North Melbourne overcame a rollicking mid-game comeback from the Western Bulldogs to win the 2024 rebel VFLW Grand Final by 20 points and claim its first ever VFLW premiership.

Scores were level at three-quarter time before the Roos surged home to claim a thrilling 10.8 (68) to 7.6 (48) win, kicking four goals to one in the final term.

Nyakoat Dojiok's four goals, 14 disposals and three tackles saw her awarded the Lisa Hardeman Medal for being best on ground in the club's historic victory.

The win capped an incredible rise up the ranks for the Kangaroos, who finished ninth last year and had never played in the rebel VFLW finals before this season. They also overcame a 3-5 start to 2024, winning eight of their last nine games, including three finals, to lift the premiership cup.

The Kangas got off to a flyer, kicking four goals to nothing in the first quarter, with Emily Paterno slotting the opener to elate the crowd, but the Dogs gradually worked their way back into the contest to set up a huge final 20 minutes.

As North Melbourne had one hand on the cup in the final minutes, midfielder Audrey Rhodes put the cherry on the cake with a major on the verge of the full-time siren.

"It was an incredible contest right from the start," VFLW coach Brett Gourley told NMFC Media.

"I felt like we started the game really well, but to the Bulldogs' credit they’re an incredible team, we knew they were going to come at some point and that was definitely in the third quarter."

KANGAROOS v BULLDOGS Full match coverage and stats

The Roos brought the heat early and it was Maddie Di Cosmo who composed herself after a minute had gone by before delivering the ball inside 50 to a sliding Paterno, who made no mistake for the grand final's opening goal. 

The Roos' pressure prevented the Dogs from gaining any territory and after five minutes, they had pinched a second goal through Dojiok.

A tremendous effort from Di Cosmo outside 50 and another strike from Dojiok saw the Roos race to a 25-point quarter-time lead.

It was a strong start for the midfield trio of Rhodes (27 disposals, 10 tackles, six clearances), Di Cosmo (20 disposals, 11 tackles, four clearances) and Alana Barba (17 disposals, 12 tackles, four clearances), who all cracked in to lay the foundation for the win.

Despite the Roos having the first three inside 50s of the second quarter, it was the Bulldogs' Renee Saulitis who slotted the first major, after a quick transition from their backline caught the North Melbourne defence out. 

Barba and Dojiok answered in style though, kicking the next two goals which saw the Kangas skip out to a game-high 32-point lead.

As good sides do, the Bulldogs showed their resilience. They piled on four goals to North Melbourne's two behinds in the third term to get back on level pegging.

"It was a real challenge (going into three-quarter time)," Gourley said. "We spoke to the girls, making sure that we were up for the fight ... because we knew that we were going to be challenged at some point.

"We spoke about getting the game back on our terms, playing to our identity, trying to get the ball in the front half and continuing to play our way.

"We felt like we went away from that in the third quarter, and we just really tried to get the game back on our terms."

The message worked as Paterno, Dojiok and Georgia Nicholas all goaled inside 12 minutes to put the premiership beyond doubt.

A final late goal from Rhodes broke another record for the club that lifted silverware in the 25th anniversary year since the 1999 AFL flag – its most recent premiership at any level.

The major took North Melbourne’s score to 10.8 (68), its highest tally against the Bulldogs and the record score in a VFLW Grand Final, topping Darebin’s 9.9 (63) against Melbourne University in the inaugural decider in 2016.

NORTH MELBOURNE       4.2    6.4    6.6    10.8  (68)     
WESTERN BULLDOGS     0.1    2.4    6.6    7.6  (48)

GOALS  
North Melbourne: Dojiok 4, Paterno 2, Rhodes, Nicholas, Di Cosmo, Barba
Western Bulldogs: Tabb, Saulitis, Pulcino, Milford, McLeod, Hardingham, Clifford

BEST
North Melbourne: Dojiok, Rhodes, Di Cosmo, Barba, Hales, Paterno
Western Bulldogs: Carbone, Hardingham, Hurst, Ugle, Pulcino, Tabb

LISA HARDEMAN MEDAL VOTING
Jennie Loughnan (AFL Head of State League)
3 - Nyakoat Dojiok (NM)
2 - Audrey Rhodes (NM)
1 - Dom Carbone (WB)

Gemma Bastiani (AFL Media/State of Play host)
3 - Alana Barba (NM)
2 - Maddie Di Cosmo (NM)
1 - Nyakoat Dojiok (NM)

Sean Buncle (Port Melbourne VFLW coach)
3 - Nyakoat Dojiok (NM)
2 - Audrey Rhodes (NM)
1 - Alana Barba (NM)

Kate McCarthy (Channel 7)
3 - Audrey Rhodes (NM)
2 - Nyakoat Dojiok (NM)
1 - Dom Carbone (WB)

Total
9 - Nyakoat Dojiok (NM)
7 - Audrey Rhodes (NM)
4 - Alana Barba (NM)
2 - Dom Carbone (WB)
2 - Maddie Di Cosmo (NM)