Game Review

On a wet and miserable Sunday afternoon at the MCG, North Melbourne ended Carlton’s faint finals aspirations by kicking six goals to nil in the first quarter, and then holding the Blues at arms length for the rest of the game to record a comfortable victory. Many of the small crowd of 21,000 hardy souls who turned up for the game left wetter and colder than usual, because redevelopment of the Great Southern Grandstand meant there was a lack of shelter.

Vice-captain Craig Bradley, winger Shane Robertson and rover Andy Phillips were Carlton’s best. Stephen Silvagni again defended valiantly, although North’s spearhead John Longmire kicked six goals from an abundance of opportunities.

In other matches, Essendon held top place on the ladder when they edged out Collingwood at VFL Park, West Coast destroyed Richmond at Subiaco, and wooden spoon favourites the Brisbane Bears shocked Geelong in winning by ten goals at Carrara. Carlton slid back to eighth, and suddenly, the end of the season couldn’t come quickly enough.

Team

Brownlow Votes

3: Darren Crocker (North Melbourne)
2: Stephen Silvagni
1: Matthew Larkin (North Melbourne)