North Melbourne has been boosted by the return of a star duo, but they’ll have to overcome a glaring issue if they are to stay alive in the 2022 finals race.
The Roos have been one of the most inaccurate sides in the competition this season, but they’ll need their radar on target in Saturday night’s do-or-die elimination final against Geelong.
The return of captain Emma Kearney and Kim Rennie will boost the Roos’ chances after they “underperformed” in the home and away season to finish eighth, according to Fox Footy’s AFLW expert Chyloe Kurdas.
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Rennie returns after missing the final round due to health and safety protocols while Kearney is pushing through the knee soreness that saw her miss the draw with Richmond – which cost the club a double chance in the finals.
“Kearns is right, she’s raring to go. She got over her knee soreness,” coach Darren Crocker says.
“It’s pretty relaxed (the team). I thought our session on Wednesday night was a really good session.
“The players came in and they were up and about. The energy levels, they turned up and they brought the energy.”
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Crocker said the fact his side had the toughest draw this season – as the only club to have faced all seven finalists – would hold the club in “really good stead”.
“We’re really equipped for finals footy,” he said.
“Around the contest is going to be really important who can get the ascendancy there.
“We need to limit (Geelong’s) supply … and put some scoreboard pressure on.”
The elimination final between Geelong and North Melbourne begins at 7.10pm AEDT at GMHBA Stadium.
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