North Melbourne has come from behind to avoid a major upset and beat much-improved Geelong by eight points in their NAB AFLW opener.

The Cats kept the Kangaroos scoreless through the second term and well into the third on Saturday at Arden Street Oval, before North kicked the last three goals of the match to win 4.2 (26) to 2.6 (18).

Midfielder Ashleigh Riddell starred for North with 35 disposals and seven tackles.

It was a bruising match, with Geelong's Chloe Scheer forced off the field in the third term with an accidental head knock.

The Kangaroos' Kim Rennie also landed heavily and hit her head when she flew for a mark late in the match.

After a few minutes, she was able to walk off the field while Geelong captain Meg McDonald missed part of the last quarter with a leg problem.

In round one last year, North walloped Geelong by 62 points - it was the Cats' biggest loss and their lowest score.

The Cats were a vastly different proposition on Saturday, taking it up to North with relentless pressure.

Kangaroos captain Emma Kearney was forced to miss her first AFLW game after she fell ill with COVID-19.

But teammate Jenna Bruton kicked the first goal of the game late in the opening term and North kept the Cats scoreless to hold an eight-point lead at quarter-time.

Geelong scored the only two behinds in a bruising second term, with its defence holding firm under massive pressure.

Goals to Phoebe McWilliams and Julia Crockett-Grills in the third term gave the Cats an eight-point break and they were smelling blood.

But Daisy Bateman kicked a crucial goal close to three-quarter time to blunt Geelong's challenge.

Mia King and Kaitlyn Ashmore, who was forced off the field earlier in the game with an ankle injury, then goalled in the last term to seal the win.

Amy McDonald impressed for the Cats and Georgie Prespakis, in her AFLW debut, also was among their best with 20 disposals.

The hero

The Kangaroos started the season with a new look midfield, with the likes of Emma Kearney and Ellie Gavalas unavailable for Saturday’s clash.

In the absence of two of the finest contested players at the club, Ash Riddell stood head and shoulders above those around her to lead her side to victory as she contributed an arguably career-best performance.

When the game was on the line, Riddell pulled her teammates with her to victory as she finished with an astonishing 35 disposals, 7 tackles and 7 clearances in a masterful midfield performance.

While Jenna Bruton (24 disposals, 1 goal) and Jas Garner (22 disposals) also had fine games, and Mia King kicked a crucial goal in the final term, it was Riddell who proved to be the difference-maker against a strong Geelong midfield group.

The moment

While North took a slender lead into half time, Geelong came out firing in the third term and looked set to enter the final break with an eight point lead.

In the final moments of the term though, Daisy Bateman kicked a crucial goal that began to turn the tide of the contest in her team’s favour.

Electing to stay on the ground while others flew for the mark, Bateman crumbed the pack and slotted out the back of the contest, kicking an uncontested goal to begin North’s resurgence.

This late major saw the Cats enter the final term just two points in front, while it saw North enter it with momentum. 

A strong final term saw the Kangaroos overcome their spirited opposition, but it was Bateman’s goal that proved to be the turning point late in the game.

What’s next

The Kangaroos are due to travel to Norwood Oval next week to take on last season’s losing grand finalists Adelaide.

Round 3 will see North return to Arden Street to take on GWS, as it looks to continue its unbeaten home run.

NORTH MELBOURNE     1.2     1.2     2.2     4.2    (26)
GEELONG                       0.0     0.2     2.4     2.6     (18)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Bruton, Bateman, M.King, Ashmore
Geelong: McWilliams, Crockett-Grills

BEST  
North Melbourne: Riddell, Garner, Bruton, Ashmore, Ferguson
Geelong: A.McDonald, Prespakis, Webster, Morrison, Keryk

INJURIES  
North Melbourne: Ashmore (ankle), Rennie (head knock)
Geelong: Scheer (head knock), M.McDonald (leg)

Reports: Nil