With one match sim in the books and just one more practice match to come, anticipation for the Kangaroos' 2024 AFLW season is well and truly building.
As the countdown continues to our Round 1 clash against Brisbane on September 1, here are six things to watch out for this season.
1. Can the Roos go one better?
It's the question on everyone's lips heading into a fresh campaign.
The Roos came agonisingly close to lifting a maiden AFLW premiership last December but were overrun by an experienced Brisbane outfit in the final term.
There's a fire burning within the team, and the lessons learned from Grand Final day will only help to improve a still-determined North Melbourne squad.
"I said to the players, you can actually use that as a bit of a steely resolve and bottle that in you, take it forward with us," North Melbourne senior coach Darren Crocker said following the defeat to the Lions.
"They've now given themselves a lot of evidence around what they're capable of, and that's really important when you're on a journey like we are."
2. The arrivals lounge
After just missing out on silverware last year, the Roos now boast a stronger squad heading into the new season.
Two-time premiership defender Libby Birch made her way from the Demons to Arden Street in the recent trade period, bolstering the side's defensive unit.
An MCL injury has sidelined her during the pre-season, but Birch has been hitting her rehab hard - see her video diary below. She could be a key piece to the puzzle when fully fit.
Another experienced arrival already knows her way around Arden St. Versatile Irishwoman Vikki Wall is set to make her competition comeback, having seamlessly adapted to the sport in 2022, kicking six goals from 13 appearances in her debut season.
Absent from the 2023 run due to taking an opportunity with Ireland's women's rugby sevens program ahead of the Olympics in Paris, Wall's integration back into North Melbourne's attack is an intriguing concept.
Joining Wall is fellow Irishwoman Bláithín Bogue, who recently touched down in Australia to officially begin her Kangaroo career. Like Wall, Bogue possesses strong athletic traits that will translate well to the AFLW.
3. The next gen emerges
As the Kangaroos' experienced heads lead the charge, the club's next generation has been quietly growing in strength and confidence.
Winger Taylah Gatt and defender Erika O'Shea reached new heights in their second seasons as Roos and are primed to take another step in 2024, while pacey attacker Niamh Martin notched seven appearances in her debut campaign – three of them finals – as she settled into League life.
Despite falling out of the side on the eve of the side's finals stretch, Ruby Tripodi featured nine times as a rookie and, after a solid showing in North Melbourne's match sim win over St Kilda, the No.19 may have banked her spot in the club's midfield-forward rotation for Week 1.
Pick No.26 from the 2023 draft, Ella Slocombe looked comfortable on the wing against the Saints and could also see some minutes at the top level as the year progresses. Her fellow draftee Georgia Stubs will unfortunately need to wait before making impact, having gone down with a serious lower-leg injury in the match sim hitout.
4. Peak Jammin
Jasmine Garner. The understated gun who gets things done.
Just when we thought Garner couldn't get any better, the two-time AFLPA MVP and four-time club champ reached a new peak in 2023, averaging 28.6 disposals, 6.5 clearances and a goal per outing.
With an ever-present desire to improve, North Melbourne's No.25 will be just as driven in 2024 to help her side deliver the ultimate success – and she won’t need to do it alone.
Ball-magnet Ash Riddell, tackling machine Mia King, versatile ruck Kim Rennie and damaging onballer Jenna Bruton all excel in their own right as part of the Roos' midfield, and share Garner's and the rest of the side's intent to go one better this year.
5. The League's meanest defence
For almost the entirety of the 2023 season, North Melbourne's backline was as stingy as they come.
Working cohesively as a unit, the Kangas' defence – led by captain Emma Kearney and star stopper Jasmine Ferguson – conceded just 213 points across the 10 home and away games and only nine points in the qualifying final against Melbourne.
In Kearney, O'Shea, and Sarah Wright, the Roos have three of the League's best interceptors. Combined with Ferguson's defensive nous Nicole Bresnehan and Eliza Shannon's ability to get involved further up the field, the Roos possess a nice balance between defence and attack.
6. Tall timber and sharpshooters
Boasting an exciting blend of speed and strength, Tahlia Randall could again be right in the mix again for the leading goalkicker award, after booting 16 goals in the 2023 home and away season and five in the finals series.
While she's the most potent attacker out of the Roos' bunch, she's also well supported.
Fellow talls Kate Shierlaw and Emma King, who combined for 20 majors last year, draw plenty of defensive attention and stand as aerial threats, while Bella Eddey (eight goals) and Alice O'Loughlin (seven) have also grown in their ability to get dangerous around the big sticks.
