Classy midfielder Jasmine Garner dictated from the first few seconds as her North Melbourne side charged to a comfortable 40-point opening round AFLW opening round win over St Kilda at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval.
The Kangaroos scored the first 37 points of the game and kept Saints scoreless in the first half on their way to recording a 8.8 (56) to 2.4 (16) win.
The Saints came out snarling after half-time but inaccurate kicking meant they only outscored North by nine points to trail by 27 going into the final quarter.
North punished them for their profligacy with the Kangaroos kicking the first three goals of the final quarter.
Five-time All-Australian Garner won the first clearance of the game and within 20 seconds booted a fine goal on the run from 45 metres.
Garner produced a complete midfielder’s game notching an equal game-high figure of 29 possessions and match-best tallies in clearances (11) and metres gained (473).
Ash Riddell also chalked up 29 touches with Emma Kearney and Mia King also did plenty of good work.
North’s Tahlia Randell and Emma King both kicked two goals, though the latter managed just two points from her first three shots.
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North were ahead 21-0 at quarter-time and 36-0 at half-time, as the Saints struggled to fashion scoring opportunities .
Saints finally got on the board six minutes into the third quarter, when Hannah Stuart converted a set shot after being awarded a free kick.
They had the next four shots as well, but missed the opportunity to put more scoreboard pressure on as all of them produced a behind and North regained the ascendancy in the fourth quarter.
AAP
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
