North Melbourne have capped off a dominant, undefeated season with the ultimate glory – outclassing the Brisbane Lions to clinch their maiden AFLW premiership with a 30-point win at a soldout Ikon Park.
The Roos held firm in the muggy conditions to win 6.3 (39) to 1.3 (9) in front of 12,122 fans, sealing the club’s first premiership since the men’s team last won in 1999.
The Kangaroos celebrate their premiership win.Credit: Getty Images
Star defender Libby Birch has also cemented her place in football history – becoming the first men’s or women’s player to win three premierships with three different clubs.
Roos players collapsed to the ground as the siren sounded, while others rushed to jump on top of their teammates in elation.
North declared their intention from the very start, with their gigantic banner simply reading, “Eyes on the prize.“
The crowd at Ikon Park was sea of blue and white, but loyal Lions supporters’ roars could still be heard throughout the stadium. The humidity slowly began to lift after 8pm and the two sides battled it out under clear skies in the AFLW’s first night grand final.
Roos winger Tess Craven booted the opening goal after marking a kick from star midfielder Jasmine Garner.
Her teammate Alice O’Loughlin then added to their tally, running over the top of Brisbane’s defence.
Both sides struggled for goal chances early in the second term but the Roos eventually found their way forward, with the Lions struggling in the contest. North’s defensive wall left the reigning premiers goalless in the second term in a display of unflinching focus.
The Lions were plagued by several injuries in the second half of the game. Ruck Tahlia Hickie copped a nasty hit to her left elbow in the third term, but returned to play after undergoing a fitness test.
Meanwhile, Lions midfielder Jade Ellenger was helped off the ground after her leg was caught under her in a tackle.
North continued their rampage in the final term, with the unstoppable Vikki Wall booting her second goal and all but sealing the flag and the ultimate revenge for last year’s heartbreak at the hands of the Lions – one of the AFLW’s true powerhouse sides.
The onslaught continued with Alice O’Loughlin booting her third goal, leaving Lions players around her panting from a deficit they would never recover from.
Roos fans around the stadium cheered when the final siren blared, thrilled for the club’s first premiership this century.
Garner’s dominant display – 35 touches including 22 contested possessions, to go along with 13 tackles and 459 metres gained – netted her the medal for best afield.
“A year ago today, you lose one, and [then] the journey this year … I’m so proud of everyone,” Garner told Seven after the match.
“We had the belief and we got the job done.”
After last year’s heartbreak, North Melbourne fan Daniel Wain was hoping for redemption. Wain brought his two daughters Zoe and Lily Brakoulias-Wain and their friend Maddison Randello to watch the game.
The trio were decked out in blue scarves, shirts, jumpers and glittery face paint, ecstatic to witness their team’s maiden premiership.