North Melbourne outfought top-four contenders Sydney on Sunday to return to the top of the AFLW ladder.

KANGAROOS v SWANS Full match coverage and stats

Against a Swans side hampered by the loss of ruck Ally Morphett to an early knee injury, the Kangaroos were never headed.

In front of a packed crowd at their Arden Street home, the Roos led by 22 points after an inaccurate first half. They then piled on the punishment with seven goals after the long break to win by 55 points, 10.11 (71) to 2.4 (16).

In a potential sour note for the Roos, champion Emma Kearney finished her 100th AFLW game on the bench after injuring her hamstring early in the final quarter.

Kearney confirmed after the game she will undergo scans to determine the extent of the injury. 

Tall forward Tahlia Randall took her career tally to 98 goals by kicking another three.

Her haul included a set shot from the boundary in the right forward pocket that was matched only by an equally brilliant Tess Craven snap from the same pocket at the other end of the ground. 

Craven (17 disposals, five tackles, two goals) was among North Melbourne's best, alongside the unstoppable midfield duo Jasmine Garner (32 disposals, nine clearances) and Ash Riddell (30 disposals).

The superstar pair gave the Roos the advantage at centre stoppages, which they won 11-5.

Chloe Molloy tried her heart out for Sydney to generate pressure and opportunity in the front half, but it was regularly with little support.

Even when the Swans could maintain territory, they looked impotent in the face of North Melbourne’s numbers behind the ball.

Roos ruck Kim Rennie was felled face-first by a Cynthia Hamilton tackle in the third quarter, but appeared to have escaped serious injury. 

Defender Erika O'Shea continued her career-best season, adding 11 intercepts to her 21 possessions, while winger Taylah Gatt had 13 touches in her milestone 50th AFLW game. 

Next Up

It's back-to-back home games for the Kangaroos, who return to Arden St to celebrate Pride Round next Sunday, October 11, against finals contenders Fremantle. The game is at 12.35pm AEDT. 

NORTH MELBOURNE  1.5   3.6    6.7   10.11 (71)
SYDNEY                        0.0   0.2    1.3   2.4 (16)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Randall 3, Craven 2, Eddey, O'Loughlin, Sheerin, Tripodi, Wall
Sydney: Ham, McCarthy

BEST  
North Melbourne: Garner, Craven, Birch, O'Shea, Shierlaw, Riddell
Sydney: Molloy, Fish, Gardiner, Ham, Quinn

INJURIES  
North Melbourne: Kearney (hamstring)
Sydney: Morphett (knee)

CROWD: 3460 at Arden St