North Melbourne has moved a step closer to another top-four finish after claiming a record-breaking four-goal win over GWS on Sunday afternoon.
Eyeing a fourth top-four finish in their six-season history, the Roos produced a pair of goals in the second and fourth quarters to see them over the line in a 4.8 (32) to 0.2 (2) win.
In warm and windy conditions at Arden Street Oval, the result is the lowest scoring AFLW game since St Kilda and Geelong went head-to-head in Round 9 last season in an 18-9 result.
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The Giants remain winless this season alongside the Western Bulldogs and risk claiming a second wooden spoon after falling to last on the ladder.
“It was a good messy win,” Roos coach Darren Crocker said.
“It would’ve been nice to kick more accurately to potentially blow the score out a little bit more.
“But for a game that I thought we controlled from the outset, it was still a really strong win.
“People probably don’t realise how swirly the conditions were throughout the whole game.”
The Roos dominated in the statistics winning inside 50s 38 to 12, clearances 43 to 22 and contested possessions 128 to 100.
Ash Riddell was the Roos’ leading possession getter with 32 touches and five tackles, while fellow midfielder Jasmine Garner also impressed, claiming 25 disposals and goal while battling a tag for a large part of the game.
SLOW START REMAINS CONSTANT
The Roos and Giants were slow to come out of the gates as the 16 to two half time score line became the lowest for this AFLW season.
The combined 18 total first-half points follows North’s first half against Carlton in round two where they put on 3.1 while keeping the Blues goalless at the same venue.
Kate McCarthy blamed the blustery wind for poor kicking which was at 56 per cent efficiency for North and 53 per cent for the Giants at half time.
“It really affects the players ball drop making it really difficult to hit your targets,” she said.
PARKER ON TRACK FOR INCREDIBLE FEAT
Giants’ midfielder Alyce Parker has broken her career-best possessions for the second week in a row after picking up a game-high 34 disposals.
The 23-year-old beats her previous best of 31 which she gathered against Adelaide last week as she heightens her chances of claiming a club best and fairest for the fifth straight season.
BIG CLASH AWAITS GIANTS
The Giants will have their biggest game of the year in round six when they face 16th placed West Coast at home in an attempt to jump off the bottom of the table.
Coach Cam Bernasconi admitted it will be “a massive game” for his footy club.
“We are in this position because we struggle to execute and play four quarters so here we are.
“Now what we got to do is continue to learn and address things as fast as we can and make sure that we play a four quarter performance against West Coast.”
ROOS 0.3 2.4 2.7 4.8 (32)
GIANTS 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.2 (2)
