North Melbourne made history on Saturday evening by winning its second consecutive AFLW premiership, becoming the first club to achieve back-to-back titles in the league. The Kangaroos also completed the first perfect season in elite Australian rules football history, winning all matches without a loss or draw.
Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich praised North Melbourne's ability to absorb pressure and quickly transition from defense to attack. 'They were really, really good with absorbing pressure,' Starcevich said. 'We threw the kitchen sink at them from a pressure point of view, and then they ramped that up again in the second quarter.' He highlighted the Kangaroos' elite handball skills in contested situations as a key factor.
Despite winning the inside-50s count 10-7 in the first quarter, Brisbane struggled to convert entries into scoring opportunities. North Melbourne's defensive structures, led by their back five and supported by wingers and midfielders, stifled the Lions' attack. The Kangaroos' quick decision-making on the rebound repeatedly cut through Brisbane's defense.
Starcevich compared North Melbourne's approach to a game of whack-a-mole, where fixing one issue leads to others appearing. In the first quarter, the Lions won contested possessions by two but lost clearances 9-5 and uncontested possessions 44-27. As the match progressed, the Kangaroos gained control in contested situations, making their outside game even more effective.
Best on Ground medallist Eilish Sheerin, AFLW best and fairest winner Ash Riddell, and captain Jasmine Garner led the way for North Melbourne. The Kangaroos won the grand final by 40 points, the second-largest margin in AFLW grand final history. They kicked the second-highest grand final score with remarkable accuracy, recording only two rushed behinds as their sole minor scores.
