North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos' coach Darren Crocker has praised the mentality and toughness of his team's defence, as it saw off a formidable Fremantle side at Arden Street on Saturday.

Winning the clash by just a solitary point, the Roos had to go without defenders Tahlia Randall, Danielle Hardiman and Aileen Gilroy at different times of the game due to injury. 

Crocker said all three players deserved praise for the level of strength and mental toughness shown to see the game out.

“I don’t normally individualise, but I made mention of both [Tahlia Randall] and Danielle Hardiman who both went down, and Aileen Gilroy,” he said. 

“To all those girls' credit, they were able to find a way to get through the game.

“At one stage I thought our whole defence was going to almost be on the sidelines … [but] they all came back on and that’s a really good sign going forward.”

Despite North dominating the stats, including winning the inside 50s 34-18, it couldn’t shake a Fremantle side which was assured of its spot in finals heading into the game.

Even with the margin of victory being just one point, Crocker said he was impressed with how his side stuck to the game plan.

“I felt like we controlled large parts of the game … we had plans coming into the game, the players were able to execute them pretty well,” he said.

“We came into three quarter time and the message was that composure, cold, hard aggression and being organised would get the job done.

“A lot of numbers would suggest we would win that game a little more comfortably, but they’re (the Dockers) a really good team, they’re well coached … and we knew they’d keep coming.”

North was missing one of its star midfielders in Jenna Bruton for the clash as she sat out with suspension, but other midfielders stepped up.

Ash Riddell set a new club-record, amassing 33 disposals, while Jas Garner collected 25 touches and a goal. Skipper Emma Kearney was also at her brilliant best, as she notched up 24 disposals.

Crocker lauded the performance of the Roos' midfield group, and said they were a dominant force throughout the game.

“If you look at our midfield numbers they really lifted for the occasion,” he said.

“They were super, both around the clearances ... I thought we got a fair bit of the ascendency there, but also just in general play I thought the girls were tremendous.

“That’s not to take away from the other lines, I thought the defence held up pretty well and the forwards locked the ball in our forward half.”

North will take on Collingwood in a do-or-die final on Saturday at Victoria Park.