Key events
Q2. 11 mins remaining: North Melbourne 7.3.45 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0
Kate Shierlaw takes her turn with a strong contested mark off the boot of Jas Garner – who else? – and goal from 30m out directly in front. But Tess Craven sends a scare around the Roos camp as the young forward is crunched in a marking contest as Goody closes her down under a high ball. Craven is helped from the field but looks OK.
Q2. 13 mins remaining: North Melbourne 6.3.39 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0
The goals keep flowing for the Roos as Taylah Gatt joins the party. The zippy forward snaps her first of the day and third of the season.
Q2. 15 mins remaining: North Melbourne 5.3.33 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0
The Kangaroos pick up where they left off with an early clearance as star onballer Jasmine Garner launches a dart to Tahlia Randall inside 50. The key forward finishes off the work to extend the Roos lead.
1/4 time: North Melbourne 4.2.26 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0
A devastating start from the Kangaroos has the Power firmly on the ropes at the first change. It was a ruthlessly efficient opening from the minor premier as they made the most of their early dominance to pile on four goals in almost as many minutes. The Power found some territory later in the term but the Roos 17-3 inside 50s and 67-32 disposals tell as much of the story as the score.
Port proved that they are a young group filled with resilience when chasing down Hawthorn last week, but this already looks a step up in class against the red-hot Roos.
Q1. 1 min remaining: North Melbourne 4.2.26 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0
A 50m penalty sends Jenna Bruton from the centre wing into the Roos’ forward 50. The Power didn’t that after their best few minutes of the match so far. They can breathe a sigh of relief as the Kanagroos winger slices the shot for a behind.
Q1. 2 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.1.25 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0
The Power take it slow and steady to gradually move the ball forward. A second inside 50 for the term and repeat stoppages give some respite but the Roos clear the danger as Birch finds Riddell on the half-back flank.
Q1. 5 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.1.25 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0
The Kangaroos are making all the running as they perhaps seek to blow the Power away early in the sweltering heat. O’Loughlin is lively inside 50 again and finds Emma King within range but the Roos key forward sprays her shot for a behind.
Q1. 5 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.1.25 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0
The Kangaroos are making all the running as they perhaps seek to blow the Power away early in the sweltering heat. O’Loughlin is lively inside 50 again and finds Emma King within range but the Roos key forward sprays her shot for a behind.
Q1. 7 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.0.24 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0
The Power slow the game down as they look to stay in touch with the Roos after the minor premiers have made an electric start at Ikon Park. Shineah Goody gets her hands on the footy but the Kangaroos continue to dominate territory.
Q1. 10 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.0.24 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0
The Roos forwards are queueing up as O’Loughlin is first to arrive under high ball just 20m from goal with Randall the closest player to her. The pacey forward dobs another and the Kangaroos look unstoppable. They lead 27-7 in disposals, 6-1 for inside 50s, and by four goals after barely that many minutes.
Q1. 12 mins remaining: North Melbourne 3.0.18 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0
The Kangaroos are red hot and the Power look shellshocked. Alice O’Loughlin finds space in the forward pocket to race onto a bouncing ball, opens up a gap on the trailing defender and snaps truly. The Roos have three from as many inside 50s in a blistering start.
Q1. 13 mins remaining: North Melbourne 2.0.12 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0
The Roos have hopped away to a devastating start as Ash Riddell picks out Tahlia Randall inside the forward 50. The key forward calmly kicks truly from 40m away. The early signs are worrying for the Power.
Q1. 14 mins remaining: North Melbourne 1.0.6 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0
Kangaroos powerhouse Vicki Wall takes a strong mark on the lead just outside 50 then bombs the ball into the goalsquare. Jasmine Garner reads it best and takes an uncontested mark just metres out, then slots the set shot. A hot start from the Roos!
Q1. 15 mins remaining: North Melbourne 0.0.0 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0
We’re underway at Ikon Park with the temperature hovering around 36 degrees. The Power’s emerging ruck Matilda Scholz gets the first tap but the Kangaroos onballers swarm to propel the ball forward.
The winner of this clash between the undefeated North Melbourne and rising Port Adelaide will face one of the traditional powerhouses – Brisbane or Adelaide – in the grand final next Saturday night.
We’ll be live blogging the second preliminary final from 6.30pm AEST/7.30pm AEDT tonight, but in the meantime the players are lining up and getting ready to roll at Ikon Park. Let’s get into it!
The AFL has turned to their heat policy for this match with the temperature pushing into the high 30s. Breaks at quarter-time and three-quarter time will now be eight minutes each, rather than the usual six, while half-time will be four minutes longer at 18 minutes.
The Power have become the surprise packets of the season after knocking off the Hawks last week, as their budding talents play with a freedom and few pressures to climb to within reach of an unlikely spot in the decider.
Here is more on the young upstarts from Port Adelaide:
Teams
Port Adelaide are unchanged from the side that stunned Hawthorn in their semi-final last week, while North Melbourne have been bolstered by the return of Emma Kearney.
The Kangaroos captain returns from a lengthy stint on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury to add class and composure to the defence.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the 2024 AFLW preliminary final between North Melbourne-Tasmania and Port Adelaide. The clash will be played out in sweltering conditions with the mercury forecast to top 37 degrees at Ikon Park. But no doubt both sides will leave it all out the field with a place in the grand final up for grabs.
The Kangaroos should be well rested and refreshed after finishing the home and away season as minor premiers, then beating the Crows in a qualifying final to earn a week off. The undefeated Roos have been the dominant side all season and are now one victory away from returning to the decider after falling 20 minutes short of claiming a maiden premiership last year.
The Power are riding their own wave of momentum after overcoming a 1-4 start to the season to clinch a first finals berth in just their third season. Port have now won eight on the trot after coming from the clouds last week to overcome the greatest three-quarter time deficit in the AFLW’s nine seasons for a one-point triumph against Hawthorn.
Get in touch with any comments, questions, thoughts and predictions – you can shoot me an email or find me @martinpegan on Bluesky or X. Let’s get into it!
