IN a fascinating VFL Women’s clash in Preston, North Melbourne bounced back from last week’s loss to Carlton with a 38-point win over Darebin. Despite the cushy margin, much of the game was a different story and much more even, but a strong first quarter from North was the real difference.

The Roos dominated the attacking play early, and had a goal inside the opening minutes via Audrey Rhodes. However, as much as they were dominating the attacking possession, North Melbourne could not convert on the scoreboard. It took another five minutes for Kayla Peake to slot through North’s second.

Darebin did finally get some forward half time, but then North was able to run it down the other end and Emily Paterno converted against the run of play for North’s third of the term. Reni Hicks kept the first quarter pile on going with a goal inside the final minute of the term and things were already looking dire for the home side.

The margin sat at just over four goals at the first change, with North Melbourne in complete control early.

It was Darebin who was the ones to get the quick opening goal in the second term, as Alyssa Mifsud slotted truly after the Falcons dominated early play.

Although North dominated the possession for much of the back half of the second term, scoring was hard to come by for those in blue and white. The Roos’ first goal of the term would not come until the 15 minute mark of the term when Jess Mourney kicked truly.

Darebin was quick to counter though, as Zoe Larkins converted from a tough angle only a minute or so later. Mifsud has her second within minute of Larkins’ goal and the Falcons were starting to have a spring in their step. In the end the margin sat at 16 points at the main break, and the result did not feel as decided as it had 20 minutes prior.

Scoring dried up massively in the third term. Both sides had their chances, but it was played mostly between the 50s so chances were few and far between. North finally got two goals late through Rhodes and Jade Hillas to extend the margin back out to over 30 points at the final change.

Scoring was even harder to come by in the last term. North had much of the attacking play but the Falcons’ defence held strong and limited North to behinds for almost the whole quarter.

This was until Peake kicked her second in the final minute of the term to bump the margin out to the final 38 point margin.

Angelica Gogos collected a game-high 26 disposals in a loss for the Falcons, well supported by the likes of Bec Goring and Stephanie Simpson. For the Roos, Annabel Scott and Ruby Tripodi were the prime ball-movers with 25 and 23 disposals respectively.

In other results:

• The weekend began with a solid 26 point win to Port Melbourne over Box Hill.

Although things were tight in the first half, Port kicked away in the second half to take the win. Stella Reid and Amelia Peck were the only multiple goal kickers on the ground, while Jordan Mifsud led the ball winners with 22 touches.

• Essendon’s bounce back from a poor season start continued, downing Collingwood by 16 points.

In a low scoring encounter, the Bombers really put the screws on Collingwood’s scoring chances, which ultimately helped them take the win. Grace Dicker was the only one from either side to put multiple goals on the board, while Amelia Radford and Jess Bates topped the disposals tally for both sides.

• Williamstown pulled off arguably the biggest upset of the weekend, defeating Carlton by 35 points.

Carlton did not kick a goal until the third term, and that would be the only one that it would kick as the Seagulls kicked even further away in the last. Sarah Cameron was the star up front for the Seagulls with three goals to her name, while Madeleine Di Cosmo got plenty of the ball for Carlton, finishing with 26 touches.

• Geelong picked up another solid win, this time by 28 points over the Western Bulldogs.

Geelong kept the Bulldogs scoreless in the first term, which put them on a good path towards a victory like the one they got. Sachi DeGiacomi kicked three goals for the Cats while Olivia Cicolini kicked two. Meanwhile for the Bulldogs Tahlia Meier and Jorja Borg topped the disposal tally with 17 touches each.

• The weekend ended with a big 42-point win to the Southern Saints over Casey.

 Not scoring a goal for two quarters really hurt the Dees as the Saints ultimately ran away with the match. Lucy Burke led the scoring for the Saints with four majors while Abbey Tregellis and Gabriella De Angelis each kicked three and two respectively. Meanwhile for the Dees, former AFLW Sun Shannon Danckert topped the disposal count for her side with 19.