Preliminary Final, 2000
Melbourne vs Kangaroos
Friday 25 August
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 63,937
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 6.5 | 14.10 | 18.14 | 23.18.156 |
| North Melbourne | 5.1 | 9.1 | 10.4 | 17.4.106 |
Melbourne win by 50 points
Goalkickers: Jeff Farmer 8, Stephen Powell 4, Russell Robertson 3, David Neitz 2, Brad Green 1, Brent Grgic 1, David Schwarz 1, Jeff White 1, Shane Woewodin 1, Adem Yze 1
Best and Fairest
36 - Jeff Farmer
33 - Shane Woewodin
33 - Stephen Powell
28 - David Neitz
13 - Daniel Ward
7 - Andrew Leoncelli
Milestones:
Nil
Melbourne had earned a week off courtesy of their come from behind win against Carlton in the Semi Final, and for the second time in three years they came up against the Kangaroos with a spot in the Grand Final on the line. On the other hand, North had battled to a win over Hawthorn the previous week to make their seventh straight Preliminary Final. The sides made light of rain throughout the day to kick a combined 11 goals in the first quarter. North led by three goals at one stage before Melbourne took over. Goals to White, Farmer, Woewodin, Schwarz and Grgic set up a ten point lead at the first break.
North led again early in the second, before Melbourne kicked five goals in ten minutes. The lead had been pegged back to a goal at the 17 minute mark, but the next 12 minutes was a clinic. More than six goals in front at the long break Demon fans began to cautiously dream of a Grand Final appearance, and when their side booted the first three of the third quarter it was all but certain. When North got three in a row to start the last quarter to cut the margin back to 40 points there were a few nervous moments, but Brad Green and Jeff Farmer answered to snuff out the challenge. The Roos got seven for the quarter, but Melbourne's five were enough to see them comfortably over the line and into the season decider.
Despite poor form in the Qualifying Final victory, Jeff Farmer had learnt a lesson from his round 17 meeting with the Roos and slammed on eight goals, devastating future Demon teammate Byron Pickett in the process. It was the first time a Demon had booted 8 in a preliminary since Jack Mueller had done the job in 1946 and 1948.
Wayne Carey kicked three goals on Anthony Ingerson but was nothing like his usual commanding self, and Neitz destroyed Mick Martyn at the other end - only blotting his copybook with three behinds before registering a goal.
Woewodin, Farmer and Powell were best on ground. Guy Rigoni suffered a concussion but recovered to play in the Grand Final, and Cameron Bruce suffered a torn quad.
The Demons had to wait another day to find out whether they'd take on the following Saturday - Essendon or Carlton, and it was the Bombers who saluted with a 45 point victory.
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Notes
Some sources say Bruce corked his thigh.
Media
Herald Sun - 26/08/2000
Canberra Times - 28/08/2000