The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos have earned the chance to avenge last year's Grand Final defeat after demolishing Port Adelaide in Saturday's preliminary final.

The Kangaroos triumphed by 57 points in baking heat at Ikon Park, winning 12.6 (78) to 2.9 (21) to reach a second consecutive Grand Final.

They will play either Brisbane or Adelaide in the decider next Saturday at Ikon Park at 7.45pm AEDT. 

KANGAROOS v POWER Full match coverage and stats

The mercury topped 36 degrees as the game got underway and the Roos made a scorching start, kicking eight goals to none in the opening half.

Midfield champ Jasmine Garner set the tone, drifting forward to kick the Kangaroos' opener after four minutes, the goal made in Ireland via a raking kick to the square by Vikki Wall. 

Inside 50s were a lopsided 29-9 at half-time, with the Roos also bossing clearances 20-10.

Irish star Vikki Wall was one of five multiple goalkickers for the Roos, kicking three including a huge fourth-quarter bomb from outside the 50m arc.

All Australian-nominated forward Alice O'Loughlin kicked two to take her season tally to 18, including a brilliant first-quarter snap.

At times, it felt like Port Adelaide was playing out of its age division – the players were trying hard, but were bumped off the footy: Matilda Scholz out-marked by Emma King, Taylah Gatt out-positioning Ella Boag on the wing, and 35-year-old Kate Shierlaw sprinting away from Amelie Borg.

Port Adelaide rallied somewhat late into the second and early in the third, starting to build some consistent minutes in its attacking half, but the Power couldn't find the middle of the goals.

While accuracy eluded Port Adelaide, it managed 11 scoring shots to North Melbourne's six in the second half, indicating a four-quarter fight but without adequate polish.

Matilda Scholz dominated the hitout count, but Kim Rennie more than held her own around the ground in the battle of the talls, while Piper Window (15 touches, five clearances, eight tackles) can hold her head up high.

Unsurprisingly, it was North Melbourne's star midfield duo, Jas Garner (25 disposals, eight clearances) and Ash Riddell (27 and five) who led the way, but they were well-supported by the unheralded Ruby Tripodi (16 and four) in the contest, while wing trio Tess Craven, Amy Smith and Taylah Gatt ran hard.

Craven left the field in the second term after being collected by Shineah Goody as the pair contested a high ball, Goody's knee accidentally planting into Craven's back. But the Roos winger returned after half-time and played out the game.

North Melbourne skipper Emma Kearney – on return from a long-term hamstring injury – sat out nearly the entirety of the final quarter, given it was her first game in nearly two months.

Highest scores in a final

82 points - Ade v Syd, 2023 SF
80 points - Frem v GC, 2020 SF
78 points - NM v PA, 2024 PF
74 points - NM v Rich, 2022 SF (S7)
73 points - Ade v Geel, 2019 PF

Biggest margin in a final

70 points - Frem v GC, 2020 SF
67 points - Ade v Syd, 2023 SF
66 points - Ade v Geel, 2019 PF
57 points - NM v PA, 2024 PF
50 points - BL v Coll, 2022 QF (S6)

Starting with a bang

It was a ruthless statement which set the tone for the game. The day prior, North Melbourne skipper Emma Kearney had flagged the contest would be where the game would be won or lost, and the Roos led the clearance count by eight and contested possessions by 13 at quarter-time. Seven Port Adelaide players – mostly forwards – hadn't touched the footy in the first term.

Forward-line heaven

All the Roos forwards had their moments, with Shierlaw, Vikki Wall and Alice O'Loughlin bobbing up for purple patches, kicking consecutive goals at points throughout the match. Tahlia Randall had her moments early, while Bella Eddey and Jenna Bruton were crucial in setting up their teammates with sharp passes. Winger Gatt put some icing on the cake, her overlap run rewarded with two goals.

Next Up

The Kangaroos prepare for their second consecutive AFLW Grand Final, against the winner of Saturday's preliminary final between competition powerhouses Brisbane and Adelaide. Either team will present a huge challenge for the Roos to overcome, if they're to avenge last year's Grand Final defeat to the Lions and win their first AFLW premiership. 

NORTH MELBOURNE    4.2    8.4    11.6    12.6 (78)
PORT ADELAIDE           0.0    0.2    0.6      2.9 (21)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Wall 3, O'Loughlin 2, Randall 2, Gatt 2, Shierlaw 2, Garner
Port Adelaide: Houghton, Pope

BEST
North Melbourne: Garner, Riddell, Wall, Gatt, Tripodi, Wright
Port Adelaide: Window, Dowrick, Goody, Moloney

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Port Adelaide: Nil

Crowd: 4387 at Ikon Park