The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos have claimed a statement-making 32-point win over Collingwood to come away with the important four points.
After a tightly contested first quarter that saw Isabella Eddey's goal rule out Magpie Chloe Molloy's opener, the Kangaroos gained unparalleled control away from the coalface to bound away to a 9.3 (57) to 4.1 (25) victory.
Leading from the front yet again was Jasmine Garner who finished with 27 disposals and a goal while Ash Riddell played a critical role alongside her in the middle, collecting 25 touches herself.
Sarah Wright stood tall with a career-high 13 intercepts and the half-back duo of Emma Kearney and Nicole Bresnehan provided plenty of run and carry that consistently penetrated Collingwood's structure.
Molloy was the best in black and white with 20 disposals, five tackles and a goal.
MAGPIES v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats
North Melbourne snatched the upper hand in the midfield in the second term, opening the floodgates for an astonishing five goals in 16 minutes. For so long, inaccuracy and an inability to convert inside 50s has been an issue for the Roos, but that was forgotten as the scoreboard ticked over.
Late inclusion and third-gamer Charli Granville popped up amongst the goals to claim the first of her career, and she followed it up in the third term with another converted set shot thanks to some terrific forward line pressure.
Forceful and physical tackling was a key component of the Roos' gameplan too. Darren Crocker's side set the tone from the get go with 21 tackles to Collingwood's 12 in the first quarter, and ended up winning the count with a staggering 82 (including 19 inside 50) to 46.
After the main change, Collingwood wrestled the momentum its way, but the Kangaroos' backline continued to defend with might.
Tarni Brown broke the deadlock with three minutes left in the third quarter after a scrap at the goalmouth, but it was at this stage where star Pie Ruby Schleicher was ruled out with a hip complaint.
A Chiocci major kept the Pies in touch in the fourth term, but a classy crumbing finish from Alice O'Loughlin and a close-range goal from Tahlia Randall saw the Roos add icing to the cake.
Relieving Rennie
Collingwood captain Stephanie Chiocci thought she had nailed a Goal of the Year contender after snapping cleanly from the pocket, but Kim Rennie had other ideas. The ruck rose on the goal line unmarked to pull off a significant save and stave off yet another Pies surge. Rennie finished the day with 22 hitouts, eight disposals and four tackles.
The great Wall of Arden Street
The hype around the dynamic Irish recruit was high coming into the season, but Vikki Wall is not just delivering, she's filling a crucial role for North Melbourne. Wall is proving to be a vital cog at centre-half forward, not just strong aerially, but just as dangerous at ground level. She was more than a handful for the Pies.
The ladder now
Barring a thumping Richmond win on Sunday, Collingwood will still finish the round in fourth spot, but is vulnerable to losing it next week with a defeat from Brisbane. North Melbourne is now just one win adrift of the vital double-chance, drawing level with Geelong (and the Tigers for now) on games won.
Up next
Collingwood rounds out its home and away season with the toughest test of all, taking on Brisbane at Metricon Stadium, while North Melbourne face a tricky round 10 against Richmond at Arden Street.
COLLINGWOOD 1.0 3.1 3.1 4.1 (25)
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.1 6.1 7.2 9.3 (57)
GOALS
Collingwood: Brown, Chiocci, Molloy, James
North Melbourne: Granville 2, Randall 2, Garner, Eddey, E. King, O'Loughlin, Wall
BEST
Collingwood: Molloy, Lambert, Allen, Chiocci
North Melbourne: Riddell, Garner, Wright, M. King, Bresnehan, Randall
INJURIES
Collingwood: Ruby Schleicher (hip)
North Melbourne:
LATE CHANGES
Collingwood: Ashleigh Brazill (adductor) replaced by Imogen Evans
North Melbourne: Sophie Abbatangelo (illness) replaced by Charli Granville
Reports: Nil
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