Kangaroos crush Blues in record 69-point AFLW win

Tahlia Randall (l) was at it again for the Kangaroos, kicking three goals against a hapless Carlton. (Morgan Hancock/AAP PHOTOS)

Carlton's goalless run stretched to seven quarters as North Melbourne posted their biggest ever AFLW win with a 69-point trouncing of the Blues at Ikon Park.

The Kangaroos kicked the first nine goals of Wednesday night's match on their way to an easy 12.7 (79) to 1.4 (10) victory.

It beat North Melbourne's previous biggest win - a 66-point triumph over Sydney in round six, 2022.

Wednesday's result lifted North Melbourne, with four wins and a draw from five matches, above Adelaide (4-0) into top spot on the ladder.

Although Adelaide have a game in hand, the Kangaroos' percentage now sits at a league high 286.

Carlton (2-3) face a battle to stay in the hunt for a top-eight berth.

The Blues' first goal of Wednesday's match didn't arrive until the 14th minute of the third quarter, when Celine Moody outmarked two opponents before nailing her set shot.

That marked Carlton's first goal since Tarni Brown kicked a major in the third quarter of the Blues' 29-5 win over Geelong on September 14.

In between those games, Carlton were kept goalless for the first time in their AFLW history in a 33-point loss to Richmond last Thursday.

North Melbourne boasted eight individual goalkickers against Carlton.

Tahlia Randall kicked three goals, while Emma King and Bella Eddey chipped in with two apiece. 

Ash Riddell starred with 36 disposals, seven tackles, four clearances and 442m gained, while Mia King (26 disposals, five clearances) and Emma Kearney (23 disposals) were also influential.

For Carlton, Keeley Sherar and Mimi Hill racked up 26 disposals apiece, but there was little else to smile about for the Blues.

Adding salt to the wound for Carlton was an injury to Abbie McKay, who limped off late in the third quarter with a leg or knee injury and played no further part in the match.

Carlton's Madeleine Guerin was left with a bloodied nose from a hit early in the second quarter.

But the biggest hits were occurring on the scoreboard as the Kangaroos' run-and-stun style paid dividends time and again.

Out of North Melbourne's 10 goals up until three-quarter time, five were from stoppages and four were from turnovers.

"I think we've got a lot more belief (compared to last season)," Riddell told the Seven Network after the match when asked about how much better North Melbourne are this year. 

"Last year we hadn't beaten a lot of the top sides and we were hoping to win.

"Now we've got that confidence and belief in our system that we know we're good and we know we can take it all the way."

The Kangaroos rested Jenna Bruton and Kate Shierlaw for Wednesday's match, while Carlton skipper Kerryn Peterson (shoulder) and Dayna Finn (ankle) were ruled out for the Blues.

North Melbourne face in-form Richmond on Sunday, while Carlton take on the Power in Adelaide on the same day. 

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