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
