Irish forward Blaithin Bogue kicked two goals on debut as the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos launched their AFLW premiership defence with a 30-point win over Geelong on Saturday.
The Kangaroos were made to scrap in slippery conditions at GMHBA Oval before kicking away in a five-goal last quarter, winning 8.3 (51) to 3.3 (21).
CATS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats
Bogue and veteran spearhead Kate Shierlaw kicked two goals apiece for the winners. Star midfielder Ash Riddell had a game-high 28 touches, while Kim Rennie was outstanding, rucking in the injured Emma King's absence.
The game began with free-flowing footy early featuring plenty of pressure and desperate smothers, in particular from Geelong. But play slowed right down in the second and third, with the Cats and Kangaroos trading respective scoreless quarters.
There was no one more apt to open the scoring than new North Melbourne captain, 2024 All-Australian captain and Grand Final best on ground winner Jasmine Garner (25 disposals). Geelong made a critical error early leaving her alone in space in front of goal, where she snapped truly.
After the Cats' patient build-up of kick-mark football, mayhem in the forward line led to Julia Crockett-Grills kicking their first goal. Jackie Parry then took a strong contested mark on the 50m line, before receiving a 50m penalty for encroachment of the protected area to make the conversion a certainty for their second.
North Melbourne lifted in the second quarter, with Geelong unable to get the ball out of their defensive half. However, the Roos were unable to capitalise on this dominance, leading inside 50s 10 to five in the second quarter with only a goal and two behinds to show for it.
The stricter interpretation of the holding the ball rule, as recently flagged by the AFL to support more free-flowing football, was on clear display. Garner reaped the rewards multiple times, finishing up with an equal game-high nine tackles alongside Geelong’s Caitlin Thorne.
Despite the ball living in Geelong’s forward half for the third quarter, they simply could not take advantage. Aishling Moloney had multiple opportunities but hit the behind post and sent the ball twice out of bounds on the full either side of the post.
Three quick goals by North opened the last quarter as the rain began to fall, ultimately shutting the door on a Geelong resurgence, with Crocket-Grills slotting a consolation second goal late.
The win extends North Melbourne’s undefeated run to 11 games.
Taking her moment
It had been a long wait for Irishwoman Blaithin Bogue to make her debut – sitting on the sidelines for her first season watching her side become undefeated premiers last year. The Kangaroos’ first debutant since round seven, 2023, Bogue had a relatively quiet first three quarters, but mopped up a dropped mark by teammate Tahlia Randall with an opportunistic kick off the ground to open the final term. Minutes later, Bogue took a mark in the goalsquare and doubled her tally. Between these goals and Bella Eddey’s later effort, the game was effectively over.
Wet and wild
As the rain fell across the early afternoon in South Geelong and the sky threatened, you couldn’t be blamed for remembering the last meeting between these two sides in round two last year at Arden St Oval. A wet and windy affair ended in a draw, with Geelong ultimately becoming the only team to take premiership points from North Melbourne. The rain dried up by the time the game began, but fell hard again at the beginning of the last quarter.
Up next
The Kangaroos will unfurl the premiership flag at their first home game at Arden St Oval against Port Adelaide on Sunday, August 24. The opening bounce is at 1.05pm.
GEELONG 2.0 2.0 2.2 3.3 (21)
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.0 3.2 3.2 8.3 (51)
GOALS
Geelong: Crockett-Grills 2, Parry
North Melbourne: Bogue 2, Shierlaw 2, Eddey, Garner, M King, O'Loughlin
BEST
Geelong: Prespakis, McDonald, Morrison, Parry, Bowen
North Melbourne: Riddell, Garner, Shierlaw, Smith, Bogue, Rennie
INJURIES
Geelong: Darby (calf)
North Melbourne: Nil
Reports: Nil
