THE ONE that got away.

On a day where one Blakey was part of the 30-year premiership reunion celebrations in the stands at Marvel Stadium, another terrorised North Melbourne through the corridor with his game-breaking run to help Sydney get the job done.

North Melbourne's famous 1996 team, including John Blakey, have spent the weekend reminiscing about that famous Saturday in September at the MCG, where Denis Pagan's men smashed the Swans by 43 points.

KANGAROOS v SWANS Full match coverage and stats

Sydney has played much better games in 2026 so far, but they lifted when required after half-time to win by eight points, a sixth straight victory – and reclaim top spot from Fremantle – after holding off a Kangaroos side that kept coming until the final siren.

Nick Blakey has also played better games this year – he is the No.1 rated half-back in 2026 for a reason – but his transition game was crucial to securing the 16.9 (105) to 14.13 (97) win on the road, finishing with 26 disposals, eight intercepts, two goal assists and 517 metres gained.

The game was still alive in the final 60 seconds when Cam Zurhaar had a shot on the run that just missed, but the Swans held on having held them off for much of the 120 minutes.

Blakey could have joined North Melbourne, of course, back in 2018 as a father-son pick – he was also eligible for Brisbane – but after growing up in Sydney and progressing through the Swans academy when his dad was an assistant coach under John Longmire, Nick chose to stay in New South Wales.

North Melbourne had done a good job of limiting Sydney's damage through the corridor and had enough opportunities to win this game – they amassed 27 scoring shots and won territory with a 67-51 inside-50 count – but the Swans are one of the premiership contenders for a reason.

Dean Cox's men got it done collectively. There wasn't one, two or three standouts under the roof at Docklands; Isaac Heeney was important with 22 disposals and three goals, Hayden McLean slotted three majors in his first game of the season, as did Logan McDonald, while Callum Mills was reliable down back, alongside Blakey.

With a glittering collection of North Melbourne royalty in the building, including Wayne Carey, Adam Simpson, Mick Martyn and Wayne Schwass, Alastair Clarkson's side gave them something to barrack for all day.

Of the current crop, George Wardlaw looks like he has been plucked from the era that produced the likes of Glenn Archer and Anthony Stevens and plonked into a modern game that now includes the ARC, the lasso rule and representative football again.

Wardlaw's signature ferocious pressure set the tone from the start, even if he was criminally denied two holding the ball calls that enraged the home supporters.

While Wardlaw impressed, Luke Davies-Uniacke had the biggest say to start the day. He was everywhere early, amassing 13 disposals by the first change to stamp himself on the contest, before finishing with 34 and six clearances to be one of the best players on the ground.

After kicking two late first-quarter goals after the 30-minute mark, Sydney flexed their muscles in the second term, kicking five straight to frustrate the Kangaroos and put the game-winning gap in the game. 

It wasn't until Charlie Spargo swooped on a ball inside 50 that North Melbourne finally had another major, and it was the two former Swans – Luke Parker and Dylan Stephens – that were key in the Roos remaining in the contest.

They hung in through the third, first via Tom Blamires, then courtesy of a clever Zane Duursma goal on the run.

But the Swans kept responding like good sides do. This time last year, they were 3-6 and en route to 4-8. This year, no one has started better. But it is only a start. 

Simpson, Stevens, Wayne Schwass and co became greats on the back of September football. North hasn't played a final since 2016, but when they do eventually return, Wardlaw, Harry Sheezel, Finn O'Sullivan, Colby McKercher and Davies-Uniacke are building an imposing midfield mix. They showed that on Saturday.

They just aren't ready yet to match it with the absolute best.

Another gun from the Academy
Will Edwards had to wait until his fourth season to get his first game at AFL, but in his third week in Dean Cox's side, the key defender nailed the job on Nick Larkey on Saturday. With Tom McCartin sidelined, Edwards kept Larkey goalless to put his hand up for big roles in future. Edwards, who turned 23 on Friday, has overcome plenty of obstacles to get here, but is now proving to be another winner out of Sydney's academy.

What a difference George makes
George Wardlaw missed the trip down the highway last weekend due to illness, but instantly injected an added spark into North Melbourne's midfield on Saturday. No one chases like this guy. On a day where North celebrated so many greats, Wardlaw has the tools to be one down the track, he just needs some luck with his body after a wretched run of injuries.

McLean takes his chance
Hayden McLean is too good for the VFL, but after the arrival of Charlie Curnow and the return to fitness of Logan McDonald, the the 27-year-old has spent the start of 2026 in the twos. But with Curnow out on Saturday with an abdominal injury, McLean took his chance, kicking three straight to help Sydney get across the line.

NORTH MELBOURNE     6.2    8.8    12.9     14.13 (97)
SYDNEY       5.1     9.1     15.4     16.9 (105)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Darling 2, Duursma 2, O'Sullivan 2, Zurhaar, Konstanty, Simpkin, Curtis, Spargo, Sheezel, Blamires, Xerri
Sydney: McLean 3, Heeney 3, McDonald 3, Papley 2, Warner, Amartey Sheldrick, Cootee, Lloyd

BEST
North Melbourne: Davies-Uniacke, Sheezel, Wardlaw, Parker, O'Sullivan, McKercher
Sydney: Blakey, Heeney, Edwards, McLean, Mills, Papley

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Sydney: Nil

Crowd: TBC at Marvel Stadium