North Melbourne Kangaroos defeat Brisbane Lions to announce AFLW competition

NORTH Melbourne delivered nine months of frustration on Brisbane at Brighton Homes Arena on Sunday, destroying the premiers by 44 points in a one-sided grand final rematch.

Leading by 12 points at halftime, the Kangaroos unleashed one of the best quarters in AFLW history to put the game away in the third, kicking six unanswered goals to shock the Lions.

The 12.6 (78) to 5.4 (34) triumph was North Melbourne’s first of six tries against Brisbane.

LIONS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

Unlike last season’s decider at Ikon Park, it was North Melbourne who ran over their opponents in oppressive conditions that reached 34 degrees.

They were better around the contest, better when the ball was in space, cleaner at ground level, worked harder to support their team-mates and were more desperate defensively in an ominous warning to the other 17 clubs in competition.

Jasmine Garner (28 disposals, one goal, six disposals) was again instrumental in the win, but her teammate Ash Riddell (31, one goal and 11 disposals) stole the show.

From the moment Vikki Wall hit the first major of the game, the visitors were never headed.

Alice O’Loughlin was terrific with two goals from 19 touches, while Tahlia Randall kicked just one goal at the expense but sent four more in an excellent performance from the forwards.

North’s intensity was right from the opening minutes, kicking the only two goals of the first quarter to take a 12-point lead.

They consistently thwarted Brisbane’s forward attacks, settling well defensively to take repeated intercept marks in the conditions on display, with Emma Kearney prominent.

Try as they might, the home team just couldn’t make inroads during the second term, despite nice set pieces from Dakota Davidson and Taylor Smith.

North maintained their two-goal lead with the clean hands of Riddell and got fine reward from close range for an excellent first half.

The Lions have some catching up to do after a poor opening to defending premierships.

As always, Ally Anderson (29 touches, which included 15 clearances) tried hard but had little support on a day when the Lions looked relentless and off the pace.

One of the best quarters you will see
The game was still in the balance at half-time, but by the final change, Brisbane couldn’t catch up as North Melbourne uncorked a quarter to remember. Starting with a smart finish from Garner, Bella Eddy hit her first after some poor Lions defending and added another minutes later after some low hands from Randall. O’Loughlin continued her excellent run with a second goal and by the time Kate Shierlaw and Vikki Wall added more pain for the home side, the shell-shocked Lions were through. It was as good as you could play in 20 minutes of football.

Davison’s bad luck
After making the long off-season move from West Coast to Brisbane, Shanae Davison’s debut at the club was short-lived. In the opening minutes, the Lions full-back took a fine intercept mark at half-forward, but as he stumbled backwards, he brought his right arm down to break his fall. Immediately distressed, the 23-year-old left the field with what was a suspected broken wrist.

BRISBANE 0.2 2.3 2.3 5.4 (34)
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.2 4.3 10.4 12.6 (78)

GOALS
Brisbane: Smith, Davidson, Conway, Anderson, Postlethwaite
North Melbourne: Wall 2, O’Loughlin 2, Martin 2, Eddey 2, Shierlaw, Riddell, Garner, Randall

BEST
Brisbane: Anderson, O’Dwyer, Conway
North Melbourne: Garner, Riddell, O’Loughlin, Kearney, Wall, Eddy, Wright

injury
Brisbane: Davison (shoulder)
North Melbourne: Zero

Reports: Zero

The crowd: 3,395 at Brighton Homes Areana