The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos travel to Hobart on Sunday to take on a ladder-leading Fremantle side, and will be hoping to hand the Dockers their first loss of the season.
These are four of the burning questions heading into the clash.
Is North the team to end Freo's winning start?
With five wins from five games this season, the Dockers have established themselves as one of the teams to beat in 2022.
They restricted last season's preliminary finalists, Collingwood, to just seven points last week, and on Tuesday night saw off a tough challenge in the form of a riled-up Western Bulldogs side.
North’s recent history against Fremantle is promising. Freshest in the memory will be last season’s immense home performance at Arden Street, where the Kangaroos overcame the Dockers by one point to sneak into finals.
The Dockers' five-day break following their victory over the Western Bulldogs works in the Kangaroos’ favour, but Darren Crocker's side will realise a stern challenge awaits.
Who wins the midfield battle?
Two of the competition's most in-form midfields collide in Hobart, but the Dockers will be missing reigning AFLW best and fairest winner Kiara Bowers, who was handed a two-match suspension for an off-the-ball bump on Western Bulldog Kirsty Lamb on Tuesday night.
Bowers' absence will place some pressure on her midfield teammates Hayler Miller and Gabby O'Sullivan, but fortunately for Fremantle both have been in excellent form. Miller trails only North's Ash Riddell in the race for AFLW Champion Player of the Year after her brilliant start to the campaign, while O’Sullivan is a constant forward threat when she runs through the middle of the ground.
The Kangaroos lead all comers in averaging 243 disposals per game so far this season, led by Riddell, who is building a career-best campaign and is averaging almost 30 touches. While the Dockers average only 207 touches per game, they make up for their comparative lack of the football by averaging over 70 tackles per game - a league-high and over 20 more per game than North.
For the Roos, Jenna Bruton has been a resurgent force after being moved back to the coalface, Mia King is experiencing a breakout campaign, and Jas Garner remains one of the league's most dangerous players.
Can Daria Bannister continue her run of goals?
After going goalless in the first two games of the season, Bannister put her stamp on the last two matches, kicking two goals against both GWS in Round 3 and Carlton in Round 4.
These two performances have seen her surge to the top of the club’s goalkicking charts this season, and to just outside the top 10 goalkickers across the league.
Her goalscoring opportunities have been far from simple, though, with her two goals against the Blues coming from near impossible angles.
After four disposals last week, it’s obvious Bannister doesn’t need much of the football to turn a game on its head, and if she can continue her hot streak then Fremantle could struggle to contain her.
Will the Kangaroos' Tassie dominance continue?
In six games across three seasons, the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos have made their home away from home an absolute fortress, winning all six games by an average of over four goals.
The Roos' first game in Tasmania, and first game ever, remains their biggest win, with the likes of Emma King and Jas Garner powering a 36-point victory in Round 1, 2019.
With both North home games so far this season being played at Arden Street, this will be the first chance for Tassie Roos fans to see their girls in action in 2022.
| Round 7, 2021 | Defeated Bulldogs 37-26 |
| Round 4, 2021 | Defeated Carlton 59-37 |
| Round 5, 2020 | Defeated Adelaide 63-21 |
| Round 2, 2020 | Defeated GWS 37-19 |
| Round 3, 2019 | Defeated WB 53-22 |
| Round 1, 2019 | Defeated Carlton 52-16 |
