Jasmine Garner has produced another influential display to help flag favourites North Melbourne maintain their unbeaten start to the AFLW season with a 55-point thumping of the Western Bulldogs.
Garner (20 disposals) wasn't bothered by the wet conditions and broke the game wide open with two goals in the third quarter, setting the Kangaroos on course for a 8.11 (59) to 0.4 (4) victory at Arden Street on Saturday.
Ash Riddell (26 disposals, one goal) and Mia King (14 touches, 10 tackles) also shone for Darren Crocker's side, with Emma King and Niamh Martin adding two goals each.
Martin makes no mistake with the snap to get the Roos going!#AFLWNorthDogs pic.twitter.com/Nql1n7yqMg
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 5, 2024
The result ensured North Melbourne will hold top spot on the ladder for another week, with six wins and a draw ahead of their next assignment against Sydney in Hobart.
"Jas Garner was just outstanding," Kangaroos coach Crocker said.
"We're calling her the wet-weather specialist but I think she's an all-weather specialist really.
"The players that stand out in slippery conditions are the ones that are really clean and (Garner) is just so clean in the clinches when it gets wet.
"But whether it's wet or dry, she just doesn't fumble, and she was really well supported today."
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs (2-5) are counting the cost of a heavy defeat that put a dent in their finals hopes ahead of a home clash with Essendon in round seven.
"I can't fault their effort. Every week they bring effort, but we're up against the best side in the competition," Dogs coach Tamara Hyett said.
"We're probably on different journeys at the moment but that's where we want to get to."
The Bulldogs were held goalless for the second time this season and posted their lowest-ever AFLW score despite managing 23 forward entries.
"It's probably the way that we were bringing the footy in," Hyett said.
"We've made a really conscious effort to try to isolate some of our forwards ... because we think we can compete really well one-on-one.
"But we were a little bit slow with getting the ball in there, which then brought (North Melbourne's) numbers into it."
Making matters worse for the Bulldogs, captain Deanna Berry (illness) and Lauren Ahrens (foot) both failed to finish the contest.
North Melbourne's competition-best defence stood up in the absence of injured captain Emma Kearney, with experienced back Libby Birch leading superbly.
All class in the wet 🌧#Kangas pic.twitter.com/QgGny8bMOO
— North Melbourne Women's (@NMFCWomens) October 5, 2024
The Kangaroos held a 2.5 to 0.2 advantage at quarter-time and would have been further in front if not for a series of wasted chances deep in attack.
Tahlia Randall kicked the only goal of the second quarter and the margin grew to 20 points by halftime, despite the Bulldogs' competitiveness around the contest to that point.
Heavy rain set in at the main break and made life difficult for both sides in the second half, but Garner snared the first two goals after the restart to put North in a commanding position.
King added her second to give the Kangaroos a 40-point lead at the final change and they coasted to a comprehensive victory.
