North Melbourne’s stunning semi-final win has provided plenty of media commentary and excitement. With the club holding on in a tight one against Geelong, the Swans lay in wait.

Before we move past the Cats, NMFC.com.au celebrates Friday night’s six-point victory with a look back at what was said and written.

Much of the focus before the bounce was on Todd Goldstein’s ruck duel with Mark Blicavs and the Kangaroos dominated from the outset.

Mark Robinson – Herald Sun
"They said Mark Blicavs would run him off his feet and it was nothing of the sort. Brilliant first term — he had 25 hit-outs — and then clunked the match-winning mark in the fourth term. 

"Had 54 hit-outs, five tackles, five clearances, a snap goal and was the most influential player on the ground. 

"It’s an interesting one. Do you like Goldstein’s mark or Kayne Turner’s smother as the moment in the final minute? I’ll go with the mark."

Michael Gleeson – The Age
"Todd Goldstein, one of the best on ground all night, took the most important mark of the match deep in the Cats' forward line with just 29 seconds left in the game."

Greg Buckle AAP
"It was Todd Goldstein's Leo Barry moment and it has lifted North Melbourne into an unlikely place in next week's AFL preliminary finals. 

"Just as Barry did in 2005 with his last-second mark in defence to clinch Sydney's first grand-final win since 1933, so too did Goldstein etch his name into club legend with a similar grab in Friday night's semi-final at the MCG."

Warwick Green – Herald Sun
"His dominant performance in Friday’s semi-final underscored Todd Goldstein’s emergence among the AFL’s premium ruckmen and drove home how stiff he was not to be included in this year’s All-Australian squad.

"He got the Kangaroos going with a centre clearance that set up a Lindsay Thomas goal within 20 seconds and was there to take a potentially match-saving pack mark 30 seconds before the final siren.

"He had no problem matching the elite endurance of Geelong’s former middle-distance runner Mark Blicavs and eclipsed him in the ruck duels."

Robert Somers - Sportal
"But it was Todd Goldstein's pack mark deep in defence inside the last minute which effectively clinched the emotional win for the Kangaroos."

Nick Bowen (Twitter) – AFL.com.au
"Todd Goldstein played his most important, if not his best, game tonight. His marking in particular was outstanding."

The recruitment of Nick Dal Santo also received plenty of praise.

Mark Robinson - Herald Sun
"North Melbourne recruited him because they believed they were in a position to challenge. Why else would they go for a 30-year-old? Interviewed on Fox Footy a month ago, he disagreed there was more pressure on him to perform than most of his teammates. 

"Still, he would’ve been criticised if he went missing on such an occasion and, in fact, enhanced his reputation. Poise, class, smarts and important defensive running underpinned what might’ve been his best finals performance."

Michael Gleeson - The Age
"Nick Dal Santo was superb on the night, with Scott admitting his composure on the field and his level-headedness off it amply illustrated why he had been recruited.”

While the Kangaroo veterans performed well, so too did their up and coming stars including Luke McDonald. 

Mark Robinson - Herald Sun
"How’s the poise on this kid? He makes mistakes because he’s young, but he also makes the play. Had 20 and six marks in his second final and his left foot is to die for. 

"He played on Motlop, Murdoch, Bartel, McCarthy, Horlin-Smith and even big Josh Walker for a short time. He has the pace to go with the quickies and the smarts of a five-year player. You wonder where he will end up as a player because I’m thinking it will be in midfield soon enough."

Veteran defender Michael Firrito showed why he deserves another year.

Mark Robinson - Herald Sun
"Again, there are thousands of moments and Firrito running with the flight to get a touch on Steve Motlop’s shot for goal was inspirational and courageous. Firrito didn’t know where the goalpost was and still flung himself at the ball. It was a final-quarter moment of which there were many."

North’s team effort, while a bit up and down, stood the ultimate test.

Jake Niall – The Age
"Again, this final displayed both versions of North.  But on this occasion, the Jekyll Kangas appeared in the opening three quarters, then a hideous Mr Hyde materialised – with some assistance from Tom Hawkins, who had long shaped as the colossus who might undo an undersized defence. From a margin of 32 in the final quarter, the Roos almost blew it."

Mark Robinson - Herald Sun
"They run like a pack of wild dogs with the ball. Wells, Dal Santo, Gibson, Atley, Cunnington, Wright, Turner and Harvey get it and go, and Drew Petrie is getting on the end of it."

Glenn McFarlane - Herald Sun
"Generation next is suddenly generation now. But just ... and only just.

"By holding on against a determined and never-say-die Geelong in Friday night’s semi-final, the North Melbourne future that has been long touted is very much the present.

"And no matter what happens against Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Friday night, the Kangaroos are into their first preliminary final in seven years and now dare to dream of the possibility of the club’s fifth flag."

The mighty Kangaroos' surge in the finals adding excitement to the AFL.

Jake Niall – The Age
"North is good for football on two scores. First, the Kangaroos have shown the competition, as Port did last year, that the impecunious club with a small supporter base can punch above its financial weight and win finals.

"Second, the Roos play an entertaining brand. When they are on a roll – as they were in the opening 20 minutes against the Cats – the ball moves swiftly, usually via the corridor, in a high wire act. Their method, funnily enough, is redolent of the way Geelong played at its zenith, without the same talent."

Pete Ryan (Twitter) – AFL.com.au
"Good effort @NorthKangaroos - 2 picks in top 5 since 2003."

Ashley Browne (Twitter) – AFL.com.au
"And the winner is North. And footy."

Although former coach Denis Pagan questioned the club’s open media policy, the journalists were quick to defend it.

Glenn McFarlane (Twitter) – Herald Sun
"Great to see @NorthKangaroos into a prelim final. And rapt to see their open media policy didn't have an impact. Other clubs pls take note."