North Melbourne have made an AFLW statement and kept their top-four hopes alive with a convincing 32-point win over Collingwood.
A five-goal blitz during the second term separated the sides as the Kangaroos surged to a 9.3 (57) to 4.1 (25) victory at Victoria Park on Saturday.
There was a scare when captain Emma Kearney limped off with a knee injury during the final quarter after teammate Vikki Wall fell across her right leg.
But the six-time All-Australian returned to see out the final stages of the match with the joint strapped.
The visitors' ferocious attack on the ball and spread of contributors overwhelmed Collingwood as Ashleigh Ridell (25 disposals), Mia King (19) and Jasmine Garner (26, one goal) starred.
Tahlia Randall (two goals) stood tall in attack and inexperienced forward Charli Granville booted two majors as a late inclusion for Sophie Abbatangelo (illness).
The result moved North Melbourne to within one win of the top four ahead of a crunch clash with Richmond to round out the home-and-away campaign.
It came after narrow defeats to top sides Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane earlier in the season.
"I spoke to our players about the belief that they should really gain in our style of football that we're playing at the moment," Kangaroos coach Darren Crocker said.
"It's a really sustainable brand going forward and they should take a lot of belief out of that game.
"That (second quarter) is the best footy we've played since I've been in the program.
"We talk about our ball movement but it all came together in that moment, and we can see what a damaging team we can be."
Collingwood have held a top-four spot all season but their position is now in jeopardy as they brace for an interstate encounter with flag favourites Brisbane.
Making matters worse for the Magpies, they lost midfielder Ruby Schleicher to a hip injury while Ash Brazill (adductor) was a late withdrawal.
Chloe Molloy (20 disposals), Jaimee Lambert (18) and Jordyn Allen (14) fought hard in a losing cause.
"We showed signs in the back end of the game that we've got some fight in us but we lost our method in the second quarter," Collingwood coach Steve Symonds said.
"North got on a roll and we struggled to stop it ... just that moment, our defensive system fell down and it burnt us."
