Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Two-time North Melbourne premiership player Alice O’Loughlin is a significant casualty out of their comprehensive AFLW qualifying final win.
O’Loughlin was emotional on the bench after she hurt her knee in the last quarter of Saturday’s 7.7 (49) to 1.7 (13) win over Carlton at Ikon Park.
She was in agony and needed two trainers to help her off the field after Gab Pound caught her in a tackle.
It was the one negative for the two-time defending premiers, who withstood a game challenge from the Blues in the first quarter.
North were held scoreless, but Carlton only managed two behinds as the Blues kicked with a strong, swirling breeze.
Kangaroos forward Kate Shierlaw kicked their first goal five minutes into the second term and they were away.
They kicked another three goals and led by 23 points at the main break.
North great Jenna Bruton marked her 100-game milestone by kicking the only goal of the third quarter.
Bruton was chaired off the field, the day before her 31st birthday.
Sophie McKay saved Carlton from the ignominy of a goalless final, snapping accurately 17 minutes into the last quarter.
The usual suspects starred for the Kangaroos – Jasmine Garner racked up 31 possessions, and fellow midfielder Ash Riddell had a game-high 33.
Key defender Harriet Cordner was mighty for Carlton, especially early, but eventually there was little she could do when the dam wall broke. Cordner took a team-high six marks.
Carlton will next host the winner of Sunday’s elimination final between Gold Coast and Hawthorn.
O’Loughlin joins veteran Emma Kearney as the injury worries for North as they aim for the AFLW’s first premiership three-peat. Kearney is recovering from a hamstring injury.
Melbourne beat Geelong in the early game of the qualifying-final double-header at Ikon Park, with 5028 the attendance for the late match.
