Game Day North Melbourne Football Club AFLW - Season 2024 Premiers - First EVER (AFLM/W) UNDEFEATED PREMIERSHIP SEASON - The Invincibles

[The Brady Bunch]

Great moments are born from great opportunity.

And that's what you have here tonight, ladies.

That's what you've earned here, tonight. One game.

If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game. Not tonight.

Tonight, we run with 'em.

Tonight, we stay with 'em, and we shut them down because we can!

Tonight, we are the greatest football team in the world.

You were born to be football players -- every one of ya.

And you were meant to be here tonight.

This is your time.

Their time -- is done. It's over.

I'm sick and tired of hearin' about what a great football team the Lions have. Screw 'em!

This is your time!!

Now go out there and take it!

With the greatest of respect for Barassi and also in appreciation of your well-crafted sonnet above, I get the sense that players don't really comprehend or fully digest the words they're hearing at that stage, and it's all just feelings designed to spike the adrenaline. Barassi could be just as successful in that moment, using the same tones and emotion but replacing every word with blah-blah-blah. I could be wrong. But let's not forget that at the exact moment that Barassi was delivering this speech, John Kennedy was on the other side of the ground reeling off his "Don't think, do!" masterpiece. Didn't help, North extended their lead. Barassi's inferior speech won the day.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Lions have just landed in melbs

The amount of extra travel they’ve done over the last 6 weeks compared to us hopefully takes some toll on them

Ultimately I think if we win the below 3 matchups we win the game easily

Amy smith - orla odwyer
Ferg/birch - smith/dakota

 

[Pres]

I’m glad Crocks has the team focused and calm - I need a bit of that too.

On this point it seems a way lower key build up this year on the website/socials etc which is a good thing.

I reckon they totally got that wrong last year. Every 5 seconds they were putting out videos of parents and families sending special wishes, male NM players with the same number providing video tributes. Liam Shiels streamed speech to them all etc. And to cap it off was the Sonia Hood (who I'm a huge fan of) video reminding them all of the weight of NM history and imploring them to focus on bringing home cups rather than concentrating on the process itself. It was too much.

They are easily good enough to win this if they stay in control, minimise distractions and trust their ability to get it done.

 

[Chadwiko]

On this point it seems a way lower key build up this year on the website/socials etc which is a good thing.

I reckon they totally got that wrong last year. Every 5 seconds they were putting out videos of parents and families sending special wishes, male NM players with the same number providing video tributes. Liam Shiels streamed speech to them all etc. And to cap it off was the Sonia Hood (who I'm a huge fan of) video reminding them all of the weight of NM history and imploring them to focus on bringing home cups rather than concentrating on the process itself. It was too much.

They are easily good enough to win this if they stay in control, minimise distractions and trust their ability to get it done.

I loved that hype video they did last year, but you might be raising fair points. We did pump it up a lot.

 

[kool kangas]

My Tickets say enter though gate 5A...Where is that? It also has GA007 as a section. l hope they dont expect me to sit there. l am going to be sitting in my regular seats

 

[Chadwiko]

My Tickets say enter though gate 5A...Where is that? It also has GA007 as a section. l hope they dont expect me to sit there. l am going to be sitting in my regular seats

The whole venue is GA isn't it?

 

[The Brady Bunch]

My Tickets say enter though gate 5A...Where is that? It also has GA007 as a section. l hope they dont expect me to sit there. l am going to be sitting in my regular seats

Gate 5 is the one closest to the cemetery. It enters you under the Legends Stand. You'll be fine to wander wherever once inside.

 

[Chadwiko]

 

[the big lebowski]

Got da tickets!!!!!

 

[shinboner magic]

Lions have just landed in melbs

The amount of extra travel they’ve done over the last 6 weeks compared to us hopefully takes some toll on them

Ultimately I think if we win the below 3 matchups we win the game easily

Amy smith - orla odwyer
Ferg/birch - smith/dakota

Smith from bris loves a goal over the top - I would put birch on her , as she reads the play exceptionally.
Ferg to stat with Dakota and that means with every lead - none of this zoning off bs.

Wet weather would suit the lions as they play a territory game with not as much possession as we do - in saying that we’ve got enough hard nuts to compete in a slog if needed.
Second tier mids are the key to this game as we know what ash/jaz will bring. Its up to Mia king , tripodi , gatt , smith , craven ect to take some heat if the big two.
I also think Bruton is prone for a big one , especially after getting injured in last years game so early. Think I saw signs of her getting her mojo back last week

We’re never going to have a better chance than this.

 

[kool kangas]

The whole venue is GA isn't it?

Thats what l thought...

 

[datakid]

I think Shierlaw and Kearney maybe looking at 2025 as their final seasons, and as the seasons start earlier and earlier it may have an effect on the availability of our Irish players, but I'm fairly confident that the rest of the team will remain together for many seasons. I think most have already signed on to stay beyond this season.

I think this is optimistic. I think a winning Grand Final and they both retire. We showed that we don't need Kearney any more, and she needs to move on into coaching. I know less about Shierlaw, but their age mitigates against a long future.

 

[CURVE]

I think this is optimistic. I think a winning Grand Final and they both retire. We showed that we don't need Kearney any more, and she needs to move on into coaching. I know less about Shierlaw, but their age mitigates against a long future.

Kearney is contracted for next season, and while the hunger is still there I think she would honour her final year, but you never know.

I think after the best season her career and if Kearney plays on, I think Shierlaw would play on also.

I agree with Nostra (for once) we do need to start planning for life after Shierlaw, so I hope in this years draft we look for a tall forward and give her a year to develop with guidance from Shierlaw and Randall.

 

[parano1a]

FYI $35 GA tickets are still available as of now if anyone wants to go.

 

[Nate7]

Anyone going to training tomorrow?

 

[Chadwiko]

Anyone going to training tomorrow?

Yup. Just a captain's run, but yup.

 

[Blightys Barrel]

I have loved the form and controlled aggression of our Irish wrecking ball Vicky Wall. With her Rugby back ground, she tackles with purpose and authority. Has really great touch around the sticks and can sniff a goal. She was not there last year in the GF. But this year with her + Bruton (there for only 3 mins till injured) it has elevated this team considerably. Go Kangas this Saturday!!

 

[andana]

The unheralded Roo at the centre of North's supreme midfield mix​

Kim Rennie reflects on her AFLW journey as she eyes a first premiership with North Melbourne
By Sarah Black
2 hrs ago

Kim Rennie at North Melbourne training on December 1, 2023. Picture: AFL Photos
A MORE-than-comfortable 57-point preliminary final victory meant North Melbourne coach Darren Crocker had the luxury of choosing who got to put their feet up on the bench in the final minutes of the game.
Unsurprisingly, 35-year-old veterans Emma Kearney (in her comeback game from injury) and Kate Shierlaw made the cut, joined by superstar midfielders Jas Garner and Ash Riddell.
Rounding out the quintet to be rested late in the game was a player most AFLW fans might struggle to recognise on sight – ruck Kim Rennie.

Rennie joked she was benched late in the game because of her age (a tender 30 years), but there's no doubting Crocker values just what the former basketballer brings to North Melbourne's line-up.
"It was pretty different to the last minute of the prelim last year against Adelaide. That was very stressful, and we were lucky to get away with a one-point win," Rennie told AFL.com.au.

"In the prelim against Port, being up by a bit with only a couple of minutes to go, it was nice to be able to take it in a bit and feel the excitement.
"A few of us oldies were on the bench in the last few minutes of the prelim, and just getting to look around at each other and take it in was really special. It leads into the excitement this weekend."

Kim Rennie in a ruck contest in North Melbourne's game against Port Adelaide in week 4, 2024. Picture: AFL Photos
Of the 10 rucks who have attended the most contests this year, Rennie has the best hitout-to-advantage rate (33.2 per cent), with only Jess Allan and Alice Edmonds to have also broken the 30 per cent barrier.
Rennie's individual clearance numbers sit mid-range among that group of 10, but given the talent at her feet (Garner, Riddell, Mia King and Ruby Tripodi), all she has to do it put the ball on a plate and let them do the rest.
And the more ruck minutes Rennie plays, the longer Emma King can be North's third tall forward, thoroughly stretching opposition defences.
"The midfield connection we've had has definitely been on the back of a few seasons together now," Rennie said.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Our mids and half backs need to be getting the hand ball off Rennie out the back

She’s been better in the ruck but her disposal has been poor

 

[giantroo]

 

[DarwinRoo]

Can the Captain’s run be a Captain’s very little running and Captain’s Stationery Drills and Captain’s take photos with fans?

 

[CURVE]

Our mids and half backs need to be getting the hand ball off Rennie out the back

She’s been better in the ruck but her disposal has been poor

Rennie's disposals are generally pretty good, she's top 10 at the club for disposal efficiency and has the equal 8th lowest turnover average, but she is prone to the occasional shocker, and more often than not they are doozy's.

 

[CURVE]

This is an amazing article on how we trumped Hawthorn and stole Libby Birch.

The six-day trade raid that could turn North's good into great

The six-day trade raid that could turn North's good into great​

Riley Beveridge looks back at the Kangaroos' late swoop on Libby Birch after their failed Grand Final tilt in 2023
By Riley Beveridge

North Melbourne AFL coach Darren Crocker and star recruit Libby Birch. Pictures: AFL Photos

INTERNALLY, North Melbourne knew it was good. But only that.

The club was breezing through last year's NAB AFLW finals series, but as it prepared for a maiden Grand Final berth against Brisbane it did some reflecting. Yes, the Grand Final was on the horizon. But the season, holistically, had also shown that vast improvements were still required.

As the AFLW program's hierarchy projected forward, looking ahead to a suddenly quick turnaround between the Grand Final and the start of the Trade Period, no single area was defined as needing strengthening. Rather, the Kangas just needed top-end talent to bolster what was already a good, but not yet great, squad.

Libby Birch, to that point, had long been identified by fellow AFLW recruiters as the best player potentially on the market at season's end. Melbourne was a club looking to regenerate on the run, targeting a suite of early selections, and contract discussions for Birch had subsequently stalled.

 

[The Nostradamus]

teams named

Both teams unchanged as expected

 

[CURVE]