Adelaide Requests Clarification Following Narrow Loss to North Melbourne in AFLW Qualifying Final
North Melbourne secured a spot in the AFLW preliminary finals with a hard-fought seven-point win over Adelaide, maintaining their unbeaten status in 2024. Despite facing challenges, particularly in the second quarter, key performances from Ash Riddell, Jasmine Garner, and Mia King propelled the Kangaroos to victory, highlighted by two goals from Bella Eddey.
North Melbourne has maintained its unbeaten record in the 2024 AFL Women’s (AFLW) season after securing a narrow seven-point victory over Adelaide in the qualifying final. This win marks the Kangaroos' third consecutive advance to the AFLW preliminary final, emphasizing their strong performance at Ikon Park during Friday night's match.
Key Players Propel North Melbourne to Victory
The Kangaroos' success was driven by a standout performance from their on-ball trio, including Ash Riddell with 34 disposals and 10 clearances, Jasmine Garner contributing 29 disposals and 10 clearances, and Mia King providing solid support with 24 disposals and nine clearances. Additionally, Bella Eddey played a crucial role, scoring two important goals in the second quarter. Following the match, Eddey praised the team's resilience, noting, "What a cracking game. Adelaide are a great outfit — we know that — and they really challenged us in that second quarter." She expressed her pride in the team's ability to fight back and secure the victory, stating, "We worked so hard for this."
Adelaide's Strong Challenge
Adelaide's Ebony Marinoff was also a key player, achieving 30 touches and 13 tackles during the match. Teammates Chelsea Randall and Caitlin Gould each contributed with two goals. The match commenced strongly for North Melbourne, with Tahlia Randall scoring shortly after the first bounce. However, Adelaide quickly responded, with Danielle Ponter finding the goal following a tackle from Jasmine Ferguson, and Gould converting her opportunity from close range. Controversy arose at the end of the first quarter when a decision against Adelaide's Zoe Prowse for a deliberate rushed behind allowed North to reclaim the lead, sparking debate among commentators.
Post-Match Reactions and Future Implications
After the match, Crows coach Matthew Clarke refrained from commenting on the contentious call but indicated that they would seek clarification from the AFL regarding the rule. "We'll just wait and see, we'll probably ask the question," he remarked with a hint of humor. The second quarter saw Adelaide dominate the play, achieving an impressive 11-1 advantage in inside-50s, though they were unable to convert that pressure into points until the dying moments of the half when Gould scored again, following a notable tackle by Randall. The Kangaroos bounced back significantly in the third quarter, leveraging their opportunities and controlling the game, ending with a strategic lead. Despite a quiet fourth quarter, they held off Adelaide to secure the win. Looking ahead, Adelaide is set to host the winner of the elimination final between Fremantle and Essendon next weekend.
