NORTH Melbourne put on a strategic masterclass against Richmond on Saturday to win its way through to its first ever preliminary final.

Just 13 days prior the Kangaroos had drawn with the Tigers in a result that dictated the order of the top eight. Richmond landed the double chance from fourth and North Melbourne finished eighth with sudden-death finals immediately on the cards.

Strategies that proved valuable in round 10 from Richmond coach Ryan Ferguson had their efficiency limited the second time around as the Roos learned the lesson and adjusted accordingly.

The Tag

In the lead up to Saturday's semi-final, discussion swirled around Meg Macdonald's effective tag on star Roo Jasmine Garner back in round 10, and whether Ferguson would look to the young midfielder to do the job once again. That question was immediately answered as Macdonald walked directly to Garner for the opening bounce.

But thanks to several small choices, and the pure will and strength of Garner, the Roo was able to break through that attention this time and have a significant impact on the game. At times Garner would mix up where she would begin play, notably sending winger Tess Craven into the contest and taking up Craven's spot on the wing after the Roos' first goal to get some space from Macdonald.

Garner also worked exceptionally hard up and down the ground, getting back to assist in defence and - particularly in the second quarter - pushing forward to impact the scoreboard. No longer was Macdonald able to wear Garner like a glove, and this became evident as Garner got off the chain in the second quarter and was competing with Richmond defender Beth Lynch in the air in attack.

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North Melbourne teammates also provided support, with the likes of Jenna Bruton, Ash Riddell, Mia King, and Craven running interference. They would physically move between Garner and Macdonald where possible to afford their teammate space to break away.

Garner's second quarter, the term in which North Melbourne pulled away on the scoreboard, was important, registering six disposals, three clearances, two contested marks and kicking two big goals, forcing Ferguson to re-think his matchups at half time.

In the second half the tag was essentially broken, with tough, physical midfielder Sarah Hosking spending plenty of time in a head-to-head matchup on Garner, but shutting the star out once again was off the cards. The Kangaroo finished the game with 22 disposals, eight tackles, seven clearances, seven score involvements and two goals - a far cry from her 13 disposals and one clearance just two weeks prior.

Welcome returns

When the sides met in round 10 North Melbourne was without key pair Emma Kearney and Kim Rennie. What they offer to the side goes far beyond their own statistics on the day.

Kearney - who was dealing with some close attention of her own - adds dash and organisation to the back half. Despite finishing with 10 disposals - her second lowest count of the season - and just one rebound, Kearney's ability to set up the Kangaroos' defence is invaluable.

The addition of Rennie was, structurally, a vital one. In round 10 Emma King had to play as the Roos' sole ruck, and not in the hybrid forward/ruck role she has settled into this year. With King spending more time through the middle of the ground, Tahlia Randall was left as the sole tall target in attack, often competing outnumbered.

With Rennie back, King was able to sit forward more and force the Richmond defence to account for two tall targets - a much more difficult prospect.

But it was all about control

While Garner breaking free and King playing more as a stay-at-home forward was essential, it really came down to the controlling style of play North Melbourne was able to execute, effectively playing 'keepings off' footy.

The Kangaroos not only won more possession than they did in round 10, but also found more of it on the outside, therefore limiting the pressure Richmond was able to apply.

In turn with North Melbourne's increase in uncontested possession and increased reliance on kicks over handballs, it dominated the mark count, registering 33 more than the Tigers and 65 in total. In the second quarter alone, the Kangaroos took 29 marks to Richmond's eight.

Richmond in fact generated more inside 50s and scored more efficiently in Saturday's semi-final than it did in round 10, but it was opened up on the turnover as North Melbourne kicked 51 points - 68.9 per cent of its total score - from turnover.

By using clean, controlled movement around the ground, North Melbourne's deliveries forward proved far more effective, despite registering 35 inside 50s, exactly the same number as in round 10. By picking their way down the ground and hitting up neat targets up forward, the Tigers' defence was forced into more one-on-one battles, which was unsettling for the home side.

This season Richmond has forced poor, chaotic forward entries from its opponents, meaning its defensive line could move across and provide support to one another, but with the elite inside 50s North Melbourne was able to bring on Saturday that defensive style was simply not possible.

As a result, those 35 inside 50s were far more effective, with the Roos goaling from 31.4 per cent of their entries on Saturday, compared to just 8.6 per cent in round 10.

With that methodical, considered ball movement North Melbourne was able to cut through the pressured, defensive structure that has brought Richmond so much success this season, ultimately winning through to a maiden preliminary final berth.