A DRAW two weeks ago between Richmond and North Melbourne has, oddly, led to the pair meeting again in this weekend's do or die semi final. Although just 13 days will have passed since they last played, plenty has changed for both teams and a draw is no longer on the cards.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12 

Richmond v North Melbourne at the Swinburne Centre, 1.40pm AEDT

Head-to-head history
Richmond and North Melbourne have played four times since the former joined the competition in 2020. The Kangaroos took the win in the first three, before the draw a fortnight ago. Against the Roos, Richmond averages a score of 24.3 points, while North Melbourne averages 51.8 points in corresponding games.

Last time they met
A dramatic draw in front of a sold-out Arden Street crowd in round 10 ultimately dictated the make-up of the top eight. Monique Conti and Ash Riddell each won 21 disposals, while Ellie McKenzie starred with two goals.

The Kangaroos were without captain Emma Kearney and ruck Kim Rennie, and lost rebounding defender Erika O'Shea to injury during the game. As a result, North Melbourne coach Darren Crocker was forced to adjust his structures. Emma King had to play as the side's number one ruck, leaving Tahlia Randall as the lone tall marking target in the Roos' attack.

Richmond stopper Meg Macdonald went to star Jasmine Garner through the middle and held her to just 13 disposals - Garner's fewest since 2019 - which played a significant part in slowing the Roos down.

It all came down to a desperate effort from Emelia Yassir to rush one final behind for her Tigers to even up the scoreboard after North Melbourne, exemplifying just how tight the tussle was for the duration.

Key matchup
Bec Miller against Tahlia Randall looms as the key one-on-one match-up for this one, especially after the Tigers' defence was exposed in the air last week. Randall took three contested marks last time these two teams met and is averaging 1.9 marks inside 50 and 1.9 contested marks this season, kicking 10 goals in the process.

In round 10 Miller was playing just her second game back from a hamstring injury, but this time around she has three consecutive games back under her belt and will no doubt be itching for another crack at Randall.

For Randall it comes down to her ability to convert. Getting access to the ball is less of an issue, North Melbourne's midfield has proven it can get it in her vicinity, the forward just needs to make the most of those opportunities.

The state of play
As is the nature of the top eight format, one team - Richmond - approaches this game off the back of a loss, while North Melbourne has kept its hopes alive after eking past Geelong. Nonetheless, both have well and truly experienced the pressure and tension of finals footy.

The biggest shift for this matchup since last time is the return of Kearney and Rennie for North Melbourne. Kearney offers dash and composure out of the back half, with her ability to gain ground with run and carry limiting the impact conditions can have on North Melbourne's defensive exit. In addition, a small forward like Yassir will need to be hyper vigilant of Kearney's impact and play largely as a defensive forward rather than focus only on their own attacking game.

Rennie, meanwhile, adds some height and athleticism through the middle of the ground while also allowing Emma King and Randall to sit as tall key forward targets, splitting defensive units' focus across the dangerous pair.

Richmond cannot get stuck playing straight line footy again like it did last week against Brisbane. The Tigers look at their best when pressuring the opposition, then once the ball is won, using the width of the ground to find space and time to deliver the ball inside 50 with composure. They showed just how good they can be in this respect in the final quarter last week, and should they execute that more consistently through the four quarters, they will be exceptionally hard to beat.

North Melbourne, on the other hand, showed last week just how relentless its defence can be. They conceded 41 inside 50s, but only one goal, as the likes of Brooke Brown, Jasmine Ferguson and Sarah Wright created an impenetrable wall. For this reason, considered attack from the Tigers will be vital, otherwise they will be playing right into the Kangaroos' hands.

Tip: In one of the most difficult matches to tip this season, the Kangaroos' experience will come to the fore. North Melbourne by three points.

NORTH Melbourne has steamrolled its way into a preliminary final against Melbourne, consigning Richmond to a straight-sets exit from the finals in the 36-point defeat.

TIGERS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

The Roos – inspired by an ultra-determined Jas Garner – produced their highest score of the season in the 11.8 (74) to 6.2 (38) win, while the Tigers should be proud of their improved season, but will be licking their wounds after being outclassed at the Swinburne Centre.

As expected, Richmond tagger Meg Macdonald renewed acquaintances with Garner, but the superstar Roo was more than up to the task, recording nine disposals and four clearances in the first term.

DECISIVE DUEL Garner shuns Tiger clamp

Macdonald started the second term on the bench receiving treatment on her left knee, but saw out the game against the Roo, who finished with 22 disposals, seven clearances, seven tackles and two goals.

Having shots on goal has never been an issue for North Melbourne, but its goalkicking accuracy has cost them in a few games this season.

That was not the case in the second quarter, piling on five goals as Garner pushed forward to continue to break the tag, and Emma King's height proved to be a troubling factor for the Tigers' backline.

The Tigers didn't go into their shell after half-time, starting to even up the midfield contest and seeing the margin only extend by one point, but the gap was too big to bridge.

Small forward Emelia Yassir was a constant threat in attack for the Tigers, while key forward Courtney Wakefield can hold her head up high if it turns out Saturday was the 35-year-old's final AFLW game, having been chaired off at the conclusion of the game.

For the Roos, Ash Riddell produced a strong four-quarter game, with Jenna Bruton's pressure around the contest key to the result, and Brooke Brown and Emma Kearney working well off half-back.

It was a case of the walking-wounded for the Tigers, with star playmaker Monique Conti appearing to battle both a knee and groin issue throughout the game, while Eilish Sheerin received treatment on a thumb issue.

Mia King was on the receiving end of a heavy bump from Sarah Hosking – who came out full of fire after half-time – but returned to play after her ribs were tested by the club medical team.

The return of Rennie
While North Melbourne skipper Emma Kearney was missing when these two sides played a fortnight ago, but it was arguably the absence of ruck Kim Rennie (health and safety protocols) that was more telling. With Rennie back on deck, Emma King spent much more time stretching Richmond's backline, and Vikki Wall could play a full game in attack.

The tough draw pays off
North Melbourne finished eighth on the home-and-away ladder, but it was arguably a false eighth, with the 10-round season meaning each team's fixture was key. The Roos were the only top eight side to have played all seven finalists, and the difficult draw has clearly held them in good stead, being well-experienced in high-pressure games against quality opposition.

Up next
It's season done for Richmond, while North Melbourne will face Melbourne in a preliminary final, with Dees coach Mick Stinear last week indicating it was likely to be at Ikon Park.

RICHMOND                    3.0     4.0     6.0     6.2    (38)
NORTH MELBOURNE     3.2     8.5     10.6     11.8     (74)

GOALS
Richmond: Yassir 2, Cox, Wakefield, Conti, Brennan
North Melbourne: Abbatangelo 2, Garner 2, O'Loughlin 2, E. King, Eddey, Gavalas, Randall, Eddey

BEST
Richmond: McKenzie, Sheerin, Conti, Brennan, Seymour
North Melbourne: Garner, Riddell, Bruton, E. King, Kearney, Brown

INJURIES
Richmond: Conti (groin), Sheerin (thumb), Macdonald (knee)
North Melbourne: M. King (ribs)

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 2,439 at the Swinburne Centre