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VFLW GF team: Kangaroos gear up for historic decider
North Melbourne will take an unchanged line-up into Sunday's historic VFLW Grand Final
North Melbourne will take an unchanged line-up into Sunday's historic VFLW Grand Final against the Western Bulldogs.
With no injury concerns, senior coach Brett Gourley kept faith with the team that defeated Williamstown two weeks ago to secure the club's first ever Grand Final in the competition.
Co-captain Jess Jones will lead out the Kangaroos, who hit form when it mattered in this year's finals series, knocking off Essendon and the Seagulls to reach the decider.
In-form forward Nyakoat Dojiok has been named to start at centre half-forward, while Alana Barba, who kicked a brilliant sealer in the semi-final against Williamstown, will start on the interchange bench.
VFLW GF wrap: Roos surge past Dogs to claim historic premiership
North Melbourne has knocked off the Western Bulldogs by 20 points at ETU Stadium to claim its first ever VFLW premiership
North Melbourne overcame a rollicking mid-game comeback from the Western Bulldogs to win the 2024 rebel VFLW Grand Final by 20 points and claim its first ever VFLW premiership.
Scores were level at three-quarter time before the Roos surged home to claim a thrilling 10.8 (68) to 7.6 (48) win, kicking four goals to one in the final term.
Nyakoat Dojiok's four goals, 14 disposals and three tackles saw her awarded the Lisa Hardeman Medal for being best on ground in the club's historic victory.
The win capped an incredible rise up the ranks for the Kangaroos, who finished ninth last year and had never played in the rebel VFLW finals before this season. They also overcame a 3-5 start to 2024, winning eight of their last nine games, including three finals, to lift the premiership cup.
The Kangas got off to a flyer, kicking four goals to nothing in the first quarter, with Emily Paterno slotting the opener to elate the crowd, but the Dogs gradually worked their way back into the contest to set up a huge final 20 minutes.
As North Melbourne had one hand on the cup in the final minutes, midfielder Audrey Rhodes put the cherry on the cake with a major on the verge of the full-time siren.
"It was an incredible contest right from the start," VFLW coach Brett Gourley told NMFC Media.
"I felt like we started the game really well, but to the Bulldogs' credit they’re an incredible team, we knew they were going to come at some point and that was definitely in the third quarter."
The Roos brought the heat early and it was Maddie Di Cosmo who composed herself after a minute had gone by before delivering the ball inside 50 to a sliding Paterno, who made no mistake for the grand final's opening goal.
Emily Paterno with the first of the 2024 rebel VFLW Grand Final 🔥
It was a strong start for the midfield trio of Rhodes (27 disposals, 10 tackles, six clearances), Di Cosmo (20 disposals, 11 tackles, four clearances) and Alana Barba (17 disposals, 12 tackles, four clearances), who all cracked in to lay the foundation for the win.
Despite the Roos having the first three inside 50s of the second quarter, it was the Bulldogs' Renee Saulitiswho slotted the first major, after a quick transition from their backline caught the North Melbourne defence out.
Barba and Dojiok answered in style though, kicking the next two goals which saw the Kangas skip out to a game-high 32-point lead.
As good sides do, the Bulldogs showed their resilience. They piled on four goals to North Melbourne's two behinds in the third term to get back on level pegging.
"It was a real challenge (going into three-quarter time)," Gourley said. "We spoke to the girls, making sure that we were up for the fight ... because we knew that we were going to be challenged at some point.
"We spoke about getting the game back on our terms, playing to our identity, trying to get the ball in the front half and continuing to play our way.
"We felt like we went away from that in the third quarter, and we just really tried to get the game back on our terms."
The message worked as Paterno, Dojiok and Georgia Nicholas all goaled inside 12 minutes to put the premiership beyond doubt.
A final late goal from Rhodes broke another record for the club that lifted silverware in the 25th anniversary year since the 1999 AFL flag – its most recent premiership at any level.
The major took North Melbourne’s score to 10.8 (68), its highest tally against the Bulldogs and the record score in a VFLW Grand Final, topping Darebin’s 9.9 (63) against Melbourne University in the inaugural decider in 2016.
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