MELBOURNE has suffered its first loss of 2026, going down to North Melbourne by 31 points.

After leading by 18 points early in the second quarter, the Demons were held goalless across the second and third terms, the Kangaroos kicking away for a 10.5 (65) to 5.4 (34) result.

It marks the end of Melbourne’s undefeated streak for the 2026 season. To make matters worse, there’ll be a watch on Shelley Heath-Barker who was unable to play out the game due to a calf complaint.

North Melbourne winger Taylah Gatt, playing her first game of the season after a groin injury kept her sidelined, was also ruled out in the final term with an ankle injury, after an enthusiastic tackle from Melbourne captain Kate Hore.

Hore raised the bat for her 100th AFLW match after a week of celebrations, including a first-quarter goal, but was kept relatively quiet by the Kangaroos (16 and three clearances).

Vice-captain Tyla Hanks was prolific (32, five tackles and four clearances), while Mia Austin finished with three of the Demons’ five goals and looked dangerous when given the opportunity.

Melbourne led in contested ball early, stretching the ground out to try and tire North Melbourne out, after reports during the week of flu running through the program. Although the ball lived in the Kangaroos’ forward half in the opening five minutes, the Demons capitalised.

Tayla Harris took the advantage from a high free kick to set up Megan Fitzsimon directly in front of goal, before a 50m penalty awarded to Austin after Emma Kearney remonstrated with the umpire extended their lead.

But it was Hore who sent the crowd into raptures, playing on and dribbling through a goal after a set-up by fellow milestone teammate, 50-gamer Maeve Chaplin for a 17-point quarter-time lead.

But the Kangaroos put the foot down from there, scoring six goals across the middle terms to set up their win.

Initially, they didn’t make it easy for themselves, with a chain of fumbling handballs finally finding Kate Shierlaw to snap and score their first goal of the match on her return from concussion.

The flair of the Irish played a major role in the comeback. Young Amy Gavin Mangan set up half-back Erika O’Shea with a short kick out to her advantage, O’Shea putting the burners on to run inside 50 and convert.

Minutes later, it was Vikki Wall on the end of yet another quick transition setting up Gavin Mangan for a goal of her own and extending their lead to seven points at half-time.

After coming from the ground nursing a sore shoulder late in the second quarter, Blaithin Bogue more than proved her fitness in the third term, snapping a goal off yet another chain of forward half handballs.

Melbourne simply could not get the game on its terms from there, forced to be reactive throughout the second half, losing uncontested possession 140-185 across the evening. 

First final-term loss for the year for Melbourne
Until Friday night, Melbourne had not lost a final quarter, giving the Dees a glimmer of hope for the fourth term. Even when leading substantially in previous games, the Demons had continued to tick over the scoreboard and laying heavy tackles until the final siren. But instead, it was North Melbourne who got the party started with four goals, although Austin scored a couple of late consolation goals.

Inaugural AFLW Jim’s Game celebrates Irish AFLW influence
Friday night’s match honoured the late Melbourne legend Jim Stynes and raised funds for the Jim Stynes Foundation. Carlton and Richmond opened doubleheader proceedings of ‘Craic in at the W’, and among other activations fans enjoyed a chorus of Irish dancers doing a jig after each Melbourne goal. But the Demons were the only team of the four not to field an Irish AFLW player, with Sinead Goldrick currently injured, Blaithin Mackin on the inactive list, and the untried Aoife Horisk an emergency. Meanwhile, the Kangaroos had four Irish players on the park, Blaithin Bogue, Amy Gavin Mangan, Vikki Wall and Erika O’Shea, who all played their role.

Up next
Both teams now have a welcome break until next Sunday, with North Melbourne hosting Sydney at Arden St Oval at 1.05pm AEDT and Melbourne visiting Victoria Park to face Collingwood at 3.05pm.

MELBOURNE                          3.1       3.2       3.3     5.4 (34)
NORTH MELBOURNE             0.2       4.3       6.4     10.5 (65)

GOALS
Melbourne: Austin 3, Fitzsimon, Hore
North Melbourne: Garner 2, Shierlaw, O’Shea, Randall, Gavin Mangan, Bogue, Bruton, O’Loughlin, Wall

BEST 
Melbourne: Hanks, Austin, Hore, Fitzsimon 
North Melbourne: Garner, Riddell, Bruton, Sheerin, O’Shea

INJURIES
Melbourne: Heath-Barker (calf)
North Melbourne: Bogue (shoulder), Gatt (ankle)

LATE CHANGES
Melbourne: Nil
North Melbourne: Tessa Boyd (back soreness) replaced by Claire Mahony

Crowd: 3,105 at Ikon Park