“The biggest problem for the Kangaroos is there’s still three quarters to go.”

Even broadcaster Anthony Hudson would be the first to admit that he didn’t mean those words literally, after Jess Sinclair rammed through North Melbourne’s 12^th opening quarter goal in their round 16 clash against Essendon in 2001.

North Melbourne, one of the AFL’s most consistent sides of the 1990’s (with seven consecutive preliminary final appearances in the decade), entered that weekend sitting ninth on the ladder after enduring an indifferent start to the season.

Essendon on the alternative, entered the round having won 37 of their previous 40 matches and looking to follow on from a dominant 2000 campaign which saw them ultimately cruise to a 16^th Premiership.

One would’ve been forgiven for thinking those roles were reversed after a Shannon Grant goal extended North’s lead to a staggering 69 points just six minutes into the second term.

The Kangaroos had blitzed the Bombers to that point at the MCG, causing some who felt they had already seen enough to head for the exits.

It’s a rule of thumb to never write off a champion team though, and the next 54 minutes of football proved there was never a better showcase for Essendon’s claim to the title.

Despite carrying some sore bodies through the back end of that season, Essendon rallied behind the brutish play of midfielder Jason Johnson, winning clearances and generating attacks at will regardless of the margin.

Johnson and skipper James Hird goaled in quick succession for what many saw as a consolation, but once full-forward Matthew Lloyd made his mark, the nerves started to become apparent for those wearing white and blue.

The incumbent Coleman Medallist booted three consecutive goals to cut the margin to 39 points, and the avalanche had only just begun in one of the craziest quarters of football ever played.

When Blake Caracella cruised into goal from 45 metres to slot the sixth on the trot, he had the 51,000-strong crowd roaring before the ball had even left his boot.

“Here. They. Come,” Hudson exclaimed on the call.

After Johnson had slammed home the ninth Bomber goal in a row, they would find themselves only 21 points behind heading into the main break.

The fightback was made even more remarkable considering the match took place well before the six-six-six rule, and during the height of the ‘flood’ defensive tactic which prevented opposition sides from scoring freely.

A seesawing third quarter played host to another 13 goals in total, with neither side giving an inch – North would take a slender lead into the final change.

The Dons still had another gear to go, and they flexed their muscle in emphatic fashion.

Lloyd booted his ninth to keep them afloat, before another string of goals saw Gary Moorcroft miraculously put the Bombers in front for the first time since the six-minute mark of the opening period.

The Dons got away by as many as 19 points when Moorcroft piled on their fifth in a row with just six minutes remaining, but the Roos refused to go away.

Back-to-back Corey McKernan goals (his fourth and fifth of the day) saw the lead stand at a mere six points in favour of the Dons entering the final two minutes of play.

With tensions high, Essendon were clinging to one of their finest moments by a thread as North continued to press on.

With one swift Hird forward entry and a fortunate bounce, Caracella stormed into a vacant goal square to shut the door for good.

After 52 goals and the chase down of a 69-point lead, the football world had been treated to the biggest comeback in league history, in one of its greatest games ever.

Before and since, the two clubs have had their fair share of close encounters – one only has to look as far as Drew Petrie, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (and even marshmallows) to find names that have become synonymous with the fixture.

Amongst all though, this specific matchup holds a unique place in football history.

Still, we wait to see if anyone is capable of breaking this long-standing record for a comeback victory in a game.