A changed North Melbourne line-up will head to Cairns for Friday night's Round 6 match against Hawthorn.

The Kangaroos have made three moves at the selection table following a bruising AFLW SuperClash against Carlton in Round 5.

Four-time premiership defender Libby Birch misses due to a knee issue suffered in the narrow win against the Blues. Forward Kate Shierlaw is sidelined due to concussion protocols, while champion former captain Emma Kearney is being managed.

Pre-season signing Abby Favell comes into the side for what will be her second AFLW game. The Roos also welcome back experienced midfielder Jenna Bruton, who was managed last week, and defender Tessa Boyd.

Friday night's game at Cazalys Stadium starts at 5.45pm AEST and is broadcast on Fox Sports and Kayo.

VFLW Grand Final

Several AFLW-listed Kangaroos are expected to feature in Sunday's VFLW decider against Williamstown, as North Melbourne Werribee chases a third straight reserves premiership.

The Grand Final will be played at 11am as part of a double-header at Ikon Park, with the VFL decider following at 2.05pm. Find ticketing and broadcast information here. 

North Melbourne's AFLW team is mortal after all. 

The Kangaroos' record-smashing streak is over after Hawthorn upset the reigning premiers by seven points in Cairns on Friday night.

The Hawks thoroughly deserved their win, limiting the Kangaroos to just one goal after half-time to win 4.8 (32) to 3.7 (25).

HAWKS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

Cairns local Jacqueline Dupuy curled home the decisive goal in the final quarter after Hawthorn had repelled a series of desperate North Melbourne attacks.

Blaithin Bogue pulled the Roos back within one point, but the Hawks poured forward in the final minute for ruck Lucy Wales to snap the sealer.

The loss ends a record run of 32 consecutive wins for the Roos, stretching back to Round 2, 2024. 

The Kangaroos will make no excuses as they were outrun and outfought in humid and blustery conditions in North Queensland.

Hawthorn midfielder Jasmine Fleming was outstanding, preventing North Melbourne captain Jas Garner (29 disposals, six clearances) from having her usual influence.

Eilish Sheerin (30 touches, five clearances) and Ash Riddell (24 touches, five tackles) gave their all for the Roos.

But it was not enough against a Hawthorn side which did what few others have done across the past two and a half seasons, and matched the Kangas at the contest.

The Hawks, who lost captain Emily Bates to an ACL rupture last weekend, set up the win with relentless pressure.

North led by 10 points at the main break, but the Hawks’ Mikayla Williamson kicked the only goal of the third quarter and they pulled to within three points.

Four straight behinds gave Hawthorn the lead in the last term for the first time since the first quarter, before Dupuy's goal put them within touch of a famous win.

Amazing streak finally ends

The loss was North Melbourne's first since the 2023 Grand Final against Brisbane. They then started the 2024 season with a win and a draw, before starting their historic run. Their winning streak stretched to 32 games, an AFLW record and surpassing the longest winning streak in AFL/VFL football set by Geelong (23) in 1952-53. Friday night's tally was the Roos' lowest score since 2023.

Next Up

The challenge only ramps up for the Roos as they face the hottest team in the competition, Melbourne, in a Friday night blockbuster. The match-up between first and second on the ladder is at Ikon Park on Grand Final eve, at 7.15pm AEST.  

HAWTHORN                  1.0   1.2   2.4  3.7 (25)
NORTH MELBOURNE   1.4   2.6  2.7  4.8 (32)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Dupuy, Stockwell, Wales, Williamson
North Melbourne: Bogue, Eddey, Riddell

BEST

Hawthorn: Fleming, Wales, Williamson, McDonagh, Richardson

North Melbourne: Garner, Sheerin, Riddell, Rennie