Premiership favourites North Melbourne stay unbeaten in 2024 after advancing to their third straight AFLW preliminary ultimate with a seven-point victory over Adelaide within the qualifying ultimate.
The Kangaroos discovered themselves firmly underneath the pump within the second quarter at Ikon Park on Friday evening, earlier than keen their manner again into management to prevail 5.8 (38) to five.1 (31).
Gun on-ball trio Ash Riddell (34 disposals, 10 clearances), Jasmine Garner (29, 10) and Mia King (24, 9) masterminded North’s cost, aided by small ahead Bella Eddey’s two second quarter objectives.
“What a cracking recreation,” Eddey stated.
“Adelaide are an amazing outfit — we all know that — they usually actually challenged us in that second quarter.
“We labored so onerous for this.
“I am actually pleased with the best way we fought again. Tremendous.”
Ash Riddell (left) had 34 disposals in a superb efficiency. (Getty Pictures: Daniel Pockett)
Ebony Marinoff racked up 30 touches and 13 tackles for Adelaide, whereas Chelsea Randall and Caitlin Gould slotted two objectives apiece.
The match was barely a minute outdated when the Kangaroos have been up and away, with Tahlia Randall marking strongly and goaling.
Gould arrange Adelaide’s preliminary reply, with a tricky deal with on Jasmine Ferguson resulting in Danielle Ponter’s profitable snap, earlier than changing herself from the aim sq..
North pinched the lead again proper on quarter-time after Crows defender Zoe Prowse was penalised for a deliberate rushed behind.
The second time period was all Adelaide, as North might barely muster a clear possession all quarter because the guests dominated inside-50s 11-1.
However by some means, the Kangaroos stored Adelaide scoreless till the final 30 seconds of the half, when Randall’s inspirational chase down deal with on Erika O’Shea arrange Gould’s second main.
The Roos would reply the problem beautifully within the third, making the Crows pay for his or her second-quarter inefficiency.
Randall’s bullocking, tackle-shrugging magnificence was Adelaide’s sole shining gentle within the quarter because the hosts flipped the script spectacularly, controlling the surface by a kick-mark methodology, racking up 15-2 inside-50s, 13-6 clearances and main by 10 factors on the final break.
North long-established simply 4 behinds within the fourth however it supplied them sufficient respiration area, with Randall’s six-pointer within the closing minutes a comfort reward.
Adelaide will subsequent weekend host the winner of this Saturday’s first elimination ultimate between Fremantle and Essendon.
AAP
