Round 17, 1998
North Melbourne vs Melbourne
Saturday 25 July
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 36,042
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| North Melbourne | 5.4 | 9.8 | 12.14 | 22.20.152 |
| Melbourne | 2.4 | 7.6 | 11.7 | 13.9.87 |
North Melbourne win by 65 points
Goalkickers: David Neitz 4, Garry Lyon 3, Jeff Farmer 2, Matthew Febey 2, Guy Rigoni 1, Todd Viney 1
Brownlow Votes:
Nil
Best and Fairest
26 - Guy Rigoni
25 - David Neitz
22 - Anthony McDonald
20 - Darren Kowal
14 - Jeff White
Milestones:
Last Game
Shaun Smith
The Demons had targeted this as a winnable game. With the Eagles having come back from Perth with a six day break. Glen Archer had been suspended, and the Dees had been impressive in dispatching Fremantle at the same ground a week earlier. They hadn't counted on running into a red-hot Wayne Carey.
During the week Carey had been imbroiled in a scandal about how few free kicks he received. He got none against Melbourne, but still managed 8.4, 8 marks and 21 kicks. Anthony Ingerson started on the North superstar, but by the time Carey had four goals midway through the second term Jamie Shanahan was moved onto him.
At one stage in the third term the Demons were close, and playing with momentum, but their attack wilted under the pressure of the more experienced Roos. After being well held by Shanahan, Carey added three goals in the final term.
Marcus Seecamp was reported for striking North's Brett Chandler. He received a two match ban after testimony that the ex-Fitzroy teammates were actually best friends who were going on an end of season fishing trip together later in the year. Garry Lyon was reported for attempting to trip Brett Sholl in the opening minutes of the game but was cleared.
Before the bounce the Demons lost Paul Hopgood with a calf strain, and Travis Johnstone came in as a late replacement.
Neale Daniher said "We were pretty good until three-quarter time, but we weren't able to sustain the intensity. I think we're ready to be a top-eight side. We've got five more games and I think we're good enough to fall somewhere in the bottom part of the eight."
Matthew Febey, David Neitz and Jeff White were the best.
Reserves
Melbourne 20.17.137 d. North Melbourne 16.15.111
Best - Bradly, Gaspar, Lovett
Gooals - Schwarz 4, Williams 3, Cann 3, G. Lovett 2, Collins 2, Smoker 2, Beams 1, Cockatoo-Collins 1, Nettelbeck 1, Ottens 1
Lists
Tribunal
Media
Age - 26/07/1998
Football Record R18 1998