North Melbourne Coach Faces Selection Dilemma Ahead of AFLW Decider
North Melbourne coach Darren Crocker has described the upcoming selection decision regarding fit-again midfielder Mia King as potentially one of the toughest calls of his coaching career. The Kangaroos are preparing for Saturday night's AFLW grand final against Brisbane, with King making a remarkable recovery from a knee injury that has sidelined her since round nine.
The King Conundrum: Risk Versus Reward
Crocker finds himself weighing up whether to reintroduce the talented inside midfielder or stick with the lineup that delivered a powerful preliminary final victory over Melbourne last week. King has been out of action for 50 days, having last played a half of football nearly two months ago.
"It's a really difficult situation," Crocker admitted during an interview with SEN. "Unfortunately for Mia, it will be 50 days on Saturday since she played a half of footy. And really, two and a half weeks ago you probably would've been putting red ink through it."
The coach did acknowledge King's impressive rehabilitation efforts, stating she's done a remarkable job in the last two and a half weeks to put herself in contention for the season decider.
Proven Performer Against Brisbane
King's case for selection is strengthened by her outstanding performance in last year's grand final against the same opponents. She was also a key contributor during North Melbourne's record-breaking winning streak before suffering her knee injury last month.
The 23-year-old has received public support from veteran teammate Emma Kearney this week, though her selection would carry some level of risk given her extended time away from competitive football.
"I'm really proud of her with how she's carried herself and given herself every opportunity," Crocker said of King's attitude during her recovery. The final team will be confirmed after Thursday's training session, with the coach emphasizing that whichever way the decision goes, it's going to be a real difficult one.
Brisbane Enter Unchanged as Kangaroos Chase History
Meanwhile, Brisbane approach the decider with a full squad available for selection. The Lions have won nine consecutive matches since suffering defeat to North Melbourne in round five.
The Kangaroos continue their dominant form with 26 consecutive victories as they aim for back-to-back premierships. This grand final marks the third consecutive year these two powerhouse teams have met in the season decider, setting the stage for another epic confrontation.
Football fans can watch the AFLW grand final live and free on Seven and 7plus SportStream this Saturday night as these two football heavyweights battle for supremacy.
