NORTH Melbourne remains in the AFLW finals hunt and have continued Collingwood’s miserable season with a 22-point win.
The Kangaroos’ 7.11 (53) to 5.1 (31) win on Saturday afternoon, in game one of a Marvel Stadium double header, sets up a massive Round 7 clash next Saturday with Fremantle.
The Dockers mauled Geelong earlier on Saturday by six goals.
Fremantle and North lead Conference A, while Adelaide should join them on 5-1 after Sunday’s home game against GWS.
Only the top two teams will play in the finals and, unless the Crows somehow slip up, they should progress because of their much better percentage.
Collingwood, by contrast, remains winless and host Brisbane next weekend.
North midfielder Jenna Bruton was best afield with 19 disposals and six clearances, while Jasmine Garner kicked two goals.
Magpies onballer Brittany Bonnici was outstanding, restricting North captain Emma Kearney to 15 disposals in a disciplined run-with role.
While Kearney was still among North’s best, Bonnici clearly won their duel with a game-high 21 possessions and 10 tackles.
North led at every change, although the Magpies restricted the damage by kicking two unanswered goals in the last quarter.
Kangaroos forward Daria Bannister celebrated her return from a year out with a knee reconstruction by kicking the first goal of the match and North led by two points at the first change.
North put Collingwood out of the game with three goals to nil in the third quarter.
© AAP 2019
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.2 4.6 7.8 7.11 (53)
COLLINGWOOD 2.0 3.0 3.1 5.1 (31)
Goals: North Melbourne Kangaroos: J Garner 2 D Bannister D Bateman J Stanton K Ashmore M Hope. Collingwood Magpies: D Guttridge 2 E Grant S Chiocci S Rowe.
Best: North Melbourne Kangaroos: J Bruton J Stanton J Garner E Kearney. Collingwood Magpies: B Bonnici A Brazill S Rowe.
Umpires: Trent McPhee, Andrew Adair, Cameron Jones.
Venue: Etihad Stadium.
