North Melbourne faced the reigning premiers in the 1st Semi Final of 1995 at the MCG and it was a classic encounter.

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The Roos had finished sixth after the regular season and progressed to the second week of September after a hard fought 30-point win against third placed Richmond.

Under the rules of the McIntyre System used for finals at the time, it gave them the right to host the Eagles, despite the side from the West finishing the season one position higher. In the qualifying final, West Coast was narrowly defeated by Essendon despite holding the Bombers scoreless in the final quarter.

Against North, Eagles’ coach Mick Malthouse sprung a surprise with 1992 Norm Smith Medalist Peter Matera starting as a forward instead of his customary position on the wing. It was an attempt to throw Robert Scott off his game but Scott would not be deterred.

Nevertheless the home team started out the quicker, yet early inaccuracy put pay to any thoughts of a larger quarter time lead. At the first break North had seven more scoring shots than the Eagles but led by just 12-points.

It appeared the Kangaroos’ inaccuracy would cost them early in the second quarter. Two goals to 19-year-old Fraser Gehrig in the space of a couple of minutes had the game almost back on level terms. But then North made its move.

Fast forward to near the mid-point of the third term and Glenn Freeborn put North 38-points up and out of sight.

It was a stunning burst of football. North kicked eight out of nine goals behind an even spread of performers. Carey, well held by Jakovich, would go without a goal all day but in his place stepped John Longmire (3 goals), Corey McKernan (3 goals) and Glenn Archer (4 goals) playing forward.

West Coast's vaunted midfield could do little to stop the likes of Wayne Schwass and Matt Armstrong collecting almost 50 possessions between them and providing the drive out of the centre of the MCG.

Only late Eagles’ goals prevented the margin from becoming North's largest against them. The semi-final win secured North's passage into its second successive preliminary final, yet 1995 would end with a loss to the eventual premiers 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