Egos on the hook: North’s biggest threats in AFLW hunt
Joanna Guelas |
Darren Crocker sees just two things that could prevent North Melbourne from becoming the first AFLW team to win back-to-back premierships.
Having set an unprecedented 25-match winning streak one game away from a grand final, Kangaroos coach Crocker believes complacency and ego will be the defending premiers’ undoing if they aren’t careful.
Earning a week off after steamrolling Hawthorn in a semi-final, North Melbourne will host second-placed Melbourne in Saturday’s first preliminary final at Ikon Park.
Brisbane host Carlton later on Saturday at Brighton Homes Arena.
North have won every game since round three last year and also hold an undefeated streak dating back to the 2023 grand final.
With the only blemish on their undefeated record being a draw with Geelong in round three last year, Crocker knows it would have been easy for his side to get carried away with ego.
Pundits and bookmakers have also long rated back-to-back premierships for North Melbourne as highly likely, viewing Mick Stinear’s Demons as an outside chance despite finishing second on the latter.
“A lot of people would have thought, and we spoke about that at the start of this year, that when you achieve what we did last year the two threats would be complacency and maybe a bit of ego,” Crocker said on Thursday.
“Hand on heart, I can tell you that that has not been the case. They’re a driven group.
“They want to get better, they come in to get better every single day, and they just leave their egos on the hook.
“They’re a great group to coach and be the senior coach of. I’m sure that they’ll turn up again on the weekend.”
Crocker will take a gamble on defender Eilish Sheerin, who has not played since suffering a hamstring injury during the warm-up in round eight.
But North won’t take their chances on Mia King after the star onballer fell short of proving her fitness following a PCL injury in her knee.
Sheerin joined the Kangaroos in the off-season after playing 32 games for Richmond.
“I’m pleased to say that Eilish will come in. She was really close for our first final,” Crocker said.
“She’s very excited, jumping out of her skin, to tell you the truth.
“She realised that probably the changing clubs coming across from Richmond to us, this was one of the main reasons to be able to put herself out on this stage, so she’s really excited about the opportunity.
“Unfortunately for Mia, that hasn’t been the case. Mia progressed but just not enough.”
Added experience in defence will be welcomed for North, who must contain a red-hot Kate Hore.
Demons skipper Hore has played like a woman possessed in the post-season, finishing with three goals from 26 disposals in last week’s semi-final win over Adelaide.
The star forward-midfield also had a haul of one goal and 31 touches in their qualifying-final loss to Brisbane.
North’s own star captain Jasmine Garner could be set for a fiery match-up, but Crocker said it was a team effort to lock up Hore.
“She’s obviously a really dangerous player … which means that as a target, she needs to be a team target,” Crocker said.
“But whether Melbourne send Kate to ‘Jas’, who knows, that might be one that Mick’s got up his sleeve. “
AAP
