North Melbourne have capped off an undefeated season with their first AFLW premiership at Ikon Park, adding a dose of revenge on last year’s winners Brisbane with a resounding 6.3 (39) to 1.3 (9) triumph in front of a crowd of 12,122.
“Eyes on the prize” read the Kangaroos banner. And it was the Roos’ first half dominance that all but locked the biggest prize in the game away before a second-half arm wrestle where the Lions were held goalless.
At Monday night’s W Awards, the room applauded long and loud when seven-time All-Australian Jasmine Garner belatedly received her first votes in week five of the count, a sign of respect for the quiet, understated figure. Tonight she goes home with two medals – one for her first premiership and one for her best on ground performance, with an enormous 35 disposals, 22 of those contested, 13 tackles and 10 clearances. Garner’s partner in crime, Ash Riddell, had to shake off a hard tag but grew her impact as the game wore on to finish with 30 disposals.
The Lions’ Ally Anderson, Shannon Campbell and captain Bre Koenen were all playing their career 16th final, this time in a rematch of last year’s decider. But the nerves from both sides were visible early, playing slingshot footy that largely came from mistakes and fumbles. The Lions had six stoppages in a row at the top of their forward 50, but couldn’t make the move deeper as the Roos’ determination stood up.
A pin-point kick by Garner changed that when she found youngster Tess Craven who had made space 35m out from goal. Craven, who had been under a fitness cloud after suffering a corked back in the preliminary final, straightened up to kick the first goal of the game in the seventh minute. The versatile 20-year-old went on to take important marks throughout the match as she helped relieve the pressure and added a touch of class.
Alice O’Loughlin added a spark and made it a 17-point lead with two successive goals for the Roos. The first quarter was looking to get out of hand for the Lions before a late hit by Emma King handed a downfield free kick to Ellie Hampson, 45m out from goal, who nailed the set shot to narrow the margin to 11 points at the break.
North captain, and now two-time premiership winner, Emma Kearney shook off the hamstring injury that had kept her on the sidelines for seven weeks, and turned back the clock when selling candy twice in the first quarter. At half-time, Kearney led the Kangaroos’ disposal count and belied her age and lack of match fitness to finish the game full of run despite being underdone.
🎶 North Melbourne girls are hard to beat when they come out to play 🎶
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) November 30, 2024
A historic rendition of the song in the middle of Ikon Park 🏆#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/7R2weZTCCj
It was North Melbourne’s turn to suffer from an inability to take their chances in the second term. After an early Vikki Wall goal, the ball lived in the Kangaroos’ forward half for long periods, putting the Lions’ defence under pressure.
Despite the 17-point margin at half-time, the Lions had plenty of players working hard to keep them in the game, and moments where they were able to get their characteristic fast-running game going. Former AFLW best and fairest winner Ally Anderson started brightly and finished with 25 disposals, six clearances and 14 tackles, while teammate Courtney Hodder added defensive heat with 10 tackles.
The third quarter was an arm-wrestle, with composure going out the window and replaced by sheer desperation from both sides. Lions ruck Tahlia Hickie came off early in the term with an elbow issue, but returned soon after, while onlya rushed behind for the Lions was added between both sides.
You can never write Brisbane off in a final, with the side known for their slow starts and fast finishes and shown when they came from behind in both of their finals leading up to this decider. The Roos also needed no reminder that the Lions mounted a final-quarter comeback in last year’s grand final.
Early in the fourth quarter, Jenna Bruton led a rapid-fire passage of play to send the ball inside 50 to find Wall again and bring the largely blue and white crowd onto their feet. After her characteristic stuttered run-up, Wall squeezed the shot home to set up a game-high 23-point lead. The Irishwoman missed last season to try and make Ireland’s Olympic rugby sevens teams, but with six tackles and five score involvements ensured she made an impact in this grand final.
The historic victory makes North Melbourne the first expansion team to win a grand final, which might have AFL head office breathing a sigh of relief, while star recruit Libby Birch has become a three-time premiership player across her three clubs, with each triumph coming against the Lions as the baton is passed to the Roos.
