Records tumbled as the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos continued their unbeaten start to the season against Port Adelaide on Sunday.
Midfield star Ash Riddell equalled the AFLW disposals record and captain Jasmine Garner kicked a club-record six goals as the Roos won 13.9 (87) to 2.3 (15).
The 72-point winning margin was the Kangaroos’ highest in their AFLW history.Â
KANGAROOS v POWER Full match coverage and stats
The Kangaroos raised their 2024 AFLW premiership flag over Arden St before the game, and the pyrotechnics continued as the Roos made an explosive start.
Garner had two goals on the board in the opening five minutes.
Minutes later, Irish forward Amy Gavin Mangan – a late inclusion for the injured Jenna Bruton – sprinted and took a bounce before snapping home a spectacular goal with her first kick on debut.
The reigning premiers dominated possession across the match. It is not unlike Port Adelaide to lose the disposal count – averaging 35 fewer than its opposition throughout 2024 – but given the Roos’ supreme skill, giving up so much of the footy really hurt.
North Melbourne’s signature spread repeatedly caught the Power out. As the visitors worked hard to create plenty of contested ball, the moment the Roos were able to pop the ball out to a receiver they found themselves in acres of space.
It meant that the rare fumble or miskick from North was easily recoverable, and attacking movement often resulted in an outnumber close to goal.
The Irish trio of Blaithin Bogue, Amy Gavin Mangan, and Vikki Wall waxed and waned inside 50 for the Roos, and last year’s leading goalkicker Alice O’Loughlin (13 disposals, one goal) wreaked havoc.
An undersized Port Adelaide defence worked hard in the absence of Amelie Borg (ankle) and Janelle Cuthberton (knee/foot), but struggled in the face of North Melbourne’s quick ball movement and wealth of tall forward options.
It was North Melbourne’s 14th-straight win, equalling Melbourne’s record which has stood since 2023.
Is Jas, is good
It will come as no surprise to say Jasmine Garner is a star, but the new North Melbourne captain somehow broke new ground on Sunday afternoon. In front of the flowing 2024 premiership flag, Garner kicked four goals across the opening half, bettering her previous best of three goals. It was a slightly different role for the Roo, who started at the centre stoppage but then spent plenty of the game playing as a forward in the absence of the club’s third key tall Emma King. Unfortunately for Port Adelaide, it simply had no answer for Garner, with Ella Heads and Ashleigh Woodland attempting the role of limiting her.
Luck of the Irish
There was a distinctly Irish feeling about North Melbourne’s attack on Sunday afternoon. Last week’s debutant Blaithin Bogue continued her good work across the line with 11 disposals and a goal for the game, while premiership Roo Vikki Wall (13 disposals, one goal) made her triumphant return to the line, and draftee Amy Gavin Mangan (seven disposals, one goal) goaled with her very first kick on debut. With their quick, aggressive energy, they made North Melbourne’s attacking 50 particularly unpredictable, and that reward was felt on the scoreboard.
Next up
North Melbourne will aim to break the AFLW winning streak record as it travels west to take on a smarting Fremantle side on Sunday afternoon. The opening bounce at Fremantle Oval will be at 1.05pm AWST (3.05pm AEST).Â
NORTH MELBOURNEÂ Â Â 4.4 Â Â 7.7 Â Â 11.8 Â 13.9 (87)
PORT ADELAIDE Â Â Â Â Â Â 0.0 Â Â 1.0 Â Â 2.3Â Â Â 2.3 (15)
GOALS Â
North Melbourne: Garner 6, Gavin Mangan, Randall, Bogue, Riddell, Wall, O’Loughlin, Shierlaw
Port Adelaide: Houghton 2
BEST Â
North Melbourne: Garner, Riddell, Sheerin, Bogue, Tripodi, M.King
Port Adelaide: Tahau, Houghton, Germech, Scholz
INJURIES Â
North Melbourne: Rennie (left ankle)
Port Adelaide: Nil
LATE CHANGES
North Melbourne: Jenna Bruton (quad) replaced in selected side by Amy Gavin Mangan, Nicole Bresnehan (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Tessa BoydÂ
Port Adelaide: Nil
Crowd: 2,346 at Arden Street Oval
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