North Melbourne crush Brisbane by 30 points in grand final to win first AFLW premiership

North Melbourne have capped off an undefeated season with its first AFLW premiership at Ikon Park, getting their revenge on last year’s winners Brisbane 6.3 (39) to 1.3 (9) in front of a crowd of 12,122.

“Eyes on the prize” read the Kangaroos banner. And it was their first half dominance that locked the game away before a second-half arm wrestle that held the Lions goalless.

At Monday night’s W Awards, the room applauded long and loud for seven-time All-Australian Jasmine Garner’s first votes received in week five, a sign of respect for the quiet, underrated 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.

The Lions’ Ally Anderson, Shannon Campbell and captain Bre Koenen were all playing their career 16^th final. But the nerves from both sides were visible early, playing slingshot footy that largely resulted 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.

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A pin-point kick by Jasmine Garner found youngster Tess Craven, who had made space 35m out from goal. Craven, 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. Craven would go on to take important marks throughout the match to relieve the pressure.

Alice O’Loughlin made it a 17-point lead with two successive goals. The first quarter was looking to get out of hand before a late hit by Emma King handed a downfield free kick to Lion Ellie Hampson 45m out from goal, who nailed the set shot to narrow the margin to 11 points at quarter time.

North captain Emma Kearney, and now two-time premiership winner, turned back the clock and shook off the hamstring injury that had kept her on the sidelines for seven weeks, selling candy twice in the first quarter. At half time, she led the Kangaroos’ disposal count with teammate Garner on 13, and had 274m gained.

It was North Melbourne’s turn in the second quarter to be frustrated by an inability to take their chances. After an early Vikki Wall goal, the ball lived in North Melbourne’s forward half for long periods, putting Brisbane’s defence under pressure.

Despite the 17-point margin at halftime, 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. Previous League Best and Fairest Ally Anderson had 16 disposals and five clearances to half-time, while teammate Courtney Hodder was at her tackling best, with eight of the Lions’ 46 tackles.

You can never write the Lions off in a final, with the side known for their slow starts. Brisbane came from behind at half-time in both of their finals leading up to the grand final, and mounted a last quarter comeback in last year’s grand final against North Melbourne.

The third quarter was an arm-wrestle, with composure going out the window for sheer desperation for both sides. Lions ruck Tahlia Hickie came off almost immediately with an elbow issue, but made it back on. Only one point was scored, with an early rushed behind for the Lions.

The Kangaroos had the opportunity to put the game away, when Kearney ducked and weaved again, and running towards forward 50, found O’Loughlin. However, her kick to Kate Shierlaw fell short, and Lions vice-captain Nat Grider took an intercept mark.

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Early in the fourth quarter, Jenna Bruton led a rapid-fire passage of play to send it inside 50 to Wall again to send the largely blue and white crowd on their feet. After her characteristic stuttered run-up, she squeezed it home to set up a game-high 23-point lead. Irishwoman Wall missed last season to try and make Ireland’s Olympic rugby sevens teams. With six tackles and five score involvements, her impact in that grand final was surely missed.

In worse news for Brisbane, tagger Jade Ellenger’s right lower leg became stuck under her in a tackle, and had to be assisted off the field by trainers.

The win 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, all against the Lions.