Garner hurt in Roos’ record-breaking win over Dockers
Shayne Hope |
North Melbourne superstar Jasmine Garner suffered an ankle injury as the AFLW premiers continued their winning start to the new campaign with a record-breaking 100-point thumping of Fremantle.
Garner is set for scans after landing awkwardly in a second-quarter marking contest and playing no further part in the Kangaroos’ 18.6 (114) to 2.2 (14) victory at Fremantle Oval on Sunday.
The result extended North’s winning streak to an AFLW record 15 matches, and they are unbeaten in 17 outings over two seasons after their near-perfect 2024 premiership campaign.
The Kangaroos also kicked a record AFLW score as Blaithin Bogue (four goals), Tahlia Randall (three), Amy Smith and Alice O’Loughlin (two each) feasted on an avalanche of opportunities in attack.
But there are concerns for star midfielder Garner after she limped off with an injured left ankle before halftime.
The Kangaroos captain took a mark within scoring range, but got up gingerly and tried to offload the ball to a teammate.
Play was then stopped by umpires, allowing Garner time to exit as O’Loughlin took her kick.
The 31-year-old had looked dangerous to that point, continuing her strong start to the season with 11 disposals and a goal.
“She’s all right. We believe that she’s just rolled her ankle quite badly,” Kangaroos coach Darren Crocker said after the match.
“But she’ll get scans (on Monday), so hopefully the scans just pretty much tell us that’s what it is and there’s nothing more sinister than that.”
Garner’s injury didn’t stop North coasting to a comfortable win, set up in a club-best first quarter.
Gun on-baller Ash Riddell (38 disposals) was busy from the outset as the Kangaroos posted 6.1 to 1.0 in a dominant opening term.
The visitors hardly put a foot wrong in managing six goals from seven shots and nine inside-50s.
The margin grew to 42 points by the main break, but should have been more.
A wayward North kicked 1.5 to 0.0 from 19 forward entries to none in the second quarter.
The one-sided affair continued after the main break as the ruthless Roos put their opponents to the sword.
Riddell and Smith (24 touches) were outstanding for North, while star pair Emma Kearney (22) and Jenna Bruton (13) impressed on return from injuries.
Fremantle (1-2) had few winners on a dirty day and lost Emma O’Driscoll to concussion before halftime.
The Dockers’ two goals for the game came either side of 16 in a row for the rampaging visitors.
Lisa Webb’s side have lost their past two matches – against last year’s grand finalists Brisbane and North – by a combined 170 points.
AAP
