Round 12, 1999
Melbourne vs Kangaroos
Sunday 20 June
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 28,350
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 1.3 | 5.6 | 11.7 | 14.8.92 |
| Kangaroos | 2.5 | 5.8 | 10.11 | 12.21.93 |
Kangaroos win by 1 point
Goalkickers: David Neitz 3, David Schwarz 3, Jeff Farmer 2, Darren Kowal 2, Ben Beams 1, Matthew Febey 1, Paul Hopgood 1, Adem Yze 1
Brownlow Votes:
2 - Scott Chisholm
Milestones:
Nil
The faltering Demons - sitting 5-6 with their finals hopes hanging on by a thread - were given little choice of beating the premiership favourite Kangaroos. An unconvincing win against Collingwood in Round 11 paled in comparison to North's seven consecutive wins, but they nearly pulled off the upset despite losing Garry Lyon (back) and Marcus Seecamp (hamstring) and Todd Viney (knee) to injuries before the match.
Corey McKernan dominated the centre against Jeff White, and on the day Wayne Carey became North's greatest goalkicker, he kicked a valuable 4.4 while not at 100% fitness, nursing a sore back, and not having trained all week. North's eight point lead at the first change was the largest at any break, and by three quarter time Melbourne held a two point advantage.
A David Schwarz goal gave the Demons a 19 point lead in the last quarter, before two North goals reduced the margin to six points entering time-on. The Kangaroos then kicked eight behinds in a row to take a two point lead late. In the dying seconds, Guy Rigoni was pulled off the ball at the last minute before he could take a running shot from the forward pocket and the ball was forced through for a behind.
Defeat left the Demons just one game out of the eight but fourth of five teams who were 5-7.
Best were Leoncelli, Hopgood and Schwarz. Peter Walsh had a corked thigh.
Neale Daniher said: "The blokes who went out today played as tough as any coach would like. But in the end they had a bit more in the tank than we did".
Video
Reserves
Melbourne 13.14.92 d. Kangaroos 12.9.81
Goals - Smoker 4, Williams 3, Newton 2, Robertson 2, A. McDonald 1, Hazelman 1
Best - Smoker, Peverill, Ottens
Lists
One point games
Media
Age - 21/06/1999
Football Record R13 1999