How good were North in the 1990s?

[Black Haze]

Despite winning two flags from three grand finals in the 1990s, along with making seven consecutive preliminary finals, I can't help but feel North of that era are underrated due to being overshadowed by Brisbane's 2001-03 triple premiership sides that came along not long afterwards.

For those here who are old enough to remember, how good were North in the 1990s?

 

[ferball]

Better than we are now!!!

(Should have won at least three flags over that period too. If they were as professional as players are today probably would have.)

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Friday Night Lights

North Melbourne and Wayne Carey. The best. More enjoyable than any other side when they were at their best.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Shannon Grant

Shannon Grant

Age

48

Ht

180cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.3

5star

K

12.0

4star

HB

6.3

4star

M

4.6

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.2

4star

No current season stats available

D

11.2

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.2

3star

G

0.8

4star

, Mckernan, Bell, Abraham, Scott, Longmire, Stevens, Simpson, Allison, Schwass, Rock, Archer, Martyn could name more. Very good players. Craig Sholl could play either end.

 

[RonnieRaven]

Despite winning two flags from three grand finals in the 1990s, along with making seven consecutive preliminary finals, I can't help but feel North of that era are underrated due to being overshadowed by Brisbane's 2001-03 triple premiership sides that came along not long afterwards.

For those here who are old enough to remember, how good were North in the 1990s?

I put north 95-99 team alongside
Lions 01-04 and cats 07-11.
Great to watch, tough skillful

 

[Stumpy Pete]

They were fantastic to watch. The good thing is it felt like you could see it coming - can’t be arsed googling but my recollection is that for a number of years in the late 80s they won the under 19s and reserves premierships so it seemed like it was a natural outcome.

Regards

S. Pete

 

[Percel]

I cry for 98

 

[ferball]

I cry for 98

What's 98?

 

[ferball]

They were fantastic to watch. The good thing is it felt like you could see it coming - can’t be arsed googling but my recollection is that for a number of years in the late 80s they won the under 19s and reserves premierships so it seemed like it was a natural outcome.

Regards

S. Pete

They won the u19s repeatedly in the 1980s. Under the same coach (Pagan) too.

 

[King Huskii]

The good old days

 

[JackFlash]

North were good, but it really was the Wayne Carey show with some good guest stars, they actually could be accused of under performing IMO. They should've won 3 or 4 flags in the 90s...? Still, they played in the last great era of AFL football as it should be played.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

North were good, but it really was the Wayne Carey show with some good guest stars, they actually could be accused of under performing IMO. They should've won 3 or 4 flags in the 90s...? Still, they played in the last great era of AFL football as it should be played.

Which years so you feel they could have won though? 98 should have won. But the Dons should have won 99. That equalled out imo. Other years teams were just better. They were solid all around imo.

 

[ferball]

Which years so you feel they could have won though? 98 should have won. But the Dons should have won 99. That equalled out imo. Other years teams were just better. They were solid all around imo.

1994.

 

[Percel]

What's 98?

Not sure it exists to be honest, I'll reminisce on 99 instead

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

1994.

Would have been interesting had you met WCE. They did beat you two from two that season handily at the G. Led by 59 in tge last before taking their foot off the gas. You lost by 9 at the WACA after trailing by 40 at 3qtr time. Finals are different however who knows. Think id still choose wce as that was their 3rd grand final in 4 seasons.

 

[ferball]

Would have been interesting had you met WCE. They did beat you two from two that season handily at the G. Led by 59 in tge last before taking their foot off the gas. You lost by 9 at the WACA after trailing by 40 at 3qtr time. Finals are different however who knows. Think id still choose wce as that was their 3rd grand final in 4 seasons.

I think we were a better chance than most people. The WACA loss was only a few weeks earlier.

We'll never know thanks to Lurkers and some shonky ****en umpiring.

 

[Blues177]

Kangas were skillful and tough.
Should have won it in ‘98 but 2 out of 3 ain’t bad.
1990’s was a good decade for footy.

 

[Dazzler9]

Not as good as the Eagles in the 90s.

North were incorrectly labelled the team of the 90s. It was clearly West Coast, the only team to make finals every year that decade.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Not as good as the Eagles in the 90s.

North were incorrectly labelled the team of the 90s. It was clearly West Coast, the only team to make finals every year that decade.

It's a good debate. To be fair the MCG rule cost you dearly. Also laughable in 1991 you only got one home final after finishing top. I don't think you beat Hawthorn regardless im the granny they beat you easily first up at Subi.

1996, 97, 99 should have got home games at Subi.

1996 I say you beat Essendon in the semi.
1997 ditto North
1999 don't know. Carlton beat you at Subi that season already.

North didn't play finals the first 3 seasons but prelim x 4 and 3 grand finals. You guys played in 3 grand finals 1 prelim, 6 semis and one elimination.

**** knows. The fact you had to travel makes it unfair. Could have got a prelim or two extra if not for the MCG rule.

 

[shaqsuns]

North were good, but it really was the Wayne Carey show with some good guest stars, they actually could be accused of under performing IMO. They should've won 3 or 4 flags in the 90s...? Still, they played in the last great era of AFL football as it should be played.

Not really a great team, but had a footballing king at centre half forward.

It kind of feels like the current Argentina team with Messi for all you football fans.

And to your point they played in the greatest era of Aussie Rules football so that makes them great in my memory.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Not really a great team, but had a footballing king at centre half forward.

It kind of feels like the current Argentina team with Messi for all you football fans.

And to your point they played in the greatest era of Aussie Rules football so that makes them great in my memory.

More than just Carey.

 

[Dazzler9]

It's a good debate. To be fair the MCG rule cost you dearly. Also laughable in 1991 you only got one home final after finishing top. I don't think you beat Hawthorn regardless im the granny they beat you easily first up at Subi.

1996, 97, 99 should have got home games at Subi.

1996 I say you beat Essendon in the semi.
1997 ditto North
1999 don't know. Carlton beat you at Subi that season already.

North didn't play finals the first 3 seasons but prelim x 4 and 3 grand finals. You guys played in 3 grand finals 1 prelim, 6 semis and one elimination.

**** knows. The fact you had to travel makes it unfair. Could have got a prelim or two extra if not for the MCG rule.

To be fair, North were the team of the late 90s, WC were the team of the early 90s.

If you had to label a 'team of the 90s' in which 3 teams won 2 flags, I'm going with the one that was consistent over the whole decade (finals each year). North were a non-entity for 30% of the 90s.

 

[JackFlash]

Which years so you feel they could have won though? 98 should have won. But the Dons should have won 99. That equalled out imo. Other years teams were just better. They were solid all around imo.

They blew it in 1994, they took a nosedive in 95 and lost the unloseable in 98!

 

[ferball]

To be fair, North were the team of the late 90s, WC were the team of the early 90s.

If you had to label a 'team of the 90s' in which 3 teams won 2 flags, I'm going with the one that was consistent over the whole decade (finals each year). North were a non-entity for 30% of the 90s.

This obviously isn't right.

In 1990 with a very young list (oldest player was 27, two players over 25, 3/4 of the list U24,) we were unlucky to finish 6/14 and miss finals. We scored over 200/30 goals twice. In 1993 we finished third on the ladder and lost the elimination final. (To the WC lol.) So two years out of eleven we were non entities.

 

[ferball]

They blew it in 1994, they took a nosedive in 95 and lost the unloseable in 98!

In 1998 at half time about 50 crows landed in the paddock outside and went off squarking for about 15 minutes. ****en campaigners. If I'd had a shotgun I'd have blown a bunch of them away.

Lived there for 25 years. That was the only time I saw it happen.