THE 2022 AFL Women’s season is almost upon us, so it is time to take a look at each of the competing teams and see where they sit as we head into another season. Today we will take a look at North Melbourne, who made finals in 2021.

North Melbourne havd yet another good season in 2021. North finished with a 6-3 record and made finals for the second year running. They were dominant against the expansion sides, but not against the contenders, which was their ultimate downfall. They ultimately fell at the elimination final stage, beaten by Collingwood in the first week of the finals.

Despite the less then ideal finish to the 2021 season, there is no reason to suggest North won’t be around the mark again in 2022. They have got a squad full of stars, that continue to perform week in and week out.

Jasmine Garner continues to dominate the midfield and forward line, and she won back to back club champion awards in 2021. She also made the All-Australian team, alongside teammate and North captain Emma Kearney.

Kearney continues to lead from the front, and made the All-Australian team for the fifth year in a row in 2021. She is currently only one of two players in the league to have this impressive record.

Midfielder Ash Riddell is always a ball winner, and averaged a team high 21.8 disposals in 2021. She will certainly be looking to continue that ripping form into 2022 and beyond.

The Roos’ off-season ensured the team stayed relatively stable, which will certainly help in their charge back up the ladder in 2022. The off-season for North was pretty quiet by North standards.

They did not trade anyone in, but only lost Vivien Saad and Jasmine Grierson to other clubs. Katelyn Cox, Katherine Gillespie-Jones, Georgia Hammond, Beth Lynch and Tahni Nestor were all delisted.

In their place, North drafted in Tess Craven, Jasmine Ferguson, Perri King, Ella Maurer, Kim Rennie and Tara Slender. A lot of raw, mostly young, talent that will just add to North’s already established list of stars.

Their inactive list for 2022 is also short, with Elisha King the only one on there at time of writing due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Additionally, North got a very favourable draw for the 2022 season.

The Roos face Geelong, Adelaide, GWS, Carlton and Fremantle in the front half of the season. With three, maybe even possibly four of those games winnable, North could be in a very good position heading into the back half of the season. They then have Richmond, Collingwood, Melbourne, Brisbane and West Coast to round out the season. Most, if not all those games, are winnable, so North’s finals destiny is certainly in their own hands.

2022 squad:

• Sophie Abbatangelo
• Kaitlyn Ashmore
• Daria Bannister
• Daisy Bateman
• Brooke Brown
• Nicole Bresnehan
• Jenna Bruton
• Grace Campbell
• Tess Craven
• Jess Duffin
• Isabella Eddey
• Jasmine Ferguson
• Jasmine Garner
• Ellie Gavalas
• Britt Gibson
• Aileen Gilroy
• Danielle Hardiman
• Emma Kearney
• Emma King
• Mia King
• Perri King Ella Maurer
• Alice O’Loughlin
• Tahlia Randall
• Kim Rennie
• Ash Riddell
• Tara Slender
• Amy Smith
• Sarah Wright