The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos travel across town to Carlton's Ikon Park on Sunday, as they look to make it two wins in two weeks and keep pace with those at the top of the ladder.

Here are four of the burning questions ahead of our Round 4 clash with the Blues.

Can North move within striking distance of the top of the ladder?

Having bookended their round two loss in Adelaide with two contrasting home wins, the Kangaroos occupy fifth spot on the AFLW ladder heading into Round 4.

Each of the top four - Adelaide, Fremantle, Melbourne and Collingwood - are unbeaten through three games, but this week’s match-ups present an opportunity for North to climb up the ladder.

The first-placed Crows take on the third-placed Demons on Saturday, while Fremantle and the Magpies open the round on Thursday night. No matter what happens, at least two teams above North will be dropping points. The Kangaroos just need to take advantage by defeating a plucky Carlton side on their home turf at 3.10pm AEDT on Sunday.

How will the Kangaroos shape up in defence?

The competition for spots in North’s defence is as fierce as it has ever been.

Though Tahlia Randall has moved forward, Dani Hardiman and Jess Duffin have maintained their quality performances in the back half from last season, while Aileen Gilroy was back to her ferocious best against the Giants in Round 3.

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Emma Kearney’s move into defence has proved a revelation so far this season, while Brooke Brown’s emergence as a bona-fide key defensive option is the culmination of a positional change that began in last year’s VFLW campaign.

If you add in Sarah Wright's possible availability after missing last week's game due to Covid, the ever-present Jas Ferguson's exceptional performances, and the potential of Nicole Bresnehan and Bella Eddey as defensively-minded wingers, Darren Crocker has the best kind of selection headache on his hands.

Can Ash Riddell maintain the rage?

Currently leading the race for the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year, midfield gun Ash Riddell has put together an immense first three weeks of the season.

A record-breaking 35-disposal performance against Geelong defined Round 1, while she was one of North’s best players in the Round 2 loss to Adelaide. Against the Giants, she was again an irresistible force in midfield with a game-high 23 touches.

Riddell is thriving in the Kangaroos' current midfield, but with the likes of Madison Prespakis running through the middle of the ground for the Blues, she faces another challenge to maintain her high performance levels against strong opposition this week.

How will Carlton handle a four day break?

After Carlton’s Round 3 clash with the Western Bulldogs was rescheduled due to Covid protocols, they took on Brisbane in their second game of the season on Tuesday night.

The reigning premiers were too strong for the Blues, defeating them by 35 points. Strong performances from Courtney Jones (3 goals) and Prespakis (27 disposals) gave Carlton fans reason to smile, though.

Recovery will take precedence over anything else for Carlton this week, as they’re already missing a number of players due to Covid and injury concerns. Whether their key players will be at their best for the contest remains to be seen.

The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos have continued their impressive start to 2022 by closing out a tired Carlton outfit on a hot and humid Sunday afternoon at Ikon Park.

The Blues started full of energy and vigour at home but couldn't maintain the rage in the second half, with the Kangaroos controlling the contest after half-time to move to 3-1 on the back of the 30-point win, 7.9 (51) to 3.3 (21).

With the latest Omicron wave wreaking havoc in the AFLW, Daniel Harford's Carlton side was forced to front up for a second time in five days. 

The Blues touched down at Tullamarine Airport shortly after 4am on Wednesday after losing to Brisbane at Metricon Stadium on Tuesday night.

North Melbourne had two extra days of recovery up its sleeve and used the fresher legs to its advantage in the second half, kicking six unanswered goals after half-time while holding Carlton to a single point for most of the second half, before a late consolation goal for the Blues.

Darren Crocker's side has now leapt over Collingwood into fourth spot on the ladder, drawing level with third-placed Melbourne, a game adrift of the undefeated Adelaide and Fremantle.

Ball-magnet Ash Riddell got North Melbourne going early by collecting 12 touches in the first quarter to continue her blistering start to the 2022 season, before finishing with 30 disposals. 

The 2020 All-Australian has emerged as one of the most influential players in the competition this season and is now averaging 28.3 disposals after the opening month of 2022.

Goalkicking has proven difficult in AFLW, but not for Daria Bannister on Sunday. The 22-year-old slotted two of the best set-shot goals you will see this season. 

First, Bannister nailed one from deep in the left pocket in the Legends Stand in the second quarter, before repeating the trick late in the third quarter at the construction end of the ground. The two moments of class provided North Melbourne with some breathing room on both occasions. 

"It was really important for us to get over the line," Kangaroos coach Darren Crocker said post-match.

"I probably felt over the course of the game (with) the weight of inside-50s and the weight of pressure we were putting on them that the dam wall will break at some point. I feel like the demographic is coming together pretty well, just from a balance perspective and girls wanting to step up."

"When you've got a midfield like we do, its pretty hard to complain as a forward," Tahlia Randall told North Media after the win. "They deliver it on a silver platter. 

"[Jenna Bruton], Mia King and Ash Riddell are just consistently racking up those numbers but also maintaining their efficiency, which is great."

Did you see that?

Former Carlton champ Eddie Betts would have been happy with Daria Bannister's shot from the left forward pocket in the second quarter. Lining up from the wrong side of the boundary line 30m from goal, a player with less confidence than Bannister might have looked for an inboard pass to a teammate. Instead, the in-form Roo ran around and snapped her first kick of the day over the goal umpire's head.

The one-percenter

Having burst the Kangaroos' bubble with a late first-quarter goal, the Blues seemed set to do the same at the end of the second term, pouring forward with multiple options inside 50. Irish Roo Aileen Gilroy had other ideas, chopping off the attack with a desperate diving smother. Her courage averted what could have been a deflating finish to a half the Kangaroos had controlled with little reward.

It was over when…

… Kaitlyn Ashmore swung onto her right boot in the last term. Mia King's determination created the chance, and when King's smart handball found Ashmore 30m from goal the result was never in doubt. Ashmore's snap sent the Roos 22 points clear, leaving the only remaining question how much percentage they could add as they begin to contemplate the season's business end.

What's next?

Tassie awaits! The Roos cross the Bass Strait for the first time this season to host Fremantle in their second home. Bouncedown at North Hobart Oval is at 1.10pm AEDT on Sunday, February 6. Defender Danielle Hardiman (soreness) is likely to be fit to face the Dockers, who stand alongside Adelaide as one of only two undefeated sides after a barnstorming start to the season.

CARLTON                                          1.1   2.2   2.3   3.3 (21)
NORTH MELBOURNE TASMANIA    1.2   3.4   4.6   7.9 (51)

GOALS 
Carlton: Gee, Vescio, Walker
North Melbourne Tasmania: Bannister 2, O'Loughlin 2, Ashmore, Bateman, Randall

BEST 
Carlton: Harrington, Prespakis, Trudgeon, Gee
North Melbourne Tasmania: Riddell, M. King, Bruton, Kearney, E. King, Bannister

INJURIES 
Carlton: Nil 
North Melbourne Tasmania: Nil

LATE CHANGES
Nil

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 2329 at Ikon Park