The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos dazzled before the rain came, defeating Port Adelaide by 36 points under Friday night lights at Mission Whitten Oval.

The Kangaroos won 6.6 (42) to 1.0 (6) to stay unbeaten in 2024, adding a third win to the draw they secured against Geelong in Week 2.

KANGAROOS v POWER Full match coverage and stats

The result was sealed in the first half, North Melbourne holding the Power scoreless while kicking six goals. 

The heavens opened just after half time, dousing the oval and dampening the scoring, but despite kicking just one behind in the second half as lightning flashed in the distance, the Roos closed out the game comfortably.

Star midfield duo Jasmine Garner (30 disposals, one goal) and Ash Riddell (30 disposals, 13 tackles) led the way for the home side, working well at the feet of ruck Kim Rennie (22 hitouts, 10 disposals).

Alice O'Loughlin kicked two goals to extend her season tally to six. 

Port Adelaide struggled to be clean, as a result of both the slippery conditions and the immense pressure North Melbourne was working to apply. By half-time the Roos had laid 55 tackles, while also winning the disposal count by 54.

It set the basis for North’s record-breaking 122 tackles for the game, beating Brisbane's total of 109 set in last year's Grand Final, against the Roos.

It wasn't a day for tall forwards to thrive, but Kate Shierlaw (two contested marks, one goal) took her chances early before the weather truly set in. Her speed at ground level and strength in the air was challenging for the Power's defenders to contain, while O'Loughlin's manic energy on the deck made her arguably the most impactful player to half-time.

A new generation of Roo

While plenty of attention on the Roos gets placed fairly on the likes of Jasmine Garner, Ash Riddell, and Emma Kearney, it is the next generation of North Melbourne that is really doing the damage this year. Taylah Gatt's work on the wing, Bella Eddey and Alice O'Loughlin inside 50, and Ruby Tripodi in the thick of the midfield have been crucial cogs of the side this season. They possess elite workrate, and above all, their endeavour to play their roles within team structures is what makes last year's Grand Finalist particularly hard to stop. You can stop one, or two, but you can't contain such an even team.

Dangerous tackle or holding the ball?

During the second term, with North Melbourne well on top, Power defender Ebony O'Dea gathered the footy across half-back before being swiftly run down by Roo Alice O'Loughlin. The tackle saw O'Dea slung, landing heavily with her arms pinned, to which she took exception and shoved O'Loughlin. While umpires paid a 50m penalty which bore a shot on goal for North Melbourne, it raised the question as to whether the tackle was in fact legal in the first place.

Next up

The Kangaroos have just five days to prepare for a Wednesday night match against Carlton at Ikon Park, as the AFLW introduces midweek footy. A trip to Launceston to face Richmond follows, to complete a daunting run of three games in nine days.

NORTH MELBOURNE  3.3    6.5   6.5   6.6 (42)
PORT ADELAIDE         0.0    0.0   1.0   1.0 (6)

GOALS
North Melbourne: O'Loughlin 2, Garner, Gatt, Shierlaw, Tripodi
Port Adelaide: Teakle

BEST 
North Melbourne: Riddell, Garner, O'Loughlin, Rennie, Shierlaw
Port Adelaide: Moloney, Foley, Teakle, Window, Dowrick

INJURIES 
North Melbourne: O'Loughlin (thumb)
Port Adelaide: Nil

Crowd: 943 at Mission Whitten Oval