside some of the game's greats.

While McKernan’s performances were elite, unfortunately there were a few blemishes – one in particular cost him the Brownlow Medal.

The now 46-year-old is at peace with the report that ruled him ineligible for the award when he equalled co-winners Michael Voss and James Hird on 21 votes, but there’s one game he’ll never get over and that was when Richmond ruckman Justin Charles got three votes in Round 22, despite a six-goal loss to North.

“I would love to know what actually happened … I was filthy he (Charles) got three,” McKernan said.

“They’re all going, “you just lost the Brownlow and I'm like, ‘No, I played on him, there is no way he got three’. Wayne Carey and Peter Bell killed it (and) we won by six goals.”

McKernan collected 19 disposals and 17 hit-outs, compared to Charles’ 23 disposals and eight hit-outs.

“There is no way he was best on ground, no way,” McKernan said.

Missing the Brownlow was one thing, and missing out on the Norm Smith was another. It's something coach Denis Pagan believes should have been awarded to McKernan instead of Glenn Archer.

“Even though Glenn is one of my favourites, and I think they may have picked it (Norm Smith) on or before three-quarter-time back then, I just thought Corey should have won the Norm Smith,” Pagan said.

At just 22, McKernan was an All-Australian, and the league’s most valuable player.

“I could’ve, with a bit of luck, had a Dustin Martin-type year where I could’ve literally won everything,” he said.

McKernan played 24 games, averaging 17.6 disposals (career-high), 1.4 goals and 11.3 hit-outs.

“If I didn't play in the ruck and it was Wayne (Carey) and I walking to the forward line I'd actually have this mentality of ‘good luck you blokes … do your best to try to cover us’,” he said.

“We were both playing particularly well and it was pretty rare that season where if I wasn't taking marks then Wayne was taking marks and inevitably that was leading to a lot of wins.”

Teammate, Wayne Schwass, agrees McKernan’s season was up there with the very best.

“There aren't many players I would say overshadowed ‘The King’ (Carey) but I would say Corey's year in ’96 cast a shadow over all of us,” he said.

“That was an incredibly good football team, with a lot of top-end talent, and Corey was still relatively young compared to the rest of us.

“For him to be as dominant as he was … talks to his ability to have such an incredible impact.”

In terms of comparisons to modern day players, David King likens McKernan to Nic Naitanui for his ability to play in any position, and his follow-up.

“We marvel at what Nic Naitanui is able to do once he has tapped it,” King said.

“Nic Nat does that for what, a dozen possessions a week, Corey was doing that sort of play around the ground for 25 disposals some games, and more often than not 20.

“He used to land and run … chase whatever he did … there wasn’t a ruckman that could go with Corey.”