Approaching the business end of this pre-season, it had been 19 months since the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos lost an AFLW game.
A draw against Geelong in Round 2 last year was the sole blemish as the Roos completed the competition's only ever undefeated season, capped by a breakthrough Grand Final win against Brisbane.
So it was a surprise when the Kangaroos turned up for their first pre-season match simulation at Whitten Oval last month and were belted by the Western Bulldogs.
Was it a wake-up call?
"Definitely," says new captain Jasmine Garner, speaking to NMFC Media on the eve of the new AFLW season.
"We spoke about it afterwards. It was probably the best thing for us, because the last time we had what we called a 'mulligan' was against Geelong last year.
"After that we had a lot of games go our way and we hadn't lost since then."
When the team reviewed the match sim defeat, it was the Roos' trademark pressure at the contest that had been lacking.
Players were hesitant, sitting back. A hungry and well-drilled Bulldogs outfit were allowed to dictate the play.
"Those are the things we hold ourselves to account for," Garner says.
"All the basic things we've been so good at, we didn't do that well against the Dogs."
With that wake-up loss under their belt, the Kangaroos travelled to Werribee the following weekend for a practice match against Essendon.
They conceded the first score. Then they rattled on 15 unanswered goals on their way to an 81-point win.
It was a dominant performance, including flashes of individual promise from some of the club's newer arrivals such as Blaithin Bogue, Tessa Boyd and Eilish Sheerin.
It was also reassuring for Garner, who knew the team's workrate and motivation hadn't dropped as they prepared to defend their premiership.
"As soon as we could come into the club (after the mandatory off-season), we had girls coming in and putting in the work," she says.
"When we ran our time trials, we had girls getting PBs.
After the practice match against Essendon, the Roos' high performance team assessed the team's workrate, and found they were hitting record numbers.
"So the results are there, that we are fitter and stronger," Garner says.
"And the drive is definitely still there.
"Don't get me wrong, we celebrated winning the premiership. We earned that right to really enjoy it, and we did, but at the same time girls were just as hungry this pre-season compared to last pre-season."
The Kangaroos will travel to Geelong for Saturday's season opener, before unveiling their premiership flag at Arden St in Round 2, when they host preliminary finalist Port Adelaide.
A testing trip to Western Australia follows to play Fremantle, another 2024 finalist.
Garner knows the Kangas will be able to take no game for granted.
"We know we're going to be the hunted," she says.
"We're going to be a team that every other team's looking at. Everyone wants to beat us now. We get that, and we have spoken about it and we're going to embrace it.
"Towards the end of last year we started speaking about how pressure is a privilege.
"To be in the position we're in, let's really embrace it because we've been on the other side for so long.
"We couldn't beat the big three teams in Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide. We were thereabouts but we could never get over the top of them.
"And now that we've finally done it, I can guarantee all the girls would much rather be in this position where they're the hunted now."
While decorated senior stars like Ash Riddell, Emma Kearney and Libby Birch continue to drive standards, the Kangaroos would not have lifted last year's trophy without contributions from their young guns.
Alice O'Loughlin kicked 19 goals while earning her first All-Australian selection. Tess Craven came of age as a courageous winger. Ruby Tripodi established herself as a tough inside midfielder.
"They work bloody hard," Garner says of the Roos' rising next generation.
"When we have optional Saturday sessions, they're always turning up. They just want to get better.
"And at the same time our older girls continue to drive the standards for that younger group. We all just push each other to get better."
While Garner is reluctant to single out individuals, she tips winger Taylah Gatt as a player who can take her game to a new level this season.
"She's one that's always finding ways to improve," Garner says.
"A few weeks ago, I drove past the club on our day off, and I look out on the ground and it's Gatty. She's out on the ground with a wheelie bin, no one watching her, just having set shots by herself.
"I just love the way she goes about it and I have no doubt she's going to have a big impact this season."
Now aged 31, Garner has been there since the AFLW's beginning, kicking the competition's very first goal for Collingwood.
Ten seasons on, she is a seven-time All-Australian and a five-time club champion. If not the best to play the game, she is in the conversation.
She was elected as North Melbourne's second ever AFLW captain after inaugural skipper Emma Kearney stepped down in pre-season, and says she will bring her own style to the leadership.
"I know I won't be perfect at it and I'll have my challenges," Garner says.
"At the same time, it's a great opportunity for me to get better as a player but also as a person.
"I've got great leaders around me, really great support. Having 'Kearns' (Kearney) still here at the club gives me great confidence, but at the same time I know I'm not the same as her.
"So I'll just keep going the way I'm going, stick to my true self and be who I am. I think that will hold me in good stead."
