North Melbourne’s team of AFL era dominated by 1990s players who won two premierships under Denis Pagan

NORTH Melbourne dominated from 1994-2000 and you could argue two premierships was at least one short. SEE ANDO’S BEST KANGAROOS TEAM OF AFL ERA

Grand Final Kangaroos vs Carlton : Kangaroos' Wayne Carey (R) leaps into the arms of Corey McKernan 25 Sept 1999 - sport AFL action victory celebrations

SEVEN successive preliminary final appearances between 1994-2000 is the best evidence to highlight the competitive nature of the Denis Pagan-coached Kangaroos in the AFL era.

You could argue two premierships was at least one short although their success was achieved very much on a team ethos as distinct from the superstars that took them to six straight grand finals in the 1970s.

And of course there was Wayne Carey, a footballing phenomenon who was only once held goalless during that period of success, kicking 59 goals in the other 20 finals.

Around Carey was a playing group that possessed a rare hard edge plus some cream from the likes of Byron Pickett, Wayne Schwass and Brent Harvey.

Wayne Carey celebrates with teammate Corey McKernan.

Co-selector for this team was North Melbourne Team of the Century member Sam Kekovich, who said as is the case with any such teams the selection became more difficult you once you go past the obvious.

“Naturally the bulk of this team (16 players) came from the 1990s. But the Kangaroos have made the finals 15 times in the AFL era which compares favourably with Hawthorn (16) and Geelong (17) and is superior to Collingwood (13) and Carlton (11),” noted Kekovich.

“What picking these teams can’t measure is the competitiveness, the hardness, the overall team factor that can make a difference. Is John Blakey a star half back like Guy McKenna? No, but he might do just as good a job of closing his man down.

Kangaroos great Mick Martyn has been named at full back.

Current skipper Andrew Swallow has been named on the bench. Picture: Michael Klein

“What I want to see as a North man are players like Ziebell and Cunnington take the next step and become fair dinkum guns, rather than having a good game or good year here and there.”

Players unlucky to miss include dual best and fairest Brady Rawlings, full forward Sav Rocca, utilities Darren Crocker and Mark Roberts and defender Dean Laidley.

NORTH MELBOURNE’S BEST TEAM OF AFL ERA

B: David King Mick Martyn Glenn Archer

HB: John Blakey Scott Thompson Byron Pickett

C: Wayne Schwass Adam Simpson Daniel Wells

HF: Shannon Grant Wayne Carey (captain) Craig Sholl

F: Peter Bell John Longmire Corey McKernan

R: Todd Goldstein Anthony Stevens Brent Harvey

I: Drew Petrie Andrew Swallow Brett Allison Jack Ziebell

Coach: Denis Pagan

Originally published as North Melbourne’s team of AFL era dominated by 1990s players who won two premierships under Denis Pagan