‘The 10 commandments’: Game plan secrets of Roos ‘90’s dynasty teams revealed

It’s been 26 years since North Melbourne’s last premiership win.

And ahead of the club’s centenary celebration match against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night, Kangaroos greats Adam Simpson and John Longmire have opened up on the secrets of that 1999 premiership side’s game plan.

It came amid a golden run from Dennis Pagan’s side, playing in seven-straight preliminary finals from 1994 to 2000 including two flags and a further grand final appearance.

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“We feel super privileged tonight because 26 years on you’re going to reveal the game plan that won the 1999 premiership,” Fox Footy’s AFL 360 co-host Gerard Whateley said on Wednesday night’s program

“The 10 commandments of inside collision corridor football.”

John Longmire celebrates getting his premiership medal. 1999 Grand Final. North Melbourne (Kangaroos) v Carlton. MCG. Source: News Corp Australia

1. In front first to move – strong attack on the ball

Your attack on the ball must be second to none – eyes on ball only

Simpson says: “This is the way we trained. There was specific drills for this. This is pretty basic but keep thinking back to 1991 onwards. So by the time we hit 1999, we’d done the same drill for eight years.”

2. First option – quick hands

Don’t try to beat the tackle – handball up off the deck

Simpson says: “You weren’t allowed to take on the tackle. It was first give off the deck. The rehab boys were the most skilled players we had, because they did so much touch.”

3. Play on quickly, kick long and direct to the grid area

The quicker the ball gets there, the most pressure the opposition is under. Lower your eyes

Simpson says: “This was big, this is the old ‘Pagan Paddock’ conversation. This is the longest piece. Go as quick as you can, go through the corridor and put pressure on the opposition. It was pretty basic.”

4. Front and square crumbing

Position yourself square on the packs and stay in front of the contest

Simpson says: “This was big. Everyone knows what front and square crumbing is. But back then this was instilled with the way we trained. We had this drill we did every single session and it was about one-on-one front square work. If you didn’t do this, you didn’t play.”

5. Aggressive protection of the ball carrier

First thought is to assist teammates

Simpson says: “This has changed. I saw a lot of sheppards in the grand final. I saw a lot of people shepparding for people with the people.”

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6. No U-turns

Handball to teammate facing goal

Longmire says: “This one alone cost me 50 goals a year! You had to give out the handball, you take away the flare of the player.”

7. When under pressure in defence – play the percentages

Aggressive spoiling, clear the area of create stoppages

Longmire says: “This was a Mick Martyn classic. Get it and get it out of the space as quick as you can. It was pretty basic.”

8. Relentless pressure on the opposition

Chase, tackle, harass, smother and pressure your opponents

Longmire says: “These were the things the coach coded when he went through his positive and negatives on a Monday, it was relentless. I used to wake up in the middle of the night with cold sweats thinking about it, it was drilled into us so much.”

9. Kicking – no short kicks to 50/50

Use the loose target, otherwise kick long to advantage

Longmire says: “Occasionally it was OK (to go outside of this), but you had to have a license.”

Simpson says: “I didn’t have a license, I just kicked it to ‘Duck’ (Wayne Carrey), that was my rule.”

10. Front half – keep the ball alive

Hit on, knock on, surge the ball forward

Simpson says: “This one is still alive. Keep the ball in the front half, hit on, knock on, surge football. It makes so much sense and was so simple.”

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