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2024 NAB AFLW Season
Kangaroos v Adelaide Crows
Finals Week 1 •
38 5.8
Full Time
31 5.1
Kangaroos Won By 7
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    FW1 PREVIEW: Can Crows stop all-conquering Roos, master v apprentice

    Gemma Bastiani previews a big first week of AFLW finals footy action

    Libby Birch and Danielle Ponter in action during the match between Kuwarna (Adelaide) and North Melbourne at Norwood Oval in week nine, 2024. Picture: AFL Photos

    THIS is where the real stuff begins.

    Eight teams have won their right to play finals, and contest for the 2024 premiership, while the first batch of finals have thrown up some intriguing match ups.

    It's master v apprentice when Brisbane and Hawthorn meet on Sunday, and Adelaide will be out to become the first team to defeat North Melbourne this year.

    Who will progress through?

    25:06

    FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8

    Qualifying final one: North Melbourne v Adelaide at Ikon Park, 7.15pm AEDT

    Last time they met: North Melbourne 6.5 (41) defeated Adelaide 4.9 (33), week nine, 2024

    North Melbourne and Adelaide will meet for the second time in three matches, giving both sides a close look at how the opposition wants to play. In their week nine game, the Roos went to work on how the Crows opt to defend, while the latter were largely their own worst enemy when it came to taking advantage of their movement inside 50. Typically, Adelaide works to defend high up the ground, creating a defensive wall that is particularly difficult to break through, but it is a highly risky style of play against a side such as North Melbourne. The Roos have a proven ability to break jump that wall, and enjoy the massive amount of space in their front half, and it is the likes of Bella Eddey, Alice O'Loughlin, and Kate Shierlaw who can do plenty of damage in this space given their speed and quick decision making.

    01:46

    Meanwhile, Adelaide is actually a competition leader when it comes to getting the ball inside its attacking 50, but its ability to turn those entries into damaging scores has fallen away significantly this year. The club is averaging four goalkickers per game – compared to the Roos' 5.6 – and relies heavily on Caitlin Gould and Danielle Ponter to do the scoring. What looms as a huge upside, however, is if the Crows can neaten up those opportunities in front of goal, they will return to the force that they once were. The side relies heavily on generating score from stoppage, with nearly half of its score each week coming from there, but North Melbourne is the best in the AFLW at scoring from the reset. As a result, this will essentially be won or lost at the contest.

    Key matchup: Jasmine Ferguson v Caitlin Gould

    Gould is in rare form for the Crows, averaging 3.2 marks inside 50, 2.3 contested marks, and six score involvements per game, while also recently breaking the record for most marks inside 50 in a home and away season with 32. Because of this form, Adelaide has become fairly reliant on Gould to anchor the forward line, so it makes sense that staunch key back Jasmine Ferguson will likely spend some time going head-to-head with her. Ferguson is the Roos' tallest defender at 175cm, and although gives up 7cm to Gould, boasts the strength and intelligence to quell her, while also supported well by the club's team defence.

    Tip: It's hard to look past the Roos. North Melbourne by three points.

    Caitlin Gould marks in front of Sarah Wright during the match between Kuwarna (Adelaide) and North Melbourne at Norwood Oval in week nine, 2024. Picture: AFL Photos

    SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9

    Fremantle v Essendon at Fremantle Oval, 4.00pm AWST

    Last time they met: Fremantle 10.4 (64) defeated Essendon 3.3 (21), week one, 2024

    Essendon has been handed two big blows in its last two games – season ending injuries to ruck Steph Wales and forward Bonnie Toogood. While covering Toogood is something the Bombers have learned to do this season, after the star forward missed five weeks of the home and away season with an MCL injury suffered in their week one loss to the Dockers, filling the Wales gap when coming up against the League's best ruck Mim Strom is a trickier prospect. Since that week one game, there have been significant changes to each team. The Dockers have also lost Aine Tighe to an ACL injury, and Tunisha Kikoak has established herself in the attacking arc, and coach Lisa Webb has shifted the magnets in the ensuing games. Essendon has also developed proven coverage for Toogood up forward, shifting Ellyse Gamble, but it is young ruck Matilda Dyke who must now take on Strom, an immediate advantage to the Dockers.

    A strong opening quarter will be vital for the Bombers. They need to hit Fremantle hard when it is typically at its weakest – first quarters – in order to create some scoreboard pressure to then gather momentum. The sides boast opposing strategies, as the Dockers generally surge forward from contest to contest, rarely generating end-to-end transition to score. Meanwhile Essendon will more regularly enact such transition, typically launched by star half-back Maddi Gay. As such, it is going to be a game of momentum shifts, as each team gets the game looking how they want. An aerial contest largely suits the Bombers, while the ground-level battle plays into the Dockers' hands.

    Maddi Gay in action during the match between Carlton and Essendon at Ikon Park in week 10, 2024. Picture: AFL Photos

    Key matchup: Aisling McCarthy v Steph Cain

    While this midfield matchup is unlikely to be a tight tag, or even a run-with role, as a head-to-head it could have a significant impact on the final result. McCarthy is Fremantle's leading goalkicker with eight this season, and is essentially the player around whom the midfield operates. Her spread forward is so dangerous because of a neat ability to create space away from her opposition, so it is here that co-captain Cain must get to work. Her running capacity and physical strength has the potential to impede McCarthy's spread, while she is also dangerous in her own attacking transition, so can occupy McCarthy defensively for periods.

    Tip: The Bombers' outs will just be too much. Fremantle by 10 points.

    00:38

    SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10

    Hawthorn v Brisbane at Ikon Park, 1.05pm AEDT

    Last time they met: Brisbane 8.11 (59) defeated Hawthorn 5.2 (32), round five, 2023

    The first meeting of Hawthorn and Brisbane under coaches Daniel Webster and Craig Starcevich has been much anticipated, and in an enthralling turn of events, it comes in a qualifying final clash with plenty on the line. Unsurprisingly, the Hawks have adopted a hard-running, disciplined style of footy, somewhat akin to the Lions' brand, which makes for an enthralling battle on Sunday. Both sides want to change lanes, and use run and carry to move the ball forward, while they're unlikely to choose to kick long down the line to a contest, and can post devastating scores.

    Given Hawthorn's speed in attack, Brisbane has the potential to be exposed in defence, as its backline is strong and reliable, but not especially quick. Aine McDonagh, Greta Bodey, Aileen Gilroy, and even Jasmine Fleming have caught out slower defences on multiple occasions this year already. In addition, the Hawks are also the best team in the League at generating repeat forward 50 entries via a neat intercepting game, and can really pile pressure on the opposition this way, but Brisbane has proven itself marginally better at turning its own front half intercepts into scores. Meanwhile Richmond showed last week that by taking away the Hawks' uncontested marking game, their ball movement can be stunted.

    02:38

    Key matchup: Eliza West v Belle Dawes

    Two hard nuts who have the potential to unlock their respective midfields, West and Dawes attack the contest in varying, but equally important ways. Hawks coach Daniel Webster was instrumental in developing Dawes' game, which saw her breakout in 2023 and continue that form into this season, but now she may just become his biggest problem. Her movement through stoppage and ability to remain involved in passages of play as they move down the field can prove devastating. Meanwhile West is the tough in-and-under option who has the capacity to release players like Fleming or Emily Bates into the outside space. It's going to be a battle of power v contested strength, and could be the source of control for either side.

    Tip: In a heated battle, the Lions' big game experience will narrowly win out. Brisbane by seven points.

    Port Adelaide v Richmond at Alberton Oval, 2:35pm ACDT

    Last time they met: Richmond 6.5 (41) defeated Port Adelaide 4.6 (30), week five, 2024

    Richmond has returned to finals, after its straight sets exit of 2022 (S7), while Port Adelaide has not only reached its first finals series, but earned the home ground advantage in the process. Alberton will undoubtedly be rocking on Sunday afternoon, and will be treated to a tight, tense battle. Port Adelaide's style is about contested footy and surging forward quickly to gain territory. This quick movement from stoppage has the potential to unsettle the Tigers' strong, organised defensive line, by limiting the time they have to generate the spare in the hole behind the play they rely on. This will create the opportunity for the Power's forwards – particularly the unpredictable Gemma Houghton, and dangerous small Caitlin Wendland – to fight it out in one-on-ones.

    Gemma Houghton celebrates her match-winning goal for Yartapuulti against GWS in week 10, 2024. Picture: AFL Photos

    The Tigers, meanwhile, work hard to keep the ball in their front half by intercepting the footy and generating repeat inside 50s. This gives them the chance to get the ball in the hands of Katie Brennan, Caitlin Greiser, and Emelia Yassir in front of goal, who work well off one another. It is Richmond's contested marking that has really shone this year, and allowed it to maintain chains of possession, but Port Adelaide will be determined to force the contest to ground level, where it competes at its best.

    Key matchup: Shineah Goody v Kate Dempsey

    A likely byplay on the wing for the match, the slight but damaging Goody and Dempsey contest will certainly have a big say in the match. Both have proven their importance to their respective sides in terms of ball movement and transition, but even more crucial has been their intercepting and defensive ability. Both sit in the top five for average intercepts for their team, with their positioning a kick behind the play regularly seeing them interrupt opposition rebounding attempts, while they are also neat in gathering loose balls. In each playing their own game, they have the potential to swing momentum their side's way.

    Tip: In undoubtedly the hardest game to tip, the Tigers will nab their first finals win. Richmond by five points.

    Roos bound into home prelim final after edging Crows in thriller

    North Melbourne has fought off a tough challenge from Adelaide to secure another preliminary final berth

    Amy Smith celebrates a goal during the qualifying final between North Melbourne and Adelaide at Ikon Park on November 8, 2024. Picture: AFL Photos

    NORTH Melbourne is through to a home preliminary final after securing a mature seven-point win over Adelaide in the first qualifying final at Ikon Park.

    The Kangaroos came from behind to defeat the gutsy Crows, surviving a second-quarter scare to win 5.8 (38) to 5.1 (31) in front of a crowd of 3,689.

    KANGAROOS v CROWS Full match coverage and stats

    It was a see-sawing match, with both teams in control for long periods of the game, however a dominant third quarter by the Kangaroos, where small forward Bella Eddey kicked two goals in a five-minute period, returned the game into the home side’s favour.

    From there, the Kangaroos were able to hold off the Crows, finishing strongly and walking away with victory.

    ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

    Adelaide veteran Chelsea Randall played arguably one of the best games of her career, finishing with 22 disposals and two goals, but her heroic efforts weren't enough to get her team over the line.

    North opened the scoring inside the first two minutes when Tahlia Randall, who was kept goalless the last time these two teams met, used her body expertly on the in-form Zoe Prowse to mark and convert close to goal.

    However, that was about the only highlight for the quarter for the Roos as Adelaide lifted and began to gain ascendancy.

    04:51

    The Crows scored the next two through their most dangerous forwards Danielle Ponter - who came into the game under an injury cloud - and tall marking forward Caitlin Gould.

    It looked like the Crows had won the quarter until a controversial free kick for a deliberate rushed behind was awarded to North forward Kate Shierlaw just prior to quarter-time. 

    00:57

    The free kick didn't seem to concern the Crows as they continued to dominate territory in the second term, having 10-1 inside 50s for the quarter. But they were unable to turn those entries into scores.

    Randall finally broke the deadlock when the 33-year-old executed a sensational chasedown tackle in the middle of the ground. She played on quickly and delivered to Gould who marked and scored her second goal, giving the Crows a five-point lead at the main break.

    00:50

    North needed a spark to lift them in the second half and it came through crafty small forward Eddey.

    She kicked two goals to start the third term, showing her versatility with a goal on the run and her second through a snap shot on goal to give her team the lead again.

    Jasmine Garner (29 disposals, 10 clearances) and her partner in crime Ash Ridell (34 disposals, 10 clearances) started to have more influence, with the two combining for 15 disposals and nine inside 50s for the quarter.

    The Roos added another to their tally through unlikely goalkicker Amy Smith and went into the three-quarter time break with a 10-point lead.

    00:36

    Both teams had their opportunities to start the final term, with the Crows' Niamh Kelly hitting the post and North's Vikki Wall missing twice from set shots.

    When the Crows needed a player to step up once again it was Randall who scored, converting a set shot with two minutes remaining and reducing the margin to seven points.

    Eddey's magic moments
    At half-time it looked as though the underdog Crows were going to cause a massive upset in the first final of 2024. North's Bella Eddey had other ideas when she came out and scored two goals in five minutes to start the second half. The 22-year-old took her moments by scoring two crucial majors to put the lead back in the favour of the Kangaroos. It was one they would not relinquish.

    00:38

    Veteran Crow a standout
    At 33, Chelsea Randall proved that age is just a number. The former Crows skipper played one of the matches of her career, very nearly getting her side over the line for an upset victory. Her chasedown tackle in the second term, along with her two goals, showed what a valuable asset she is to her team.

    Up next
    Adelaide will have to back it up next week when it meets the winner of the Fremantle v Essendon elimination final being played on Saturday night at Fremantle Oval. North Melbourne is just one win away from reaching the 2024 NAB AFLW Grand Final, and will host a home preliminary final in two weeks' time.

    NORTH MELBOURNE       2.1     2.1     5.4     5.8 (38)
    ADELAIDE                
    2.0     3.0     4.0     5.1 (31) 

    GOALS
    North Melbourne: 
    Eddey 2, Shierlaw, T.Randall, Smith
    Adelaide: 
    C.Randall 2, Gould 2, Ponter

    BEST
    North Melbourne: Garner, Riddell, Eddey, Shierlaw, M.King
    Adelaide: Randall, Marinoff, Gould, J.Allan, Ponter

    INJURIES
    North Melbourne: Nil
    Adelaide: Nil

    Reports: Nil

    Crowd: 3,689 at Ikon Park

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