In a stunning display of finals football, North Melbourne delivered a crushing blow to Hawthorn, running out 41-point victors in a heated AFLW elimination final that will be remembered as much for the on-field dominance as the vocal crowd reaction.
The Roos' systematic dismantling of the Hawks saw them secure a commanding 7.8 (50) to 1.3 (9) victory at Box Hill City Oval, but the match was punctuated by loud, persistent booing from sections of the crowd that threatened to overshadow the football spectacle.
Controversial Atmosphere Mars Finals Showdown
Throughout the contest, the stadium echoed with disapproval from Hawks supporters, creating an unusually hostile environment for a women's final. The booing intensified during the third quarter as North Melbourne tightened their grip on the match, leaving home fans increasingly frustrated.
"The atmosphere was certainly... passionate," one observer noted, with the crowd's behaviour raising questions about sportsmanship in the growing women's competition.
Kangaroos' Midfield Dominance
North Melbourne's engine room proved far too powerful for the inexperienced Hawks, with the Roos winning clearances 25-15 and dominating contested possessions 114-92. This midfield supremacy allowed them to control the tempo and territory throughout the four quarters.
Star ruck Kim Rennie was instrumental in the victory, amassing 21 disposals and 24 hitouts in a best-on-ground performance that gave her midfielders first use of the ball repeatedly.
Scoreboard Pressure Tells the Story
The Kangaroos' dominance was reflected on the scoreboard from the opening bounce. They restricted Hawthorn to just one goal for the entire match while piling on seven of their own across a comprehensive team performance.
Key forward Kate Shierlaw booted two crucial goals while Jasmine Garner and Mia King each contributed majors in a well-distributed scoring effort that highlighted North Melbourne's offensive versatility.
What's Next for Both Sides
North Melbourne now advances to a semi-final showdown against Adelaide, carrying impressive form and momentum into the next stage of their premiership campaign.
For Hawthorn, the defeat marks a disappointing end to their finals campaign, but provides valuable experience for a developing squad that showed promise throughout the season. The challenge now becomes building on this foundation for 2024.
The match will undoubtedly spark conversations about crowd behaviour in women's sport as the AFLW competition continues to grow in profile and intensity.
