North Melbourne’s quest for premiership redemption is one step closer, qualifying for a second straight Grand Final after a thumping 57-point preliminary final win over Port Adelaide.
The Roos will host the Brisbane Lions at Ikon Park next Saturday night, in a rematch of last year’s Grand Final.
Port Adelaide will be disappointed with how its season has ended, with 12.6 (78) to 2.9 (21) the final result, but should be proud of the rapid improvement shown this year.
But a second road trip on the trot, in 36-degree conditions against a North Melbourne side fresh after a week off, was a few steps too far.
At moments, it felt like Port Adelaide was playing out of its age division – the players were trying hard, but were bumped off the footy: Matilda Scholz out-marked by Emma King, Taylah Gatt out-positioning Ella Boag on the wing, and 35-year-old Kate Shierlaw sprinting away from Amelie Borg.
Port Adelaide rallied somewhat late into the second and early in the third, starting to build some consistent minutes in its attacking half, but the Power couldn’t find the middle of the goals.
While accuracy eluded Port Adelaide, it managed 11 scoring shots to North Melbourne’s six in the second half, indicating a four-quarter fight but without adequate polish.
Unsurprisingly, it was North Melbourne’s star midfield duo, Jas Garner (25 disposals, eight clearances) and Ash Riddell (27 and five) who led the way, but they were well-supported by the unheralded Ruby Tripodi (16 and four) in the contest, while wing trio Tess Craven, Amy Smith and Taylah Gatt ran hard.
Craven left the field in the second term after being collected by Shineah Goody as the pair contested a high ball, Goody’s knee accidentally planting into Craven’s back. But the Roos winger returned after half-time and played out the game.
North Melbourne skipper Emma Kearney – on return from a long-term hamstring injury – sat out nearly the entirety of the final quarter, given it was her first game in nearly two months.
Highest scores in a final:
82 points – Ade v Syd, 2023 SF
80 points – Frem v GC, 2020 SF
78 points – NM v PA, 2024 PF
74 points – NM v Rich, 2022 SF (S7)
73 points – Ade v Geel, 2019 PF
Biggest margin in a final:
70 points – Frem v GC, 2020 SF
67 points – Ade v Syd, 2023 SF
66 points – Ade v Geel, 2019 PF
57 points – NM v PA, 2024 PF
50 points – BL v Coll, 2022 QF (S6)
NORTH MELBOURNE 4.2 8.4 11.5 12.6 (78)
PORT ADELAIDE 0.0 0.2. 0.6 2.9 (21)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Wall 3, Gatt 2, O’Loughlin 2, Randall 2, Shierlaw 2, Garner
Port Adelaide: Houghton, Pope
BEST
North Melbourne: Garner, Riddell, Wall, Gatt, Tripodi, Wright
Port Adelaide: Window, Dowrick, Goody, Moloney
