Kangaroos claim first AFLW flag with win over Brisbane
North Melbourne have broken through for their maiden AFLW premiership and completed an undefeated season with a 30-point win over the Brisbane Lions in the historic night grand final.
Gun midfielder Jasmine Garner and captain Emma Kearney starred in the Kangaroos’ 5.9 (39) to 1.3 (9) victory in front of 12,122 fans at Ikon Park on Saturday night, turning the tables on the Lions after last year’s heartbreaking defeat in the season decider.
It was North’s 12th consecutive win, with the only blemish in their near-perfect campaign under coach Darren Crocker a draw with Geelong in round two.
The Kangaroos are the first expansion team to win a premiership, in the competition’s ninth season, and the only team in AFLW history to go through an entire campaign without a loss.
Kearney was brilliant across half-back in her second game back from a hamstring injury, while Garner and Ash Riddell were influential in the midfield.
Alice O’Loughlin finished with three goals and Vikki Wall two.
North kicked the first three goals of the game to set up their triumph in a dominant opening quarter, building an early 17-point buffer with majors to Tess Craven and O’Loughlin (two).
Ellie Hampson benefited from a down-field free kick to slot the Lions’ first, but the Kangaroos led 4.1 to 1.2 at the main break, with Kearney a force throughout the first half.
A rushed behind to Brisbane was the only score of a hard-fought third term, before a Wall major extended North’s advantage early in the final quarter.
Down by 23 points, the Lions’ task got even more difficult when Jade Ellenger had to be helped off the field with an ankle injury.
O’Loughlin’s third goal sealed the result and sent North Melbourne fans into party mode, celebrating their club’s first premiership in either the women’s or men’s competitions since their 1999 AFL triumph.
Brisbane’s loss was their fourth from six AFLW grand final appearances.
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