JUST two weeks ago, North Melbourne and Richmond played out a nail-biting draw to close their home-and-away seasons.

The tie meant the Kangaroos finished eighth, and had to beat Geelong on its home deck in order to progress in finals, while Richmond earned a second chance, and the dubious honour of facing the rampaging Brisbane in Queensland.

This Saturday, the two teams will meet again in a semi-final, with the winner to progress to a preliminary final against Melbourne.

What did we learn from the draw?

Jasmine Garner can be tagged

The unheralded Meg Macdonald shut down the powerful star Roo, holding a visibly frustrated Garner to just five disposals in the first half, shadowing her from stoppage to stoppage. It's tough to shut her out for all four quarters, though, and Garner finished the game with 13 touches – her lowest tally since she moved from the forward line to midfield.

North Melbourne can win – or lose – a game solely off its own boot

Call this more of a reinforced message rather than a brand-new fact – the Kangaroos live and die by their accuracy in front of goal. Rarely a side that struggles to get the ball inside 50, the Roos booted 3.9 (and at least one out on the full) in their draw with Richmond, dominating the third term but only receiving a return of 1.5 for their troubles.

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Richmond has the guts to match it with the big guns

The Tigers have played three of the remaining five other finalists, defeating Brisbane, running oh-so-close to Adelaide early in the season and drawing with North Melbourne. With a top-four spot up for grabs, most expected the much more seasoned Roos to outplay the Tigers, but the visitors' pressure around the contest and ability to take advantage of their opportunities in front of goal held them in good stead.

Emma Kearney is still arguably North's MVP

Skipper Kearney sat out the game with knee soreness, and her run off half-back was sorely missed. Few can match Kearney's innate sense of when to stand up in big moments, and such is her creativity and drive, opposition teams often send a forward to play a negating role on the 33-year-old.

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When it all clicks for Ellie McKenzie, she could win a league best and fairest

Admittedly, "former No.1 pick is a good player" isn't a big call, but McKenzie scored the 10 votes from the coaches for her 16-disposal, two-goal performance against North Melbourne two weeks ago. The power and run she can generate from the contest is game-changing. McKenzie had a tough first half to the year with calf issues, and with an injury-free pre-season ahead of her, should improve on her consistency in 2023.

Kim Rennie is the lynchpin North tall

North Melbourne threw the kitchen sink at the Western Bulldogs to prise ruck Kim Rennie out of there, eventually signing her through the draft after the stand-off could not be resolved. One season and the signing of dynamic Irish forward Vikki Wall later, and the Roos' tall line-up is complete. But Rennie's late withdrawal from the Richmond match due to H&S protocols threw out the Roos' structure, with Emma King forced to ruck majority of the game with support from Wall.