Roos thrash Suns to claim AFLW minor premiership
Justin Chadwick |
North Melbourne have become the AFLW’s first undefeated minor premiers since the Brisbane Lions in 2017 after thrashing Gold Coast by 63 points at Arden Street.
Kangaroos forward Alice O’Loughlin was the star of the show with a career-high four goals in Saturday’s dominant 11.12 (78) to 2.3 (15) win.
The result means the Kangaroos, with 10 wins and a draw to their name, join the 2017 Brisbane outfit (six wins, one draw) as the only AFLW teams to have claimed a minor premiership undefeated.
Fremantle were 6-0 in 2020 before the season was abandoned due to COVID-19.
North Melbourne’s only ‘slip-up’ this season was the round-two draw with Geelong.
But North’s season-ending percentage of 315.4 showcased just how dominant they’ve been, no doubt fuelled by last year’s grand final loss to the Lions.
“For us we’ve finished right at the front of the grid which is really pleasing, and now a totally new season begins – the finals,” North Melbourne coach Darren Crocker said.
“If you had told me at the start of the year that we’ll go through undefeated … I would have said, ‘God, that’s a pretty tough ask to have any team go through and play that type of footy and maintain it through a whole season’.
“All credit to everyone in our program.
“We’ll lean into it (finals), we’ll look to enjoy it as much as we can and bring our best football.”
O’Loughlin was the star player, kicking 4.0 from 14 disposals.
The inside 50m count read 29-6 in favour of North at halftime, with the Kangaroos entering the main break with a 39-12 lead.
Gold Coast kicked the first goal of the match when Ella Smith won a holding-the-ball free kick.
It would be the Suns’ only possession inside forward 50m for the term as North Melbourne dominated field position.
Three goals in the space of five minutes to finish the term gave North a 16-point lead.
Elise Barwick pegged one back from Gold Coast early in the second quarter when she intercepted a handball and raced into the open goal.
It was their last goal of the match, with North piling on the next eight.
Second-term goals to Jasmine Garner and O’Loughlin gave the ‘Roos all the momentum at halftime.
O’Loughlin kicked two majors in the third term as North Melbourne continued to pile on the pain, putting the result beyond doubt.
Ash Riddell finished with 32 disposals and 426m gained for North, and she received excellent help from Mia King (25 disposals).
For the Suns, Charlie Rowbottom (27 disposals, seven clearances) and Claudia Whitfort (25 disposals, six clearances) led the way.
AAP