North Melbourne looking at AFLW finals after win over Bulldogs in Hobart

Two magic moments by North Melbourne AFLW players against the Bulldogs in Hobart blew their coach away, as the Roos took a step towards securing a place in the finals.

• Tasmania’s AFLW players have taken their game to a new level
• Kangaroos star Mia King will thrive in indigenous round at home ground

NORTH Melbourne took a step closer to the AFLW finals with a fearless win over Western Bulldogs at North Hobart Oval on Saturday night, and the Kangas coach put it down to two acts of courage.

Darren Crocker was impressed with the character his girls showed in taming the dangerous Dogs in a must-win game for both, but it was individual moments by captain Emma Kearney and Irish import Aileen Gilroy that blew him away.

On the half-time siren, when the Bulldogs had pulled to within five points, cool as a cucumber Kearney slotted a 35m goal from hard on the boundary to energise her team going into the break.

Jasmine Garner of the Kangaroos kicks the ball during the round seven AFLW match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Western Bulldogs at North Hobart Oval. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

The Bulldogs again pressed hard in the final term, and as the ball rolled deep into their attack, speedster Kirsten McLeod sprinted onto a loose ball in the goal square only to be instantaneously met by a Gilroy steam train that knocked her down and saved a certain goal.

“There’s something we call Shinboner spirit and there were two moments that epitomised that,” Crocker said.

“Emma’s goal after the half-time siren was one of them, and Aileen’s chase and a perfectly-timed bump was the other.

Daria Bannister of the Kangaroos is tackled. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

“I spoke to the girls after the game about moments like that and what they mean for teams.

“For us, those were Shinboner moments.”

North onballer Jasmine Garner lived up to her league MVP and All-Australian status with a best afield 28 possessions, 13 clearances, eight tackles and five marks.

Kearny was a close second.

“We are building week by week, but we haven’t hit the nail on the head yet,” Kearny said.

The Kangaroos’ Tasmanian players Nicole Bresnehan, Mia King, Daria Bannister and Ellie Gavalas saw their share of the action.

Daisy Bateman of the Kangaroos takes a mark. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

It got ugly in the last quarter when the Kangaroos locked down hard on the Bulldogs with enormous physical pressure and relentless resolve.

“Sometimes you’ve got to throw out the stats and just do what it takes to win the game and I was pleased the girls showed the character to do that,” Crocker said.

In the last two rounds the fifth-placed Kangaroos face Brisbane (third) and Fremantle (second).

“I haven’t mentioned the finals,” Crocker said. “If we keep playing well and find some more consistency the results will take care of themselves.”