The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos will head to Richmond's Swinburne Centre to take on the Tigers in semi-final action on Saturday afternoon, with a spot in the preliminary final hanging in the balance.

Last weekend's elimination final victory saw the Roos edge the Cats by just two points in thrilling and gritty fashion as they repeatedly repelled Geelong's unrelenting forward-50 attacks for the better part of three quarters.

Showing terrific defensive structure, the group held their nerve and locked in an appearance for the second week of finals.

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

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Saturday, November 12
Richmond v North Melbourne at the Swinburne Centre, 1.40pm AEDT

A double-chance opportunity was up for grabs when these two sides last met but its fair to say that the stakes will be higher when they clash in a semi-final on Saturday.

Round 10's gripping draw at Arden Street Oval will be fresh in the minds of many after North Melbourne's struggles in front of goal opened the door for Richmond to claim fourth spot.

This time around, however, Emma Kearney and Kim Rennie will be raring to go after both returned to the line-up for the elimination final.

The Roos goalled through Sophie Abbatangelo and Alice O'Loughlin in the first term against the Cats, but were consistently under the pump on the defensive end from quarter-time onwards. Led by Kearney, the backline unit stood up admirably to hold Geelong to just 1.8 (14).

A trio of majors to Katie Brennan majors wasn't enough to get the Tigers over the line against Brisbane at Metricon Stadium, as they fell by 17 points in Saturday's qualifying final.

Despite defeating the minor premiers in Round 5, Richmond struggled to match the Lions' quality in the midfield and was unable to break through Brisbane's well-drilled defence for long periods of the afternoon.

They remain a difficult assignment for the Roos though, but Darren Crocker's side has the ability to play damaging football, as well as grind out a win against tough opposition, as it did at GMHBA Stadium.

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Bring on the second week of Season 7 finals!

The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos will be striving to book a spot in a coveted preliminary final when they challenge the Tigers in a semi-final on Saturday.

The Roos managed to defy the odds against Geelong in last weekend's elimination final to progress in the finals series, after conceding 41 inside 50s for the evening.

It was one of the rare times this season where Darren Crocker's side fell significantly behind its opposition in some key statistical metrics, but North's tenacious and savvy team defending saw them outlast a mostly in-control Cats outfit where it counts - on the scoreboard.

While it may not have seemed it throughout the night at GMHBA Stadium, the Roos proved to be the better team at the source, winning the clearance count 21-18 and the contested possession tally by seven.

Richmond, however, struggled at stoppages and had its ball movement heavily stagnated after quarter-time by minor premiers Brisbane in its qualifying final loss.

It's a defeat the Tigers will be eager to rectify as they look to avoid bundling out of their first finals series in straight sets.

Here are three narratives going into the Kangaroos' second final of Season 7.

Last time out

It was a roller-coaster of emotions for anyone who found themselves watching on at Arden Street Oval or in front of a screen the last time these two clubs met.

A spot in the top four was up for grabs in Round 10 when the Kangaroos hosted Richmond, but a slow start from those in royal blue and white meant they were left with a hill to climb once the main change arrived.

Sophie Abbatangelo marked and goaled to open the third term in promising fashion, but despite having control of the contest for most of the second half, it was North Melbourne's overall inaccuracy in front of goals that, again, came back to haunt them.

Having kicked 3.9 (27) for the day from 35 inside 50s, scoreboard pressure never materialised for the Roos who ended up coming away from the thrilling draw second best in terms of ladder ramifications.

What is noteworthy though is the fact that North Melbourne was without captain Emma Kearney and ruck Kim Rennie. The duo returned to the side for last weekend's elimination final and made their presence known with several important plays on the night.

If Round 10 was full of pulsating action with high stakes, then this one is certainly not to be missed.

Overcoming the tag

A plan that worked for Richmond back in that Round 10 match was the decision to have 24-year-old Meg Macdonald closely check North superstar Jas Garner.

Garner was held to five disposals and zero clearances in the first half but lifted her influence as the game progressed to finish with 13 touches and four inside 50s.

It reasonable to believe that the Tigers will use Macdonald to tag Garner from the first bounce again on Saturday considering the effect the strategy had two weeks ago, and Crocker recognised mid-week that his side can be "better at protecting Jas and giving her more opportunities to get into the game".

North Melbourne has an 82 per cent win-rate when Garner records 20+ disposals, so seeing how the Roos attempt to free up Garner around the ball and how the No.25 will work under close attention is going to be an interesting watch.

Time for some offence

An exceptional defensive effort was the main story that came out of North's last final but triumphing in back-to-back weeks with a final total of 16 points seems unlikely.

The Roos are going to need to find a way to reignite the forward line spark they displayed back in Round 9 if they're to continue their undefeated streak at Punt Road Oval and against Richmond.

North is often at its most dangerous when contested marking machine Tahlia Randall and ruck Emma King can use space in front of them to launch themselves at deep inside-50 entries.

Both have shown over their careers that they are more than capable of taking massive grabs, and when the towering pair aren't marking the ball, Alice O'Loughlin, Sophie Abbatangelo and Bella Eddey are always at ground level circling for a swift crumbing goal.

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But as has been the case at times throughout Season 7, creating scoring chances hasn't been the issue, it's been executing them.

If the Roos are to move onto the next week of finals, they're going to have to turn territory into scores this time around and make Richmond pay for any momentary lapses in concentration.

The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos have steamrolled their way into a preliminary final against Melbourne, consigning Richmond to a straight-sets exit from the finals in the 36-point defeat.

The Roos – inspired by an ultra-determined Jas Garner – produced their highest score of the season in the 11.8 (74) to 6.2 (38) win, while the Tigers should be proud of their improved season, but will be licking their wounds after being outclassed at the Swinburne Centre.

As expected, Richmond tagger Meg Macdonald renewed acquaintances with Garner, but the superstar Roo was more than up to the task, recording nine disposals and four clearances in the first term.

Macdonald started the second term on the bench receiving treatment on her left knee, but saw out the game against the Roo, who finished with 22 disposals, seven clearances, seven tackles and two goals.

Having shots on goal has never been an issue for North Melbourne, but its goalkicking accuracy has cost them in a few games this season.

That was not the case in the second quarter, piling on five goals as Garner pushed forward to continue to break the tag, and Emma King's height proved to be a troubling factor for the Tigers' backline.

The Tigers didn't go into their shell after half-time, starting to even up the midfield contest and seeing the margin only extend by one point, but the gap was too big to bridge.

Small forward Emelia Yassir was a constant threat in attack for the Tigers, while key forward Courtney Wakefield can hold her head up high if it turns out Saturday was the 35-year-old's final AFLW game, having been chaired off at the conclusion of the game.

For the Roos, Ash Riddell produced a strong four-quarter game, with Jenna Bruton's pressure around the contest key to the result, and Brooke Brown and Emma Kearney working well off half-back.

TIGERS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

It was a case of the walking-wounded for the Tigers, with star playmaker Monique Conti appearing to battle both a knee and groin issue throughout the game, while Eilish Sheerin received treatment on a thumb issue.

Mia King was on the receiving end of a heavy bump from Sarah Hosking – who came out full of fire after half-time – but returned to play after her ribs were tested by the club medical team.

The return of Rennie

While North Melbourne skipper Emma Kearney was missing when these two sides played a fortnight ago, but it was arguably the absence of ruck Kim Rennie (health and safety protocols) that was more telling. With Rennie back on deck, Emma King spent much more time stretching Richmond's backline, and Vikki Wall could play a full game in attack.

The tough draw pays off

North Melbourne finished eighth on the home-and-away ladder, but it was arguably a false eighth, with the 10-round season meaning each team's fixture was key. The Roos were the only top eight side to have played all seven finalists, and the difficult draw has clearly held them in good stead, being well-experienced in high-pressure games against quality opposition.

Up next

It's season done for Richmond, while North Melbourne will face Melbourne in a preliminary final, with Dees coach Mick Stinear last week indicating it was likely to be at Ikon Park.

RICHMOND                    3.0     4.0     6.0     6.2    (38)
NORTH MELBOURNE     3.2     8.5     10.6     11.8     (74)

GOALS
Richmond: Yassir 2, Cox, Wakefield, Conti, Brennan
North Melbourne: Abbatangelo 2, Garner 2, O'Loughlin 2, E. King, Eddey, Gavalas, Randall, Eddey

BEST
Richmond: McKenzie, Sheerin, Conti, Brennan, Seymour
North Melbourne: Garner, Riddell, Bruton, E. King, Kearney, Brown

INJURIES
Richmond: Conti (groin), Sheerin (thumb), Macdonald (knee)
North Melbourne: M. King (ribs)

Reports: Nil