THE BUILD up to the 2024 AFL Women’s Grand Final could not be more different than the build up to the 2023 decider for North Melbourne’s Ruby Tripodi.

Squeezed out of the team on the eve of finals last year, Tripodi is now very much an indispensable part of an already impressive North Melbourne midfield, and as such is gearing up for her first AFLW Grand Final.

Tripodi agreed that not being able to play last year’s finals was hard, but like the humble star she is, was also thinking more broadly than just herself.

“On an individual level, it’s always hard,” Tripodi said.

“I think it’d be silly for anyone to say that they wouldn’t want to be playing finals or playing in that grand final. But, when I like reflect on it, it’s probably pushed me on to do a really massive off season, and on a team level, like I was still so proud and so excited for the girls that were playing in that grand final. But I’m very grateful that this year that I do get that opportunity.”

Things have gone much better for Tripodi this year, who has played every game to date so far this season and credits a positional change for her consistent season that was suggested to her by coach Darren Crocker if she could improve her fitness last offseason,

“Last year I was a high forward, this year I’m a midfielder, and I think I’m definitely a lot more of a natural midfielder than a high forward,” Tripodi explained.

“That was something that I probably struggled with and I’d never played before, so it was a new challenge in itself. But to come into a midfield with Jasmine Garner, Ash Riddell, Mia King, they’re such amazing people, hard workers, and to learn off them, I feel like consistencies help because, like, they’re just great people and hard workers.”

It has been a big few years for Tripodi, who made the jump from VFL Women’s to AFLW and has become one of the biggest success stories from the 2023 Supplementary Draft.

“It was a big jump,” Tripodi said. 

“I think the pace itself is a lot different. It’s quite a different style of game to what I found, but I’ve just loved it. I loved Williamstown Football Club and like my time there and like such a great club. But I also really love the North Melbourne Football Club and I feel like I’m so embraced by it, and just the people here, the girls. It’s just such a great group to be a part of.”

Still living in the Williamstown area, Tripodi confirmed that she did get down to a few of Williamstown’s games this season as her old team had its best ever finish to a VFL Women’s season.

Speaking about the team as a whole, Tripodi said that the feeling in the Kangaroos camp at the moment heading into Saturday’s decider is a very positive one.

“I feel like everyone’s super keen, super excited, but we’re just keeping the process the same as every other week,” Tripodi said.  

“I feel like that’s held us in really good stead, so as much as we’re super keen for the weekend, it’s very much a process driven week.”

Despite the side being in a very different position heading into this year’s decider compared to where they were this week last year, Tripodi said that the vibe at Arden St is “pretty similar” this year to what it was in Grand Final week last year.

“It’s hard to probably decipher the two, but I think a big difference from last year is we have probably so much more belief” Tripodi said.

“I feel like last year like we had such a good role and we’re so excited, but I think this year each week there’s just been such belief in the group and I feel like that’s been building.”

Despite the pain the team suffered in last year’s Grand Final, it has not been a focus of discussion this week Tripodi said.

“I think a big thing for us has been it’s a new year” Tripodi explained.

“We’ve taken learnings from it definitely when we were going into this year, but I think if anything, we probably look more at round one when we’re viewing Brisbane rather than necessarily last year’s grand final.

“But I think also at the same time it’s just that the process stays the same in terms of how we reviewed the prelim and how we’re previewing the grand final, so it’s very much a in the now kind of, kind of attitude.”

Despite the pressure of keeping an undefeated season in tact and top it off with a flag, Tripodi said that the team’s process has kept them in good step for the challenge.

“I know that a lot of people have been saying that, but I think the way that we review games has held us in good stead for that,” Tripodi said.

“I think even though yes we’ve gone undefeated, I wouldn’t say that we’re necessarily satisfied with every performance. I think we’ve been so lucky and fortunate that we have been able to, but no, I don’t feel like we’re feeling the pressure of it because I think the way we review, we’re actually really quite hard on ourselves and we want to get better.”