The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos have gone down to the Demons by 17 points at Ikon Park, ending their Season 7 finals campaign.

In their first ever preliminary final, the Roos took control of the inside-50 tally, but their execution heading inside 50 flattered to deceive with the final score reading 5.3 (33) to 2.4 (16).

The result remained in the balance up until the final stages of the fourth quarter, but a late Daisy Pearce sealed a Melbourne Grand Final berth

It wasn't easy for the Demons, with the eventual 17-point victory the result - the largest margin between the two sides - coming after a physical, contested match.

Early on Karen Paxman was the only Demon able to find the ball in space, as North Melbourne brought immense pressure around the ball, refusing to let Melbourne win the control by hand that it has become known for this season.

To half time, the Roos had registered 32 tackles and 16 one percenters, indicating just how tight and tough they made life for the Demons right across the field.

DEMONS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

That pressure made the usually composed Demons panic at times, particularly coming out of defence, opening the door for North Melbourne in attack. Melbourne, however, was repeatedly saved by wayward shots, or the ball falling agonisingly short of the Roos' goal line.

In defence, the Kangaroos played with a spare. Their deepest defender, typically Jasmine Ferguson, would sit between Melbourne's deepest forward and the goal line, while another Roo, often Sarah Wright, would then take space in front. This closed off any leading lanes or space the Demons tried to generate inside 50, severely limiting Melbourne's ability to score.

The Demons were often caught wanting to move the ball quickly, but with the Roos' well-disciplined backline, found themselves kicking to an outnumber or, worse, a sole Kangaroo ready to take an uncontested mark and repel.

Kearney starred for the Roos behind the ball, left to intercept and rebound at will, finishing the game with 10 intercepts from 17 disposals, while star midfielder's Jasmine Garner's 24 disposals and nine tackles couldn't get her side over the line.

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It didn't take long for Tahlia Randall to make an impact in the preliminary final. The potent key forward gathered the ball in the goal square in the game's opening minute, cleverly span and executed a right foot snap from close range to give her side the perfect start. Randall finished with six disposals and four tackles.

Up next

Unfortunately for the Roos, it's all over after an impressive Season 7, while the Demons will play off for the premiership next weekend.

MELBOURNE               2.0     3.1     3.1     5.3     (33)
NORTH MELBOURNE  1.0     2.2     2.4     2.4     (16)

GOALS
Melbourne: Fitzsimon, Mithen, Sherriff, Hore, D.Pearce
North Melbourne: Randall, E.King

BEST
Melbourne: Paxman, Mithen, Hanks, Heath
North Melbourne: Kearney, Garner, Riddell, Wright

INJURIES
Melbourne: Harris (left shoulder)
North Melbourne: Nil

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 5,592 at Ikon Park