The Sydney Morning Herald
· collected 2026-09-13 · by Hannah Kennelly
North Melbourne extended their unbeaten streak in the AFLW to 32 games with a narrow 10-point victory over Carlton at Arden Street Oval on Sunday, drawing one of the largest crowds for an AFLW match. Despite North’s dominance, they struggled against Carlton’s defensive pressure and fast style, leading coach Darren Crocker to praise Carlton’s effort while acknowledging the tight margin was their closest this season. The game featured standout performances from both teams, including Carlton’s Harriet Cordner and Erone Fitzpatrick, who scored a highlight-reel goal in the third quarter.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-13,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
All dynasties eventually have to end.
asserted
dynasties → have → ?
But North Melbourne’s AFLW team are clearly steadfast on remaining immortal for, well, for as long as possible.
asserted
team → remain → ?
On Sunday afternoon 4048 fans packed into a wind-whipped Arden Street Oval, to watch the all-conquering Kangaroos’ reign continue with a tight 10-point win over Carlton – their third-lowest winning margin since their unbeaten streak began after the 2023 grand final defeat.
asserted
streak → pack → defeat
The ever-dominant Kangaroos also played a draw early in their 2024 premiership season.
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Kangaroos → play → season
North have advanced to a record-extending 32st-consecutive victory.
asserted
North → advance → victory
They faced a tough onslaught from Carlton defenders who dimmed the Roos’ typical fast attacking style and managed to keep the margin largely to about one goal.
asserted
who → face → goal
North coach Darren Crocker conceded the winning margin – the closest a team has come to the Kangaroos all year – was nail-bitingly tight, and said Carlton “threw everything at us”.
“There were lots of almost moments in that game where I thought that we were going to break the game open, but we... to Carlton’s credit, we just couldn’t,” he said.
asserted
he → concede → credit
“They made it, very hard for us to score, we were able to still get there, which was really pleasing.”
asserted
which → make → ?
Irishwoman Erika O’Shea said the reigning premiers knew “Carlton was going to give it to us”, praising the Blues’ pressure and physicality.
“They’re a young team...
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They → say → pressure
they’re fast, and I suppose it was an exhausting game.
asserted
it → ’re → ?
It was very hot, but I suppose we love the challenge,” she said with a grin.
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she → suppose → grin
Carlton announced their intention to challenge the Roos within the opening seconds of the first quarter.
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Carlton → announce → quarter
The Blues defenders brought a high level of pressure and capitalised on some relieving marks, with Harriet Cordner leading the charge with four intercepts and one intercept mark by the end of the first quarter.
asserted
Cordner → bring → quarter
The Blues’ pressure limited Talia Randall to two behinds in the opening term but couldn’t stop Alice O’Loughlin from booting North’s first goal.
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pressure → limit → goal
But two consecutive goals from Nell Morris-Dalton and Lila Keck put Carlton in front during the second quarter, earning a wild cheer from the smattering of Blues supporters in the crowd.
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goals → put → crowd
But Randall quickly snatched the lead back with a perfect goal from 45m out, followed by another from Blaithin Bouge.
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Randall → snatch → Bouge
Carlton Lilly Goss had the job on last year’s best and fairest winner Ash Riddell, dulling the midfielder’s impact briefly.
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Goss → have → impact
In the third term Goss swooped on the Sherrin and sprinted down the field, dodging a fierce tackle from O’Shea and booting the ball towards the goal.
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Goss → swoop → goal
Fitzpatrick almost did a 360-degree turn, scooping the ball up and snapping arguably the best goal of the week in AFLW.
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Fitzpatrick → do → AFLW
By three-quarter time, the rowdy North Melbourne crowd were noticeably quiet as Carlton sensed a rare opportunity to unseat the Roos.
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Carlton → sense → Roos
The Blues were within a goal and an animated Carlton coach Matthew Buck came down from the coach’s box to shout instructions from the boundary line.
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coach → come → line
Ultimately, it was a goalless final quarter with Carlton holding North to only two behinds.
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Carlton → hold → behinds
But Carlton failed to capitalise on key moments and North held on to win 4.9 (33) to 3.5 (23).
asserted
North → fail → 3.5
Post-match Buck said his message to the group at three-quarter time was about “continued belief”.
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message → say → belief
“We felt like we took a good step forward today in the way we want to play, and the way we want to play against a really strong team,” he said.
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he → feel → team
“You love playing against the best side, and clearly the Kangaroos being the best in the competition for a long time, and they were great against today.
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they → love → time
You have to beat them, like you have to beat them in all different areas of the ground.
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you → have → ground
North Melbourne face Hawthorn next week and the week after have a highly anticipated clash against Melbourne – a match up that could be their biggest test.
uncertain
that → face → Melbourne
Under the stewardship of new coach Tim Wilson, Melbourne remain undefeated in 2026 and are second on the ladder.
asserted
Melbourne → remain → ladder
The Demons face Carlton next week – a match up Crocker said he would be tuning in to.
asserted
he → face → match
