Roos continue unbeaten run over Bombers

NORTH Melbourne continued its impressive form this AFLW season, this time defeating Essendon by 51 points at Windy Hill on Sunday afternoon.

Joining her trainer Darren Crocker After the game, Jasmine Garner spoke about the key factors in the team’s victory.

“We wanted to make a really good first impression and we wanted to come out hot from the start and I think we succeeded. We set up the game in the first half,” Garner said.

Crocker said the Kangaross had identified Essendon’s strengths in the match and began developing strategies to limit them.

“We know they love to use the ball, they’re something of a kicking team,” he said.

“The numbers showed us that when they were successful this year, they received over 60 uncontested marks. “There was a strong emphasis in the game that we needed to take this game away from them and I thought the players did very well today.”

It was a historic match for North as the Roos faced the Bombers for the first time in an official match. Like a great team, the prospect of meeting the team for the first time in the upcoming final did not bother them either.

“It’s really interesting,” Garner said.

“We haven’t played Essendon until today and all we care about is doing what we do and making a good first impression.”

“Anytime, anywhere, under any conditions,” Crocker chimed in with a laugh.

Ahead of the big match against the Adelaide Crows this coming weekend, Crocker said the midfield battle is where the match will be won and lost.

“We had some great battles with Adelaide,” Crocker said.

“They are a very strong team in midfield. The midfield battle will be very important, as it is in many games where it starts, but also if we can hold up really well defensively, that will be our strength this year.

“They will come to try to take it away from us. “I think those will be the two areas that will really determine the outcome of the game.”