North Melbourne have leaped into the top eight and ended the Western Bulldogs’ unbeaten start to the AFLW season with a 15-point win at a sold-out Punt Road Oval.
Key points:
- North Melbourne were led by another best-on-ground performance from midfielder Jasmine Garner
- Teenager Rylie Wilcox kicked two goals to keep the Bulldogs alive
- The Roos’ win kick-started a big day for the AFLW, which features four matches in total
Jasmine Garner (26 disposals) was brilliant in the Kangaroos’ 6.7 (43) to 4.4 (28) triumph.
She was wonderfully assisted by Jenna Bruton as the Kangaroos had the edge on the Dogs’ vaunted on-ball brigade.
Katie Lynch and Isabella Grant’s intercept marking in defence was a feature for the Bulldogs, while 17-year-old Rylie Wilcox’s two goals kept her side in the match, which was in the balance for the majority of the afternoon.
The Kangaroos combined strength at the contest with ferocious tackling to dictate proceedings early, firing the first strike through half-forward Isabella Eddy, who found goal smartly in the opening 90 seconds
The Dogs weathered the early storm and steadied, taking the lead at quarter-time when Rocky Cranston walked into an open goal.
Hard-running Irishwoman Vikki Wall found goal to start the second term, which for the most part was played on North’s terms.
The Kangaroos owned the corridor and dominated territory, but were unable to add to Wall’s major, thanks chiefly to some sterling Bulldogs defence, piloted by Lynch and Grant.
Captain Ellie Blackburn had a big third term and the Bulldogs peppered the goals early but let North off the hook with three successive misses.
The Roos made the Dogs pay and led by six points at three-quarter-time on Emma King’s powerful mark and goal.
Wilcox’s second goal gave the Bulldogs a sniff in the fourth but North ran the match out stronger.
Three more AFLW matches will be played on Friday, as Collingwood play Essendon, Sydney tackle Hawthorn and Carlton meet with Melbourne.
AAP
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
