North Melbourne continued its sizzling start to the 2025 season. They reached a remarkable 16-match winning streak by demolishing Collingwood in the World Cup final. The first Code Clash played on North Melbourne’s home ground. The team proved their overall handiness by pushing their unbeaten streak to 18 matches and perfect in-season record this year to 4-0. The win was all the more impressive given that just a week earlier, North Melbourne had crushed Fremantle by a humiliating record amount of 100 points.
Their semi-final against Collingwood showed just how dangerous and aggressive North Melbourne could be. Considering inside 50m count was 48-25, the team did an excellent job controlling the game on offense. Even without their star player, Jasmine Garner, they put on an exceptional performance. Instead, it was players like Riddell and King that filled in the gaps to give people a wonderful game to watch.
A Stellar Performance from Riddell
In a standout display, North Melbourne’s Riddell significantly contributed to the team’s victory with 36 disposals, eight clearances, seven tackles, and a remarkable 401 meters gained. Beyond the individual accolades, her strong showings really set a tone, inspiring her teammates and proving pivotal in North Melbourne’s rapid ascent.
Riddell’s control of the midfield meant North Melbourne were able to gain the majority of possession and control the tempo of the game. Her tactical awareness and nonstop motor were on display as she orchestrated and spearheaded her team’s offensive and defensive attacks.
“It was the hard work of the girls up the field and I was just the lucky one to get it down the field.” – Taylor Smith
This upcoming performance by Riddell is important and cannot be overstated. Her competitive spirit and leadership on the field brought up the team’s confidence. More importantly, it established an iron-clad precedent for her teammates to follow.
Tactical Dominance Over Collingwood
North Melbourne showed their strength in the second quarter, dictating the game from its precise tactical and strategic superiority to Collingwood. That’s when the team came alive, scoring their first points of the third quarter. During that time, the Magpies appeared rattled, not registering a score up until early in that same quarter. This gulf highlighted just how dominant North Melbourne were for the entirety of the game.
We fast-forward to the first quarter where King scored the only goal. This allowed North Melbourne to take the lead early in the match. As the match progressed, the Swans effectively utilized their momentum, maintaining pressure on Collingwood’s defense and capitalizing on scoring opportunities.
The tactical execution from North Melbourne was commendable, as they consistently outmaneuvered their opponents and maintained a high level of intensity throughout the match.
Record-Breaking Season Performance
North Melbourne, meanwhile, has proved a truly fearsome presence in the season just past. It’s no surprise then that they do so with a remarkable efficiency percentage of 492.1. Their performance against Fremantle last week highlighted their capacity for scoring and controlling the game, setting a record with a 100-point win.
Now more than halfway into their unbeaten run, the team’s confidence is obvious. Their chemistry has helped elevate their individual skill level. Yet somehow, against all odds, they don’t just survive — they prevail, even in the absence of stars like Jasmine Garner.
The next few games will be crucial for North Melbourne. They hope to continue building their momentum and winning further breakthroughs in the league.
