North were far too good in the end for a dogged Demons, who were missing eight players on Saturday at Memorial Oval.
South took it up to North for three quarters, but just didn’t have the cattle in the end to keep with them.
North played sensational at times, moving the ball and playing some exciting football - if they can do it away from Memorial, they will be hard to beat.
Nick Prokopec was simply outstanding and his goals were the difference in the end.
He marked everything that came his way and kicked some long goals.
North took control early with some kicking that could have been a bit more if not for inaccuracy.
Luke “Buttsy” Seymour’s start was on fire and was causing the Demons defenders problems with his pace and awareness.
North players were finding too much space and the Demons needed to tighten up on them.
The Demons did just that, kicking the first two goals of the quarter with an Eddie Wilson goal on the boundary and a Jimmy Muir free kick.
Then with Josh Trezise scooping up a loose ball and kicked a goal on the run followed by three Nick Prokopec goals, North had all of a sudden undone all the good work South had done.
When Chad Menzies got clear his kicking to forwards was unbelievable and with Prokopec leading, North were unstoppable at times.
Then South, to their credit, dug deep with Eddie Wilson and Ryan baker running themselves into the game and they hit back with the next four goals and went in at half time only 30 points down.
South started where they left off.
Steven Barford, playing at centre half forward, was making a good contest and holding the ball in the area and Dwayne Colson snapped the first, and South were in with a sniff.
They were having a real honest go, but Menzies and Seymour stepped up and North banged on four of the last five goals and stretched their lead to 35 points at three quarter time.
In the last quarter South had simply run themselves into the ground with three players already playing full games in the B grade.
North made them pay as it was at one stage “how many would Prokopec kick” and when he kicked his tenth the game was well and truly over.
The Magpies played some exciting footy and are going to be real hard to beat come September.
They eventually ran out winner by 76 points.
For the Demons Eddie Wilson played a great game with his chasing and tackling and his two hangers was a pleasure to watch.
Ryan Baker played a captains game and led from the front, Ray McIntosh played well as well as Gavin Jonker.
First A grade gamer James Smith done a good job keeping Scott Daly quiet and Steven Barford won his dual with the in-form Nathan Wohling.
North would have been pretty happy with the what they played and will brimming with confidence going into the finals.
As for the Demons, they won’t be overly disappointed as there was some goods signs with plenty of improvement to come when key players return in coming weeks.
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