AFLW North Melbourne Football Club AFLW - Season 2024

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I know it's hard to compare to Kearney, but is O'Shea a good enough distributor to play that role on a permanent basis considering how North play?
No, Ellie Blackburn will tear up her contract and come across to play that role permanently once her buddy Emma Kearney takes over as coach. But as a temporary option, it'll be fine.
 
We don't have a genuine replacement for Kearney.

  • Wright and O'Shea are probably the most obvious replacements as they are already playing in defense, reads the play and provides a contest, and they have the speed to provide some run, but they aren't the cleanest distributors.
  • Bruton has been mentioned, but I think she is too short and too easily maneuvered off the ball that she can't seriously be considered for a defensive role.
  • Garner, Pullar and Shannon have also been mentioned (a couple by me), but I think that means our backline would be too tall and too slow.
  • Bresnehan hasn't been mentioned, but she is another defender who reads the play well, intercepts and provide run through the middle.

Perhaps our best option is for Wright, O'Shea and Bresnehan to alternate in the role at various stages of the game. It's less disruptive to the defensive unit and the team in general, and Pullar can come in and play on a wing and provide support in defense if required
 

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We don't have a genuine replacement for Kearney.

  • Wright and O'Shea are probably the most obvious replacements as they are already playing in defense, reads the play and provides a contest, and they have the speed to provide some run, but they aren't the cleanest distributors.
  • Bruton has been mentioned, but I think she is too short and too easily maneuvered off the ball that she can't seriously be considered for a defensive role.
  • Garner, Pullar and Shannon have also been mentioned (a couple by me), but I think that means our backline would be too tall and too slow.
  • Bresnehan hasn't been mentioned, but she is another defender who reads the play well, intercepts and provide run through the middle.

Perhaps our best option is for Wright, O'Shea and Bresnehan to alternate in the role at various stages of the game. It's less disruptive to the defensive unit and the team in general, and Pullar can come in and play on a wing and provide support in defense if required
This is a pretty good summary 👍

Wright does have a decent turn of pace that could be handy but she’s very defensively minded and probably isn’t clean enough by foot. But, in her defence, she hasn’t really been given the licence to attack before.

O’Shea likes to win the ball and then quickly counterattack but her kicking is a bit hit and miss, especially when it comes to precise short kicking. Her pace and long kicks can be pretty handy though.

Bresnehan has worked her way back into form and is a neat kick but doesn’t really have a turn of pace. But she can be handy with setting up play by bringing in players like Bruton, O’Shea and Gatt etc.

Gatt working back and then pushing forward could become important in helping to make up for the absence of Kearney. She has the combination of pace, neat kicking and workrate that allows her to get involved in possession chains. Gatt is one of the players that can hit a teammate with a short kick and then have the run to get involved again.
 
We don't have a genuine replacement for Kearney.

  • Wright and O'Shea are probably the most obvious replacements as they are already playing in defense, reads the play and provides a contest, and they have the speed to provide some run, but they aren't the cleanest distributors.
  • Bruton has been mentioned, but I think she is too short and too easily maneuvered off the ball that she can't seriously be considered for a defensive role.
  • Garner, Pullar and Shannon have also been mentioned (a couple by me), but I think that means our backline would be too tall and too slow.
  • Bresnehan hasn't been mentioned, but she is another defender who reads the play well, intercepts and provide run through the middle.

Perhaps our best option is for Wright, O'Shea and Bresnehan to alternate in the role at various stages of the game. It's less disruptive to the defensive unit and the team in general, and Pullar can come in and play on a wing and provide support in defense if required
Craven was the one that replaced the skipper when she went off - most likely to stay there as a distributor
 
Craven was the one that replaced the skipper when she went off - most likely to stay there as a distributor
Tess would be a decent option. She’s a good user and has good footy smarts. Tess is also solid defensively and has shown an ability to compete even when outnumbered. But she’s a bit like Bresnehan in terms of pace.
The difficulty in replacing Kearney is that she is such a smart, well-rounded player.
 
The latest W show with Sam Lane and Chyloe Kurdas on ABC has some good content on North Melbourne. As we know, Chyloe was very - maybe unreasonably - concerned about our form in the wet. They agreed in this chat that the win against Richmond was exactly the kind of ugly win that answers those minor concerns - instead of falling away this time the team kept getting better.

They were talking before the hamstring assessment came out but felt that unless the hammie was bad enough to push Kearney into retirement, she should be able to take her time, be cautious, and come back to the finals team. Banking such a great early record and the more manageable run of games ahead will help the club take their time with her.
 

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Think this one has missed the mark. The rainbow around the strips and kangaroo just doesn't work imo.



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TBH I couldn't see the colours until it was pointed out. Horrible effort.

Some say when the rainbow colours overpower the jumper then it stops being a North jumper. I really like this for the subtlety. If they released other merch in the style, I'd buy it and I'd feel comfortable wearing it as it demonstrates low key allyship without overt virtue signalling.
 
Craven was the one that replaced the skipper when she went off - most likely to stay there as a distributor
She's probably the most like for like option without pulling someone like Garner away from where she is most damaging. Jess has a real football brain.
 
The latest W show with Sam Lane and Chyloe Kurdas on ABC has some good content on North Melbourne. As we know, Chyloe was very - maybe unreasonably - concerned about our form in the wet. They agreed in this chat that the win against Richmond was exactly the kind of ugly win that answers those minor concerns - instead of falling away this time the team kept getting better.

They were talking before the hamstring assessment came out but felt that unless the hammie was bad enough to push Kearney into retirement, she should be able to take her time, be cautious, and come back to the finals team. Banking such a great early record and the more manageable run of games ahead will help the club take their time with her.

I think they overreacted to the rain thing.

The only bad result was the Geelong game and that was largely because Kearney turned the ball over a lot in that game and it cost us 3 or 4 goals in what was otherwise conditions that made it difficult to score. It was a real abnormality as she is normally very reliable.

We obviously do not prefer wet conditions as we like to play a high skill possession gameplan which prefers dry conditions, sides that mongrel the ball aren't as negatively impacted by wet conditions.
 
Four next-gen Roos who are hitting new heights in 2024

Four next-gen Roos who are hitting new heights in 2024​

Four rising Kangas who have lifted their games to new levels in 2024.
By Luke Macquire - NMFC Media
240612-MD-Web-Hero-Splitscreen-x-4W.jpg

(Clockwise from left): Tripodi, Eddey, O'Loughlin, Craven

There's plenty clicking for the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos, who sit undefeated atop the AFLW ladder after six games.
While established stars like Jas Garner, Ash Riddell and Emma Kearney have been central to the five-win, one-draw start, they've been supported by the club's fast-improving next generation.
Before the Roos host the Western Bulldogs at Arden Street on Saturday, NMFC Media has taken a look at four rising Kangas who have lifted their games to new levels in 2024.

Ruby Tripodi

The inside midfielder made nine appearances in her debut season as a Kangaroo last year, but found herself on the outside looking in during the club's 2024 finals run.
It's been a different story this season, as the No.9 seized her opportunity in the early absence of Jenna Bruton, who had a delayed start to the campaign due to an Achilles injury.
Tripodi has nailed down her spot in the engine room by winning her own ball; her physicality allowing teammates Ash Riddell and Jasmine Garner to do damage on the outside of the contest and down forward.

2023 stats: 6.7 disposals, 2.7 tackles, 0.9 clearances, 73.3 metres gained per game
2024 stats: 14 disposals, 8 tackles, 4 clearances, 168.8 metres gained per game

Alice O'Loughlin

Seven goals from five games has craft forward O'Loughlin on track to record her best goal haul in her young career (her previous best is eight from 11 games in 2022's Season 7).
It's a clear reflection of how important the nimble No.6 has been for the Roos this season, especially in the wet and wild conditions North Melbourne has had to front over the past couple of weeks.
O'Loughlin has increased her averages for disposals and tackles per game, and she sits equal first in the League for average groundball gets inside 50 (2.8).

2023 stats: 11.3 disposals, 3.9 tackles, 0.5 goals,1.3 tackles inside 50, 159.2 metres gained per game
2024 stats: 14 disposals, 5.2 tackles, 1.4 goals, 2.4 tackles inside 50, 244.2 metres gained per game

Bella Eddey

Like fellow forward O'Loughlin, Eddey is averaging at least a goal per outing in 2024, adding to the dynamic threat of North Melbourne's attack.
Eddey has grown in her ability to read of the ball off packs and has rapidly become a dangerous small forward, often using her clean hands to collect before finding space to fire off a shot.
Her class was again on display on the slippery UTAS Stadium deck against the Tigers, as she produced a neat finish from the pocket to provide her side with a circuit-breaking goal late in the third term.

2023 stats: 9.8 disposals, 2.9 tackles, 0.6 goals, 2.5 score involvements, 0.2 goal assists, 86.4 metres gained per game
2024 stats: 13.5 disposals, 3.3 tackles, 1 goal, 4 score involvements, 0.7 goal assists, 148.2 metres gained per game

Tess Craven

One of North Melbourne's most versatile weapons, Craven continues to impact games wherever she lines up.
The natural winger has booted two goals from six matches, is covering more ground and laying nearly double the amount of tackles compared to last season.
She's also finding more of the ball, which has been a huge positive for her teammates, who benefit from the No.5's assured and steady disposal.

2023 stats: 7.8 disposals, 140.7 metres gained, 1.6 tackles, 2.1 intercepts, 1.6 score involvements per game
2024 stats: 10.2 disposals, 177.3 metres gained, 3 tackles, 2.5 intercepts, 2.5 score involvements per game
 
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Four next-gen Roos who are hitting new heights in 2024

Four next-gen Roos who are hitting new heights in 2024​

Four rising Kangas who have lifted their games to new levels in 2024.
By Luke Macquire - NMFC Media
2 hrs ago
240612-MD-Web-Hero-Splitscreen-x-4W.jpg

(Clockwise from left): Tripodi, Eddey, O'Loughlin, Craven

There's plenty clicking for the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos, who sit undefeated atop the AFLW ladder after six games.
While established stars like Jas Garner, Ash Riddell and Emma Kearney have been central to the five-win, one-draw start, they've been supported by the club's fast-improving next generation.
Before the Roos host the Western Bulldogs at Arden Street on Saturday, NMFC Media has taken a look at four rising Kangas who have lifted their games to new levels in 2024.

Ruby Tripodi

The inside midfielder made nine appearances in her debut season as a Kangaroo last year, but found herself on the outside looking in during the club's 2024 finals run.
It's been a different story this season, as the No.9 seized her opportunity in the early absence of Jenna Bruton, who had a delayed start to the campaign due to an Achilles injury.
Tripodi has nailed down her spot in the engine room by winning her own ball; her physicality allowing teammates Ash Riddell and Jasmine Garner to do damage on the outside of the contest and down forward.

2023 stats: 6.7 disposals, 2.7 tackles, 0.9 clearances, 73.3 metres gained per game
2024 stats: 14 disposals, 8 tackles, 4 clearances, 168.8 metres gained per game

Alice O'Loughlin

Seven goals from five games has craft forward O'Loughlin on track to record her best goal haul in her young career (her previous best is eight from 11 games in 2022's Season 7).
It's a clear reflection of how important the nimble No.6 has been for the Roos this season, especially in the wet and wild conditions North Melbourne has had to front over the past couple of weeks.
O'Loughlin has increased her averages for disposals and tackles per game, and she sits equal first in the League for average groundball gets inside 50 (2.8).

2023 stats: 11.3 disposals, 3.9 tackles, 0.5 goals,1.3 tackles inside 50, 159.2 metres gained per game
2024 stats: 14 disposals, 5.2 tackles, 1.4 goals, 2.4 tackles inside 50, 244.2 metres gained per game

Bella Eddey

Like fellow forward O'Loughlin, Eddey is averaging at least a goal per outing in 2024, adding to the dynamic threat of North Melbourne's attack.
Eddey has grown in her ability to read of the ball off packs and has rapidly become a dangerous small forward, often using her clean hands to collect before finding space to fire off a shot.
Her class was again on display on the slippery UTAS Stadium deck against the Tigers, as she produced a neat finish from the pocket to provide her side with a circuit-breaking goal late in the third term.

2023 stats: 9.8 disposals, 2.9 tackles, 0.6 goals, 2.5 score involvements, 0.2 goal assists, 86.4 metres gained per game
2024 stats: 13.5 disposals, 3.3 tackles, 1 goal, 4 score involvements, 0.7 goal assists, 148.2 metres gained per game

Tess Craven

One of North Melbourne's most versatile weapons, Craven continues to impact games wherever she lines up.
The natural winger has booted two goals from six matches, is covering more ground and laying nearly double the amount of tackles compared to last season.
She's also finding more of the ball, which has been a huge positive for her teammates, who benefit from the No.5's assured and steady disposal.

2023 stats: 7.8 disposals, 140.7 metres gained, 1.6 tackles, 2.1 intercepts, 1.6 score involvements per game
2024 stats: 10.2 disposals, 177.3 metres gained, 3 tackles, 2.5 intercepts, 2.5 score involvements per game
Good, all 4 are deserving of a bit of recognition, all developing very nicely, and it's really only early doors just yet.
 

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AFLW North Melbourne Football Club AFLW - Season 2024

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