Since the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos entered the AFLW picture in 2019, an entertaining rivalry with the Magpies has been bubbling away.

The two clubs have clashed on five occasions throughout AFLW seasons and finals series, with the Kangaroos recording three wins and the Pies with two.

Darren Crocker's side also claimed bragging rights in the most recent meeting, triumphing by 23 points in Season 6 earlier this year.

North Melbourne will enter this round coming off a 25-point win against a resilient Power outfit and although the Kangaroos were relatively wasteful in front of goal for a second straight week, they managed to generate plenty of opportunities to kick a winning score.

Travelling outside of Victoria for the first time this season was Collingwood who dominated the Dockers out west last week.

The Pies kept Fremantle goalless for the afternoon and scoreless until the fourth term, showing how resolute their defence can be.

Sure to be a blockbuster, here are three narratives to take note of heading into Round 9.

Just keep Jammin'

At risk of sounding like a broken record, Jas Garner is putting together one of the greatest individual AFLW campaigns to date.

Garner collected 27 disposals, six inside 50s, nine marks, five tackles and two goals against Port Adelaide to poll 10 more coaches' votes and extend her lead atop the AFLW Champion Player of the Year Award leaderboard.

Her ability to not only find the football but use it in a beneficial way is something that separates her from the other star players of the competition.

On several occasions last week, the midfielder was able to find and release teammates into space with her disposal. Notably, Garner found Alice O'Loughlin in space so the half-forward could run onto the ball and into an open goal to begin the scoring, and she later found Amy Smith in the corridor which ultimately resulted in Emma King's classy finish.

To overcome Collingwood, the Roos will need Garner to be at her creative and impactful best.

Locking down

Through eight games, Collingwood is yet to lose a second half and has only had 6.20 kicked against them after the main change.

Not only have they only conceded six second-half goals, but the Pies have kept their opponents goalless in 12 of the last 16 final quarters.

Defender Stacey Livingstone was particularly commanding against Fremantle, racking up 10 intercepts to find herself in the AFLW Round 8 Team of the Week alongside Kangaroos Emma Kearney and Garner.

It won't be the first time in Season 7 that the Kangas face a team that has shown notable nous on the defensive end. North Melbourne was able to break down a stingy Geelong outfit back in Round 4 in sloppy conditions, but it will have to find a way to punch holes in a group that has been consistently miserly over eight weeks.

Crystal ball

While Collingwood currently sits well entrenched in the top four on the ladder heading into Round 9, it's a different and less favourable circumstance for the Kangaroos in terms of securing a double chance.

The 25-point win over Port Adelaide sees North Melbourne remain in seventh spot on the ladder with an ever-so-slight chance of achieving a top-four position.

Claiming the points in Adelaide would have settled some nerves, but with two games against fellow top-eight sides still to be played, a couple of losses could conversely see the Roos fall out of the premiership race.

One more win would just about seal a finals berth though, meaning it's the Kangaroos that control their fate.