It was a year to savour for North Melbourne, with the Kangaroos celebrating a sensational rise from ninth to a maiden rebel VFLW premiership, which was the club’s first piece of silverware in 25 years.
BY THE NUMBERS
Position: Premiers
W-L-D %: 11-6 (109.98%)
Players used: 38
Played every match: 8 – Alana Barba, Maddie Di Cosmo, Zara Flanigan, Elisabeth Jackson, Tahlia Meier, Emily Paterno, Audrey Rhodes, Renee Tierney
AFLW players used: 10 (28 matches)
Debutants: 5 – Mary Daw, Abbie Hoiberg-Cox, Grainne McLaughlin, Kate Reynolds, Brooke Sheridan
STAR PERFORMERS
Best and Fairest: 1st: Madeleine Di Cosmo, 2nd: Alana Barba, 3rd: Audrey Rhodes, 4th: Renee Tierney, 5th: Nyakoat Dojiok
Lambert-Pearce Medal votes: Alana Barba (11), Nyakoat Dojiok (8), Tahlia Meier (6), Renee Tierney (6)
Coaches MVP votes: Maddie Di Cosmo (56), Alana Barba (47), Nyakoat Dojiok (37)
Rebel VFLW Team of the Year: Alana Barba, Maddie Di Cosmo, Nyakoat Dojiok, Nicole Hales, Audrey Rhodes, Brett Gourley (coach)
Leading Goalkickers: Nyakoat Dojiok (32), Emily Paterno (14), Alana Barba (9)
STAT LEADERS
(Averages – Minimum 6 matches)
Disposals: Maddie Di Cosmo 19.0, Alana Barba 18.1, Audrey Rhodes 17.1
Contested possessions: Alana Barba 9.6, Renee Tierney 9.2, Maddie Di Cosmo 9.1
Kicks: Nicole Hales 11.1, Audrey Rhodes 10.8, Alana Barba 9.4
Handballs: Maddie Di Cosmo 9.9, Renee Tierney 8.9, Alana Barba 8.8
Marks: Brooke Sheridan 3.0, Nicole Hales 2.9, Renee Tierney 2.6
Tackles: Audrey Rhodes 10.3, Maddie Di Cosmo 8.2, Alana Barba 8.0
Hitouts: Kate Reynolds 34.1, Sarah King 20.7, Zara Flanigan 6.1
Clearances: Audrey Rhodes 4.7, Alana Barba 4.5, Maddie Di Cosmo 4.3
Inside-50s: Maddie Di Cosmo 2.9, Audrey Rhodes 2.7, Alana Barba 2.6, Matilda Zander 2.6
Rebound-50s: Nicole Hales 4.0, Mara McSweeney 1.9, Maddie Di Cosmo 1.8, Elisabeth Jackson 1.8
What went right: You’d have to say almost everything given the Kangaroos are celebrating a sensational rise from ninth to a maiden premiership, which was the club’s first piece of silverware in 25 years. They provided a quarter of the rebel VFLW Team of the Year including first-year coach Brett Gourley. It remains a mystery why Nyakoat Dojiok is not on an AFLW list after her 10-goal finals series that culminated in the Lisa Hardeman Medal for best on ground in the Grand Final.
What went wrong: An early season slump of four consecutive losses. That included 89 and 50-point thumpings to stacked Sydney and Box Hill Hawks teams, sandwiched inside shock defeats to Casey Demons and wooden spooner Geelong which had the Kangaroos 11th on the ladder after Round 6. They were still battling after a narrow loss to Williamstown two weeks later that left them at 3-5. But then they found the switch.
Summary: With stars and experience on every line, the Kangaroos started the season as premiership favourites and delivered on that promise after the early hiccups. They have built an outstanding women’s program – also being AFLW minor premiers – and are lighting the path for their men’s programs to follow. The character to respond after having a four-goal lead chased down in the Grand Final was something to behold. A worthy champion.
Grade: 9/10
2024 REBEL VFL REVIEWS
Western Bulldogs
Williamstown
Port Melbourne
Box Hill Hawks
Essendon
Collingwood
Casey Demons
Carlton
Darebin Falcons
Southern Saints
Geelong Cats
GWS Giants
Sydney Swans