The local clubs that produced VFLW premiership Roos
North Melbourne won its first ever VFLW premiership when they fought off a strong mid-game comeback from the Western Bulldogs to win the 2024 rebel VFLW Grand Final by 20 points on Sunday 21 July at Port Melbourne.
The Kangaroos prevailed 10.8 (68) to 7.6 (48) in front of a big crowd, with exciting forward Nyakoat Dojiok winning the Lisa Hardeman Medal with a blistering four-goal performance.
The win capped an incredible rise up the ranks for the Kangaroos, who finished ninth last year and had never played in the rebel VFLW finals before this season. They also overcame a 3-5 start to 2024, winning eight of their last nine games, including three finals, to lift the premiership cup.
The Kangas got off to a flyer, kicking four goals to nothing in the first quarter, with Emily Paterno slotting the opener to elate the crowd, but the Dogs gradually worked their way back into the contest to set up a huge final 20 minutes.
As North Melbourne had one hand on the cup in the final minutes, midfielder Audrey Rhodes put the cherry on the cake with a major on the verge of the full-time siren.
Many of the premiership Roos started their football journeys in Victoria, and it is exciting to see the new talent emerging through community football ranks onto the VFLW and AFLW lists.
See below for a full list of North Melbourne players from the 2024 VFLW premiership triumph and the community clubs they have most recently been part of.
North Melbourne VFLW Grand Final team:
B: Mara McSweeney (22) (West Brunswick), Amanda Ling (24) (Whitehorse)
HB: Jess Jones (17) (West Brunswick), Nicole Hales (30) (Greensborough), Elisha King (5) (Melbourne University Womens FC)
C: Matilda Zander (10) (Melbourne University Womens FC), Audrey Rhodes (4) (Old Xaverians), Elizabeth Jackson (19) (Acquinas OC)
HF: Emily Paterno (21) (Hillside), Nyakoat Dojiok (40) (Essendon Doutta Stars), Brooke Slaney (7) (Kilsyth)
F: Renee Tierney (34) (Greenvale), Georgia Nicholas (9) (Old Scotch Collegians)
R: Kate Reynolds (44) (Melbourne University Womens FC), Jennifer Guy (8) (Old Launcestonians/TAS), Madeleine Di Cosmo (12) (Marcellin)
INT: Zara Flanigan (16) (Fitzroy), Alana Barba (26) (Greenvale), Paige Ryan (27) (Melbourne University Womens FC), Mary Daw (38) (Point Cooke Centrals), Tahlia Meier (2) (Melbourne University Womens FC)
EMG: Kiara Delia (20) (Greenvale), Sarah Hosking (13) (Frankston), Sarah King (46) (Fitzroy), Tricia Cowan (18) (Acquinas OC), Annabel Scott (23) (Marcellin), Marguerite Purcell (28) (Caulfield Grammarians), Felicity Theodore (1) (Hillside)
NORTH MELBOURNE 4.2 6.4 6.6 10.8 (68)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 0.1 2.4 6.6 7.6 (48)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Dojiok 4, Paterno 2, Rhodes, Nicholas, Di Cosmo, Barba
Western Bulldogs: Tabb, Saulitis, Pulcino, Milford, McLeod, Hardingham, Clifford
BEST
North Melbourne: Dojiok, Rhodes, Di Cosmo, Barba, Hales, Paterno
Western Bulldogs: Carbone, Hardingham, Hurst, Ugle, Pulcino, Tabb
LISA HARDEMAN MEDAL VOTING
Jennie Loughnan (AFL Head of State League)
3 - Nyakoat Dojiok (NM)
2 - Audrey Rhodes (NM)
1 - Dom Carbone (WB)
Gemma Bastiani (AFL Media/State of Play host)
3 - Alana Barba (NM)
2 - Maddie Di Cosmo (NM)
1 - Nyakoat Dojiok (NM)
Sean Buncle (Port Melbourne VFLW coach)
3 - Nyakoat Dojiok (NM)
2 - Audrey Rhodes (NM)
1 - Alana Barba (NM)
Kate McCarthy (Channel 7)
3 - Audrey Rhodes (NM)
2 - Nyakoat Dojiok (NM)
1 - Dom Carbone (WB)
Total
9 - Nyakoat Dojiok (NM)
7 - Audrey Rhodes (NM)
4 - Alana Barba (NM)
2 - Dom Carbone (WB)
2 - Maddie Di Cosmo (NM)
