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After a qualifying final win against the odds, North Melbourne had a six-day break before facing West Coast in another sudden-death final at the MCG.

In front of over 55,000 fans, Glenn Archer and Wayne Schwass were both forced to sit out after being suspended in the victory against Geelong. It was also Mick Martyn's 200th game for the club.

Early on it appeared the previous week had taken the wind out of North's sails as West Coast surged to an early lead. Phil Matera was causing havoc at ground level while late inclusion Brendon Fewster had Martyn struggling despite the pair battling respective injuries.

The Eagles were leading by four goals in the second quarter when Phil Matera was reported for tripping in a sign that his day wouldn't end well despite the lead. The report was followed by a North surge with three goals kicked in quick-time. While three goals in a row virtually sealed the game six days ago, this run appeared to signal the beginning of a bigger momentum swing.

However West Coast struck back equally as quickly with the final two goals of the half and had three late opportunities to stretch the lead even further but missed them all. It meant North's deficit at the long break was just 20-points.

Despite its inaccuracy, West Coast continued its run at the beginning of the second half. The first two goals had the lead out to 32-points and North's season seemed unsalvageable.

A leg injury to West Coast's Jarrad Schofield took the sting out of the game momentarily and Corey McKernan used the slight lull in proceedings to pounce. On his day McKernan's best was capable of destroying any opponent and in a magical stretch, he dragged North back into the game.

The Roos brought the deficit back to just eight points and that was the margin heading into the final term with seasons on the line.

Much like each of the first three quarters, the last started with West Coast having all the momentum. This time it failed to capitalise. Phil Matera had two golden chances to push the margin out of North's reach, but missed both. The second in particular was a relatively simple shot from the top of the goalsquare on his left foot.

It was all North needed as it proceeded to kick the next four goals to take a lead. The last goal of the game would be capped by David King getting the last laugh on Chris Lewis.

The two had been niggling each other all afternoon with the confrontations becoming increasingly heated. Soon after the emergency umpire had departed the scene of the most recent conflict, King gathered in the middle and sent a torpedo long into the North forward 50.

Wayne Carey gathered over the back of the pack and strolled into an open goal to put North into a preliminary final from seventh position.

North Melbourne 2.2.14, 5.4.34, 10.6.66, 15.8.98
West Coast 5.1.31, 8.6.54, 11.8.74, 12.13.85

Goals
North Melbourne: McKernan 4, Sholl 3, Allison 2, Carey 2, Anderson 1, Bell 1, Crocker 1, Freeborn 1
West Coast: Ph Matera 3, Banfield 2, Cousins 2, Fewster 2, Evans 1, Kemp 1, Lewis 1