Gold Coast Suns lose to North Melbourne by 13 points in AFLW

It was the expansion team against the league heavyweights but while the Suns fell agonisingly short of a win against North Melbourne, Gold Coast proved once again they mean business in the AFLW.

NORTH Melbourne star Jasmine Garner earns a crust as an apprentice plumber finding leaks and stopping them.

The midfield jet used those skills and some yesterday at Arden Street to help the Kangaroos eke out a hard-fought 13-point win over AFLW expansion side Gold Coast Suns.

North Melbourne’s spiritual homecoming was not without a nervous moments and rib-rattling tackles for the hosts, who came under fierce Gold Coast physicality.

It caught the Kangaroos on the hop, truth be told, especially in the first half as the Suns ripped in with reckless abandon and created scoring opportunities accordingly.

Suns players celebrate during the round four AFLW match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Gold Coast Suns at Arden Street Oval on February 29, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/ via Getty Images)

As plucky as the Suns were, however, it was the cool heads and superior ball-winning ability of North extractors Garner and Emma Kearney who ultimately helped the Roos prevail 6.11 (47) to 5.4 (34) in front of a crowd of 3280.

Garner started slowly with only the three disposals to quarter-time but the former Collingwood forward-turned-bullocking midfield ball magnet ran amok after the first change of ends.

The 25 year-old finished with 29 disposals, including 18 contested possessions and six clearances.

Kearney was equally as effective around the ground, with 26 touches including five forward 50 entries.