With half of Season 7 completed, it's an ideal time to reflect on how some of the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos have been tracking after a 3-2 start.

Before the team gets back to business in Round 6, North Media takes a look at the stars, improvers, sharpshooters and new Roos over the first five rounds.

Stars

Jasmine Garner

Jas has been doing Jas things in Season 7.

As one of the most prominent midfielders in the competition, Garner has been as damaging as they come and is enjoying an outstanding season that has seen her poll 40 out of a possible 50 AFL Coaches Association AFLW Champion Player of the Year votes.

In terms of game averages, she currently ranks fifth for disposals, fifth for contested possessions, equal first for inside 50s and second for clearances, and she shows no signs of slowing down.

Garner was at her best again in Round 5 as she led the Kangaroos to a 15-point win over the Bulldogs with 26 disposals, eight clearances and an AFLW record-equalling 11 inside 50s.

Stats: 24.2 disposals, 6.8 clearances, 13 contested possessions, 5.8 inside 50s, 395 metres gained per game

Ash Riddell

Although she hasn’t been as prolific as she was last season in terms of winning the ball (no one in the AFLW has been), Riddell remains an ever-present threat in the trenches and has been able to pick apart oppositions with her disposal.

Her connection with Garner at stoppages has been a sight to behold too, with deft touches from the duo setting one another up in space countless times each match.

The midfielder did a massive amount of grunt work and was often the fire-starter around the contest back in Round 2 against the Demons. Under the bright lights of the MCG, Riddell wasn't fazed as she collected 26 touches and eight tackles.

Stats: 21.6 disposals, 4 tackles, 3.2 clearances, 3 marks per game

Improvers

Tess Craven

Although Craven didn’t experience much senior action in her first season at the club, the 18-year-old has worked her way into being a mainstay of North Melbourne's starting squad this season.

Having been provided with more time through the midfield and on the wing rather than down forward, Craven has displayed her efficient ball-using abilities and her high football IQ across all five games.

The midfielder produced her best performance yet in Round 5 as she gathered a career-high in disposals (11) and tackles (four) and managed to kick a classy goal where her strong game sense came to the forefront.

2022 S6 stats: 3 disposals, 1 mark, 0 tackles, 87 metres gained per game
2022 S7 stats: 8.2 disposals, 2.2 marks, 2 tackles, 121.4 metres gained per game

Alice O'Loughlin

After missing the first two games of Season 7 due to injury, O'Loughlin has become a key component of North's starting 21 after losing her spot in the lead-up to last season's finals series.

Playing as a half-forward, O'Loughlin uses her athleticism to force contests and her nimble feet to dance around defenders to either create scoring opportunities for herself or her teammates.

This ability was perfectly encapsulated in Round 3 against the Crows where the number six gathered the ball, span around a defender and slotted her first goal of the campaign.

2022 S6 stats: 5.4 disposals, 3 contested possessions, 1 mark, 2.3 tackles, 56 metres gained per game
2022 S7 stats: 8.3 disposals, 6 contested possessions, 2.3 marks, 4 tackles, 119.7 metres gained per game

Sharpshooters

Defender-turned-forward Tahlia Randall and impressive Irish import Vikki Wall lead the goalkicking tally with four apiece.

In her second season as North's main attacking target, Randall has continued to use her strength to maximum advantage. Against the Bulldogs, her physicality shone as she set up several scoring opportunities for the team thanks to her unmatched intent to impact the play.

But it was her opening performance of the campaign that has been her best of the season so far. A career-high day at Blundstone Arena saw the forward boot three goals and rein in four marks for the afternoon.

With her notable blend of speed and power, Wall has been a tough match-up for opponents and has used her skills to hit the scoreboard on three out of five occasions.

Ruck Emma King has bagged three majors so far while Sophie Abbatangelo, who missed the opening two fixtures, has booted two.

New Shinboners

As evidenced by her ability to hit the scoreboard, Wall has had no issue finding her feet in the world of Aussie Rules.

The former professional Gaelic player has been a tremendous addition to the forward line thanks to her versatility and rapidly growing game sense.

Often seen wearing her respective opponent as a glove, Erika O'Shea has been equally impressive as her fellow Irishwoman and looks extremely comfortable at the AFLW level.

The speedy 20-year-old defender rarely leaves her feet during a contest and is constantly able to shrug off, or simply evade, tacklers.

Like O'Shea and Wall, Taylah Gatt is yet to miss a game since making her debut and has been using her elite pace to her advantage through the wings.

As she continues to gain experience, it won't be long until fans see Gatt start to rack up the touches and become one of the more damaging outside midfielders in the league.

Along with the aforementioned trio, Charli Granville and Sophia McCarthy made their debuts in the royal blue and white in Round 1 and both showed glimpses of what they can offer going forward.

Having managed two games this season, Granville's pressure and tackling inside 50 has stood out, while fellow forward McCarthy has featured on four occasions and has displayed her contested marking expertise.

Taking the club's tally to six new Shinboners for Season 7 was Ella Maurer who debuted in her home state of Tasmania in Round 4 and soaked up the occasion.

The other Kangaroos who could make their first appearances for the club later in the season are, in number order, Zoe Savarirayan, Cassidy Mailer, Hannah Bowey, Perri King and Grace Matser.

Shinboner Numbers
Taylah Gatt #45
Charli Granville #46
Sophia McCarthy #47
Erika O'Shea #48
Vikki Wall #49
Ella Maurer #50

Milestones

Garner and Emma Kearney brought up their AFLW half-centuries in Round 1 against the Suns, while Emma King followed up a week later with her 50th game at the MCG against Melbourne.

Jenna Bruton is also set to raise the bat for the first time. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the midfielder will experience the 50-game milestone in Round 8 against the Power at Alberton Oval.