Jasmine Garner has little left to prove in AFLW circles but she put the rest of the competition on notice with a brilliant season-opening performance on Saturday.
Garner was North Melbourne’s fire-starter in its home away from home in Tasmania, finishing with match-highs of 27 disposals and seven clearances as the Roos thrashed Gold Coast by 26 points.
The 28-year-old is already a four-time All-Australian and dual club champion but a premiership is still missing from her resume.
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Garner, who was playing her 50th game, is hellbent on changing that and there will be an early chance to prove themselves against flag favourite Melbourne in round 2.
Her match-winning ways in the midfield, along with ball magnet Ash Riddell, allow coach Darren Crocker the flexibility to station captain Emma Kearney at halfback.
Kearney stepped into that role in season six at the start of this year and picked up where she left off, gathering 17 touches in a typically composed display.
SUNS AVOID SCORING LOW
Gold Coast registered the first score of the day but went two quarters without adding to that tally as North Melbourne ran rampant in racking up a 39-point three-quarter time lead.
That left the Suns in danger of scoring the lowest total in AFLW history, which currently belongs to St Kilda with a two-point effort against Carlton last season.
An errant Kalinda Howarth set shot meant they at least matched the Saints, before Jamie Stanton then Howarth kicked truly to avoid that ignominy.
After a disappointing first three terms dominated by North, Gold Coast can take heart in how well it ended the match, particularly the ability to hold the highly rated Roos scoreless in the last quarter.
AERIAL DOMINANCE
Tahlia Randall is going to be a problem.
The former Lion, who previously played down back and in the ruck, showed she could be useful in a new forward role for North Melbourne last season but went to another level on Saturday.
Randall got on the board with an accurate set shot in the opening quarter after a ruck infringement, before adding a second in the next term when she elevated to snatch a strong contested grab.
But she wasn’t finished, going on to slot a career-best third goal after juggling one of her four marks for the afternoon from a terrific Jasmine Garner pass.
WAS IT A MARK?
Debutant Sophia McCarthy has a generous umpire to thank for the opportunity to kick her first AFLW goal.
The No. 39 draft pick launched for a mark in the third quarter and was paid it despite her Gold Coast defender being in front and also wrapping her hands around the Sherrin.
McCarthy, who hails from Shepparton United and Williamstown, made the most of her luck to slot the Kangaroos’ sixth major.
SOMETHING TO WORK WITH
Irishwoman Vikki Wall has been in Australia for only three weeks but was straight into North Melbourne’s side for round 1.
Wall, who finished with nine disposals, is a Gaelic star in her home country and delayed her arrival in Melbourne to help her county team, Meath, win back-to-back All-Ireland titles.
She is a powerful athlete and didn’t look out of place in her AFLW debut, but might need to tidy up her kicking after two set shots in quick succession fell short just before half-time.
SCOREBOARD
KANGAROOS 2.1, 4.3, 6.4, 6.4 (40)
SUNS 0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 2.2 (14)
BEST: Kangaroos: Garner, Kearney, Randall, M. King, Riddell, Bruton. Suns: Drennan, Rowbottom, Hampson, Howarth.
GOALS: North Melbourne: Randall 3, Garner, Rennie, McCarthy Gold Coast: Stanton, Howarth
UMPIRES Foot, Lopes, McIntee
VENUE Blundstone Arena
