Wet and wild conditions as AFLW finals fight ramps up; Roos equal decades-long record

More than 70 years ago, Geelong Football Club clinched the record for the most consecutive victories in VFL or AFL history, winning 23 games between 1952 and 1953.

On Sunday afternoon, North Melbourne’s undefeated AFLW team matched that record, trampling St Kilda by 46 points and winning the minor premiership 9.13 (67) 3.3 (21).

The emphatic win destroyed St Kilda’s six-match winning streak and pushed the visitors back to fifth on the ladder.

North ruck Emma King, who scored three goals, said the versatility and depth of the North group would take them into finals.

“We’ve got a lot of confidence in the group, and we’ve had a bit of injuries throughout the season, so to maintain the wins and go in as minor premiers, it gives us some confidence going into finals,” she said.

At North Hobart Oval in Tasmania, the reigning premiers were untouchable from the start with an early goal from Irish forward Blaithin Bogue.

A dedicated group of North fans came to watch the reigning premiers play, including one fan who brought a bugle and played a victory tune anytime the Roos scored.

St Kilda struggled to move the footy forward in the first quarter and the slick North machine easily manoeuvred past the Saints’ defence.

A much-needed goal from Saints skipper Hannah Priest in the second quarter briefly revitalised the visitors but was countered quickly with a goal from King. North skipper Jasmine Garner was prolific in the midfield, but will have to wait until next week to hit her 100-goal milestone.

Before the fourth quarter, North coach Darren Crocker started benching a number of players to rest the team ahead of finals and try and avoid major injuries.

Crocker employed a similar strategy during the final stages of North Melbourne’s 40-point win over Adelaide last week, when he benched Shierlaw, Emma Kearney and Garner, for the last six to eight minutes of the game.

However, Irish forward Vikki Wall copped a nasty hit to her left leg in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, limping off the field in pain.

Under Crocker’s tenure, the ladder-leading Roos are storming towards another grand final. They face Hawthorn, who are currently second on the ladder, for the final game of the home and away season next Friday at Frankston. If North win, the reigning premiers will break Geelong’s decades-long record and etch their names in AFL and AFLW history books.

Collingwood will avoid the wooden spoon after making the most of a lightning delay to beat last-placed Gold Coast by 15 points at Bond University.

The Suns were holding a one-point lead at three-quarter time of Sunday’s match on the Gold Coast when players were forced off for 20 minutes due to lightning in the area.

Bright sunshine and a rainbow greeted players when play resumed, and it was Nell Morris-Dalton who kicked the only two goals of the final quarter to help the Magpies to a 5.9 (39) to 3.6 (24) win.

Morris-Dalton finished with a career-high three goals, while Airlie Runnalls racked up 23 disposals and 11 tackles. Star Gold Coast midfielder Charlie Rowbottom was best afield with 35 disposals, 11 clearances and eight tackles.

The result snapped Collingwood’s five-match losing run, and lifted the Magpies (3-8) from 17th to 14th.

Gold Coast (1-10, 37.5 per cent) have now lost seven straight, and must beat fellow strugglers Richmond (2-9, 59.6 per cent) in the final round by a sizeable margin to avoid the spoon.

AAP

More than 70 years ago, Geelong Football Club clinched the record for the most consecutive victories in VFL or AFL history, winning 23 games between 1952 and 1953.

On Sunday afternoon, North Melbourne’s undefeated AFLW team matched that record, trampling St Kilda by 46 points and winning the minor premiership 9.13 (67) 3.3 (21).

The emphatic win destroyed St Kilda’s six-match winning streak and pushed the visitors back to fifth on the ladder.

North ruck Emma King, who scored three goals, said the versatility and depth of the North group would take them into finals.

“We’ve got a lot of confidence in the group, and we’ve had a bit of injuries throughout the season, so to maintain the wins and go in as minor premiers, it gives us some confidence going into finals,” she said.

At North Hobart Oval in Tasmania, the reigning premiers were untouchable from the start with an early goal from Irish forward Blaithin Bogue.

A dedicated group of North fans came to watch the reigning premiers play, including one fan who brought a bugle and played a victory tune anytime the Roos scored.

St Kilda struggled to move the footy forward in the first quarter and the slick North machine easily manoeuvred past the Saints’ defence.

A much-needed goal from Saints skipper Hannah Priest in the second quarter briefly revitalised the visitors but was countered quickly with a goal from King. North skipper Jasmine Garner was prolific in the midfield, but will have to wait until next week to hit her 100-goal milestone.

Before the fourth quarter, North coach Darren Crocker started benching a number of players to rest the team ahead of finals and try and avoid major injuries.

Crocker employed a similar strategy during the final stages of North Melbourne’s 40-point win over Adelaide last week, when he benched Shierlaw, Emma Kearney and Garner, for the last six to eight minutes of the game.

However, Irish forward Vikki Wall copped a nasty hit to her left leg in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, limping off the field in pain.

Under Crocker’s tenure, the ladder-leading Roos are storming towards another grand final. They face Hawthorn, who are currently second on the ladder, for the final game of the home and away season next Friday at Frankston. If North win, the reigning premiers will break Geelong’s decades-long record and etch their names in AFL and AFLW history books.