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

[SunnyBoner]

What a brilliant win. Sorry if someone has posted already but how was the vibe last night at the game and then again today. I had a mate go to the celebrations at Fed Square last night and he said it was amazing. Such a strong vibe and lots of senior men’s players there too.

 

[Scottroo]

True Roo: Why Arden St always 'felt like home' for Kearney

True Roo: Why Arden St always 'felt like home' for Kearney​

Emma Kearney's ties to North Melbourne stretch way back before her playing days, and on Saturday night she led the club to its maiden AFLW flag
By Sarah Black

Emma Kearney celebrates as the final siren sounds after the 2024 AFLW Grand Final between North Melbourne and Brisbane at Ikon Park. Picture: AFL Photos

EMMA Kearney is North Melbourne.

Yes, there was a brief sojourn to the Western Bulldogs, winning a flag and an AFLW best and fairest in her two years at the Kennel, but Arden Street has always been "home".

Kearney has been there since the early days, playing for Melbourne Uni a decade ago when the Mugars approached AFL clubs in the area, looking for training facilities.

She said Carlton turned them down, but the Roos – led by now-president Sonja Hood in the community department – said yes. Kearney was captain at the time.

The eight-time All-Australian has been North Melbourne's skipper since its first season in 2019. A teacher by trade, she's worked in the community team ("the Huddle") herself, and is currently a development coach with the men's program.

And on Saturday night, Kearney led North Melbourne to its maiden AFLW flag, coincidentally on Carlton's home deck of Ikon Park.

Emma Kearney in action during the 2024 AFLW Grand Final between North Melbourne and Brisbane at Ikon Park. Picture: AFL Photos

"I saw some of the old Melbourne Uni girls I used to play with, and it's just really special," Kearney told AFL.com.au.

"Emma Phillips reached out to Sonja, and she said we could come and use the facilities. From those early days playing at Melbourne Uni, we were using Arden Street as our home base, the lecture theatre, the gym.

"For me, when I left the Bulldogs, it was always an easy decision to come, because it felt like home.

"The fact that North have always been so progressive in how they wanted to support women's footy, it's super. Reward for effort, I think."

While she rounds out the season with a second premiership medallion, 2024 will arguably go down as one of the toughest of her career, missing six of the 14 games with a hamstring injury, racing the clock to return for last week's preliminary final.

"I'm just so happy with this group. Personally, it was a hard season for me, missing a large chunk of it, but the growth that our group has had – if we had lost one of our leaders in previous seasons, we would have struggled," Kearney said.

"The fact we were still undefeated while I wasn't there, made it easier for me to sit on the sidelines. It was a hard rehab, I had two other tears. It was a six-weeker hammy, it was a tendon, but during the rehab phase, I did a calf, then another smaller hammy.

"The medical staff were so good to get me up. Just to get through to the prelim was a relief, then to play in the prelim allowed me to play with a bit more freedom tonight, not to worry about my body. The prelim, I know I played limited minutes, but the whole time I was concerned about my hammy. Didn't have to think about it today, which is nice."

So limited were Kearney's minutes last week, she played only 38 per cent game time, including sitting out nearly all of the last quarter when the game was in the bag.

But it was the Kearney of old that took to the field on Saturday night, that dangerous (and slightly manic) glint in her eye, sidesteps aplenty as she streamed down the field.

She set the tone in the opening quarter, driving the ball forward time and time again, and having the time of her life as she attempted to suck opponents into silly free kicks.

"I felt like my form was pretty good this season, that I was defending my best, then obviously got cut short with injury," Kearney said.

"I felt like I was really poor against Port, that I was just trying to get my hands on the footy and defensive shape was pretty poor. It was a big focus of mine, I wanted to have a really clear plan.

"I knew that Brisbane liked to surge at stoppage, they like to suck up a few of their high half-forwards up to congestion, and that I could drop off them there. The plan we had across all lines, we were able to execute, which was pleasing."

Defensive teammate Jas Ferguson said she instantly knew "Kearney's here to play", and joked she'd tried to avoid her ferocity at training earlier in the week.

"I think that was one of her best games all season. Obviously she's missed a few, but I think just the passion she plays with – she was always going to play well today," Ferguson said.

"Just an unreal human on and off the field, she absolutely deserves this, and I'm so proud for her to be my captain, I absolutely love her."

This article really resonates with me, living in Adelaide, supporting the Roos, everyone always asks why I don’t follow an SA team, I always answer the same, the roos have something special, something hard to explain to others, but we have a sense of community, a sense of belonging. Hearing all the reports about how fantastic the girls have been yesterday and today with the supporters shows they know what being a roo is about, now it’s the men’s turn.

 

[Marstermind]

14 games at roughly 80 mins each = 1120 minutes.

We spent about 63 minutes of it behind. About 5.6% of the time

R2 v Geelong - Q4 2min-5min - 29-30
R5 v Richmond - Q1 3min-Q2 16min - 0-7
R5 v Richmond - Q2 18min-Q3 2min - 8-10
R6 v Bulldogs - Q1 1min-2min - 0-1
R10 v Adelaide - Q1 7min-9min - 6-7
R10 v Adelaide - R2 6min-13min - 14-17
R11 v Gold Coast - Q1 12min-14min - 3-6
QF v Adelaide - Q1 7min-9min - 6-7
QF v Adelaide - Q2 6min-13min - 14-17
GF v Brisbane - Q1 4min-6min - 0-1

We trailed at a break just twice - QT and HT against Richmond
The latest we trailed in a game was by a point 5 mins into the last quarter against Geelong.
In the second half of games we spent 5mins behind - 3 against Geelong, 2 against Richmond
We fell over a goal behind only once - against Richmond
We were behind for more than a 10min stretch only once - Against Richmond.

How dominant is that?

 

[giantroo]

 

[DarkPhoenix]

#unreal

 

[CURVE]

14 games at roughly 80 mins each = 1120 minutes.

We spent about 63 minutes of it behind. About 5.6% of the time

R2 v Geelong - Q4 2min-5min - 29-30
R5 v Richmond - Q1 3min-Q2 16min - 0-7
R5 v Richmond - Q2 18min-Q3 2min - 8-10
R6 v Bulldogs - Q1 1min-2min - 0-1
R10 v Adelaide - Q1 7min-9min - 6-7
R10 v Adelaide - R2 6min-13min - 14-17
R11 v Gold Coast - Q1 12min-14min - 3-6
QF v Adelaide - Q1 7min-9min - 6-7
QF v Adelaide - Q2 6min-13min - 14-17
GF v Brisbane - Q1 4min-6min - 0-1

We trailed at a break just twice - QT and HT against Richmond
The latest we trailed in a game was by a point 5 mins into the last quarter against Geelong.
In the second half of games we spent 5mins behind - 3 against Geelong, 2 against Richmond
We fell over a goal behind only once - against Richmond
We were behind for more than a 10min stretch only once - Against Richmond.

How dominant is that?

We won 44 out 54 quarters, losing only 10. It's that kind of dominance which suggests to me, we are that far ahead of every other club that the only thing that will stop us from going back-to-back is our own complacency.

 

[ChopChopDigDig]

You my friend should be an umpire - no way karns went over the mark

Ha, I was spewing at the ground, but watching the replay this morning recon we went a good 3-4 steps past the mark

 

[The Brady Bunch]

The dekoda one was BS for sure but Kearney def went over the mark lol. Was blatant on the replay

Yeah true, I checked twice. Not exactly the 3 metres that the umpire insisted but it only has to be a step over.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Yeah true, I checked twice. Not exactly the 3 metres that the umpire insisted but it only has to be a step over.

Not talking specifically about this instance, but more the rule in general: I don't see why the umpire can't just tell the player to step back like they would if it had been a contested mark.

There was no intention in this case to gain an extra meter, you could see her look to the umpire wanting clarification of where the mark was, and start to move back when she realised she had gone a step too far. The only reason she went over was the mark was taken uncontested and she had to arrive at speed to try and stand the mark, but the player had already moved away.

 

[3051]

Low key... the angry Roo eyes is one of the best club images in the league.

So good.

Agreed.

Also, gold goes really well with the royal blue and white. Centenary vibes.

 

[Roostorm]

Bitter cantankerous is all l can think of on very little sleep…

 

[The Brady Bunch]

Love Crock and I'm so happy for him, but it's the worst kept secret in football that we've earmarked the AFLW Head Coach position for Emma Kearney once she's done as a player.

If someone is feeding you that information, they're pulling your leg just to see if you'll post it online. There is exactly zero chance that Sonja Hood is reading from the Eddie McGuire playbook. Succession plans are for the tip, especially for premiership coaches. There is no more certain way to undermine a potential dynasty than to promise the head coach role to a player upon retirement.

 

[giantroo]

Bitter cantankerous is all l can think of on very little sleep…

The comment from Sarah Wright below it

 

[Roostorm]

The comment from Sarah Wright below it

That is perfect in so many ways….mega mic drop

 

[The Brady Bunch]

Bitter cantankerous is all l can think of on very little sleep…

I just feel tremendous sympathy for anybody who is unable to experience joy in their life due to some terrible thing that happened to them in their past.

 

[Merlin007]

I just feel tremendous sympathy for anybody who is unable to experience joy in their life due to some terrible thing that happened to them in their past.

well said.

Without the trauma, the misery is otherwise inexplicable

 

[Chadwiko]

The comment from Sarah Wright below it

Hahaha you love to see it.

 

[north_lad]

I just feel tremendous sympathy for anybody who is unable to experience joy in their life due to some terrible thing that happened to them in their past.

Was the trauma reading his own internet presence?

 

[sruss]

Bitter cantankerous is all l can think of on very little sleep…

lol can someone remind that loser that 12k people turned out to watch those girls yesterday whereas the only attention he’s getting is ridicule for his shit takes. If only posting on twitter was in any way in the same echelon as playing football than he might be able to bask in a little bit of the esteem our girls get to, but alas for him

 

[Hopper10]

Congratulations ladies, what a team. I’m away fishing and got back in time to see the 2 nd 1/2. Undefeated, amazing achievement, deserved winners

 

[giantroo]

 

[giantroo]

 

[giantroo]

 

[the big lebowski]

lol Vicki Wall puts away beers like she does her on-field prey

 

[Dodecahedron]

Bitter cantankerous is all l can think of on very little sleep…

That moron can’t spell the plural of trophy, which is trophies.
If he’s going to use “trophy’s”, I’ll show him a sentence:
The 2024 AFLW premiership trophy’s rightful place is the same cabinet as all of the other NMFC premiership trophies.