Roo-print: How North Melbourne has taken the AFLW by storm

North Melbourne’s success at luring some of the game’s best to its new AFLW side has irked a few, but it’s been their skill at turning good players into great ones that can’t be overlooked.

North Melbourne has made a brilliant start to its time in the AFLW. Picture: Getty Images

Jess Duffin is the reason North Melbourne is undefeated this season.

Well, Duffin hasn’t literally single-handedly delivered the newcomer its top of Conference A ladder position, but she’s symbolic of the club’s success.

The former Australian women’s cricketer of the year was a good player at Collingwood before she was lured to Arden St.

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But she’s become great at the Kangaroos.

While all the hype has been around the signing of AFLW best-and-fairest Emma Kearney, it’s the acquisition and transformation of players including Duffin and her former Magpies teammates Emma King, Jas Garner and Mo Hope that has been the club’s masterstroke.

Duffin is the backline general, directing the Kangaroos in their fast-paced style of play which has generated a whopping percentage of 201.1 in four games.

“I honestly don’t feel like I’m in any better form than any other year,” Duffin told the Herald Sun this week.

The kangaroos recruited well landing (L-R) Kaitlun Ashmore, Britt Gibson, captain Emma Kearney, Jess Duffin and Emma King. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“I think it’s just because I have such good people around me in the backline that my job’s a little bit easier.”

That’s players such as Danielle Hardiman, Britt Gibson and Tahlia Randall — more examples of exports who are realising their potential at the Kangaroos.

Roos coach Scott Gowans says he knew he had a good list, but it’s how the individuals have learned to play together that has proved the difference.

“The success probably wasn’t in the list build, it was more in how they’ve gelled,” Gowans said.

The Kangaroos play fast footy. It’s attacking and produces goals.

Jess Duffin has been outstanding for North Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

Gowans is happy to lose the hit-outs to clearances every week — witness 187cm Emma King playing big minutes in front of goal — but he wants to own the outside ball.

And these players can kick; watch as they play keepings off from defence to attack.

“It’s not so much restricting oppositions,” Gowans said, “it’s about scoring more than the opposition.”

The Kangaroos developed their positive game plan before their recruiting strategy.

“There’s certain players that would be more rated in the competition than what we got, but we passed on them, even though some of them actually contacted us and we’re interested in having a chat, we sort of said, ‘no, sorry, you’re just not in our plans’,” Gowans said.

“We built a team to play to a game plan. A lot of it was really significantly planned.”

Pies quartet Duffin, King, Garner and Hope were crucial to that.

“Emma can take the ruck and roll forward … she kicks goals late in the game because everyone else is tired — that’s exactly why she’s in the team,” Gowans said.

“Jess Duffin … I was adamant, I still am adamant, she’s in the top five players in the competition.

Mo Hope with Scott Gowans after North Melbourne’s win over Carlton.

“If you’re going to have a fast ball movement side, you’ve got to have players up forward that can mark and kick straight; we chased Jassy (Garner) really hard.

“We wanted the best forwards in the competition and when you look up Champion Data, Mo was the third-best-rated forward, even though she hadn’t kicked seven goals every game.”

The Kangaroos have been criticised for their aggressive recruiting strategy but maintain they’ve done nothing wrong.

“We just got a set of rules and just followed them,” Gowans said.

“The existing four clubs in Melbourne voted for the system we have; originally it was a points system (which morphed into a cap of four players who could be taken from any one team).

“We were sitting there in that meeting and we couldn’t believe our luck.”

North Melbourne face its biggest challenge on Sunday, against an in-form Adelaide Crows at Werribee.

“We’re four-nil because we’ve had a little bit of luck and you need a little bit of luck to be a premiership side,” Gowans said.

“Our focus this week is to play four quarters of footy.”