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THERE have been some nice wins by North Melbourne in 2015 but the defeat of Fremantle at Etihad Stadium was the one North fans will have on high rotation throughout the summer, irrespective of how the remainder of the season pans out.

The 11-point win all-but books the Kangaroos into the finals and came with considerable resolve.

• Finals crystal ball: predicting the week one match-ups

North conceded seven opening-quarter goals to the ladder leaders but allowed just five for the rest of the game. They trailed by four goals in the first quarter, but chipped away thereafter, only hitting the lead for good well into the final term.

It was North's finest victory for the year on mainland Australia. The wins over Richmond and West Coast this year both came at Blundstone Arena, but on Sunday they fed off the home fans, who never lost hope and never lost their voice, and earned themselves a ticket for the finals.

There was plenty for Brad Scott to hang his hat on. The Kangas found a way to work their way through the Fremantle backline after blazing away early and allowing the Dockers too many intercept marks.

Todd Goldstein copped a hiding early from Aaron Sandilands, who had clearly set himself up for the challenge on his heir apparent as the League's No.1 ruckman. Sandilands looked really dominant early, but Goldstein won some separation as the game progressed and played a slashing last quarter, which included two goals.

It was only this week that the Kangaroos committed to another season for Brent Harvey and you have to ask yourself why it took them so long. Harvey was their most dangerous target inside 50 in the first half. Jarrad Waite and Ben Brown lifted after half-time, but Harvey kicked four goals in a terrific display.

The decision to bring Waite to the club has paid dividends. Not as much as Shaun Higgins, who has become a jet, but Waite kicked three goals and with Brown and Drew Petrie, they stretched Fremantle to eventual breaking point.

The Kangas meet the Western Bulldogs and Richmond in their final two games before the finals, with the strong likelihood of playing either side again in the first week of the finals. It was this time last year that the Kangas struck their richest vein of form for the season and it translated to two stirring finals wins on the MCG.

North will be hoping history repeats itself.

A beating by any measure

As a statement of intent, they don't come more emphatic than West Coast's 77-point beatdown of the Western Bulldogs.

The final quarter might not have been particularly competitive and given the build-up, the result was a disappointment, but watching the Eagles running on top of the ground like that made for great viewing.

It wasn't the type of performance that will earn the Eagles premiership favouritism, but perhaps it should. The Eagles held the ascendancy in every key statistical category against the Bulldogs and really, from halfway through the second term, the visitors were struggling to stay in touch.

When Josh Kennedy is kicking seven goals and Matt Priddis is racking up 37 touches, the Eagles will win just about every time and while the circumstances behind it were just awful, it might just be that the absence of Nic Naitanui for a fortnight will have a benefit down the track as well.

On a fast, dry track at Subiaco (which it should be noted wasn't the case against the Hawks a fortnight ago), good luck knocking over the Eagles between now and the end of the season.

The betting markets now have the Eagles second favourites behind Hawthorn for the flag. The bookies might also be feeling a touch anxious

• Forecast this season's final standings with the AFL Ladder Predictor 

Issues for Dockers going forward

Seven goals to quarter-time, five goals after that. That is the statistic that will have irked Ross Lyon as he made his way back across the country on Sunday night.

Granted, there was no Matthew Pavlich against the Kangaroos, but it is not like the champ is the sheet anchor for the forward line that he once was.

The problem for the Dockers is the magical '100 points' figure. The team that kicks the century usually wins. In a rare shoot-out, the team that gets there first almost always wins.

Not since kicking 17.13 (115) in round eight have the Dockers cracked the ton. Their highest score since then was 13.17 (95) against the might of Carlton in round 16 and until they can find a way to work the scoreboard more heavily, pretty much every likely opponent in September – particularly Hawthorn, West Coast, Richmond and the Western Bulldogs - are capable of triple-figure scores.

It is shaping as a character-defining few weeks for Fremantle. Head-and-shoulders the best team in the competition for most of the year, they are being dragged back to the field, bit by bit, week by week.

And you can't escape the feeling that Nat Fyfe, unbackable favourite for the Brownlow most of the year, might somehow not win it.

• Has Nat Fyfe just blown the Brownlow? 

Other observations

1. Paddy Ryder was pretty good for Port Adelaide on Friday night, wasn't he? The thing about Ryder is that when he dominates in the ruck as he did on Friday night against Hawthorn, then the chorus begins that he should remain there. Then the next week, he will push forward, take big marks, kick some goals and then the clamoring starts for him to play as a forward.

But how do he and Matthew Lobbe fit into the same side? That's the key off-season question for Ken Hinkley. Two weeks in the SANFL for Lobbe will have already started the phone calls into Alberton inquiring about his availability and while it is doubtful Port would be interested, Ryder did give them a glimpse on Friday night of what he offers as the main man, and the Power had to be as impressed as the rest of us.

2. Luke Hodge elected to bump instead of tackle and made head-high contact. That's all you need to know about his clash with Chad Wingard on Friday night and it warrants a one-match suspension. Chuck in his loading for the Andrew Swallow incident earlier this year and he might miss another, meaning the Hawks skipper won't play again until the finals.

• Why Luke Hodge could be banned for Hawthorn's first final

It was an annoying Friday night for the Hawks on a few counts. Were they flat (it was a tough week admittedly), or have structural issues emerged? What Alastair Clarkson would like is a repeat of the tough run-in to the finals that featured in the 2013 and 214 premiership campaigns. Instead he gets the Brisbane Lions and Carlton, where he will be able to resolve very little. Our best advice? Leave Cyril Rioli home this weekend and rest Sam Mitchell for the Carlton game that follows. Give Jed Anderson and James Sicily a week in the side to see how they have progressed.

3. The Americans are salivating over Jarrad Hayne, but we got the reverse of sorts at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night when Jason Holmes debuted for St Kilda. He didn't move like a natural 'Australian' footballer, but 34 hit-outs and seven disposals was a great first-up performance.

The Saints and the AFL should be commended for their work with Holmes so far and let's hope there is more to come. Footy should be an absolute consideration for tall American basketballers who don't make it in the professional leagues.

4. Not sure how many more games of Steve Johnson we have left to enjoy, but he gave us a taste of everything on Saturday night, including a trademark athletic snap goal, which was preceded by the laconic stroll into an open goal only for Shane Savage to chase him and effect the spoil. Forget the disallowed goal to Steven Motlop for running too far, imagine if a patented Johnson brainfade is what ends up costing Geelong a finals berth.

5. Fair play to Leon Cameron for putting it on the Giants after their lamentable display against the Swans on Saturday. There were still too many good players out on the park to present rubbish like that. The romance of a maiden finals appearance was nice, but the Giants clearly aren’t ready for September.

6. The Swans need everyone in their midfield to stand up if they hope to cause any damage this September. Thanks to a 35-possession masterclass from Josh Kennedy on Saturday, there is some hope that can happen. He disposed of Callan Ward, Josh Kelly and Ryan Griffen in a fabulous afternoon and one thing we know about Kennedy is that his brand of football translates to September.

Josh Kennedy's masterclass against the Giants. Source: AFL Live Official App

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7. Granted it was only the Brisbane Lions at home, but Adelaide's performance on Saturday night and indeed, its work over the past few weeks would suggest that not only will the Crows make the finals, they are most deserving as well. And given the events of the year, they might be most people's second team this September.

8. Nick Malceski would be in my trifecta for most disappointing recruit of the year. But in a frantic, but sloppy finish to the Suns-Bombers game in which players couldn't hit the side of a barn, Malceski coolly slotted an important goal on the run with a few minutes left that ultimately proved to be the sealer. Wise head, old shoulders, that sort of thing. 

QUESTION TIME



Ashley Browne: Good times to be a Saints fan. They took it to Geelong on Saturday night with little to play for and it shows that Alan Richardson is molding a special group. I cant see them playing finals in 2016, bit there would be some hope from the following year, while the much-vaunted premiership window should be open from about 2020<.

AB: There are many who agree with you. The rules around the draw are inconsistent now because we allow them in the home and away season, but not in the finals, except for the Grand Final. I'd have no problem with extra time in the home and away season, although I'm not sure the broadcasters would love the idea of matches running overtime, particularly when it would delay the start of other matches or heavens forbid, delay the start of the evening news or a show about cats, cooking, or cats that cook.

• Forecast this season's final standings with the AFL Ladder Predictor 
• Fantasy form watch: Round 21's Pig, Presti and Junior Swine