Two games decided by two goals or less, yielding one win and one loss for the North Melbourne football club. That's the ultimate result for the Kangaroos' venture with Tourism WA to play two homes games in the western state, one at Hands Oval in Bunbury, the other essentially providing the Dockers with an extra home game at Optus Stadium.
Put aside the impact on the Western Australian football community, the WA Kangaroos fanbase, and North Melbourne's ties to the area with numerous past and present players growing up in the Wildflower State. From a football perspective, the Roos' decision to sell home games to another state resulted in mixed returns.
So was it worthwhile? Bring back all the off-field positive impacts into the mix, you could argue it's difficult to reason against it. The Kangaroos clearly have a strong supporter base out west as fans flocked in their droves to Bunbury and Perth respectively, while it allowed the seven current players raised in WA to embrace some time back home.
But what will always matter most is the on-field results. The Roos scraped by against the Eagles and put up a competitive fight against an in-form Fremantle. Whether the Dockers game could've been won at Marvel Stadium, and if the Eagles game could've been a percentage-booster there too, will remain a question never to be answered.
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson was upbeat with his side's efforts to challenge a top-eight team in the Dockers and nearly pull off an upset win. But for a side expected to begin climbing the ladder - in other words, actually winning games of football - is providing a quality team with a freebie home game a poor decision?
There was clear anticipation for North Melbourne to finally rise from the trenches of the bottom four this season, their youthful list growing in experience and taking shape.
However, after 13 games of football, only three wins have been recorded, two of those against sides placed below them on the table. And even then, those two wins were less than convincing.
In a rebuilding side, every win is important to build confidence and belief in the system.
Hawthorn's short rebuild was aided by the fact they beat the eventual premiers in 2022, 2023, and 2024, as well as other finalists in those years.
In a similar vein, Collingwood's short-lived rebuild in 2021 saw the Pies defeat eventual premiers Melbourne despite finishing 17th.
Even Richmond are deemed to be on the right path already after toppling 2024 finalist Carlton and current top-eight side Gold Coast.
Proof is in the pudding that beating top sides builds faith in the rebuilding process.
The Roos would undoubtedly have taken belief from securing a draw against the reigning premiers Brisbane earlier this season, but an added win against a potential finalist in Fremantle would have struck more faith into the Clarkson tenure. However, the Tourism WA contract may have cost the club just that.
Clarkson danced around the questioning about whether a home game at Optus Stadium ultimately paid dividends for the Dockers in the tight outcome, rather focusing on a valiant North Melbourne effort.
"It's a big investment by Tourism WA to take the punt and try and bring some more footy to this state and we're pleased to be part of it. Did Fremantle get some sort of advantage out of the home ground? Possibly, but geez, we gave ourselves every chance," Clarkson said.
"As we continue to play footy like that, then we're going to win games of footy, no matter where it's played. And we gave ourselves a chance tonight and just couldn't quite get across the line."
But when will the praise for valiant losses turn to motivation to win? North Melbourne fans have endured far too long a rebuild to still remain upbeat from so-close-yet-so-far performances.
It begs the question as to whether the WA venture was a success or not for the Kangaroos. Is earning some coin for the club worthwhile in their stage of development if all it reaps is close encounters and more valiant defeats?
Should the club rather be focussed on improving the on-field results of their playing group?
At the end of the day, debating whether the Roos would have won Saturday night's clash in Victoria is something that will remain unknown.
But one thing is for sure, history has proven there is nothing that four premiership points can't do to accelerate a club's fortunes.
And perhaps Saturday night's game was an opportunity gone begging to strike more belief into North Melbourne's lengthy rebuild.
