Round 1, 1997
North Melbourne vs Melbourne
Thursday 27 March
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 35,802
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| North Melbourne | 2.1 | 3.4 | 4.7 | 7.13.55 |
| Melbourne | 2.2 | 4.5 | 8.9 | 10.10.70 |
Melbourne win by 15 points
Goalkickers: Sean Charles 3, Jeff Farmer 3, Alastair Clarkson 1, Anthony Ingerson 1, Brett Lovett 1, Garry Lyon 1
Brownlow Votes:
3 - Shaun Smith
2 - Jeff Farmer
1 - Jim Stynes
Milestones:
First Game
Shane Woewodin
First MFC Game
Robert Pyman
North unfurled their flag and were expected to smack 1996 disappointments Melbourne who were playing their first game since the merger turmoil, and were one of the popular picks to finish at the bottom of the ladder.
The Roos lost Wayne Carey (shoulder) and Corey McKernan (knee) by halftime, and with nobody looking likely to kick goals in wet conditions the Demons had booted a winning score.
With the game in the balance in the third quarter Sean Charles kicked three goals which gave the Demons what would end up being a match winning break.
The win was sealed when Jeff Farmer kicked a second goal without the ball being returned to the centre of the ground after a frustrated David King kicked the ball into the stands after failing to stop Brett Lovett kicking a goal. Farmer's goal put Melbourne 28 points in front, and while North kicked two goals late they couldn't make up the difference.
Best were Todd Viney, Andrew Leoncelli and Jeff Farmer. Farmer later alleged he was the victim of racist comments by a North Melbourne player and the matter was settled by the AFL's confidential mediation process.
Reserves
Melbourne 11.14.80 d. North Melbourne 11.11.77
Goals - Bradly 4, Grgic 2, Gardiner 1, Goodale 1, Kowal 1, Robertson 1, Seecamp 1
Best - Bassett, Goodale, Pesch
Links
Demon Chronicle
Age - 28/03/1997
Football Record R2 1997
Age - 17/04/1997