News External review for Richmond's AFLW program.

[toenail63]

I thought AA selection was touch and go for Mon this year. Maybe a spot on the bench. Can't argue with any of the selections really. In saying that she gets marked incredibly hard. She has a level above most others and if she falls a bit below but is still more influential than most she doesn't quite get the credit as others would. Bit like Dusty.

Worth noting that against Adelaide Mon had the following stats.

Adelaide paid the price by not closely tagging Mon, well partially they did but was Sarah Goodwin who had been given the job, was only her second tagging role for the season, also her last.

34 disposals @ 84.2% DE,
7 marks,
10 tackles,
13 contested possessions
5 clearances,
401 metres gained
1 goal
6 inside 50's
5 score involvements
9 intercepts

And yes she did get the 3 votes.

 

[toenail63]

Building a dynasty: How North Melbourne built their record-breaking list, and why they can add another premiership​

@KateSalemme November 27, 2025

The fab five are a big part of the Roos’ undefeated run, but it’s the bargains and discards who’ve become guns which makes them unbeatable. Here’s how the Roos built the best list in the comp — and how it gets better.

North Melbourne has engineered a powerhouse list through shrewd trading and identifying undervalued talent that has set the club up for a sustained dynasty.

What I love about North Melbourne’s list is they have found a plethora of elite players for bargain-basement prices.

Yes, there are the fab five, Emma Kearney, Jas Garner, Emma King, Tahlia Randall and Jenna Bruton, who were recruited from rivals in expansion, and the recent acquisitions of Libby Birch and Eilish Sheerin.

But what makes this list a juggernaut is the value uncovered from every corner of the talent landscape.

All-Australian Blaithin Bogue, Erika O’Shea and Vikki Wall are Irish recruits who have become vital to the team’s identity with their speed, skill and physicality.

Eliza Shannon was recruited for virtually nothing after one modest season at Hawthorn where she averaged 6.8 disposals in six games.

The Kangaroos slid back only seven spots in the 2023 supplementary draft to get her, sending pick No. 33 to the Hawks in exchange for Shannon and pick No. 40.

Since then, she’s become an integral part of the league’s best defence as an interceptor and creator off halfback.



Ruby Tripodi was plucked out of Williamstown in the VFLW with the fourth-last pick (No. 26) in the supplementary draft and has become a key cog in the midfield, while Amy Smith, whose footy IQ, composure and running patterns stood out to me when I played with her in the VFLW, was plucked from local club Aberfeldie (EDFL) as a father-daughter.

Jas Ferguson (pick No. 51, 2021) was drafted out of Collingwood’s VFLW program and is now one of the game’s best lockdown defenders, and this year Tessa Boyd was signed as a replacement player from the club’s VFLW program via Southern Saints/Sandringham, where she’s been one of the premier defenders for the last three years.

Meanwhile, league best and fairest winner Ash Riddell was overlooked in two drafts before joining as an inaugural signing. That’s nine players who have been recruited from relative obscurity who now form nearly half of a side that has broken the record for the longest winning streak ever.

NORTH MELBOURNE'S BARGAIN RECRUITS​

Blaithin Bogue, Erika O’Shea and Vikki Wall (all from Ireland)
Eliza Shannon (pick slide from 33 to 40 in 2023)
Ruby Tripodi (Pick 26 in the supplementary draft)
Jas Ferguson (pick 51)
Tessa Boyd (North Melbourne VFLW)
Ash Riddell (inaugural signing)

Taylah Gatt (pick No. 28, 2022), Alice O’Loughlin (No. 22, 2020) and Kim Rennie (pick No. 28, 2021), who was recruited for free in the draft after the Bulldogs refused to trade her for assets in the 2021 sign and trade period, were also bargains. Even Kate Shierlaw arrived from St Kilda in a three-way trade (for Grace Campbell and pick No. 15 in the supplementary draft) that didn’t receive much fanfare at the time.

The Kangaroos have also managed to cover reliable defender Sarah Wright (pick No. 32, 2019), who finished third in the club’s best and fairest last year behind Garner and Riddell, as she takes time away for personal reasons.

A major credit must go to the recruiting team who have consistently prioritised football skill over raw athletic traits, a philosophy that has enabled the coaches to implement a fast-moving, high-skill and precision game plan.



Their development program is just as impressive, transforming Garner, who was a solid contributor as a forward at Collingwood, into the best player in the league, elevating Bruton from a role player averaging 11.8 disposals and 122 metres gained in 2018 into an elite midfielder/half forward who’s still improving years later (averaging 14.8 disposals and 165 metres gained this year), and helping Rennie produce career-best numbers for disposals (12.6), clearances (2.3) and hit outs to advantage (5).

They also had the foresight to shift Randall from defence to attack in 2022, a move that fundamentally reshaped their forward structure and scoring power.

LIST NEEDS​

The challenge for the Kangaroos now is balancing experience with youth to maintain success as their stars age and retire. Kearney (36), Shierlaw (36), Sheerin (33), Garner (31), Emma King (31), Rennie (31) and Bruton (30) can’t play forever.

The most pressing is a succession plan for the key forward stocks. Shierlaw and King represent two thirds of their tall forward trio, and while they drafted 181cm key forward Claire Mahony, who I love for her kicking, aerial ability and athleticism, and ex-Docker ruck/forward Ariana Hetherington, I’d look for at least one or two more key forwards in the 21-25 age bracket to future-proof their stocks.



They also need another key defender capable of playing on taller forwards. Birch (175cm) and Ferguson (175cm) have been phenomenal but are undersized against bigger aerial threats. The Kangaroos were forced to play Shierlaw in defence in the first half against Melbourne in the preliminary final but that disrupted their own forward structure. It’s the only clear vulnerability.

If Wright retires, they also need another hybrid defender who can play tall or small, and additional running defenders as Kearney may retire and Nicole Bresnehan is recovering from an ACL.

TRADE TARGETS​

North Melbourne’s link to the Bulldogs’ former No. 1 draft pick Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner sent social media into meltdown but it’s smart list management and I’d be doing the same if I was at the club. Weston-Turner has been trialled as a forward, wing and most recently as a defender but hasn’t found her feet. Her raw athletic traits and x-factor would thrive in the Kangaroos’ development system and alongside its established stars.

Carlton’s Mia Austin would also be an ideal fit. At just 22, she has carried a heavy load inside 50 in a mostly struggling side and often faces the opposition’s best defender. With her finishing and aerial ability, Austin would flourish playing next to Randall and receiving delivery from Garner, Riddell, Bella Eddey and Tess Craven.

Magpie Jordyn Allen is being courted by multiple clubs and would be a seamless replacement for Kearney across half back. She would need to take a significant pay cut, but the lure of silverware can be a powerful motivator. A deal involving North Melbourne’s first pick and a player like Georgia Stubs, who I had as a good fit for Collingwood, could suit both sides.

TRADE BAIT​

Emma King has been a stalwart but I’m curious whether the Kangaroos are considering going younger with their forward line next season after she was forced to earn her spot back this year. Signed until the end of 2026, a club looking for immediate key forward/ruck help and are in the finals mix, like St Kilda and Hawthorn, would be very smart to tempt her with a multi-year offer to extend her career.



Youngster Ella Slocombe, taken with pick No. 26 in 2023, has played just one game across two seasons but showed in her debut against St Kilda that she has something to offer at the level with her ball use and running patterns. A move home to Western Australia could be on the cards, with a second or third-round pick likely to get it done.

UNTOUCHABLES​

Garner, Riddell, Bogue, Eddey, O’Shea, Randall, Ferguson, M. King, Mahony, Wall, Craven, O’Loughlin, Birch

CRYSTAL BALL​

North Melbourne is one win away from back-to-back premierships and a three or four-peat is a realistic chance. The list is built for sustained success as Garner, Bruton, Rennie and King have another three-to-five years left, while the next generation, including Riddell (29), Randall (27), Birch (27), Smith (27), Wall (27), Ferguson (26), Shannon (26), Bogue (25), Mia King (24), Tripodi (24), Eddey (23), O’Loughlin (23), O’Shea (23) and Craven (21) is ready to carry the club beyond that. It’s a great time to be a Kangaroo.

 

[Yappie dribbles]

Emma grant forwards coach and operations manager steps down sounds like she's taken the hit

 

[Lord of the Wings]

WTF did we not apply for special assistance this year. Farken GWS just took our no.3 pick FFS

 

[Bojangles17]

And yet, when we played Adelaide, we looked OK. So, that was probably the very best we can be with the cattle we have right now. I'm not seeing Ferg is up for the improvement, but maybe I'm wrong, maybe it's just about the cattle.

Not sure anyone is up to North's class right now.

We just don’t move the ball like the top 4 sides do , nothing like it I’m afraid , wish we did

 

[Bojangles17]

WTF did we not apply for special assistance this year. Farken GWS just took our no.3 pick FFS

Maybe coz we were in finals 12m ago but by gee we re a shadow of that side

 

[Phar Ace]

Maybe coz we were in finals 12m ago but by gee we re a shadow of that side

Nailed the reasoning I reckon - not liking it though.

 

[TJTIGER]

Maybe coz we were in finals 12m ago but by gee we re a shadow of that side

Something definitely not ok with AFLW team... has anyone requested a trade out?

 

[toenail63]

Something definitely not ok with AFLW team... has anyone requested a trade out?

None have been mentioned to date by those in the media who follow these up regularly with the clubs and player managers.

There's been rumours aplenty of approx. a dozen or more names who are exploring their options elsewhere, but none from us.

One of those rumours is that we are chasing Kiera Mueller from Adelaide who is weighing up either us or Collingwood.

The only firm requests for a trade have come from Eden Zanker at Demons wanting to head West and wants it to be Freo, Mikala Cann from Pies to the Dogs, and Brooke Boileau from Adelaide to Carlton, and a forced one is us with Grace Egan that seems inevitable that she will be elsewhere next year.

 

[TJTIGER]

None have been mentioned to date by those in the media who follow these up regularly with the clubs and player managers.

There's been rumours aplenty of approx. a dozen or more names who are exploring their options elsewhere, but none from us.

One of those rumours is that we are chasing Kiera Mueller from Adelaide who is weighing up either us or Collingwood.

The only firm requests for a trade have come from Eden Zanker at Demons wanting to head West and wants it to be Freo, Mikala Cann from Pies to the Dogs, and Brooke Boileau from Adelaide to Carlton, and a forced one is us with Grace Egan that seems inevitable that she will be elsewhere next year.

Thanks for that! What's the issue with Grace Egan? Seems a solid contributer?

 

[Bojangles17]

Milzy should leave

 

[toenail63]

Thanks for that! What's the issue with Grace Egan? Seems a solid contributer?

Only guessing here but with our chase for pick 1 from the Suns we will need draft capital and at 25yo she would be the most likely value wise to move on as while her on-ball numbers are good she is lacking in the skills now needed in the comp, you don't need to be an outside player, but you need to be able to distribute and be involved in quick chains to move the ball to outside space.

 

[toenail63]

Milzy should leave

Would you keep Ford over Milzy?

 

[Bojangles17]

Would you keep Ford over Milzy?

Yes, certainly would

 

[toenail63]

Yes, certainly would

Same. I think trading Milzy would get us a decent draft pick, when she is on Milzy she is good, but she's not consistent and has dropped off. We could get a young forward in the draft easily better for us. Maya Louvel-Finn blitzed the WA combine testing is skilful and tough for example.

 

[Phar Ace]

One of those rumours is that we are chasing Kiera Mueller from Adelaide who is weighing up either us or Collingwood.

And if we go there, that defines our problems. Mueller is not the worst, but you'd say that's just more of the Brazzelle, Beruldsen type of level of player recruitment. Plugging the dyke wall.

 

[Phar Ace]

Thanks for that! What's the issue with Grace Egan? Seems a solid contributer?

She'll be busy filming the new clanger advert for AAMI next season!

 

[toenail63]

Rub it in why don't you.

 

[Phar Ace]

Milzy should leave

Depends - it's not about the talent or skill set for mine, it's more about the attitude and resilience, perhaps. Let's see what the off-season produces. Probably destined for Essendon.

 

[toenail63]

And if we go there, that defines our problems. Mueller is not the worst, but you'd say that's just more of the Brazzelle, Beruldsen type of level of player recruitment. Plugging the dyke wall.

New rule. If you weren't given a single W Award B&F vote this year, we don't want ya.

 

[Phar Ace]

Rub it in why don't you.

Feels wrong, but it is what it is. Thrilled for Sheerin, we got Nth's 1st round pick, she was determined to leave. It's not a perfect science sometimes!

 

[Phar Ace]

There's hope, Crock mentioned "bringing the bottom up, the top's going OK"

 

[toenail63]

There's hope, Crock mentioned "bringing the bottom up, the top's going OK"

@ Kate Sheehan.

 

[TJTIGER]

Rub it in why don't you.

Trivia, She shares a birthday with M Knights & myself...
Was surprised when she left RFC tbh..

 

[Bojangles17]

Rub it in why don't you.

No surprise here , she’s been outstanding at the level from her first game , we bungled her contract negotiation on the pay heirachy that would have had her well below the top despite performing as our next best player, good on her btw have always loved how she goes about it