North Melbourne has secured yet another Preliminary Final appearance with a 39-point victory over Hawthorn, winning 5.12 (42) to 0.3 (3).

A goalless Hawthorn’s final score of 3 marks the lowest score in an AFLW final, and the lowest score-against in North Melbourne’s 25-match winning run.

Tahlia Randall 1.3 (9) outscored Hawthorn 0.3 (3) for the second week in a row.

Watch live coverage of the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft on Kayo Sports 19-20 Nov | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.

The reigning premiers recorded the first seven inside 50s, with the unlikely Kim Rennie opening their account.

Benefitting from a 50m penalty, it marked her first goal since Season 7.

It looked as if Hawthorn were on the brink of unravelling for much of the first half, but its defence – led by Laura Stone – stood tall, and its pressure caused a steely North Melbourne to falter.

If scores were given for defensive efforts rather than goals, this would’ve been one of the highest scoring games of the season.

Stone recorded three marks and 19 disposals whilst North Melbourne’s Libby Birch was impassable with 10 marks of her own.

The Kangaroos were uncharacteristically inaccurate in their forward half – kicking 5.12 under the weight of Hawthorn’s pressure.

North thrash Hawks in ominous display | 01:15

If there is one thing Hawthorn can hang their hat on, it’s that this marks North Melbourne’s lowest score of Season 10.

Ultimately, though, their strength prevailed as they opened the floodgates in the final term.

Daniel Webster will rue Hawthorn’s accuracy after pointing to “the execution and fundamentals” as the cause of his side’s defeat last week.

Switching Najwa Allen forward at times, Webster will need to move the magnets if he is to prevent back-to-back straight sets exits after recording only two marks inside 50 to North Melbourne’s nine.

Despite this week’s turmoil, Jas Garner finished with 26 disposals and six tackles.

THIRD QUARTER SCARE

An early scare was sent through the Hawthorn camp as Aine McDonagh came off worse for wear in a head clash with North Melbourne’s Jas Ferguson.

The sigh of relief came when she passed her assessment, but it was short lived, as she later succumbed to a lower leg injury on the eve of three-quarter time.

Kailtyn Ashmore, Emily Everist and Laura Elliott also came from the field in the third term.

With an already extensive injury list which includes captain Emily Bates and talls Lucy Wales and Eli Symonds, Hawthorn will need to dig deep to find a win next week.

Everist, Elliott and McDonagh played out the contest, but carried a limp with strapping on her right knee.

TENSIONS RISE

Emma Kearney’s attempt to involve the crowd in the contest went awry as she faced the wrath of Greta Bodey for her efforts.

Bodey will hope she won’t face a suspension, with the blow on Kearney emulating that of Cathy Svarc, who was cleared by the tribunal after initially facing one week on the sidelines.

It was a week of tension amongst the two clubs after Hawthorn snubbed Jasmine Garner’s 100th game guard of honour, culminating in a scuffle on the eve of three-quarter time.

SCORING WOES HIT ROCK BOTTOM

Despite finding the first four inside 50s of the second term, Hawthorn was unable to generate a shot at goal.

While Aine McDonagh has so often injected life into Hawthorn, even she was only able to conjure a minor score – Hawthorn’s only score of the first half.

The long-awaited goal never came, only adding more fuel to the fire in the discussion of their poor accuracy in 2025.

“We’ve done a lot of work on [our accuracy], it just hasn’t yet got through to what we’re doing,” said Webster post-game last week.

BRILLIANT BOGUE’S FIRST IN FINALS

Fresh off her maiden All-Australian squad nomination, first-year player Blaithin Bogue scored her first Finals major only minutes into the final term.

It caps off a brilliant Season 10 feat for the first-year forward.

LEARNING CURVE

Hawthorn wasn’t able to convert its pressure into scoring chances, its output may have just provided the blueprint to unravel the red-hot Roos.

Just as the Kangaroos seemed invincible, Hawthorn’s pressure exposed even the smallest of cracks in their steely demeanour, with early fumbles and uncharacteristic misses under pressure.

It may not have been enough to send Hawthorn to the Preliminary Final, but the six other Clubs in contention will be thanking Webster.

A consistent, intense level of pressure paired with the ability to punish off turnover may well be the winning recipe.

Brisbane and Melbourne trail North Melbourne to round out the top scorers from turnover in Season 10.