The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos will host Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) in Indigenous Round on Sunday afternoon.

The Roos claimed their fifth win for the campaign last weekend, after storming home at Fremantle Oval to defeat the Dockers by 45 points.

They face a Yartapuulti outfit that fell to the Swans on an inaccurate day in front of the big sticks.

Set your matchday reminders

Sunday, October 15
North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos v Yartapuulti at Arden Street Oval, 1.05pm AEDT

So you don't miss it, or any other games this season, make sure to sync the fixture to your calendar.

Indigenous Round

The significant contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls to Australian football and the broader community will be celebrated this month, with the return of AFLW Indigenous Round this week.

On Sunday, there will be a live Welcome to Country from Aunty Joy, a DJ playing Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander music, an interview with our Indigenous guernsey artist Emma Bamblett, and Indigenous-owned businesses at our street party including Kinya Lerrk and Wanyara.

The opposition 

The Power was outlasted by Sydney in their Round 6 clash, relinquishing a third-quarter lead to ultimately fall by 15 points at Alberton Oval.

It was the club's fifth defeat of the season with their solitary win coming back in Round 3 when it wiped off a 20-point deficit to knock off the Saints by eight points.

Young midfielder Abbey Dowrick has been one of Yartapuulti's best players so far this year, and is averaging 19.5 disposals and 6.3 tackles per game.

The in-form Roo

Tahlia Randall

There's no shortage of in-form players at North Melbourne following two strong wins over the Giants and Dockers, but it's hard to go past Randall.

The versatile key forward kicked a career-high five goals against Fremantle last Sunday and clunked three contested grabs to help power her side to a massive away victory.

Along with Jasmine Garner, Randall claimed eight AFLCA AFLW Champion Player of the Year Award votes taking her total tally to 13.

Last time we met

Yartapuulti 4.5 (29) def. by North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos 7.12 (54) - Round 8, Season 7 (2022)

The Roos weathered a stern Power challenge in the first half when the two clubs met for the first time last season, but a Jasmine Garner masterclass saw her side leave South Australia with the four points.

The superstar midfielder notched 27 touches, nine marks, 717 metres gained and two goals at Alberton Oval, while Alice O'Loughlin was lively up forward, finishing with two majors as well.

Coach Darren Crocker threw captain Emma Kearney into the midfield at half-time to get some more dominance. The move had the desired effect, as the battle-hardened Kangaroos onballers managed to get the upper hand around the ground against the Power’s youthful brigade.

Ticketing

Grab your tickets for Sunday's game here!

Membership

The Kangaroos' journey rolls on as Darren Crocker's group continues its path towards silverware.

If you haven't already, become a 2023 AFLW 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

Sunday's game will be broadcast live on Channel 7 and for Foxtel and Kayo Sports subscribers.

Team selection

North Melbourne will name its extended squad at 6.20pm on Thursday before revealing its final 21-player side on Friday at 5pm.

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 @NMFCWomens accounts on Instagram, Facebook and X to stay up to date with everything happening at the match.

Bring on Yartapuulti!

Ash Riddell, Alice O'Loughlin and Tahlia Randall all kicked Goal of the Year contenders as the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos put on a show against Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) at Arden Street Oval.

The Roos piled on their highest ever score, motoring away after quarter-time to win the Indigenous Round clash by 63 points, 13.9 (87) to 3.6 (24). 

The win consolidates second spot on the AFLW ladder ahead of a blockbuster clash next weekend with third-placed Narrm (Melbourne). 

KANGAROOS v YARTAPUULTI Full match coverage and stats

While the Roos will be delighted to have secured a valuable percentage boost as they eye the approaching finals series, the game's highlights were three stunning goals, all kicked from the right forward pocket.

Riddell drew a roar from the North faithful late in the second term as she split the sticks from an impossible angle despite her run taking her towards the advertising hoardings. The brilliant goal came at a pivotal stage in the game, when the Kangaroos were struggling to get reward for effort despite dominating the quarter's opening stages.

Seconds later, Riddell turned provider, breaking from the centre and threading a ball into space for Randall to chase towards the boundary line on the half-forward flank. The Kangaroos tall hit the afterburners, glanced up at the goals and slammed home from a nearly identical spot.

Alice O'Loughlin bounced through a remarkable third from the same pocket in the final quarter, as the Roos rampaged home with a nine-goal second half.

A stunning performance from the Kangaroos' one-two punch of Jasmine Garner and Ash Riddell led the home side to the victory.

In career game No.50, Riddell (35 disposals, seven tackles, two goals) was super effective in her clearance work, working more as the outlet option, powering away from the contest and sending the ball forward, while Garner (39 disposals, eight clearances, 789 metres gained) often caught her opposition out with her spread from the contest.

Mia King's efforts through the middle were instrumental to Riddell and Garner's commanding performances, as she fed the ball out quickly and efficiently from congestion.

Given their wealth of talent right across the field, the Kangaroos transitioned the ball beautifully, able to find nine avenues to goal, including a personal best three goals from O'Loughlin, as they put the foot down after the first break.

Yartapuulti started with strength, using pressure and powerful clearances to maintain the ball in attack for an extended portion of the first quarter and kicked the opening goal by way of returning key forward Julia Teakle. It was when the Roos were able to breach the Power's high defensive wall, however, that they were able to work into acres of space in attack.

Once they settled into the game, the Roos began to dominate possession, ultimately winning the disposal count 321 to 183.

A lack of composure from Yartapuulti let it down at times, often attempting to move the ball too quickly and playing directly into the hands of Kangaroos Jasmine Ferguson and Sarah Wright who set up camp behind the play.

Back in a defensive role due to Janelle Cuthbertson's absence, Ange Foley was a shining light for Yartapuulti with seven intercepts and 359 metres gained, while young ruck Matilda Scholz (23 hitouts, four clearances) fought admirably against the experienced duo of Kim Rennie and Emma King.

Whatever you can do, I can do better

In the second quarter the floodgates began to open for North Melbourne as it kicked 3.3 (21) to Yartapuulti's three behinds. A feature of its scoring was a stunning goal from deep in the pocket from star midfielder Ash Riddell in her 50th career game, only for Tahlia Randall to go one better from almost the same spot mere minutes later. In

What's next?

North Melbourne will face Narrm at Ikon Park on Saturday evening in a match that is sure to shape the top two.

North Melbourne  1.2   4.5   8.7   13.9 (87)
Yartapuulti           1.2    1.5   2.6   3.6 (24)

GOALS
North Melbourne:  O'Loughlin 3, Randall 2, Riddell 2, Bruton, Garner, Gatt, Pullar, Shierlaw, Smith
Yartapuulti: Keryk, Houghton, Teakle

BEST
North Melbourne: Riddell, Garner, Bruton, O'Loughlin, M.King, O'Shea
Yartapuulti: Scholz, Foley, Dowrick, Keryk

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Yartapuulti: Nil

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 1,912 at Arden Street Oval