North Melbourne’s undefeated season makes them ‘one of the most complete teams we’ve seen’ says former Lion Kate McCarthy

The Kangaroos have become the third team to go through an AFLW season undefeated, but commentator Kate McCarthy says the Roos are better than both of them.

Ash Riddell sings the team song after downing the Suns. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

All Australian-turned-popular commentator Kate McCarthy says this North Melbourne outfit is one of the “most complete” sides the AFLW has seen in the wake of the Roos finishing the season unbeaten.

The Kangaroos joined the 2017 Lions and the 2020 Dockers as the only teams to go undefeated, but are looking to create history as the first premiers to finish an entire season unbeaten.

With Fremantle’s bid for a maiden premiership in 2020 cancelled due to Covid, and Brisbane falling short in the grand final after a 6-1-0 home-and-away record, McCarthy said the Roos were possibly the best team ever assembled.

“They are one of the most complete teams that we’ve seen,” she said.

Ash Riddell sings the team song after downing the Suns. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“There’s been teams from Brisbane that have probably had less sort of superstars, so to speak, but even contributors.

“But they (North Melbourne) have players in all lines that have had really good seasons and then they also have had a younger brigade that’s added even more to their depth.

“And then in the back half of the season they have done it without their captain and one of their best players in Emma Kearney so it has been super impressive.”

North Melbourne became the first team to win 10 games in a home-and-away season, and was quickly joined by Hawthorn, which finished with a 10-1 record.

But the Roos have produced the most dominant season ever, boasting both the most potent attack and the stingiest defence in the competition, finishing with a percentage of 315.4.

Alice O'Loughlin celebrates a goal against Gold Coast. Picture: Robert Prezioso/Getty Images.

McCarthy, who was an All Australian in Brisbane’s undefeated 2017 season before later joining St Kilda and then Hawthorn in her seven-year playing career, said the Roos were in the conversation for the best-ever team.

“I just think they’re in such a good position, and they’ve earned the right to be the team that sort of hunted for the final series,” she said.

“You feel like anyone that wins the flag is going to have to beat North Melbourne to do it.

“I think their ability to get things on their terms defensively, regardless of what the opposition allows them, is very, very impressive.

“And they’re super adaptable. So if something sort of happened in a game that they’re not expecting or that they sort of haven’t maybe prepared for. They’re able to change and sort of adapt on the fly really quickly.

“And they don’t just play the same game plan, regardless of the opposition they play. They play appropriate to how they’re prepared to come in.”