North survive Dees thriller to reach AFLW grand final
Joanna Guelas |
North Melbourne will play in their third consecutive AFLW grand final after weathering an almighty scare in a 10-point win over a defiant Melbourne outfit.
Trailing by six points at the final break, the Kangaroos’ historic 25-match winning streak looked in danger after a scoreless third quarter in Saturday’s preliminary final at Ikon Park.
Needing the first goal after the break, Irish star Blaithin Bogue answered coach Darren Crocker’s call to kickstart the comeback for North’s sensational 6.10 (46) to 5.6 (36) victory.
The Roos, looking to become the first women’s side to claim back-to-back premierships, next face the winner of the Brisbane-Carlton preliminary final.
After kicking two crucial goals in the first term, Bogue had launched North Melbourne ahead by two points before captain Jasmine Garner hit the scoreboard herself to steady the side.
Garner (one goal, 32 disposals, seven clearances) and fellow midfield superstar Ash Riddell (one goal, 24 disposals, three clearances) saw plenty of the ball, as Emma Kearney led a tough North Melbourne defence.
Superstar captain Kate Hore (two goals, 18 disposals) was nothing short of sensational against North Melbourne, but her effort wasn’t enough.
Maeve Chaplin (22 disposals), Eliza McNamara (21) and Paxy Paxman (one goal, 15 disposals) were similarly busy.
Melbourne stunned the hosts with a lethal opening display, kicking the first two goals within five minutes while keeping the defending premiers to a team-wide two disposals.
Eliza McNamara had gifted the Demons the perfect start after winning the ball back within the 50-metre arc from Kangaroos defender Jasmine Ferguson with a textbook tackle.
Well aware of the distance, McNamara unloaded to an unmanned Paxy Paxman and the star veteran drew first blood near the two-minute mark.
The Demons then broke out to a 19-point lead halfway through the first quarter before North worked their way into the game through Bogue’s two-goal haul.
The Kangaroos started the more daring side after the break, with league best-and-fairest favourite Riddell’s goal launching the hosts ahead.
But the defending premiers’ ascendancy extended as much as two points before the Demons reversed the margin courtesy of a 50-metre penalty to Hore from North forward Bella Eddey for infringing the protected zone of the opposition captain’s mark.
North Melbourne’s two-point deficit at halftime was the first time they had trailed at the main break this season.
A desperate Kangaroos side were then held scoreless in a tight third quarter as Melbourne managed just four more points on the scoreboard before the final term.
AAP
