NORTH Melbourne has put a dent in Fremantle’s finals hopes, defeating the Dockers by 28 points at Arden St Oval on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

The Kangaroos adapted well to the conditions, catching Freo out with their transition game and booming kicks, consigning the visitors to a scoreless third term on the way to winning 9.4 (58) to 4.6 (30).

ROOS V DOCKERS Full match details and stats

The result consolidates the Kangaroos’ position at the top of the ladder on the same wins as Geelong, while setting the Dockers back in their quest for finals due to the logjam in the middle of the ladder.

Kangaroos captain Jasmine Garner demonstrated her versatility, using her powerful kick to great effect (33 disposals, four clearances and 554 metres gained), while Ash Riddell had six score involvements to go with her 38 possessions and Eilish Sheerin had a game-high nine clearances.

Kiara Bowers continued her career-best form (31 disposals, eight tackles and eight clearances), while teammate Gabby Newton had a game-high nine tackles and four clearances. Reigning All-Australian ruck Mim Strom continued quietly plying her craft with 18 hit-outs in an interesting contest with Kim Rennie (also 18).

Despite roughly even stats at quarter-time, North Melbourne’s ability to quickly transition tripped up Fremantle again and again. Driving kicks from the likes of Garner and defender Eliza Shannon put the ball into space for the Kangaroos’ forwards to put the burners on and pounce for scoreboard impact.

A Vikki Wall handball over the top at half-forward to Tahlia Randall gave her some time and space to dribble a goal through, before Jasmine Garner capitalised on a well-timed Ruby Tripodi handball.

Bella Eddey then swooped on one of those long kicks by Shannon, handing it off to Alice O’Loughlin who returned it for Eddey to regain her composure after a fumble and score.

In her 101st game, Hayley Miller then opened the ledger for the Dockers after a patient build-up from teammates Aisling McCarthy and Kiara Bowers, reducing the deficit to 11 points at quarter-time.

Fremantle brought a stronger start to the second term, finding more freedom in its ability to move the ball down the ground. Gabby O’Sullivan pounced on Tessa Boyd who was trying to zig and zag her way out of traffic, and went back to convert the free kick, before Eden Zanker briefly gave them the lead.

The pressure of reigning AFLW Best and Fairest winner Ash Riddell forced a deadly turnover that ended in Bogue putting North back in front, before also winning a 50m penalty against Kiara Bowers to give her side a ten-point lead coming into half-time.

The Dockers defence held up well for most of the third quarter as the Kangaroos had the breeze. However, their overuse often meant they struggled to get deep into their forward half, resulting in no score for the term.

After a Jenna Bruton goal, North Melbourne caught Fremantle out in red-time of the third quarter, with Jasmine Garner centring a kick to veteran Kate Shierlaw who capitalised.

Docker Bella Smith took an excellent contested grab off an O’Sullivan forward 50 entry in the final term and converted for Fremantle’s only goal of the second half.

That Arden St swirl having an impact
There’s a tendency for the breeze at Arden St Oval to favour the right side of the broadcast. Sunday afternoon was no different, with both teams seeking to exploit it. In the second quarter, Gabby O’Sullivan kicked to space from almost halfway and let the wind do its work, carrying it nearly all the way to the goal line. After a fumble, Claire Mahony picked it up on the very last line of defence, snuffing out a potential Goal of the Year contender. 

A little longer to wait
North Melbourne key forward Tahlia Randall came into Sunday’s match sitting on 98 career goals for her 113 matches to date. She didn’t have long to wait to reach 99 by opening the scoring in the first quarter. But in the end the Kangaroos shared the goals around for the afternoon with nine individual goalkickers, leaving Randall stranded. It’ll mean she’ll have to wait another week to hit the century.

Up next
Both sides can now reset ahead of games next Sunday, with Fremantle returning home to face St Kilda under an interim coach at Cockburn ARC Oval. North Melbourne takes the tram up Mt Alexander Rd to Windy Hill to come up against Essendon.

NORTH MELBOURNE    3.1    5.2    7.4    9.4 (58)
FREMANTLE                   1.2    3.4    3.4    4.6 (30)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Randall, Garner, Eddey, Bogue, Riddell, Bruton, Shierlaw, Sheerin, O’Loughlin
Fremantle: Miller, O’Sullivan, Zanker, Smith

BEST 
North Melbourne: Garner, Riddell, Sheerin, O’Shea, Birch, Shannon
Fremantle: Bowers, McCarthy, Newton, O’Sullivan, M. Strom

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Fremantle: Nil

Crowd: TBC at Arden St Oval