CARLTON'S undefeated start to the 2026 season has come to an end at the hands of North Melbourne, going down by 10 points in a Sunday afternoon tussle at Arden St Oval.

Carlton got as close as anyone to defeating the Kangaroos for a long time, momentarily taking the lead in the second quarter and competing all afternoon. North Melbourne held its nerve though, running out 4.9 (33) to 3.5 (23) winners in front of a record AFLW crowd for the ground of over 3,500.

In the annual AFLW SuperClash to raise funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital’s Good Friday Appeal, both sides lined up for a reverse guard of honour for staff, patients and their families in what are always emotional scenes.

The usual North suspects in captain Jasmine Garner (30 disposals, five tackles and five clearances) and reigning AFLW Best and Fairest Ash Riddell (39, three clearances and 521 metres gained) combined beautifully in the midfield to make it 32 wins in a row for the Kangaroos. Dayna Finn and Harriet Cordner led the way for the Blues with 29 disposals apiece.

The Blues can be proud of their performance, bringing pressure and their characteristic forward handball game throughout the afternoon. It was their last kick to go inside the attacking 50 though that tended to let them down.

The toughest assignment in the game, Erone Fitzpatrick (seven tackles) and Cordner (17 intercept possessions) continued to make their cases for All-Australian selection. Teammate Finn fought all day and had her hand in everything, with six tackles and two clearances.

North Melbourne's Alice O'Loughlin capitalised on a scramble to kick the opening (and only first-quarter) goal.

Four-time premiership defender Libby Birch came off the ground with medical staff, but had her knee strapped and returned in the second term.

Carlton's Poppy Scholz’s second effort in a one-on-one contest with Birch found Lila Keck, who snapped for a lone Nell Morris-Dalton in the goal square.

Veteran Emma Kearney was then penalised for a throw in Carlton’s forward 50, with Keck converting what looked to be an unlikely shot on goal to take the lead by three points.

01:00

AFLW R5 | Keck's magic minute sparks Blues as belief builds

Lila Keck sets up Nell Morris-Dalton with a clever kick to get Carlton on the board, before booting a goal of her own just seconds later

It woke the Kangaroos up, with Tahlia Randall's pinpoint set shot putting them back in front before Irishwoman Blaithin Bogue extended their lead.

Randall has now scored the most goals of any opposition player against the Blues, with a total of 11.

Carlton had repeat entries in the third term, keeping North Melbourne defenders busy and cutting the deficit to three points. Lily Goss broke a tackle and got a kick away bouncing towards home, Amy Gavin Mangan having a moment to forget by failing to rush the ball for a behind, with Fitzpatrick pouncing to convert.

The Kangaroos held onto their lead, scoring the only two points of the fourth quarter.

00:52

AFLW R5 | Speedy duo dazzle and stun as Fitzpatrick snaps at goal

Erone Fitzpatrick uses her craft on the goal line to reward Lily Goss' electric running assist as Carlton closes in on North Melbourne

Up next
The fixture doesn’t ease up for the Blues, facing undefeated Melbourne on Saturday at 1.05pm at Ikon Park.

NORTH MELBOURNE      1.4    3.5    4.7    4.9 (33)
CARLTON                       0.1    2.2    3.5    3.5 (23)

GOALS
North Melbourne: O'Loughlin, Randall, Bogue, Garner
Carlton: Morris-Dalton, Fitzpatrick, Keck

BEST 
North Melbourne: Riddell, Garner, Sheerin, O’Shea, Wall
Carlton: Finn, Cordner, Fitzpatrick, Good, McKay

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Birch (knee)
Carlton: Nil

Crowd: TBC at Arden St Oval