The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos will defend their premiership in next week's 2025 AFLW Grand Final after withstanding an assault by Melbourne in Saturday's preliminary final at Ikon Park.

The Roos fought back after trailing for most of the game to win by 10 points, 6.10 (46) to 5.6 (36).

KANGAROOS v DEMONS Full match coverage and stats

The result ensures they will contest a third consecutive decider, to be played at Ikon Park next Saturday against either Carlton or Brisbane.

Timing and ticketing information for the grand final will be confirmed after Saturday night's other preliminary final between the Lions and Blues.

Blaithin Bogue and Jasmine Garner were the Kangaroos' heroes in a desperately tense final played in front of 7057 fans.

Bogue kicked a game-high three goals to continue her incredible season. Garner was immense in the last quarter, kicking a crucial goal and finishing with 32 touches and seven clearances. 

Arriving in red-hot form after their semi-final win over Adelaide last weekend, the Demons kicked the first three goals, including two in the opening five minutes.

They led by 19 points before Bogue toe-poked North Melbourne's opener. That led to a Roo revival, with Eilish Sheerin snapping home and Bogue adding another, but the Demons hit back to deservedly lead by seven points at the first change.

Melbourne's Tayla Harris put an exclamation mark on their term with a classic speccy into the back of Ash Riddell, while Eden Zanker mocked crying to Libby Birch, shoving the Roo in the chest after a clash.

The reigning premiers had the better of the play in the second quarter, but struggled to create clear scoring opportunities as the Demons flooded their backline.

Vice-captain Ash Riddell converted after marking 35m out for the Kangaroos' only goal of the quarter, cancelled out by Kate Hore's second for the Dees.

North Melbourne went scoreless in an arm wrestle third quarter and would have counted themselves fortunate not to go further behind as Melbourne wasted several scoring chances.  

Still trailing by a goal as the fourth quarter began, a heartbreaking end to North Melbourne's premiership defence appeared likely, only for Bogue to kick a brilliant running goal and Garner to blaze through the sealer. 

Garner’s fourth term was vital, recording 12 disposals, four clearances and three inside 50s (along with the goal) to take her tally to 32 touches for the game, while Riddell had nine touches in the last stanza.

Third-term blues ultimately sink Melbourne

But for a few stray bounces of the footy, there was every chance the Demons would have sent the Roos packing. Wotherspoon's snap drifted just across the face, while Hanks' running shot bounced the wrong side of the post. Melbourne added four points to zero in the third term, but if a few of those efforts had gone true, the Roos' comeback may have been too far an ask.

Cream rises to the top

The spidey senses were tingling when Riddell and Garner missed fourth-term shots, and it seemed like it may not be North Melbourne's day, but Garner rose to the occasion when the game was on the line, her goal proving a bridge too far for Melbourne. Ruby Tripodi provided a handy block on Shelley Heath at the forward stoppage, allowing Garner a step's head start, and she roved Randall's tap to perfection.

Up next

North Melbourne will play in the Grand Final on Saturday evening at Ikon Park, against Brisbane, while it's season over for Melbourne.

NORTH MELBOURNE       3.1     4.6    4.6   6.10 (46)
MELBOURNE                     4.2     5.2    5.6   5.6 (36)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Bogue 3, Garner, Riddell, Sheerin
Melbourne: Hore 2, Harris, Paxman, Wotherspoon

BEST
North Melbourne: Garner, Kearney, O'Shea, Riddell, Smith
Melbourne: Gillard, Chaplin, Hore, Hanks, Goldrick

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Melbourne: Nil

Crowd: 7057 at Ikon Park