Friday night's heartbreaking loss to the Demons shows the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos can match it with the AFLW's best, says coach Darren Crocker.

The Kangaroos rose from the canvas in front of 17,851 at the MCG to grab the lead in the final quarter, before a late Alyssa Bannan goal snatched a two-point win for the Demons.  

"Melbourne would come away from that game going, 'Gee, North Melbourne Kangaroos were bloody hard to play against tonight and hard to beat', so that's a step in the right direction for us," Crocker said after the match. 

"In saying that we came here to get the four points as well. Big stage, Friday night, curtain raiser to a men's final on the MCG - it doesn't come much bigger than that. 

"And I know everyone's pretty disappointed, but as I said to them, absolutely be disappointed because we're not going away with the four points, but don't be disheartened because there are enough strong signs to suggest we can match it against a quality team who are well coached and who have been thereabouts for a number of years now."

There were shades of last season's 38-point qualifying final loss to Fremantle as Melbourne overran the Roos in the second quarter, kicking 2.3 to no score and threatening to motor away with the game. But on this occasion Crocker's side were able to rally, led by midfield dynamos Ash Riddell and Jas Garner, and with ruck Kim Rennie enjoying the best game of her career in her second season with the Roos.

"[After] another pre-season with our midfielders Jasmine (Garner), Ash (Riddell), Jenna (Bruton) and Mia King, you can really see there's a bit of synergy with Kim as their ruck," Crocker said. 

"We've been really encouraged by that connection. Kim's had a really strong pre-season. We're now two rounds in and she's set herself up for a pretty strong year."