Kangaroos march into AFLW grand last with crushing win over Port

Rampant North Melbourne has charged right into a second consecutive AFLW grand last after steamrolling Port Adelaide by 57 factors.

Darren Crocker’s North, chasing a maiden premiership, will host both reigning premiers Brisbane or Adelaide, who play on Saturday evening, in subsequent week’s grand last.

In sweltering situations at Princes Park, the Kangaroos booted three objectives contained in the opening 7 minutes to arrange their 12.6 (78) to 2.9 (21) preliminary last victory in entrance of 4,387 followers.

After a heartbreaking loss to Brisbane in final yr’s decider, the minor premiers will host subsequent Saturday evening’s conflict at Princes Park as red-hot favourites after an ominous dismantling of a younger Energy group.

As anticipated, star North midfielders Jasmine Garner (25 disposals, eight clearances, six tackles and a aim) and Ashleigh Riddell (27 disposals, 5 clearances) had been sometimes prolific across the ball.

Powerhouse ahead Vikki Wall snagged three objectives, whereas Alice O’Loughlin, Tahlia Randall, Kate Shierlaw and Taylah Gatt kicked two majors apiece.

North skipper Emma Kearney efficiently returned from a hamstring harm, however was rested for many of the last quarter.

Port’s Piper Window (15 disposals, eight tackles), Abbey Dowrick (18 disposals) and Shineah Goody set to work all through.

Lauren Arnell’s Energy, who had made a gutsy run to their first preliminary last, regarded misplaced for solutions as North smashed them across the ball and stored them goalless within the first half.

North gained clearances 12-4, contested possessions 33-20 and inside-50s 17-3 in a dominant first quarter that arrange the sport.

The Kangaroos acquired off to an ideal begin once they went coast-to-coast earlier than Wall picked out Garner within the aim sq. for the opener.

Randall added one other, earlier than a quick-fire double from O’Loughlin, together with a sensational snap, put the Kangaroos in agency management.

When O’Loughlin kicked North’s fourth aim, Port had simply seven disposals throughout their whole group.

Port stemmed the bleeding within the again half of the quarter however couldn’t hit the scoreboard.

Quickfire objectives to Randall and Gatt put the sport nearly out of Port’s attain.

North’s Tess Craven acquired crunched by Goody halfway by way of the second time period however returned to the fray.

North nudged their half-time lead out to 50 factors by way of two well-taken Shierlaw objectives.

Regardless of the acute warmth, the Kangaroos didn’t let up within the third quarter, with Wall hanging twice to assist prolong the margin to 65 factors.

The Energy stored combating and Gemma Houghton snagged Port’s deserved first aim early within the last time period.

However Wall launched her third aim, this time from outdoors 50, to place an exclamation mark on North’s victory.

AAP