North Melbourne have broken through for their maiden AFLW premiership and completed an undefeated season with a 30-point win over the Brisbane Lions in the historic night grand final.
Gun midfielder Jasmine Garner and captain Emma Kearney starred in the Kangaroos' 5.9 (39) to 1.3 (9) victory in front of 12,122 fans at Ikon Park on Saturday night, turning the tables on the Lions after last year's heartbreaking defeat in the season decider.
Garner tallied 35 disposals, 22 contested possessions, 13 tackles and 10 clearances in a best-afield performance, despite close attention from Jade Ellenger and Bre Koenen.
It was North's 12th consecutive win, with the only blemish in a near-perfect campaign under coach Darren Crocker a draw with Geelong in round two.
The Kangaroos are the first expansion team to win a premiership, in the competition's ninth season, and the only team in AFLW history to go through an entire campaign without a loss.
Crocker adds his AFLW premiership as coach to the 1996 AFL flag he won with the Kangaroos as a player.
The 57-year-old cut a relieved figure after the siren, admitting he felt the weight of expectation during the build-up.
"To go through a season undefeated to this point and to have made a grand final last year and been in front at three-quarter-time and get overrun, I must admit I felt like there was a little bit of pressure," Crocker said.
"So for me it's just a sense of relief."
Kearney (23 disposals) was influential across half-back in her second game back from a serious hamstring injury, later revealing she feared she wouldn't return this season after suffering setbacks during her rehabilitation.
"I'm super proud. It's been a challenging year for me and I actually didn't know if I was going to get back or not," Kearney told the Seven Network.
"I had a few little other tears of muscles when I was trying to rehab, so I was a bit touch-and-go at points in the season.
"I'm just so happy to be playing, and playing with this group. We love each other."
Garner and Ash Riddell (30) were brilliant in the midfield, while Alice O'Loughlin finished with three goals and Irish forward Vikki Wall two.
North set up their win in a dominant opening term, kicking the first three goals through Tess Craven and O'Loughlin (two) to take an early 17-point lead.
Ellie Hampson benefited from a downfield free kick to slot the Lions' first, but the Kangaroos led 4.1 to 1.2 at the main break, with Kearney a force throughout the first half.
A rushed behind to Brisbane was the only score of a hard-fought third term, before a Wall major extended North's advantage early in the final quarter.
Down by 23 points, the Lions' task got even more difficult when Ellenger had to be helped off the field with an ankle injury.
O'Loughlin's third goal sealed the result and sent North Melbourne fans into party mode, celebrating their club's first premiership in either the women's or men's competitions since their 1999 AFL triumph.
Brisbane's loss was their fourth from six AFLW grand final appearances under long-time coach Craig Starcevich.
"We're pretty disappointed, obviously, but full of admiration for the opposition, to be honest, because they pressured us into submission the way we normally do to opponents," Starcevich said.
"All the little things with how quick and pannicky our disposals were, our loss of structure at times and their quick ball movement to get themselves into good scoring positions were terrific.
"That was the tale of the night really. They were just too good."
