How to beat the unbeatable: Does the North Melbourne AFLW juggernaut have any flaws?

North Melbourne are on the verge of making history, again.

The undefeated Roos face Hawthorn on Friday in Frankston during the final round of the AFLW’s home-and-away season. If victorious, North will have won 24 games in a row, breaking Geelong’s record for the most consecutive victories in VFL/AFL history, set from 1952 to 1953.

The reigning premiers haven’t lost a game – last season’s week two draw with Geelong their only blemish – since the 2023 grand final and are cementing a dynasty under coach Darren Crocker.

This masthead spoke with current players, AFLW commentators and league experts to understand just what makes North so good, and to ask the important question: how can they be beaten?

Kate McCarthy, AFL/AFLW commentator and former player

Former Brisbane Lions player turned commentator Kate McCarthy believes a key part of North’s sustained success lies in their dedication to the women’s program during AFLW’s infancy.

AFL football operations boss Laura Kane previously worked for North Melbourne’s football operations team in 2016 and successfully launched the club’s bid for an AFLW licence in 2017.

“They appointed a head of women’s football, Laura Kane, before they even had a licence,” McCarthy said. “So that’s how high a priority women’s football was to them.”

“They missed out on the initial licence and made sure that they weren’t going to miss out again, because they wanted women’s football at their club.”

The depth’s of North roster is also a pivotal component of the reigning premier’s success. The team boasts some of the biggest names in the competition, including skipper Jasmine Garner, Ash Riddell and Emma Kearney.

However, McCarthy also highlighted the team’s talent development process, noting Irish forward Blaithin Bogue’s extraordinary debut this year.

“You look at a player like Blaithin Bogue, who came out from Ireland, couldn’t get a game in the whole 2024 season, and then has played every game this season and is almost equal leading-goal kicker for the competition,” McCarthy said.

If teams want to beat North, McCarthy said they need to put the reigning premiers under pressure and challenge their game plan.

“They’ve [North] said there’s been games they haven’t played the way they want to, and they’ve basically reviewed it as a loss because they’ve been disappointed. Their hunger for success is just there,” McCarthy said.

“I think it would take a team executing absolutely everything right and North getting a lot wrong [for the Roos] to be beaten this season.”

Maddy Hendrie, Carlton AFLW player

After facing North Melbourne earlier in the season, Carlton player Maddy Hendrie said she was impressed by the Roos’ offence, adding “they all looked like midfielders”.

“Their defenders were extra midfielders and midfielders were extra forwards,” she said. “So then you’re defending the whole team.”

However, Hendrie said North’s emphasis on offence could also be a vulnerability.

“On turnover, if you come back at them with speed because their defenders have committed to offence, then they might be exposed.”

Chyloe Kurdas, former AFL Victoria female football development manager

AFLW commentator Chyloe Kurdas said North Melbourne had invested heavily into their women’s program, highlighting the Roos’ leadership team, list development and player management as key strengths.

She also praised the club’s inaugural coach Scott Gowans (now Sydney’s AFLW head coach) and current coach Darren Crocker.

“Darren provides a bridge between the old-school footy blokes and the women and girls’ game... He’s a great ally in that respect,” Kurdas said.

“The women and girls feel seen because their leaders understand the importance of them being seen, and I think that makes a real difference. It sets an expectation across the whole club.”

Kurdas said North Melbourne AFLW players “did not have to fight internally within the club system to get what they need in order to be successful”.

“They can just apply energy and effort in being the best players and putting the best performance on the park they possibly can,” she said. “That is not a consistent experience across the whole AFLW.

“You’re only as strong as your weakest player and their VFL program has won the flag the last two years. So, they’re forward-thinking in that regard and they make sure that their foundations are really solid.”

Orla O’Dwyer, Brisbane Lions AFLW player

The Lions defeated North Melbourne in the 2023 grand final but have lost every encounter with the Roos since.

Lions star Orla O’Dwyer hoped her fourth-placed side would get the chance to face their rivals again this year.

“What makes North so good is how evenly distributed they are with regards [to] each line, and even on their bench,” she said. “They’re stacked with talent and players to choose from and [as] a core group, they know each other really well.”

O’Dwyer said North’s undefeated streak was lifting the competition and inspiring other teams to raise their own standards.

“When I look back at home, there was just always one team in the past who was on a winning streak, and you think of ways to cut them down.”

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.