despite the kangaroos entering the match as the strong short-priced favourite, carlton dominated the opening 10 minutes and scored the first goal of the match when brett ratten seized an opportunity at the six minute mark after an errant kickout from the kangaroos david king. this, however, was all they had to show for their efforts, as glenn archer, byron pickett and mick martyn stood up to nearly everything carlton threw at them inside north’s defensive zone. reality soon kicked in for the blues, and north melbourne, who were without suspended defender jason mccartney, became very workmanlike and kicked three goals in the next six minutes to go into the first break with a 12 point lead. carlton fought back in the second quarter to regain the lead with goals by fraser brown, scott camporeale and matthew lappin, and it looked like the blues had the momentum until north melbourne ruckman corey mckernan booted two inspirational goals, the first from 65 metres out and the second from a tight angle just a minute later. the kangaroos had regained control and went into half time with a 20-point lead.