The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos suffered a heartbreaking two-point loss to a strong Demons outfit in Round 2, and another tough opponent is on deck.

The Roos shift their focus towards reigning premiers Adelaide for the first of two Indigenous Rounds and will run out onto Unley Oval on Saturday afternoon for the first time since entering the AFLW.

Make sure you're ready to go with this week's gameday guide.

Set your matchday reminders

Saturday, September 10
Adelaide v North Melbourne at Unley Oval, 12.10pm ACST (12.40pm AEST)

North encountered its first defeat of the season after being pipped by the Demons at the MCG, but despite the result, positive signs were clear to see.

The Roos showed they can fight it out with one of the best when they're switched on and if it wasn’t for a costly lapse in the second term, the final score may have read differently at the final siren.

The Crows, who also fell to the Demons in the opening round, remain as one of the main contenders and proved it after overrunning the Tigers in the fourth quarter to win by nine points.

Predicted to be one of the more intriguing contests of Round 3, it's a perfect time to make a statement to the rest of the league.

Buying a ticket

Whether you're an Adelaide-based North fan or you're travelling to the City of Churches to follow the Kangaroos, make sure to get a ticket to support the team at the ground.

Membership

If you haven't already, become an AFLW Season 7 North Melbourne member.

Joining up is a great way to support not only the AFLW team, but the entire football club and AFLW competition!

Watch on TV or stream on your phone 

The game will be broadcast live for Foxtel and Kayo Sports subscribers.

Stay connected on social media

For behind-the-scenes access and all the best highlights, photos, stats and stories, we’ve got you covered.

Follow the @northmelbournew accounts on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date with everything happening at the match.

Bring on our first Indigenous Round clash of Season 7!

The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos will be looking to rectify last week's agonising loss to the Dees as they head to Adelaide to take on the Crows at Unley Oval.

It will mark 1,280 days since any AFLW match has been played at the venue for premiership points with the last game taking place there occurring back in Round 6, 2019.

Set to be an afternoon of must-watch football, both clubs, having fallen to Melbourne in their respective fixtures, currently sit with four points each after two rounds.

Wanting to avoid dropping further behind the front-running pack, a win for either side will have them in the top-four mix following Round 3.

The Crows managed to clinch the first victory of their campaign last week after they overran Richmond in the fourth quarter at the Swinburne Centre.

Two final-term goals from Abbie Ballard capped off Adelaide's come-from-behind triumph, while Anne Hatchard, Ebony Marinoff and Chelsea Randall all impressed throughout the day.

It's going to be another demanding afternoon for the Roos, but there is plenty to improve and build upon from Round 2's promising outing.

Here are three narratives revolving around our first of two Indigenous Round games in Season Seven.

It's been a while

Although the Crows and Roos met last season and in a Season Seven practice match, it's been a long time since the latter have prevailed in home and away head-to-head action.

Round 2 in Season Six saw Adelaide claim the four points thanks to a four-goal haul from Ashleigh Woodland, but it's been 917 days since North seized the advantage over the South Australian club.

Emma Kearney led the way for the Roos in the Round 5, 2020 clash, collecting 26 touches in the 42-point win, while Jasmine Garner picked up 24 along with two goals.

The expectation, however, is that this season's match-up will result in a much tighter battle with both clubs having the talent and capabilities to leave Unley Oval with the win.

Jammin' the stat sheets

The footballing community was well aware of Jasmine Garner's ability to impact a game heading into Season Seven, but that hasn't led to oppositions being able to kerb her significance in 2022.

A midfield menace, Garner has polled 10 AFL Coaches Association votes in back-to-back rounds to subsequently lead the award race and will play Adelaide off the back of a 22-disposal and 10-clearance performance.

So far, she currently ranks first in the competition for clearances, second for contested possessions and metres gained, and equal fourth for disposals, further displaying - outside of her 20 coaches votes - just how dominant she has been.

As influential as they come, she'll need to be close to or at her best again this Saturday in order to help combat a productive Crows midfield brigade.

Quarter lapses

Last Friday's bout at the MCG showed that it's critical to turn up for all four quarters against quality opponents.

After taking a five-point lead into the first change, North Melbourne were kept scoreless by Melbourne in the second term and were playing catch-up from then onwards.

Despite North finishing the second quarter with a higher tackle count (13-15), the Demons were constantly first to the ball and their forwards benefitted from 10 inside-50s with five scoring shots.

It was the second time this season North experienced a full-quarter lapse. Although the damage had already been done across the first three quarters in Round 1, the Roos went scoreless in the final stanza while Gold Coast booted two goals to finish strong.

If the Roos are going to overcome a side of Adelaide's calibre, a full four-quarter performance will need to be produced and there's no doubt it can be done.

The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos have gone down to reigning premiers Adelaide by 14 points at Unley Oval.

The reigning premiers conceded the first two goals of the game but rallied to kick the next four in a tough and engrossing contest, running out winners 4.6 (30) to 2.4 (16).

CROWS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

The Crows (2-1) have won back-to-back games after last week's win over Richmond, while the Kangaroos (1-2) have now dropped two in a row.

Gun Crows midfielder Ebony Marinoff was the dominant player on the ground with a game-high 29 disposals, including 15 contested possessions, 13 tackles and seven inside 50s.

Partner in crime Anne Hatchard was also outstanding with 23 touches, captain Chelsea Randall did a wonderful tagging job on Kangaroos star Jasmine Garner in the second quarter, while electric forward Danielle Ponter kicked two of her side's four goals.

Garner led the Roos with 24 disposals, but was held to just seven in the second half. Ash Riddell (23 disposals) and Emma Kearney (18) were also influential for North.

Scores were level at three-quarter time before goals to Ponter and ruck Caitlin Gould were the difference for the Crows.

The Kangaroos burst out of the blocks with first-quarter goals to Alice O'Loughlin and Vikki Wall before the Crows responded through Hannah Munyard and Ponter.

From there, the match became a scrap, with neither side willing to give an inch.

Kangaroos utility Amy Smith suffered a concussion after an accidental boot to the head from Marinoff in the second quarter, the incident summing up the tough nature of the contest.

Alice and Abba

North Melbourne fielded an inexperienced forward group over the first two rounds, with stopper-turned-spearhead Tahlia Randall having led the line.

At only 20, O'Loughlin is no veteran but went in with the experience of three pre-seasons and nine senior games to draw on.

Having overcome bone stress to be selected, the former Oakleigh Chargers forward was assured and impactful when she went near the ball, and used her frame to effect.

Sophie Abbatangelo, at 32 with 32 games and 22 goals to her name, made an instant impact having negotiated the same injury struggles as O'Loughlin.

Respected for her goal threat, 'Abba' found space hard to come by but cleverly drew her opponents out of her teammates' way.

As the season wears on, their forward nous will funnel not only into results but the development of young forwards like Sophia McCarthy and Charli Granville.

Mia steps up when it means the most

A proud Jawoyn woman, Mia King spoke passionately of her heritage and what it would mean to her to pull on 'Marram,' the Kangaroos' Indigenous jumper.

When the time came, the Launceston product put in one of the most impressive performances of her fledgling career.

The Crows possess a battle-hardened onball unit, home to Anne Hatchard, Ebony Marinoff and a supporting cast of multiple premiership players.

To compete with them on their home territory is to compress the ground and support one another, and in this sense King was everything the Roos needed her to be and more.

The 21-year-old finished with 14 disposals, six tackles and 220 metres gained.

Up next

The Crows have an eight-day break ahead of their clash with Collingwood at Victoria Park next Sunday (12.10pm AEST). Meanwhile, the Kangaroos take a home game to Launceston when they host Geelong at University of Tasmania Stadium on Friday afternoon (5.10pm AEST).

ADELAIDE                            0.2  2.2  2.4  4.6  (30)
NORTH MELBOURNE      2.1  2.3  2.4  2.4  (16)

GOALS
Adelaide: Ponter 2, Gould, Munyard
North Melbourne: O'Loughlin, Wall

BEST 
Adelaide: Randall, Marinoff, Ponter, Hatchard, Gould, Biddell
North Melbourne: Garner, Riddell, Kearney, Bruton
 
INJURIES 
Adelaide: Nil
North Melbourne: Smith (concussion)
 
LATE CHANGES
Adelaide: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil
 
Reports: Nil