The lead-up to the game was dominated by the tribunal case of Sydney defender Andrew Dunkley, who was to be the Swans' match-up for star Kangaroos forward Wayne Carey.

On the Thursday before the game, Sydney successfully obtained a Supreme Court injunction to prevent the case from being heard until after the grand final, with the judge ruling that requiring Dunkley to face the tribunal only one day after learning of the charge and two days before the grand final would deny him natural justice and deny him the time required to prepare a defence.

[2] The AFL's centenary year was crowned by North Melbourne, who made amends for the disappointment of three successive failed finals campaigns.

Led by bullocking defender Glenn Archer and superstars Corey McKernan and Wayne Carey, the Kangaroos were hellbent in their premiership quest.

North Melbourne dominated the third quarter, with two goals to Craig Sholl and one each to Peter Bell and Crocker, which saw them leading by 25 points at three-quarter-time.