Photo: Jack Dilks

The Southern Saints have secured its third consecutive finals berth, defeating North Melbourne by 26-points at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday afternoon to lock up fifth spot on the ladder.   

A two-goal haul from Amelia Peck helped seal the 6.11 (47) to 3.3 (21) victory for the Saints, setting up an elimination final against fourth-placed Geelong in two weeks’ time.  

The Southern Saints controlled proceedings from the opening bounce, keeping the Kangaroos scoreless in the first term and dominating the clearances and inside-50 counts by 19.

North Melbourne’s intensity lifted after the first break, fighting hard to clear the ball into space and set up their forwards, cutting the margin to 12 points. 

The pressure ramped up in the second-half, with the Saints working overtime to seize control, down two players with Peck and Nicki Cormac both sidelined under concussion protocols.    

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But the Kangaroos just couldn’t break through, with Chanelle Slater and Chloe Saultry icing the victory, the latter with her first VFLW goal on the siren.   

 

 

Grace Buchan was a standout with 21 disposals, one clearance and eight marks. Rebecca Neaves (19 disposals, four clearances) and Gabriella De Angelis (15 disposals, four clearances and one goal) overwhelmed a North Melbourne midfield, while the Saint’s defence, led by Hannah Stuart (19 disposals, four clearances and six tackles), controlled all but Roos spark Sarah Skinner, who booted two goals in a losing side. 

Hannah Stuart pulls in an impressive mark. Photo: Jack Dilks.

Debutants Bella Enno and Olivia Robinson also performed well through the middle and across the forward line.

The Southern Saints will face Geelong in two weeks' time in an elimination final, with the fixture yet to be released.

SOUTHERN SAINTS  1.6  2.7  4.8  6.11 (47)
NORTH MELBOURNE  0.0  1.1  2.3  3.3 (21) 

GOALS
Southern Saints: Peck 2, Capsalis, De Angelis, Saultry, Slater
North Melbourne: Skinner 2, Vine

BEST
Southern Saints: Buchan, Saultry, Neaves, Stuart, De Angelis, Black, Flanagan
North Melbourne: Scott, Hicks, McGrath, Skinner, Bradley, Fitzgerald, Taylor